PORAC, Pampanga — Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid led the inauguration of the newly-constructed P370-million iconic municipal hall in Barangay Cangatba, Porac.
Lapid was warmly welcomed by Poraqueños at the new government building sprawled in a three-hectare property donated by the family of the late Genaro M. Dimalanta, former Vice Mayor of Porac in the year 1960-1963.
Mayor Myla B. Clarete said the municipal government sincerely extends its gratitude to Lapid, a native son of Porac, for working on the allotment of funds for the new municipal hall.
“Ang bayan po ng Porac at ang lokal na pamahalaan ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa ating butihing senador, Sen. Lito Lapid, sa kanyang pagsusumikap na mabigyan ng pondo ang pagpapatayo sa ating bagong munisipyo. Ang kanyang pagmamalasakit sa aming mga Poraqueños ay labis po naming kinikilala at pinapahalagahan,” Clarete said.
According to Clarete, the construction of the building started in 2021 and it was funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
She also said that the transfer of the seat of the municipality from Barangay Poblacion to the present site at Circumferential Road in Brgy. Cangatba is made by virtue of Municipal Ordinance No. 01, Series of 2025.
John Paul L. Martinez, acting municipal information officer and executive assistant to the Mayor, said the iconic building was inspired from the US Library of Congress.
“The architectural design was made by the DPWH and the three hectares is master-planned to be a government center with other offices to be erected soon,” Martinez said.
He added that the new Porac Police Station, which was also inaugurated yesterday, is part of the municipal hall complex.
Martinez said the construction of the new Porac town hall is just one of the number of infrastructure projects built in Porac through the support of Lapid.
The senator is seeking re-election for a fourth term in the May 12 elections. Prior to his history in the Senate, Lapid served as three-termer governor of Pampanga from 1995 to 2004. E also served as Vice Governor from 1992 to 1995.
Lapid is one of the seasoned legislators who fathered meaningful social legislations in the 14thCongress – the Free Legal Assistance Act of 2010, which seeks to ensure that the poor may be afforded free quality legal service.
During the filing of his certificate of candidacy last October, Lapid announced that he will seek for an expansion of this law should e wins the mid-term elections in May.
In the 15th Congress, Lapid filed 239 measures earning him the distinction as the fifth most prolific members of the Senate.
He authored the Meat Labeling Act of 2011, Comprehensive Unilateral Hearing Loss Research and Development and Rehabilitation Act, Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming Act, Corporate Social Responsibility Act, Kindergarten Education Act, and the Adopt-A-Wildlife Species Act, among others.
And as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Games, Amusement and Sports, he saw to it that measures are in motion to sufficiently ensure the development of sports in the grassroots, seeing to it that the youth develop a keen interest on participation to sports competition.
Unity for Porac
After 18 years of political estrangement, Lapid is now running with the support of Governor Dennis G. Pineda and Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay” G. Pineda.
In the 2007 local elections, Vice Governor Lilia Pineda run against former Governor Mark T. Lapid, eldest son of Senator Lapid, and former Governor Eduardo “Among Ed” T. Panlilio.
But in the coming May 12 elections, the Lapid and Pineda families have reunited especially in the political scene in Porac.
Former Councilor Michael “Mike” Tapang, who is running for the mayoralty race on May 12 and the standard-bearer of the Pineda family in Porac, said that the two families as well as the other political stalwarts in Porac have united to “save and revive Porac’s dignity” after it was dragged to the POGO scam.
“Ang matagal po naming pangarap na tunay na pagkakaisa para sa Porac, ngayon po ay natupad na. Ang pamilya ng mga Lapid at ng mga Pineda, kasama ng mga pamilya ng dati nating mayors sa Porac – ay nagkaisa upang sagipin ang aming bayan sa pagkadawit nito sa nakakalungkot na usapin ng POGO,” Tapang said.
“Ang hangad po namin ay isulong ang tunay na pag-unlad ng Porac , ibalik ang dignidad ng aming mga kababayan, at palaguin ang mga negosyo , kabuhayan, at edukasyon ng bawat Poraqueño,” Tapang added.
Tapang’s line-up includes Vincent Lusung for vice-mayor, Atty. Tet Buan, Bong Buan, Rito Buan,Max Bungque, Dexter David,Papa Duds David, Alfer Nacu, and Maynard Lapid for councilors. Maynard is the youngest son of Lapid while Dexter David is the son of former Porac mayor Roy David. (UnliNews Online)