Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano held a meeting with barangay officials in the EMBO (enlisted men’s barrio) areas on Jan. 5 amid the ongoing dispute over the closure of health centers and fire stations. 

The meeting was held to discuss the integration of Taguig’s 10 new barangays and collaboration. 

Mayor Lani Cayetano and city officials in a meeting with EMBO barangay officials (Photos from the Taguig City government)

Cayetano, her husband, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, City Administrator Atty. Jose Luis Montales, and department heads were present at the meeting. 

City officials talked about the delivery of services to EMBO residents and addressed barangay officials’ concerns.

“As we go along, ang commitment po namin sa inyo ay sisikapin kong maging bukas sa pakikinig sa inyo at sana rin po kayo rin po ay maging very welcoming sa mga ilalatag din pong programa ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Taguig dahil tayo po ay mga lingkod-bayan at ang mandato po sa atin ay maglingkod sa ating mga kababayan (As we go along, our commitment to you is that I will try to be open to listening to you and I hope that you will be very welcoming about the programs of the City Government of Taguig that will be laid out because we are all public servants and our mandate is to serve our countrymen),” said Mayor Cayetano. 

According to Senator Cayetano, “We need to talk to set our priorities – serving God and serving the people.”

In a Facebook live video on Jan. 5, the senator said he was disgusted with the Bureau of Fire Protection for closing fire stations in EMBO areas. 

“I am very, very disgusted and very, very upset with the Bureau of Fire, and I promise all of you, I will get to the bottom of this. Hindi pa tapos itong isyu na ito (This issue has yet to end),” he said.  

The Supreme Court ruled last year and transferred the 10 EMBO barangays to Taguig from Makati. 

The Makati City government earlier announced the closure of its health centers in the EMBO areas.