Progressive Visionary

HOME BECKONS

Home is where the heart is. And for Mayor Karl ChristianF. Vega, home is nestled in the municipality of Mapandan,a town located in the 3rd District of the Province of Pangasinan. Thus, after spending seven years working in a financial institution in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mayor Vega finally made the decision to return to the Philippines in 2012.

He started a construction and real estate business in Baguio City. However, with his love for his own town and province, he expanded his business ventures to Mapandan and to neighboring towns and cities in Pangasinan.

THE POLITICAL ASCENT

Over the years, Mayor Vega's journey took a different course. While managing over 200 employees with his business ventures, Mayor Vega had the chance to connect with Mapandanians and grasp the community's concerns, needs, and challenges. His desire to be a public servant became more evident, especially when he initiated a feeding program 18 years ago at the Mapandan Central School where he graduated from elementary. Afterwards, he started receiving invitations to speak at school events. Although Mayor Vega claims that he was basically a shy person who seldom spoke in front of others, many claim that he speaks with charisma on stage. “I noticed that whenever I am delivering a speech, the audience listens intently. I just speak plainly to them without the usual rhetoric.”

As he became active in the civil society, Mayor Vega was prodded to lead the revival of the Pandan Festival. This provided him with the opportunity to gain wider exposureand popularity among the Mapandanians. “We brought back the Pandan Festival to our town after it was set aside for several years. From 2016 to 2019, we managed the Pandan Festival, inviting contingents from other municipalities to perform alongside our own street dancers. The festival has become a source of pride for the Mapandanians” he shares. During this period, the street dancing contingent of the Pandan Festival called Tribu Pandan bagged various championship awards from different Street Dancing Competitions such as the Agew na Pangasinan and the Festivals of the North that highlighted the Bangus Festival of Dagupan City.

MAYOR VEGA'S BUSINESS EXPERIENCE COMPLEMENTS HIS WORK AS A MAYOR, GIVING HIM AN ADVANTAGE IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE TOWN AND IN ATTAINING ITS DEVELOPMENT GOALS THROUGH COMPETENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

According to Mayor Vega, it was the people who urged him to run for councilor. Without hesitation, he accepted, knowing that the opportunity would benefit his constituents. In the 2019 elections, he emerged as the number one councilor. Serving for one term as the top councilor, Mayor Vega accepted the call to run for a higher position-- this time as the mayor of Mapandan where once again, he won.

Mayor Vega's fast rise in the political arena is attributed to his genuine desire to help the Mapandanians. When asked about his winning strategy, he responds, "I speak and express myself from my heart and the commitments I utter, I bend over backwards to fulfill."

FROM CORPORATE TO GOVERNMENT LEADER

Mayor Vega’s experience in both the business and government sectors greatly benefits the municipality as both are similar in many ways. Although Mayor Vega says he leads on a larger scale when it comes to public governance, the core principles of leadership for both are the same. As a mayor and a businessman, he understands the importance of effectively leading people, managing finances, and meeting project implementation deadlines to ensure compliance with audits.

As a local chief executive, Mayor Vegaputs emphasis on valuing human resources, considering them as his greatest assets, whether in the municipality or in business. Moreover,he stresses the importance of applying prudent financial management gained through his corporate experience, in government which entails non-negotiable, judicious allocation and utilization of public funds, including the National Tax Allotment (NTA) and local income.

MILESTONE IN LEADERSHIP

The mayor bared that his proudest achievement in 2023 was when Mapandan

received the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award for the first time. According to him, the SGLG award, which is considered the "mother of all awards," is a source of immense pride for everyone in Mapandan, from top officials to the ordinary employees. This recognition marked a significant milestone for their municipality, demonstrating their commitment to good governance.

He explained that sustaining the achievement poses a new challenge for him and the entire workforce of the municipal government, as they

aim for another SGLG award this year. When asked about the significance of the award to his leadership, the mayor emphasized the importance of vision and political will. He also highlighted the fact that the SGLG award is not just about an individual accomplishment but is reflective of the collaborative efforts of various departments within the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Mapandan.

According to the mayor, the SGLG award serves as a roadmap for his administration, indicating that the LGU- Mapandan is on track in terms of good governance.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Mayor Vega stressed that in order for him to comprehend the needs of his people, he always starts at the grassroots level. He regularly visits various communities, personally interacting and engaging with residents to understand their concerns.

Because of his individualized approach and commitment to serving all constituents without partiality, he has gained the reputation of being “colorblind.” He is known to see beyond socio-economic classes or political affiliations.

Mayor Vega discussed his belief in giving everyone a chance, even those who did not support him in the last elections, as he reflected on his administration's inclusive attitude. Instead of terminating workers who did not support his candidacy, he gave them a chance to prove their value and carry on with their jobs. This strategy not only fostered unity amongst the workers but also helped in maintaining the community's trust.

By keeping the municipal office doors open, Mayor Vega encourages residents to express their wants and concerns as he is willing to listen to their problems and provide support whenever possible. He has also instituted a public Facebook page, the Mapandan for Every Juan (MFEJ), as he recognizes the need to keep people updated on relevant news, public advisories as well as completed projects, ongoing programs, and planned activities.

