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| NUEVA Era Mayor Atty. Aldrin Garvida, Vice Mayor Caroline Arzadon and members of the Sanggunian Bayan take their oath of office before Brgy. Poblacion chairperson Lucresia G. Corpuz on July 3 at the Nueva Era People’s Center. The same officials also took their oaths of office in all of the town’s 11 barangays. (Doms dela Cruz) |
Staff Reporter
Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte—The first of its kind.
Nueva Era elected officials led by Mayor Atty. Aldrin Garvida and Vice Mayor Caroline Arzadon-Garvida along with the members of the Sanggunian Bayan took their oaths of office in all of this town’s 11 barangays.
The oathtaking took three days—from July 1 to 3, 2019—with the barangays’ respective chairpersons administering the oath.
The final oathtaking took place at Brgy. Poblacion, here on July 3, 2019.
Mr. Garvida explained that their group decided on the move as a way of thanking their townmates for their trust and for all of them to personally witness the oathtaking ceremony.
The new set of elected officials assumed office on June 30, 2019, and officially began their first day of work on July 1, 2019.
In this town, a mass marked their first day of office, followed by a turnover ceremony between the Garvida couple, who swapped positions after the midterm elections.
On the same day, town officials also launched the municipal government’s scholarship program dubbed “ADAL”, or “Arapaap Dagiti Agtutobo a Laing”. The program gives all senior high school students a PHP2,500 stipend each.
The same program also distributes stipends to college students—PHP3,000 for first year; PHP3,500 for second year; PHP4,000 for third year; and PHP4,500 for fourth year.
Those who graduate with honors beginning with cum laude is also set to receive an additional PHP5,000 incentive.
Mr. Garvida explained that they designed their new scholarship program with the goal of having at least one professional in every family here.
He added that he will work to institutionalize this program for it to continue onward regardless of who sits as town mayor.
“Iti talek yo, ti ayat yo ken iti suporta yo kadakami ket mananama yo iti subad na iti sumaruno a tallo a tawen,” Mr. Garvida promised to his constituents.
The mayor also turned over a brand-new service and rescue vehicles to all of the town’s the rural barangays. A similar vehicle will go to Brgy. Poblacion next.
“Ta ngamin saan ko kayat a makita nga iti maysa nga ubing a no aggurigor ket ilugan da iti motor wennu tay kitong-kitong a maar-arbisan ken main-initan nga umay da itaray ditoy lying-inn clinic tayo,” Mr. Garvida said.
The said vehicle will also serve as free rides for students in their respective barangays.
They also distributed fertilizer to all farmers and rice for every family.