Richard Gomez to focus on infrastructure dev’t, disaster management during 2nd term

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez started his second term with a promise to focus on improving infrastructure, identifying 25 projects he would prioritize. 

Gomez pledged to solve the traffic congestion, increase the city’s resiliency to calamities, and ban single use plastics by 2021.

“Tomorrow, we will also be launching the modernization program of our transportation system, in line with the national program. This is to address the growing transportation needs of our people that have fallen prey to opportunism, to the detriment of the riding public,” he said during his oath taking on Sunday, June 30.

On Monday, July 1, Ormoc launched solar jeepneys and buses, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s modernization projects in the transportation sector. (READ: Duterte to jeepney drivers, operators: Modernize by year-end or get out)

“I would also like to increase our capability to respond to disasters. The year 2018 and the first half of 2019 have been kind to Ormoc. There were no life-threatening calamities, but we cannot be complacent. We have to be ready for eventualities,” Gomez said.

The Ormoc City mayor said the city would acquire “more ambulances, water trucks, and fire trucks.”

“We must also ban the use of single use plastics by 2021. We have to be decisive in this area if we must save Mother Earth for our children and their children,” Gomez said.

Looking back at his first term, from 2016 to 2019, Gomez thanked Ormocanons for making it “easier and meaningful.”

“To everybody, please continue to walk with me as we journey together in the next 3 years and make Ormoc a better city,” Gomez said.

According to the Ormoc City Media Center, Mayor Gomez targets to accomplish the following 25 priority projects by the end of his second term: 

Infrastructure and facilities

• Improve the Lake Danao Water System
• Create more water reservoir
• Create more rainwater harvesting facility storage
• Open housing projects for people living in dangerous places
• Create more classrooms
• Upgrade of slaughter house
• Improvement of grilling stations
• Improvement of Public Market
• Satellite market in Valencia, Ormoc City
• Upgrade the street lights
• Upgrade of Superdome Lights
• Purchase of Big Electric Fans for Superdome
• Create large composting facility 

Transportation

• Modernization program of transportation
• Open more road networks
• Implement the city land use and zoning ordinances, including the relocation of all vulcanizing shops with enough parking space.
• Repaint tricycles with basic and solid colors per route by 2020
• Clear the national highways of illegal parking

Others

• Increase capability to respond disaster by purchasing more ambulances, water trucks, fire trucks and implementing support programs on disaster prevention.
• Continue backfiling of Bagsakan Area
• Enhance peace and order program by purchasing new firearms, police cars, and motorcycles for the police and SWAT training.
• Strengthen livelihood programs
• Create sustainable tourism products
• Ban the use of plastics by 2021
• Launch more health and wellness programs

“I have so many plans for Ormoc, and I would always like to emphasize that I will always have the best [intentions] for Ormoc City,” Gomez said.

With his wife Lucy Marie Torres Gomez as the 4th district representative, his running mate Leo Carmelo Locsin as Ormoc City vice mayor, and allies occupying all 10 city council seats, Gomez’s plans are expected to remain unchallenged in the city. – Rappler.com