Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos, together with her father-in-law, former Commission on Election (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. filed their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) on Wednesday at the Comelec office in Mandaluyong.
Mayor Abalos will run for the position of vice mayor while former chairman Abalos will run for mayor of the city.
Mayor Abalos succeeded her husband, former Mandaluyong City Mayor and now Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin (Benhur) Abalos Jr. in 2016.
The mayor is well known for her excellent governance of the city, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic wherein the city government was highly recognized for its proactive response.
On February 6, the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) team gave high marks to the city government’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination plan, especially its “Ugnayan sa Barangay” program.
During the team’s visit, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Director Debbie Torres lauded Abalos and the city’s medical officials for their hands-on approach in implementing the Ugnayan sa Barangay program wherein the mayor herself, together with city doctors and medical practitioners, visits different barangays to properly explain the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the city’s efforts in stopping the spread of the virus, and to urge its residents to be inoculated by explaining to them the benefits of being vaccinated and the safety of the vaccines.
Torres said the city’s Ugnayan sa Barangay initiative is very commendable because of its tremendous effort in urging the residents to be vaccinated and mitigating the number of people who are still hesitant in getting the jab.