Lakas Kampi mayoralty bet Vicente Magsaysay has announced his priorities if elected as Mayor of the city.

He outlined his plans to reduce local tax by 30%, repair road networks, reduce power rates and provide free land titling.

He laid down his plans during a forum with Columban College Faculty Association (CCFA),  Student Council and several other organizations.

‘Babawasan ko ng 30% ang taxes and fees, dahil ngayon sa kurakot lang naman ito napupunta,’ Magsaysay told some 100 teachers and scores of student leaders in a forum here recently.

‘To date, less than 10% of the properties in the city are titled. A genuine free mass titling program means more capital for businessmen and will encourage entrepreneurship,’ he added.

Magsaysay said that he will remove the garbage fee being paid by the resident’s trough the Public Utilities Department (PUD).

‘I will also remove the garbage fee. This will automatically increase the family’s net income. Garbage collection is a city responsibility. It should be free,’ Magsaysay said.

A billing statement from the National Power Corporation handed out during the forum indicated thatthe city owes some P1.7 billion in generation charges as of June, 2009.

Magsaysay explained that ‘A modern city cannot continue to use a power distribution infrastructure that is almost 50 years old,’ he said, ‘US Navy days pa ang mga iyan. Hindi na nila na-upgrade, ang laki pa ng utang natin sa NPC.’ He added.

Magsaysay noted that the city’s infrastructure is crumbling to pieces. ‘Except for the national roads, the internal road network of the city is dilapidated.

Asked by teachers how he intends to improve education, Magsaysay said that the he will funnel more resources for education.

‘Do you know that right now, some P180 million is allocated for the office of the city mayor. This is simply too extravagant for a city saddled with a P2.5 billion debt,’ he revealed. ‘Social services like education and infrastructure development must get the lion’s share of the budget.’

‘The city government must rationalize spending, generate economic activities, and modernize its infrastructure if we are to provide a better quality of life to our people,’ Magsaysay said.