On June 19, 2025, in an emotional address to the people he served for six transformative years, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. bid farewell to Angeles City not with regret, but with quiet pride — leaving office with promises fulfilled and a legacy firmly in place.
“Six years ago, I vowed to make our beloved Angeles City better,” he said, his voice full of emotion. “Today, with God’s grace and your support, I fulfilled that vow.”
Stepping down with dignity and a record of impact, Mayor Lazatin’s farewell was more than a speech — it was a moment of reflection, gratitude, and affirmation that leadership grounded in service can change lives.
From the very start, Mayor Lazatin vowed to honor the public service legacy of his grandfather Apung Feleng and his father, the late Mayor Tarzan Lazatin. Despite inheriting limited resources and facing the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, he pressed on with steady resolve — delivering results that resonated in every barangay and household.
Under his administration, Angeles City earned 44 awards, including the rare back-to-back Seal of Good Local Governance, national recognition for its COVID-19 response, and the title of Central Luzon’s top city in functional literacy for 2024.
His legacy includes over ₱4.8 billion in infrastructure projects, such as:
- 8 new Puso primary healthcare units
- An expanded dialysis center and a soon-to-rise city hospital
- Upgraded classrooms and labs at the City College of Angeles
- The first fully solar-powered public elementary school
- A compliant waste transfer station and a city-funded wastewater treatment facility
- 3 new public cemeteries
- Solar panel installations in all government offices and barangay halls
But beyond physical infrastructure, Mayor Lazatin’s administration was defined by integrity, people-first policies, and a deep respect for public trust.
Addressing city employees during his farewell, he turned the spotlight on their role in the city’s progress. “Look at the person beside you,” he told them. “It is because of you that we triumphed over every challenge.”
He gave special thanks to his closest collaborators, including Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, his department heads, city councilors, and his Senior Staff led by Chief Adviser IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel.
He also paid tribute to the retired and departed public servants whose service built the foundation for his administration’s success.
As he begins a new chapter as the First District Representative, Mayor Lazatin reassured his constituents that public service continues. “It has been the highest honor of my life to serve as your Mayor,” he said. “I will continue to work for the betterment of every Angeleño — and for our neighbors in Mabalacat City and Magalang. We are just getting started.”
With heart, honor, and humility, Mayor Lazatin closed his final chapter at city hall — not with farewell, but with a promise to keep serving, this time, on a broader stage.
