Mayor John Rey Tiangco’s unwavering passion for public service

In the northwest part of Metro Manila lies Navotas, a first-class city recognized as the Fishing Capital of the Philippines with a population of almost 250,000. Nearly 70 percent of its residents work in the fishing industry, with the Navotas Fish Port as the landing ground for most commercial fishing boats in the country. And there’s still much for the city to achieve.

Leading the charge to progress and development is Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, whom Navotas residents, or Navoteños, know his brand of public service–dedicated and sincere.

He first held the position from 2010 to 2019, when his brother, now Navotas Representative Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, finished his three terms as city mayor. The incumbent Navotas mayor shared that he had no plans of running for a position in public service, but all that changed when he acted as a representative for the private sector in one of the public schools in the Department of Education (DepEd)’s School Governing Council (SGC).

While there, he saw the students’ plight and schools’ conditions, which struck a personal note for Tiangco.

“My father, when he was in elementary, went to one of the public schools here. His family was lucky to have the opportunity given by the city. That inspired me, and I felt it as an obligation to give back,” Tiangco told Manila Standard LGU.

Tiangco eventually took the chance to lead the city when his brother stepped down as mayor, continuing the work he had begun. In 2010, Tiangco adopted the slogan “Navotas, NavotaAs! Itaas ang antas ng buhay Navoteño,” which remains the defining factor and guide for his actions and decisions as the city’s executive head.

(Read about how the Tiangco brothers work hand-in-hand to achieve their goals for the city)

He vowed to prioritize health, education, livelihood, peace and order, and housing projects in the city. For instance, most of the city’s housing projects focus on providing residents living in subpar conditions with a better environment to thrive in, like those who dwelled in house-on-stilts.

Before moving to the housing units, they were prone to the dangers of inclement weather and lack of necessary resources, often having to evacuate for their safety. Tiangco shared their joy when they moved to the new housing units, knowing his constituents are in better circumstances.

Another project Navoteños demanded is a public hospital, which Tiangco almost immediately provided as its construction began in 2014.

“Nakita natin na nagbibigay serbisyo sa mga tao. Natutuwa sila na mayroon na silang mapupuntahan na mas malapit na ospital. Marami kasing iba’t ibang programna ginagawa at medyo holistic ang approach niya,” Tiangco said.

In the meantime, his education and livelihood programs also bore significant results as he saw how they helped the Navoteños improve their ways of life. Tiangco added that the city’s training centers equipped the residents with the necessary skills and values to secure jobs after graduation.

Presently, Tiangco finds ways to improve the projects he implemented for the various sectors he vowed to prioritize years ago, always considering the public’s demands by giving them a voice through several avenues, such as representatives during meetings and a feedback platform.

Given the success of his projects and programs, Tiangco can claim that he’s an effective public leader. Yet he keeps his feet planted firmly on the ground.

“You have to be humble enough to accept that you don’t know everything so that you’re willing to learn and understand and get the help of others,” the Navotas Mayor said, adding that there’s more to achieve when people work together.

Under Tiangco’s leadership, Navoteños saw numerous improvements in their city while equipping residents with the necessary tools and equipment to lead better lives. As an individual, his humility and passion for what he does amplify the positive results he brings, making him a trusted household name within the city.