TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 28 (PIA) -- Elected Valencia Mayor Dionisio Neil Balite rallied the crowd towards change that starts with the self in a push to end poverty in the town.

Balite took his oath of office before Judge Prince Joses Lim of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court Valencia, Balite.

He sang a praise song to guide him in his three-year term and asked the people to stand with him.

“Despite our victory, I was and always reminded ‘we must be humble in victory, and give all the praise to God,’” he said.

Balite has banked his campaign on change and more progress, and vowed to continue the good things that the previous administrations have implemented in the town.

“Let us stay humble and stay blessed,” he said, adding that getting overwhelmed with power and celebration can often lead to lost direction.

“Lisud na kon ma-overwhelmed ta, lisud na kon mahubog sa sobrang pagsadya, kon mahubog ta sa gahum, makalimot kita nga ang atong kadaugan, gikan sa kahitas-an (It’s hard if we become overwhelmed and get drunk on power, we forget that our victory comes from above),” Balite said.

In his inaugural speech, Balite chose Livelihood, Education, Health, Social Services, and Infrastructure as pillars of development towards the future golden years of the town.

He said he knows that progress is elusive, and knowing the local situation, he added that the town has a lot of problems.

He called on his soon to be co-workers in government to change their mindsets and do away with the feeling of being important, saying that the new brand of service would be honest, obedient, and trustworthy. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)