Congressman-elect and outgoing Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi attended his last flag-raising ceremony as local chief executive on Monday, June 27, and was honored with an award and plaques of recognition.
“Hindi naman ho talaga pagpapaalam sa kanya kundi hinahatid lang natin sa kanyang bagong tungkulin (This is not really a goodbye to him but we are just sending him off to his new duty),” said incoming mayor and outgoing Rep. Ruffy Biazon.
He added, “Inaasahan din po natin ang kanyang mahusay na paglilingkod na pinakita sa ating lungsod (We look forward to the great service that he has shown in our city).”
In response, Fresnedi said, “Maraming-maraming salamat sa inyong pagpapakita ng inyong pagmamahal sa inyong lingkod. Alam po ninyo makasaysayan ang araw na ito dahil po ang huling Lunes na ako ay inyong makakasama bilang inyong punong lungsod. (Thank you very much for showing me your love. You know this is a historic day because this is the last Monday that I will be with you as mayor).”
During the event, Fresnedi was given a plaque of recognition by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council “in recognition of his service and leadership as the LDRRMC chairperson that led us to achieve the highest spot of resiliency pillar for highly urbanized cities in the Philippines during the Regional Competitiveness Summit 2021. His exemplary dedication and commitment in providing service to the people is truly admirable and have left us the passion and eagerness to continue our plans in achieving the goals of disaster risk reduction.”
The plaque was signed by Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro, LDRRMC vice chairperson, and Councilor Paty Katy Boncayao and has the names of the LDRRMC members from the national and local non-government organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Muntinlupa also gave Fresnedi the North Star Leadership Award “in recognition of your outstanding transformational leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, youth development and capacity building for sustainable livelihood, inspiring constituents and the Muntinlupa citizenry towards inclusive growth.” It was signed by Elvie Sanchez Quiazon, PCCI-NCR regional governor and chairman of PCCI-Muntinlupa.
In addition, the Muntinlupa City Council presented Fresnedi a plaque of recognition “for his exemplary performance, dedicated service and visionary leadership for three consecutive terms as elected city mayor that brought about unprecedented growth and progress in the City of Muntinlupa thereby laying the foundation for sustainable development for the benefit of the present and future generations of Muntinlupenos.”
“Salamat po, Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi. Maraming-maraming salamat po (Thank you, Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi. Thank you very much),” said Corro.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako dahil sinamahan po ninyo ako sa mahabang panahon na ng aking paglalakbay, magkakasama tayo. Alam po ninyo, wala na akong masasabi kundi talagang buo ang Muntinlupa (I am thankful because you accompanied me during my long journey, we are together. You know, I cannot say anything more but Muntinlupa is really united),” said Fresnedi.
Fresnedi started his career in public service after the EDSA Revolution in 1986 when he was appointed municipal attorney and then officer-in-charge vice mayor.
He ran in the 1988 elections and won his first term as vice mayor and served in the position until 1998.
After completing three full terms, he ran and won as mayor of Muntinlupa in 1998, a position he held until 2007. He came back and won as mayor in 2013 and has served three full terms.
In the May 9 elections, Fresnedi won as congressman, his first as a member of the House of Representatives.