By Governor Carlito S. Marquez
(Last of four parts)
PEACE AND ORDER AND SPORTS
The past year had been generally peaceful for the province of Aklan and our people.
Crime solution efficiency of our police in Aklan for 2006 was 93.03 percent which is at par with other peaceful province.
At this juncture, may I acknowledge the honors given to us Aklanons by our local heroes who exemplified the best in our young people in the field of sports: in the person of our youthful woodpushers Mira Mirano, Susan Grace T. Neri and Jan Francis Mirano, high and long jumper Merily Teodosio and boxer Rob Montero.
They all made us proud in national and international sports competitions.
While we hope to assist and strengthen our sports programs within the school system, we are determined to pursue parallel sports program under the aegis of the provincial government. But we must consolidate and integrate all our efforts by revitalizing and institutionalizing the provincial sports and physical fitness development council. We have the provincial school board funds and the 20 percent IRA development fund as sources to initially lean on for our sports development program.
Thank you Mr. Fred Neri and our sports officials, DepEd and CHED officials of our province.
GENERAL SUPPORT AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES, ENVIRONMENT
Under the responsibility of our PSWDO, we are consistent with our child welfare programs particularly in the implementation of the early childhood care and development funded with P23.57 million for the three year period from 2007-2009 for which 70 percent, or P16.5 million, comes from the council for the welfare of children and the rest to be shouldered by the province and the municipalities participating.
This is where the food for school program of Pres. Arroyo will be coursed through and we have targeted the towns of Tangalan, Buruanga and Lezo for this purpose. We are also particularly concerned with the plight of our Day Care workers that last year, because of their small allowance, we granted 425 of them P2,000 each as livelihood assistance. We must, because they are the frontliners in caring for our children who are pre-schoolers under the roofs of the Day Care Centers.
Our PSWDO continues to be the focal office for the implementation of the comprehensive integrated delivery of social services mainly funded by the DSWD with counterpart from the provincial government. The same office is also responsible for other social programs for the welfare of the disabled and senior citizens, youth welfare, and women welfare.
These social programs are further strengthened by a provincial ordinance passed by this chamber, the family and child welfare code, approved last year.
Parallel to this, with the PPDO as the focal office, we are setting aside funds from our 20 percent IRA development fund to strengthen our gender and development program in the province and organize and institutionalize the GAD commission and the operation of the Aklan comprehensive center for women.
As a jump off from the fairly successful implementation of the UNFPA funded program on reproductive health for Aklanons in adolescent age, a separate unit is likewise handling our campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS and our program implementation seems to serve as a model for other LGUs in the region in the country.
The 6th country programme of assistance alone the province of Aklan has received international award through Ms. Maranatha Estrada – first prize winner of the Violet Richardson Award Young Woman Community Voluntarism. Aklan is an international nominee to the Felipa Awards of the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission. Also recognized internationally as best/useful practice on HIV and AIDS as featured in the UNAID website.
Last year, we fully operationalized two additional departments in the provincial government, aside from the EEDD, and these are the Provincial Population Office and the Provincial Cooperative Office.
While the office of the Governor and our provincial human resource management office were trying the direction for a lean and mean provincial government bureaucracy, we cannot do otherwise, because of present day realities.
As of last year, the provincial government, the largest bureaucracy in the province, has to contend with 801 regular plantilla positions, 972 casual and job order employees, the bulk of which are deployed in our hospitals, 18 contractual personnel. Our PHRMO will have a lot to do in structural, organizational and functional streamlining to make the local government responsive and effective in the service of our people. There will be a lot to do to change for the better work values and attitude and improve work efficiency and responsiveness for the good of our people. And PHRMO is trying hard through the conduct of relevant trainings and seminars for our work force.
Thank you Mrs. Ellen Tolentino and staff of the Provincial Human Resource Office.
We are having the provincial cooperative office to strengthen and reinforce the cooperative movement in this province as a vehicle towards a community where there is equity, democracy, social justice and sustainable economic development.
Thank you Mrs. Lilian Rey and staff of the PCO.
The population office was given its own identity to chart program directions on the improvement of demographic indicators affecting population for greater quality and productivity of our people. And so, it will not be concerned of population growth only but also with resource generation, networking and social mobilization, reproductive health and sustainable responsible parenthood, and adolescent health and youth development programs.
Thank you Mr. Arturo Teodosio, Jr. and staff of the PPO.
In all of these efforts, behind us is our provincial general services office providing overall support services by being the custodian of all properties and assets and so last year, all our provincial government – owned motor vehicles had been duly registered and insured. The office helped us in the procurement of goods and services. Last year alone, it has procured hospital equipment and supplies worth P31.8 million and bidded out a total of 317 projects and services. The beautiful face of the capitol grounds is also the office’s responsibility.
Aklan is one among the few provinces in the country which has implemented the e-procurement program.
Thank you Ms. Medelia Solanoy and staff of PGSO.
Providing us internal control and auditing and help us in sound fiscal management is our provincial accounting office. Our brain and workhorse in setting program directions and building its framework through studies and researches and oftentimes set development policy direction is our Provincial Planning and Development office.
Thank you Ms. Mavic Salido and staff of PACCO.
Thank you sincerely Engr. Roger M. Esto and staff of PPDO.
May I again express my gratitude to the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan with the Vice Governor Kel Tolentino at the helm for bearing with my executive governance of this province for the past two years and a half. With 492 Resolutions, 34 Provincial Ordinances, 7 Appropriation Ordinances passed last year, this chamber is indeed dynamic and made my job easy and smooth sailing. It has to be noted that many of those ordinances were considered historic and landmark local legislations.
I would also like to acknowledge the sincere but humble efforts of former Congressman Allen S. Quimpo in steering the directions as Executive Director of the Aklan Rivers Development Council. I was informed that the Master Plan for our Aklan Rivers System had been already finalized which may need the nod of this August body. To include the water users fee, I think this will need the confirmation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
As I close, please allow me to say thank you to Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores, thank you Vice Governor Kel Tolentino, thank you SP Stevens Fuentes, thank you SP Daisy Briones, thank you SP Plaridel Morania, thank you SP Sonny Regalado, thank you SP Eriberto Venus, thank you SP Pete Garcia, thank you SP Jose Yap, thank you SP Gerick Templonuevo, thank you SP Selwyn Ibarreta, thank you SP Ramon Gelito, thank you SP PCL Rep. President Franklin Quimpo, thank you SP ABC Federation President Ananias Solina, thank you SK Federation President Representative Kaizan Victor Fernandez, thank you SP Secretary Odon Bandiola and entire SP staff.
Thank you heads and staff of national offices, thank you heads and staff of NGO’s, thank you our friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant good morning.
Abu guid nga saeamat!!! /MP
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