Lilibeth “Ybing” J. Salarda, MPA, is a respected public servant and community leader from Alabel, Sarangani Province. She is a proud product of Alabel’s public education system, having completed her elementary studies at Alabel Central Elementary School in 1979 and secondary education at Alabel National High School in 1983. She later pursued a Junior Secretarial Course at Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College in 1986 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from GenSantos Foundation College, Inc. in 2013.

In 2015, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, majoring in Local Governance, from Bukidnon State University (BukSU). Her decades-long career in government service reflects her unwavering commitment to local governance, tourism, agriculture, and holistic community development.

Ybing Salarda began her public service career in 1995 during the term of the late Municipal Mayor Hernando L. Sibugan, starting humbly as a staff member, clerk, utility worker, and administrative aide at the Municipal Accounting Office, where she was mentored by Municipal Accountant Narvin Lachica and former Municipal Budget Officer Abner H. Labaniego. She later served as Private Secretary to then Vice Mayor Vic Paul Salarda, and eventually as Executive Assistant II and IV under the Office of the Municipal Mayor.

Early in the Salarda administration, she was designated as Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) of Alabel, where she demonstrated dynamic leadership in addressing malnutrition and implementing sustainable nutrition programs. She collaborated closely with Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), health workers, and volunteers, empowering families with knowledge on proper food preparation, dietary diversity, and the importance of breastfeeding.

Her administrative capabilities were further proven when she served as Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, where she focused on enhancing operational efficiency and improving agricultural services for constituents.

As Municipal Administrator of Alabel, she built a solid reputation as a competent and devoted public servant. Currently, she serves as Chairperson of the Alabel Tourism Council and Treasurer of the Sarangani Provincial Tourism Council, Inc., championing tourism development and economic growth both in Alabel and the wider province.

Among her most notable accomplishments is her leadership in transforming Ladol Beach into a key tourism destination, promoting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and spearheading the establishment of the Alabel Municipal Tourism Operations Office. She also led the initiative to declare Barangay Datal Anggas as Alabel’s Agritourism and Summer Capital—efforts that earned the municipality high marks in governance for Tourism, Culture and Arts, History, and Heritage Development, ultimately attaining Hall of Fame status under the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

For her exceptional contributions to the tourism sector, she received the prestigious "SOX Women in Tourism" award from the Department of Tourism - Region 12.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ybing remains deeply grounded in her community. She is the wife of Mayor Vic Paul Salarda and the proud mother of Punong Barangay Engr. Florence Paul J. Salarda of Poblacion, Alabel. Her daughter-in-law, Dr. Glaiza Ann Homez, is a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist.

She draws inspiration from her late parents, Municipal Councilors Teodulito “Duloy” Arquillano Jabilles Sr. and Teresita “Cita” Jore Jabilles, who instilled in her the values of integrity, public service, and compassion. Her parents-in-law, Vicente and Florentina Molina Salarda, were esteemed public school teachers and community leaders, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Alabel.

Fondly called “Ate Ybing” by many, she is a visionary leader with bold plans for Alabel’s future. Her priorities include establishing Alabel State College, introducing innovations in agriculture and tourism, deploying mobile clinics, and fostering unity among the tri-people of the municipality. She is also a staunch advocate for local economic empowerment and the inclusion of marginalized sectors, ensuring that development reaches every Alabelian.

In May 2025, Ybing Salarda made history by becoming the second female Local Chief Executive of Alabel after securing a landslide victory. With her wealth of experience, genuine passion for public service, and deep love for her hometown, Mayor Ybing’s leadership is a beacon of hope for Alabel’s transformation into a model municipality in Sarangani Province and beyond.