Tabuk City, Kalinga (2 July) -- Outgoing City Mayor Camilo Lammawin Jr. urged the new officials to uplift the lives of the people focusing development efforts in one direction guided by the city's 50-year development master plan.

In a message during the turn-over last June 28, Lammawin in an "unsolicited advice" told the new city officials "to look at the position of authority not as an opportunity for self aggrandizement but as a chance to uplift the conditions of our people."

With the approval of the Tabuk Urban Master Plan, city officials have a "ready and firm guidance for their undertakings as we expect a fast pace of development that will propel this city into one of the best centers in the region, he added.

"You must deal with the high expectations of our people. They are looking forward with anticipation on how you will address their specific concerns," Lammawin said.

Expressing hope that present and future officials would support the recently approved urban master plan, Tabuk City he said would soon grow as a city preserving its character as an agricultural area.

"To remain the rice granary of the Cordillera, these lands should maintain their food-producing purpose," he said reminding officials "not to forget that the source of life of this city is its rich and vast agricultural lands."

In his last public statement as a City Mayor, Lammawin expressed gratitude for the support of the city officials, employees and the people whom he said provided him "the courage and strength to lead the people and institute the changes" that made Tabuk City what it is today.