PERFECT FOR LAPU-LAPU
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ahong Chan is no perfect leader. But he is no ordinary politician either. Discover why he is
considered by many as the perfect leader for the city.
By Godfrey T. Dancel
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY HEJIE SURALTA
The number “10” has always been equated with perfection. Incidentally, a local leader in Central Philippines has been given ratings of “perfect 10” by his constituents and admirers from other places alike. Back in 2019, Oponganons—the people of Lapu-Lapu City—saw in Junard “Ahong” Chan the best candidate to lead the city as its local chief executive. That decision proved perfect for the city of about half a million people as Chan buckled down to work and lived up to the various challenges that came his way.
“Inheriting a city that was poorly managed was truly a nightmare,” Chan laments. “Garbage, traffic, and flooding were just a few concerns that I faced upon assumption of office. Then COVID-19 and Typhoon Odette came. These two presented perhaps the most challenging times of my administration as first-time mayor.”
How well did Chan perform, and how did his constituents perceive his performance? Suffice it to say that the entire Team Ahong received a fresh clear mandate last May. Clearly, Oponganons consider their second-term local chief executive, a good fit to lead them in the next three years.
JUNARD CHAN MEANS COMPLETE SERVICE
Chan comes well-prepared as he embarks on his second term. His 10-point Agenda as contained in the acronym JUNARD CHAN reflects his style of leadership.
“My brand of leadership is inclusive and participative,” he says. “Inclusive in the sense that I always see to it that every Oponganon gets to avail of the services of the government. This can be best exemplified by the Libreng Serbisyo Program that our ......