2011 Marquez SOPA

"More jobs, more infrastructures, more economic activities, more livelihood opportunities, more resources our government – a better future for Aklan and the Aklanons", Governor Carlito S. Marquez assured his people before the overflowing crowd on Wednesday morning, February 2 when he delivered his State of the Province Address (SOPA) held in the SP session hall, Provincial Capitol, Kalibo.
The Aklan journalists were requested to stay outside of the session hall during the SOPA. Hence, they stayed outside and enjoyed conversing.
Allowed inside the session hall were invited guests like the municipal mayors and municipal vice mayors, national, provincial, and municipal officials, department heads and other very important persons.
The SOPA over, the session was temporarily suspended, snacks were served. The VIPs were first served while the members of the fourth estate were told to wait.
Gov. Marquez highly recognized the accomplishment of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for "these enactments... necessary to facilitate and support" development programs. He thanked the members of the Aklan SP
Marquez reported on the major sources of provincial funds which collection increased tremendously. These sources are from ports and jetty port, tourism, mining, sand and gravel, and real estate property taxes.
The EEDD and general fund grossed P829 million in 2010 which is 14 percent higher than 2009. Marquez also reported the money accomplishments of DTI and BIR in Aklan.
Anchored on the theme: "Finding the key to fit the lock: Assess...Empower... Implement...Sustain for a Progressive Aklan Com-munity", the provincial budget is addressed to realize the "united aspirations to the Aklanons need for quality service", Marquez declared.
The 2011 budget amounts to P587.9 million for general fund and P388.4 million for EEDD or a total of P976.3 million.
The budget just lacks P28.7 million to reach one billion pesos. Is Aklan a billionaire? This is third highest in Region VI as to amount allocation. This amount, almost a billion peso budget for 2011 will be spent for the following programs, projects, and activities.
1. Youth, Sports, Education: scholarships of about 1,000 scholars, food, program, teachers salaries, and hosts sports projects.
2. Agriculture like rice, corn, fruits, and vegetables, abaca production, fisheries, livestock development and production like cattle, goats, and repair of irrigation systems.
3. Infrastructure – construction of sports complex, repair of provincial guest house, construction of brand new two storey building, and the concreting, improvement and repair of provincial, municipal, and barangay roads, and for the construction of drainage canals, slope, protection works, flood control, and maintenance works. For Guadalupe bridge, Madalag, the amount of P184.8 million is budgeted. Construction is in progress. Caticlan Jetty Port is being upgraded.
Health – Tuberculosis is delisted from the top 10 leading cause of illness in Aklan. It is ranked number six cause of death. The 7.99 percent malnutrition among school children in 2009 is lowered to only 6.49 percent in 2010. There are now 203 botika sa barangay established or about 72 percent out of 327 barangays. There are now 44,437 Philhealth cardholders.
Tourism – the tourists arrivals in Boracay increased from 649,559 in 2009 to 779,666 or 20 percent in 2010. Of this number, 278,531 were foreigners, a 44.41 percent increased from 192,873 in 2009. This number of tourists brought an estimated P14.3 billion revenues.
To rehabilitate inmates in the jail, regular counseling services, gift giving projects, sports, and medical services are done.
Is there peace and order in Aklan? In 2010, the SOPA states 2,026 crimes were reported committed or 34 crimes per month. This is more than one per day. /MP