CONFESSION BOX. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez addresses city hall employees during a flag-raising ceremony on Monday (July 2, 2019). He told constituents that his office will become a 'confession box' for the first time as he will listen to the concerns and recommendations of department heads. (Photo courtesy of city government)

TACLOBAN CITY — Mayor Alfred Romualdez said on Wednesday he will review the performances of the city government’s department heads in the last three years to set directions to govern the city until 2022.

The mayor said his office will become a “confession box” for the first time as he will listen to the concerns and recommendations of department heads.

“I have worked with them before and they knew that my demands are very high and I set high standards. So I expect them to really work hard,” Romualdez told reporters.

Romualdez formally assumed the post as the city mayor on Monday, replacing his wife, Cristina, who led the city for one term, which ended on June 30.

He has served as the city mayor for nine years from 2007 to 2016.

Contrary to perceptions of some critics, he said he never intervened during the administration of his wife, and gave her a free hand as the city’s chief executive.

“In fact, in the past three years, I was a civilian looking at the city and its people from a different perspective, thus, giving me more ideas on the things that I have to do,” Romualdez added.

Among his priorities is to ensure that all basic services needed by the people will be provided.

“We need to double our time, to work hard, and work together to answer the challenges,” he said.

Tacloban, with a population of 242,089 as of 2015, is a first class highly urbanized city. It serves as the regional center of Eastern Visayas.

The Romualdezes have been in control of the city government in the past two decades.

Alfred is the son of former Mayor Alfredo Romualdez who governed the city from 1998 to 2007. Alfredo is the younger brother of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos. (PNA/ Lizbeth Ann Abella )