Inaugural speech
30 June 1998

Democracy is a continuing cycle of political changes, of cordial transitions between sets of elected leaders. This day marks such a change in our country and city as the reins of government are transferred from the hands of the previous officials to the hands of the new leaders chosen by the people last may.

For me, being mayor means a special opportunity to continue the tradition of public service started by my father, the late Don Pablo Lorenzo, who served as mayor of Zamboanga in the pre-war years. I promise to uphold Don Pablo's principles and ideals of honest, committed and hardworking service to the people. The memory of his exemplary performance as a public servant will be the personal yardstick I shall use in assessing my own performance.

In behalf of the Laban Ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (LAMMP), my political party (which is headed by president Joseph Estrada), and of the other incoming city officials who have taken their oath of office this morning, let me thank the people of Zamboanga city for granting us their precious mandate. The empowerment that has been given us is overwhelming. Its magnitude will serve us very well as we grapple with the conditions in our beloved city. Moreover, we, the new city officials, are strengthened by the knowledge that we are in office for the best interest of the city and that we are pledged to put service to the public above our own personal needs and desires.

The problems and challenges that beset Zamboanga City are many. It is the duty of the new officials to solve those problems, to meet those challenges, and to set things right during their watch so that the future will be happy and bright for all of us who call this place home. The new city administration understands that so much will be demanded from it in terms of performance and commitment to honest and effective government. It stands ready to answer the call of duty and to make the necessary sacrifices.

Many of our problems here are shared by the whole country. These include the high crime rate, the growing unemployment, and the basic slide in civil order and discipline.

On the economic front, the challenge before the new city administration is to safeguard existing jobs and create new ones.

The city government must likewise give its full and serious attention to the need to subdue criminality and to arrest the widespread loss of discipline and order. The task at hand is to strengthen law enforcement and crime prevention with the help of a professional police and military security force and a cooperative citizenry.

The lack of cleanliness is another serious concern. The natural beauty of our city is marred by the trash and filth visible all over. It is not only a physical kind of dirtiness that afflicts the town, for the grime touches many other aspects of local life. Government is responsible for permitting and abetting this filth; it must also be responsible for leading the effort to clean it up. The city officials and their fellow residents will have to work together to scrub the city of its dirt and help it recapture its old image as the cleanest town and one of the most pleasant places in the archipelago.

City traffic is a modern horror characterized by vehicular congestion and driver unruliness. Taming this monster is a major challenge, the solution to which has eluded previous city administrations.

Last summer, with the El Niño weather disturbance raging all over the world, Zamboanga City had its worst water shortage. Many areas went completely waterless for weeks. Today we are facing the prospect of having to contend with El Niño's equally malevolent twin sister, La Niña, which is expected to bring heavy rains and great flooding. The city has shown its lack of readiness in dealing with such natural calamities. This too is an urgent concern that must be addressed quickly.

There are many other problems still untold or are waiting to be unearthed. This administration will spare no effort in seeking solutions to them.

In facing Zamboanga City's problems and challenges, which could be daunting for the weak-hearted, we can count on two positive factors that emanated from the last election. One of these factors is this administration's clear and strong mandate from the people who gave its candidates an overwhelming victory at the polls. Such solid backing from the populace is essential for effective governance. We are happy to have it as we enter our first days in office. The second factor is political cohesion. For the first time since democracy was restored in the Philippines, the president of the republic, the congressman, the mayor, the vice mayor and the majority of the members of the city council belong to one party and therefore can move in unison to bring peace, development and progress to our city. What city residents can immediately expect is sharper teamwork among the local officials and an end to counter-productive political wrangling.

By the way, congressman Celso Lobregat was scheduled to be with us at this inaugural ceremony if not for the fact that he has to be with president Estrada at the historic Barasoain church in Malolos, Bulacan, where the president is having his own swearing-in ceremony.

What we have today in the political life of Zamboanga City is a grand chance for unity – unity not only among the elected officials, but also between the officials and the people, and among the ranks of the people themselves. It is the all-important unity that will lift us above all obstacles and return Zamboanga to its old glory as the "orgullo de Mindanao."

This administration's program of government will be anchored on selected priority tasks, which are to promote food sufficiency, fight corruption, crack down on crime and achieve town beautification. These thrusts are part of the 15-point "contract for change" signed by the local candidates of the LAMMP party before the election.

The new city administration will be compassionate but firm in performing its duties and functions. It will exercise political will and not hesitate to do what needs to be done. It will not turn away from any task because of fear or intimidation, believing, as an American president once said, that there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

As your mayor, I appeal to each and every resident of Zamboanga City to give me his and her cooperation and support. You have put me in office, and now you must help me do my job to the best of my ability and for the benefit of all.

I also ask the Holy Spirit, whose centennial we are celebrating, for continued guidance in all our undertakings. I pray for the enduring protection of Nuestra Señora La Virgen Del Pilar. As the old saying goes, el hombre propone, dios dispone. May heaven bless the journey on which we are embarked.

To one and all, thank you for giving my fellow officials and me your trust and confidence. We can only reciprocate that trust with honest and untiring service. Muchisimas gracias! May the almighty bless us all.