MUNICIPALITY OF ATIMONAN, Historical Data of Part 10

16) Repair of Lavides Bridge - ₱25,000.00.

17) Construction of the Maria Cristina Park - A private project with barrio Angeles Councilmen - ₱20,000.00

18) Balagtas Plaza repair - ₱5,000.00.

19) Construction of the public market annex - ₱5,000.00.

20) River control - ₱10,000.00.

21) Inalig Commonal Irrigation - ₱20,000.00.

22) Municipal Telephone System - ₱10,000.00.

23) Barrio Balugohin Wharf - ₱10,000.00.

24) Municipal Welcome Arc - ₱2,000.00.

25) Barrio Aid for Projects (planned and negotiated) - ₱15,000.00.

26) Stage for barrio Balubad (personal) - ₱1,000.00.

27) Stage for the Rizal Campus (personal) - ₱2,000.00.

28) Repair of the footbridge in Balubad (Municipal) - ₱1,560.00.

29) Repair of the footbridge Rizal (National) - ₱5,000.00.

30) Repair of the footbridge Sokol (National) - ₱2,000.00.

31) Repair of the Santa Catalina Feeder Road - ₱5,000.00.

32) Construction of the Santa Catalina footbridge (national) - ₱20,000.00.

33) Repair of the Malinao Ilaya Footbridge (national) - ₱5,000.00.

34) Repair of the Balubad School Building (municipal) - ₱5,000.00.

1) Sponsored and executed the Municipal Agrigultural Upliftment Program where all council of the 38 barrios and interested persons were given a two-month seminar on agricultural subjects such as: vegetable raising, rice culture, poultry raising, hog raising, irrigation, insecticides, and fertilizers, thus the vegetable and rice production in this municipality.

2) Negotiated for making Atimonan a manpower center resulting to the coming of classes in dressmaking, tailoring, general electricity, and radio mechanics classes, graduating more than 500 students.

3) Worked for the employment of more than 200 constituents in private concerns in Manila.

4) Established and enforced the policy of employing as priority jobless cons-

1) Distribution of rice, canned goods, clothes, and money to victims of Typhoon Welming - ₱9,000.00.

2) Personal amount of cash aid and medicine to needy indigents.

3) Personal aid to the March 4, 1964 fire victims of the Poblacion of Atimonan.

4) Made personal donation in cash or in kind for the construction of individual barrio projects such as: pavements, repairs of school rooms, construction of barrio halls, chapels, wall panels, irrigation projects, agricultural improvements, health and sanitation commonal projects, etc.

5) Sought the asistance of not only the National Government but also the private pharmaceuticals to get free medicines for the poor and needy.

1) The Municipality of Atimonan has been declared one of the most peaceful municipalities in Quezon Province, achieved by:

2) Gave criminals and offenders a chance to reform by counseling job placements and providing them incentives to start new lives.

c) Promotion of youth clubs and the sponsorship of basketball summer leagues, rondallas, and combos to curb juvenile delinquency.

1) Sponsored personal scholarships: elementary and high school levels.

2) Encouraged and supported summer athletic competitions.

3) Personally supported the Adult Education Program.

4) Negotiated to make Atimonan a national manpower center, resulting in the establishment of manpower classes in dressmaking, tailoring, electricity, and radio.

1) Encouraged and supported national agencies such as the NACIDA and RIC to instruct our constituents in possible cottage industries, resulting to the mass production of NATA DE COCO, now sold here in commercial scale.

2) Initiated self-help projects in the barrios, such as piggery projects in barrios for increased production.

3) Initiated home decor training in coordination with the RIC, NACIDA, and the SWA.

1) Increase in revenue income, the sea products by rigid collection.

2) Rental of municipal lots to private commercial parties.

3) Conducted a campaign for the declaration of undeclared real properties, resulting into the increase in land tax [revenues or collection].

4) Prescribed new rates for building and construction municipal permits for safe construction, and increase in revenue.

5) Initiated a rigid tax campaign on sea products, resulting to an increase of more than 60% of the municipality's collection [from] that particular item alone.

[For] Four months or so, before the termination of Mayor Aguilar's term in 1917, he announced publicly that he was to submit his name for reelection at the convention of the local Nacionalista Party. But when the date for the convention came, there were no official nominees even for municipal councilors. The delegates to the convention were somewhat disappointed until Mayor Aguilar, in his capacity as the titular head of the local NP, stood before the mike and boldly announced that, in the absence of nominees, the proclamation of the local candidates would be held instead of a convention. The conventionist [the previous "word" probably meant "convention delegates"] could not comprehend how the proclamation could be made possible without the candidates. Mayor Aguilar immediately hand-picked inconvent [incumbent; henceforth, the previous anomalous "word" will be replaced by "incumbent"] Municipal Councilor Patricio Quinto as his running mate. Then, too, he named eight possible candidates for councilors for consideration of the delegates. As those recommended by the mayor well all agreeable to the conventionists [delegates], the proclamation ensued.

Meanwhile, the formation of a third force was in the offing as some NP disgruntled leaders and the Atimonan Women Voters' League, which was sympathetic to the NP, pledged its wholehearted support to Remy Diestro, then incumbent Vice-Mayor, should she run for the mayoralty against the re-electionist. This movement would naturally endanger the ambition of Mayor Aguilar. To counteract the movement, Mrs. Flordeliza Lopez Aguilar wife of Mayor Aguilar, organized the Amazona Voters' League in all barrios of Atimonan and the four zones of the Poblacion. Luckily, the membeship of the organization exceeded the strength of the Women Voters' League.

