MBSL, 66, joins his Creator
THE family of former Mayor Benjamin S. Lim announced on Wednesday, January 16, that he passed away at 1:00 A.M. due to pneumonia.
His remains were transported to the city that evening and the convoy that included the bereaved Lim family, was met by a motorcade of friends and supporters at the Urdaneta TPLEx exit and accompanied onward to Eternal Gardens.
City Mayor Belen Fernandez ordered on the same day the national flag in all government agencies and schools to be flown at half-mast “as a sign of mourning for the demise of the former Mayor Benjamin Saplan Lim.”
Supporters holding white balloons lined up parts of the city streets late evening to watch the convoy pass through.
Below is a statement issued by his family:
BENJAMIN Saplan Lim, former congressman of the fourth district of Pangasinan and a three-term mayor of the City of Dagupan, peacefully joined his creator on January 16, 2019.
Fondly called by his peers as Benjie, he was also a successful entrepreneur, and the founder of the Magic Group of Companies, a retail company based in Dagupan City.
He also served from 1992 to 1998 as the General Manager of Duty Free Philippines, having been appointed by Former President Fidel V. Ramos. During his stint as General Manager, Duty Free Philippines became the fourth largest revenue earner for the national government.
As mayor, he was the originator of the Dagupan’s signature celebration – the Bangus Festival. He also created a socialized housing program called Bangusville, rehabilitated the river systems within the city, created the river cruise to attract more tourists into the city, among others.
He was also very active in the non-government and non-profit sector. He served as National President of JCI Philippines (formerly Jaycees) in 1990 and served as an International Vice Prescient of the same organization in 1991.
Known as a visionary, and for his political will and kind-heartedness, his brand of leadership and service was distinguished by always doing what was in the interest of the greater good.
A loving father and husband, Lim is survived by his wife Celia, daughter Irene, and son Brian, who is currently serving as Dagupan City’s vice mayor and a candidate for mayor in the upcoming midterm elections in May.
His remains lie in state at the Eternal Gardens Memorial Park Chapel in Dagupan City and the interment will be on January 24, 2019 at 09:00 A.M.
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