LEADING a sizable number of supporters, freshly sworn-in newly elected officials and incumbents, family members, BARUG Valencia compatriots and residents, elected Valencia Bohol mayor Dionisio Neil A. Balite rallied the crowd towards change that starts with the self in a push to end poverty in town.
Taking his oath of office as the elected mayor of the towns before Judge Prince Joses Lim of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court Valencia, Balite, who saw winning in the election as an enormous challenge meeting a well-entrenched administration, thanked the Almighty, for without his will, things would never happen.
Despite our victory, I was and always am reminded, “We must be humble in victory, and give all the praise to God.”
Balite, who came in as a young contender against a dynasty of sorts who has been keeping the top seat of power in the town for the last decades, has banked his campaign on change and more progress, also hinted continuing the good things that the previous administrations have implemented in the town.
But, winning was just the start of it all.
“Let us stay humble and stay blessed,” he said adding that getting overwhelmed with power and celebration can often lead to lost direction.
“Lisud na kon ma-overwhelmed ta, lisud na kon mahubog sa sobrang pagsadya, kon mahubog ta sa gahum, makalimot kita nga ang atong kadaugan, gikan sa kahitas-an,” the young Balite who reclaimed the seat which his father occupied decades ago humbly stated.
In his inaugural speech, mayor Balite helped the people by recalling his party’s administrative agenda for the town.
Balug Valencia picked on Livelihood, Education, Health, Social Services and Infrastructure as its pillars of development towards the future golden years of the town.
He knows that progress is elusive, and knowing the local situation, he added that the town has a lot of problems.
He also told his people that in the face of poverty, and with people getting indifferent, which complicates the problem even more.
For this, he called on his soon to be co-workers in government to change their mindsets and go away with the feeling of being important.
Let’s do away with abuse, abuse of nature especially.
He told his co-workers that the new brand of service would be honest, obedient and trustworthy.
Considering these things to be too much of a challenge for himself to do alone, he rallied on his people to join and unit.
Asking his people to stand with him, he ended his inaugural address with a praise song that also allowed people who stood with him to join in the singing.
The new mayor is a professed Christian missionary and servant leader. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