The political development and the staunch support of some party bigwigs encouraged Vice-Mayor Diestro to seek the mayorship of Atimonan. Her political faction formed a complete ticket for the local elections without hesitation. Remy Diestro then picked incumbent councilor Victorio Parafina as her running mate.

The campaign started sometime in the middle of September 1971. The political meetings of the parties concerned were held nightly from barrio to barrio as well as in the Poblacion. Such meetings lasted till the wee hours of the morning. In most cases, issues were discussed at a high level. Political attacks were mild. Mud-slinging and jibings [?] were ventured by the unscrupulous and irresponsible leaders. Smearing one's name was uncommon.

The most strenuous but effective phase of the campaign for votes were the visits from house to house.

During the campaign, the re-electionist capitalized on his administration's unsurpassed achievements compared to his predecessors, and more so on his sincerity, integrity, and ability as the chief executive of the municipality. Mayor Diestro utilized her experience and keen observations of the administration, of which she was a part. Atty. Peñamente concentrated on major problems of the community which needed early solutions.

In mid-October, it was the consensus among the independent voters that Vice-Mayor Diestro had the edge over the two other mayoralty aspirants. But, by the end of the same month, indications were clear that Mayor Aguilar was gaining more adherents, and the position of Atty. Peñamente improved a lot.

True to the latest predictions, the re-electionist mayor and his teammate, Patricio Quinto, copped the race. Mayor Aguilar had a majority of vice hundred votes, more or less, over his closest rival, Atty. Peñamente.

The presence of six Liberal and only two Nacionalista councilors in the 1972 Municipal Council's setup did not prove to be a blunder in the second term of administration of Mayor Vicente (Oscar) M. Aguilar. The following accomplishments up to June 1973 will prove the above assertion:

1) Construction of a modern Justice of the Peace court, the best in the Second Congressional District of Quezon.

2) Cementing of municipal streets - Dr. Ramon Soler St., Gregorio Orda St., and Amado St.

3) Construction of the R.P. Bayanihan School Buildings - Atimonan Elem. School (Poblacion), Barrios Buhangin and Inalig.

4) Construction of feeder roads - Barrios Santa Catalina and Rizal.

5) Construction of Marcos-type school building - B. Rizal.

6) Construction of market stalls at the Balagtas Campus.

7) Construction of a lighting system on municipal streets, under the joint sponsorship of the Atimonan Jaycees and the municipal government.

8) Construction of a lighting system at the Amparo Lavides Park under the joint sponsorship of the Atimonan Jaycees and the municipal government.

9) Acquired one cement mixer (personal) for municipal government use.

10. Construction of the Barrio Captain's Hall in barrio Tagbakin.

11. Construction of an irrigation system at barrio Malinao Ibaba (PACD).

12. Construction of an irrigation canal, 2 kms. at barrio Rizal (NIA).

13) Construction of the national highway from Malinao Ibaba to Gumaca (Japanese-Philippine Friendship).

14) Reconstruction of the Lavides Bridge (national).

15) Construction of a footbridge at barrio Inaklagan (PACD).

16) Reconstruction of the Municipal Session Hall.

17) Construction of the Atimonan Lighthouse.

18) Sought the help of the President and Governor to probe land-grabbing cases in this municipality.

19) Sought the help of the President and Governor on the unrest at barrios Santa Catalina, Rizal, Villa Ilaya, Villa Ibaba, and Caridad Ilaya.

20) Construction of a boat landing at barro Baloguhin.

21) Construction of a municipal ditch (canal) - Cerrudo St., Iskong Bantay St., Doña Aurora St., and V. de Gracia St.

22) Construction of the office of the Chief of Police.

23) The Municipal Council approved a ₱14,000.00 supplemental budget, funding of revision of real estate in this municipality.

24) Purchase of office equipment.

In the meantime, as the fate of the present Atimonan Municipal Council, which held office under the Presidential tolerance and, therefore, hung in uncertainty, it was seriously considering a plan to solve the drinking water problem of the community. The help and cooperation of the Bureau of Public Works had been resorted to. Engineer Torres of the aforementioned bureau had promised to prepare a blueprint of the filteration gallery, which when completed would serve as the primary source of drinking water for the Poblacion and suburbs of Atimonan. This would greatly augment the diminishing water supply from the Guinto Waterworks System, which was destroyed in 1928, when the late Leon Guinto, Sr. was the Provincial Governor of Quezon Province (then Tayabas).

This year 1972 to ______________, the Municipal Council was racing against time to realize the water supply project. Whether this could be accomplished before all Municipal Boards were abolished (rumors were increasing

The Municipal Council which was elected on November 8, 1971 under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Aguilar and Vice-Mayor Patricio Quinto, who were both experienced, devoted, and diligent public officials, was unique.

Never had there been in Atimonan a Municipal Council the members of which was a conglomeration of the young and the old and of different callings. The councilors of this council were: Emmanual Grimaldo, a young promising attorney by profession. Legal matters were passed to him by the council. Rodolfo Manalo, a businessman who knew the ins and outs of business transactinos. He studied commerce. Melito Andaya possessed the knowledge of the rural problems, for he served as a barrio captain for a number of years. Romualdo V. Escasa, retired as a public school teacher, having served honestly and efficiently for 42 years. He wrote short plays and dramas in Pilipino for the public's entertainment. Martin (Velor) Legaspi was a jeep operator. He subscribed to the maxim that against frustration, patience and perseverance were the best weapons. Solomon Amador was a retired successful farmer. He was now a proprietor. Lauro Camara, Jr. was once a Singer Sewing Machine agent.