Matthew Louis Malacon, 23, the youngest elected mayor in Negros Occidental, assumes office as chief executive of E.B. Magalona on June 30.
Known as “Matt”, he will replace his father, Marvin Malacon, whose leadership for nine years transformed E.B. Magalona into a first class municipality in Negros Occidental, as officially recognized by the Department of Finance- Bureau of Local Government Finance, in November last year.
Matt is no stranger to politics, as his grandfather, grandmother, and paternal uncle also served as councilors of E.B. Magalona, while his uncle, “Kap Marlon”, is the current president of the town’s Liga ng mga Barangay.
Prior to being elected mayor in the May 12 midterm elections, Matt also served as kagawad of Brgy. 3 poblacion in 2022, when he was 20 years old. He later became the president of BAKAS, an association of barangay kagawads in E.B. Magalona, before joining his father, “Mayor Marvs”, at the Mayor’s Office as executive assistant.
Matt said he wants to revisit the structure of the municipal government workforce, introducing reforms and enforcement of work discipline to improve overall productivity and effectiveness of employees in the delivery of public service, and modern technology, once he assumes office.
A Gen (Generation) Z who grew up in a world deeply intertwined with technology, including smartphones, social media, and the internet, the neophyte mayor will do networking to listen to and act on the concerns of Saraviahanons, establish scholarship programs for deserving and qualified youth, and be more active in environmental protection programs, among others.
He said he will enumerate the specifics during his oathtaking next month.
Matt vows to continue the infrastructure projects, including water system improvement, energization of more remote areas, and road concreting, among others, that were all started by his predecessor.
In the May 12 elections, he received an overwhelming mandate from Saraviahanons with his landslide win, garnering 20,163 votes against the 6,628 votes of his opponent, Risa Barello.
It was also a 10-0 win for the Team Asenso Tumandok of E.B. Magalona, with his father elected as vice mayor, and Gilda Parcon, Wyndel Depasucat, Edgardo Agravante Jr., Eric Matulac, Erwin Poniado, Ronel Mogul, Romulo Villanueva Jr., and Rosalita Arsenal as councilors-elect.
Since the political season has ended, Matt calls on his opponents to set aside political differences, and those who have reservations about his capacity to lead the municipality, to join him and the Team Asenso Tumandok, to further uplift the lives of Saraviahanons.
While waiting for his formal assumption as mayor, Matt is set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in Economics, degree from the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City.
Age is not a gauge for one’s capability to lead. A good leader is someone who has the heart and passion to serve. Someone who listens to his people and strives for continuous development.
Matt will not allow his age to affect his heart for service. And the mandate given him in the midterm elections means that, according to Saraviahanons, he is the modern leader that they need. | GB
