Calasiao New Mayor Bares Programs

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The newly assumed mayor here will continue the twin programs of his immediate predecessor, his plan to reduce the number of employees, and the construction of infrastructures like a new abattoir and livestock facility.

Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay cited how neat the material recovery facility (MRF) and the tidiness of town as legacies left by Mayor Mamilyn Caramat who passed away in January 6 this year.

NEWLY MINTED Calasiao Mayor Mayor Kevin Q. Roy Macanlalay (right, photo) and his older sister and Municipal Administrator Roma Q. Macanlalay.

“Sa ngayon nagiikot ako sa ibat ibang mga government departments natin medyo okay naman. Nagpaplano tayo ng kaunting adjustment para mbawasan iyong mga problema sa opisina,” he told Northern Watch Newspaper for his first media interview since becoming a mayor by operation of law when Caramat died in January 6. Macanlalay was elected as vice mayor in May 9 election last year as tandem of Caramat.

The decision to downsize the number of workers was based on the reduction by P41 million of the national tax allotment (NTA) – the precursor of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) - from the national government this year to this first class town’s 2023 budget.

This thriving municipality – one of the richest towns in the province of Pangasinan – contented itself with a budget of P380 million this year.

After the first slaughterhouse was converted to the offices of the agriculture and municipal environment and the construction of the second abattoir in Barangay Nagsaing was stopped by then Mayor Joseph Bauzon because of the opposition of the residence of the village, Macanlalay said his administration will construct another slaughter house and a livestock facility to the still undisclosed location.

The Bauzon Administration borrowed P35 million in the bank for the slaughter house in Brgy. Nagsaing.

“Iyon ang papalitan natin. Ililipat natin gagawin natin iyong slaughter house. Kailangan iyan. Ang gagawin sa slaughter house ang nakita ko ay property ng municipyo. Slaughter house ang kalahati katabi livestock”.

Macanlalay was lukewarm on the plan of the previous administration particularly its agriculture chief to convert the abattoir in Brgy. Nagsaing as home for the propagation of piglets.

“Iyang babuyan na iyan pinagaaralan namin dahil hindi ko alam kung feasible siya. Paanakan ang LGU ang may ari. Ang hirap niyan negosyo iyan magbubuhay ka ng baboy”.

The venture on piglets’ propagation would be funded by the Department of Agriculture.

Macanlalay said he will lobby for funds in the offices of the national government in Manila for the construction of another slaughter house.

“Oo sa susunod na weeks may mga nakausap na rin tayong kaibigan. Alam po naman ninyo iyong naging kaibigan ng pamilya natin diyan sa itaas na puede nating lapitan. Ipakita lang naman natin iyan e. Talagang kailangan ng Calasiao ang slaughter house”.