Mandaue marks 43rd Charter Day today

CEBU, Philippines - A department head, the longest-serving employee of Mandaue City, is one of 23 workers that will receive special awards as the city celebrates its 43rd Charter Day anniversary today.

Erlinda Balansag, 62, head of the Business Tax Enforcement Unit, and 22 other workers, will receive awards tonight at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center.

Balansag started as an apprentice at the city court in August 1969 when Mandaue City became a chartered city.

The following month, she became a casual employee.

During yesterday’s press conference, Balansag said she had worked under six administrations, starting with former mayor Demetrio Cortes Sr.

She also said she has been in at least six departments, and has been judged Most Outstanding Employee twice, in 1980 and 1998.

“I remain neutral bisan si kinsa pa nang naglingkod sa administrasyon  busa nilanat ko ug dugay sa akong panerbisyo,” Balansag said.

She said she graduated her Associate in Secretarial Science at the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City and at the early age of 19 she started working at the city government.

She worked during the day and attended classes in Business Administration until she graduated at the University of the Visayas.

Today’s awardees will each received a plaque and P3,000 from the city government, according to Human Resource Management Office chief Apple Michelle Yu.

Councilor Elstone Dabon, who is this year’s chairman on the committee on Charter Day, said he plans to amend the rule governing cash incentives for awardees next year because the amount has remained unchanged for several years now.

“Kay di lalim ang pagkab-ot sa awards. Hopefully by next year,” Dabon said.

Today’s Charter Day celebration will kick off with a Foot and Float Parade starting at 2 pm.

The floats will converge at the Sports Complex and will move towards Subangdaku, then through A. Soriano Avenue (north reclamation area), then to Ouano Avenue (north reclamation area), then right turn to C.D. Seno Street, left turn to M.C. Briones Street to Subangdaku, right turn to H. Cortes Street going to Cabancalan, and right turn on M. L. Quezon Street going to the Maguikay flyover.

Left turn to Maguikay flyover going to Pacific Mall, right turn to UN Avenue to corner Plaridel Street, right turn to Plaridel Street going to Gullas Academy, then merge with foot parade at Plaridel  corner A. C. Cortes Ave., right turn to C. Ouano Street going to city hall.

The floats will proceed to the sports complex passing through S. B. Cabahug.

At the sports complex, a Mass will be held to be followed by the awarding ceremony.

Traffic Enforcement and Management (TEAM) director Erwin Ermac said although no rerouting will be implemented today, vehicular traffic will slow down at the start of the parade.