TACLOBAN CITY – Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez expressed his gratitude to the voters of his city for giving him another fresh mandate.
And what made his poll victory more memorable was his vice mayor and all his slate for councilor also won during Monday’s elections.
Based on a partial and unofficial result, Gomez, who ran under the administration party PDP-Laban, obtained total votes of 77, 573 votes compared to 29,795 votes of Eric Codilla, a former three termer mayor of the city.
“We are very fortunate to be given a fresh mandate,” Gomez said.
Gomez credited his successful re-election bid to the support of the City Hall employees which enabled him to implement projects and programs that benefited the people of Ormoc City.
“Our campaign wouldn’t be successful without the support of all department who had helped us to make Ormoc City a beautiful place since 2016. So will again ask you to work harder, work together to make Ormoc more progressive,” Gomez said.
The mayor added that under his administration, he focused on addressing the drug menace, a priority program of the Duterte administration.
“At the end of the day we are all Ormocanons. We worked on to make Ormoc more beautiful and more progressive. While we have this mandate, we want to make Ormoc a better place to live in for all of us,” Gomez said.
His wife, Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez also won on her third reelection bid for Leyte’s fourth district.
Torres-Gomez, based on an unofficial and partial results, received 177,938 votes against her opponent, Eufrocino Codilla who only obtained 50,969 votes.
Her younger brother Matt Torres also won as mayor of Kananga, defeating incumbent Mayor Rowena Codilla.
Matt Torres garnered 15,350 votes against Codilla’s 13,310 votes.
His sister-in-law Caren Rama was also elected as board member representing Leyte’s fourth district.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The incumbent mayor of Maasin City, Nacional “Nikko” Mercado and his entire slate were given fresh mandates after a landslide win during last Monday’s elections.
Their victory are certain that Mercado along with Vice Mayor Maloney Samaco and their councilors are expected to be proclaimed today (Tuesday) by the members of the City Board of Canvassers.
Mercado, who will serve his second term, defeated former governor Rosette Lerias.
The winning councilors are Effie Abiera, Mikee Mercado, Margarita Bantug, Jun Gerong, Jigjig Paler, Vivencio Costillas, Zaldy Olita, Melvin Dublan, Felix Verano, and Al Generan.
Mercado, 36, thanked his constituents “for the trust and support” while vowing to continue the projects and program which he started.
Under his administration, Maasin received the 2018 Seal of Good Local Governance Award; 2018 National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Award; 2018 Outstanding Farmer’s Association (Unified Farmer’s Association of Barangay Baugo); 2018 Recognition for Sustained Nutrition Program Implementation; 2018 Best in Case Holding on National Tuberculosis Control Program; 2018 Best Performing Health Facility Implementing Pharmaceutical Chain Management; 2018 Dugong Buhay DugtongBuhay Award.
The city was also awarded the 2017 Seal of Good Local Governance Award; 2017 2nd place Most Improved LGU for Component Cities Awarded by the National Competitiveness Council; 2017 Best Performing Barangay Health Worker (BHW) Federation; 2017 Regional Outstanding Barangay Health Worker Federation; 2016-2017 Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance; 2016-2017 Best Local Government Unit (LGU) on Pabasa sa Nutrisyon; 2016-2017 Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar; 2016-2017 Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Council; and the 2016 Recognition for Sustaining and Continuously Strengthening Nutrition Program Implementation in the Regional and National Level.
Maasin is also known as the Hall of Famer for the Red Orchid Award for implementing the 100% tobacco-free environment. (RONALD O.REYES)