Overall, Mayor Vega's leadership is characterized by his hands-on approach, commitment to inclusivity, and dedication to serving the needs of all Mapandanians. Through direct engagement and open communication channels, he strives to build a stronger, more responsive local government that addresses the concerns of his constituents effectively.

THE VEGA AGENDA

Mayor Vega wants to make it clear that he is a man who keeps his promises. During his oath-taking, he vowed to start a significant project immediately, and true to his word, the people witnessed the groundbreaking of the welcome

arch to their town the very next day.This action demonstrated MayorVega's commitment to delivering onhis promises and showed that he was ready to get things done for the people of Mapandan from day one.

The second notable project is the improvement of the public market. Although Mayor Vega believes in the importance of a clean and functional market, he emphasized the significance of improving its facade. The Public Market now serves as an additional landmark that instills a sense of pride in the hearts of all vendors and Mapandanians alike. Furthermore, the continuous thorough cleaning of the market, provides for the safety and hygiene of the products for sale, thus inducing a greater influx of buyers including those from neighboring towns. Mayor Vega shared that he believes in the transformative power of positive reinforcement, hence, he incentivizedthe conformity of the vendors with the law. The most disciplined vendors who have remained compliant with the norms set such as maintaining cleanliness in their market stalls have been rewarded accordingly.

The plaza's development isanother significant project of thelocal government under Mayor Vega. Recognizing the plaza as a central hub for community activities most especially for family gatherings, Mayor Vega understood the need to make necessary improvements in the area. By revitalizing the plaza such as by adding features like a pandan-inspired park, the space has then increasingly become a favorite spot for residents, especially during holidays.

Infrastructure development has also been a big part of Mayor Vega's agenda. Projects such as the illumination of the bridge and riverbank in addition to the slope protection of the Angalacan River are ongoing initiatives that are geared towards ensuring the safety of the Mapandan residents. Mayor Vega has also revealed plans to establish a food park coupled with a shopping arcade along the riverbank which will not only provide a new recreational space but will also promote economic activity in the area.

Mayor Vega anchored his projects on BHEA, an acronym for Basura (waste), Healthcare, Education, and Agriculture. He is working with senators to secure resources for his infrastructure improvement, garbage management and plans to improve the healthcare system. This includes the mobilization of ambulances on a 24/7 basis, along with the creation of a localized 911 command center.

The Vega Administration initiated the establishment of a Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center (STAC) for the less fortunate children with disabilities. The construction ofthe center was then funded by the Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Partylist whilst its facilities have been provided through the aid of the Philippine Honorary Consul to Queensland, Australia.

As for education, Mayor Vega is allocating funds for capacity development (CapDev) programs such as those offered by Technical Vocational Institutes (TVIs) through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). These CapDev initiatives will aid Mayor Vega’s kabaleyans (townspeople) in sustaining their start-up livelihood projects offered by national agencies who have found value in the administration of Mayor Vega.

In agriculture, the Vega Administration, through its Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), assisted local farmers in increasing their crop production. Mayor Vega, hand-in- hand with the MAO, served as a conduit for the provision of farming systems such as solar-powered irrigation and greenhouses with hydroponics. Various farm machineries have been provided to farmers which include mechanical

transplanters, tractors and combined harvesters. A steady flow of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer subsidies including palay and corn seeds have likewise been distributed. Also, veterinary missions have been continuously conducted in the municipality to support the needs of livestock owners and ensure the health of their animals. Moreover, to assist farmers in transporting their agricultural produce, construction of farm-to-market roads are underway.

Since the mayor revived the Pandan Festival, he also encouraged farmers to cultivate more pandan plants to boost their income. The mayor also motivated individuals and small business owners to manufacture products made from pandan leaves, such as bags, placemats and hand-held fans. These products, alongside local delicacies, are available for sale at the newly opened Negosyo Center in Mapandan. This initiative enhances the experience of tourists and visitors in the municipality as it allows them to bring home products together with tokens and memorabilia that will help them to forever be reminded of their lovely stay in the town. Additionally, the center provides an opportunity for residents to showcase and therefore sell their products.

THE MAYOR’S PASSION

Mayor Vega’s dedication to his town is not confined to his official duties. Despite his busy schedule in running the local government unit, he finds time to play basketball and engagein his long-time hobby, photography. Also, he has been doing talk shows called “Heart-to-Heart with Mayor Vega”, which is a way for him to reach out to a much wider audience.

Mayor Vega's passion for serving the community is evident in his dedication to Mapandan. He affirms his love for the town, expressing his deep affection for the place he calls home. "Yes, of course. I really put my heart into serving our town," Mayor Vega reiterates. "I made a commitment to not only provide service but also to improve the Mapandanians’ livelihood. It may seem a bit far-fetched, but our dream is to elevate Mapandan from a third-class to a second-class municipality. We still have a long way to go, but that's our target."

The mayor's love for Mapandan goes beyond mere service. It is a genuine desire to see the community thrive and prosper. Through his dedication and vision, Mayor Vega aims to make a lasting impact, ensuring a brighter future for all residents.