ILOILO – In a show of provincial unity, all 43 mayors and their vice mayors across Iloilo Province — along with Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Vice Governor-elect Mayor Nathalie Ann Debuque, and members of the House of Representatives — will be sworn into office during a single mass oath-taking ceremony on June 30.
The ceremony will be administered by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary Amenah Pangandaman in a hotel in Iloilo City.
Confirmed to take their oaths are the province’s full roster of elected officials: 43 municipal mayors and vice mayors, Passi City mayor Stephen Palmares, all 10 Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, and four members of Congress.
House members attending are 1st District’s Cong. Janette Garin, 2nd District’s Congresswoman-elect Kathy Gorriceta, 3rd District’s Cong Lorenz Defensor, 4th District’s Cong. Ferjenel Biron, and Uswag Ilonggo party-list’s Cong. James “Jojo” Ang.
The event will be preceded by a thanksgiving mass to be celebrated by Reverend Monsignor Jose Marie Delgado, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Jaro.
Of note is the re-election of most incumbent mayors, many of whom ran unopposed, signaling continued confidence in local leadership. New faces include San Joaquin’s Atty. Abad Lazaro, Anilao’s Matet Debuque, and Estancia’s Bianca Requinto.
Here’s the list of oath-takers by district:
1ST DISTRICT
* Mayor Jennifer Garin-Colada of Guimbal (re-elected)
* Mayor Richard Garin of Miag-ao (re-elected)
* Mayor Nene Teruel of Tigbauan (re-elected)
* Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr. of Oton ((re-elected, unopposed)
* Mayor Roquito Tacsagon of Tubungan (re-elected)
* Mayor Juvic Escorpion of Igbaras (re-elected)
* Atty. Abad Lazaro of San Joaquin (newly-elected)
2ND DISTRICT
* Mayor Jofel Marañon-Soldevilla of Zarraga (re-elected)
* Mayor Luigi Gorriceta of Pavia (re-elected, unopposed)
* Mayor Dennis Superficial of Santa Barbara (re-elected, unopposed)
* Mayor Kenneth Alfeche of Alimodian (re-elected, unopposed)
* Mayor Ma. Lina Cabana of Leon (re-elected)
* Mayor Junjun Jaen of Leganes (re-elected, unopposed)
* Carl Vincent Mondejar of New Lucena (newly-elected, unopposed)
* Bonifacio Salapantan of San Miguel (newly-elected)
3RD DISTRICT
* Mayor Elizalde Pueyo of Cabatuan (re-elected)
* Rey Grabato of Mina (newly-elected)
* Mayor Rafael Enrique Lazaro of Pototan (re-elected)
* Mayor Suzette Mamon of Badiangan (re-elected, unopposed)
* Mayor Reynor Gonzales of Lambunao (re-elected)
* Mayor Iko Calvo of Calinog (re-elected, unopposed)
* Mayor Francis Amboy of Maasin (re-elected, unopposed)
* Mayor Paulino Parian of Janiuay (re-elected)
* Matt Palabrica of Bingawan (newly-elected)
4TH DISTRICT
* Matet Debuque of Anilao (newly-elected)
* Mayor Braeden Biron of Dumangas (re-elected)
* Mayor Bryant Paul Biron of Barotac Nuevo (re-elected)
* Niño Fernandez of San Enrique (newly-elected)
* Mayor Stephen Palmares of Passi City (re-elected)
* Mayor Rufino Palabrica of Dingle (re-elected)
* Mayor Robert Pama of Dueñas (re-elected)
* Mayor Junjun Gonzales of Banate (re-elected)
5TH DISTRICT
* Mayor Nielo Tupas of Barotac Viejo (re-elected)
* Mayor Milliard Villanueva of Concepcion (re-elected)
* Mayor Jon Aying of Sara (re-elected)
* Mayor Elvira Alarcon of Batad (re-elected)
* Mayor Oscar Villegas of Lemery (re-elected, unopposed)
* Mayor Filomeno Ganzon of Balasan (re-elected)
* Arnold Betita of Carles (newly-elected)
* Roel Belleza of San Rafael (newly-elected)
* Bianca Requinto of Estancia (newly-elected)
* Loida Espinosa of Ajuy (newly-elected)
* Sally Lopez of San Dionisio (newly-elected)/PN
