ayor Vicente Bermejo wants nothing less than for Roxas City to move forward towards progress.

In order to understand this goal, the city mayor has adopted as his battlecry the word "SULONG."

The word is a vernacular term which means "to move forward."

Nevertheless, the chief city executive has wanted the word to mean more than this. It is also an acronym for his five-point development ageda which he unveiled right during his inaugural address during the swearing-in of Capiz local officials last June 28 at the capiz Gym.

It may be recalled then when he was governor of the province from 1998 to 2007, Bermejo also bannered a slogan which eventually became a byword, "To serve what is best for Capiz."

The battlecry aptly complemented his Ten-Point Agenda which became his blueprint for progress for the province of Capiz.

With the ten-pronged agenda as his development work, Bermejo was able to pursue many programs and projects that made the province as a development model for other provinces in the country especially in the areas of health, fiscal management, pooled drugs procurement, and agri-fishery development, among others.

In early August, Bermejo also initiated a strategic development workshop to lay down the directions and strategies for his development agenda.

Believing in the riches of the city's agri-fishery resources, Bermejo said he wants the city to maintain its reputation as the "Seafood Capital of the Philippines."

Explaining his new battlecry, Bermejo said the "S" in SULONG stands for Service Improvement. This is designed to establish a client-oriented, effective and efficient delivery of basic services that the Roxas City Government is mandated to deliver.

The "U" stands for Urban Management. We will install, he said, a comprehensive support service and regulatory services that will efficiently utilize our land resources to provide for the needs of our growing population. A zoning and land use policies will be put in place before the end of this year and development infrastructures will be installed to facilitate delivery of services and spur economic growth.

The "L" stands for Livelihood Generation. The new chief executive said "We will take care of the marginalized micro-enterpreneurs by providing opportunities for alternative livelihood and transform them into bankable enterpreneurs."

The "O" is for Organizational Development. This is designed to equip the personnel with the necessary skill and attitude, enable them to maximize the use of technology and provide them equipment they need most. Bermejo is set to institutionalize measures to have an effective fiscal management making every centavo the taxpayers pay counts.

The "N" and "G" in SULONG represent New Governance. It aioms to shift paradigms into consultative, enabling and participatory governance. The Mayor said it in his firm belief that the people must be conculted on matters that affect their lives and future. A government anchored on the popular sentiment of the people. has greater chance of succeeding, Bermejo emphasized.

Mayor Bermejo said his family is thankful to the Roxases family - Inday Judy, Senator Mar and Rea fo believing his capacity to lead and put in place a meaningful development to Roxas City.

Bermejo extended his thanks to Congressmen Tony Del rosarion, Roging Dadivas and Fredenil Castro, Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr., political allies and employees of the city government.