MAYOR Joseph Ranola said to be a progress-looking and result-oriented technocrat and administrator of port town of Jagna has retracted his earlier plan to resign as municipal mayor comes December 2023.
He announced his intention to vacate his post during the Independence Day celebration (June 12) this year before a throng of Jagnaanons, most of whom being interviewed were not happy of his decision.
The mayor told the crowd in his speech that it was sort of a personal reason why he will resign this month. For one, his beloved wife is seriously sick that he has to give a priority and personally take care of her.
He also stressed that he wants to go to the work he loved so much, which is a budget consultant for bigwigs in Manila.
Though he may be out of the post, he still can be of help or able to facilitate develop Jagna as he has initiated.
In his facebook post, user and former councilor and now mayor’s office chief of staff, Anthony Aniscal said that there are a lot of reasons why the mayor withdraws his plan to call it quits.
Aniscal made mention of the big-ticket multimillion-peso hard projects that the mayor initiated and nearing fruition as the reasons why he changed his mind.
These are the following: the P260 million water project to be implemented next year funded by World Bank thru the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
Next in line will the implementation of housing project and 5-megawatt solar project in a bid to reduce the monthly power billing of Jagnaanons during the first quarter of next year, Aniscal said.
The completion of the new municipal building may be expected to be inaugurated by early next year, also.
He said that the mayor realized that he doesn’t want the Jagna town paralyzed without him at the helm.
And what probably made the mayor’s change of heart is that Gov. Aris Aumentado was able to persuade him not to pursue his plan to call it quits as Jagnaanons need him, Aniscal said.
The mayor during his first and still unfinished second terms has made waves, changing the face of the town physically or otherwise, but most of all changing the perception of how to make Jagna progressive.
To name a few, Mayor Ranola introduced the buy-back scheme, wherein the municipal government buys the farm produce and retail it without profit. Others follow, then.
Under his administration, he effects change public market’s face which used to be untidy and fish or wet section can be compared to other towns in Mindanao, which are very clean for it’s the people who do it for health, sanitation and cleanliness purposes.
The mayor ordered to refurbished it, which is, for some call it in jest, the biggest McDonald’s in the province. That may be true for its paint which the entire frontage is like the McDo.
He made the once abandoned and muddy side of the seafront (at the back of the municipal building) into a bustling food court with lighted paved lane to the amusement of the residents and visitors alike.
Now here comes the Jagna gym turned into one of its kind and only air-conditioned in the province for mainly cultural purposes. “Tulo Ka Hugna sa Jagna” was the living testament when it was shown here with local talents, tapping locals art and culture lover to act the play depicting its rich history and culture. And many more, like the improvement of the sports oval with a completed tennis court and a swimming pool and other sports amenities. (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
