EDITORIAL

Financially Healthy Aklan

by ODON S. BANDIOLA

(Editor’s Note: This is the main portion of the presentation speech by Mr. Odon S. Bandiola for Aklan Provincial Gov. Carlito S. Marquez as guest speaker and inducting officer during the Induction Program of the Aklan Press Club, Inc. held on July 29, 2011 at Hernani’s Mix ‘n Match, Kalibo, Aklan.)

When our distinguished provincial governor first assumed office in 2004, not long after, he accommodated me as one of his staff members serving him on a consultancy basis focusing on media affairs.

When then Vice Governor, Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino appointed me as Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan with his blessings in March 2005, I have closely monitored our guest’s performance and accomplishments like an insider looking from the outside or, through the workings of the provincial legislative body.

When our provincial governor shall leave the baton of the governorship of Aklan in 2013 to his successor, the 2010-2013 period being his third and final term, he will be contented with the thought that he will be leaving a robust and healthy province.

Under him, Aklan is virtually a first class province, only awaiting the official classification by the Bureau of Local Government Finance by the end of 2011 as the provincial government has more than doubled its average annual income than the prescribed P350 million annual income for a first class province.

The audit report of the Commission on Audit for 2010 revealed that our provincial government realized an income in 2010 of P860,399,152.00, an increase of P126,489,088.00 over that of 2009 of P733,910,064.00. Prudent fiscal management under his administration had consistently made sure that the provincial government is living within its means. Out of the more than P860 million income last year, the province spent only more than P642 million. In 2009, out of the more than P733 million income, the province spent only more than P565 million.

The Commission On Audit (COA) report cited Aklan under our guest’s administration for recording an overall surplus of P103,925,918.00 in 2010, higher by P26,050,730.00 than in 2009.

Notable among the COA findings is the collections from local taxes, permits and licenses had increased by P23,681,809.70 in 2010. The 2010 operations showed a tremendous increase in earnings out of locally generated revenue of P343,399,336.00, meaning that we are becoming less and less dependent from our share in the Internal Revenue Allotment in our 2011 annual budget of P976,436,012.00.

To summarize the COA report, it said, the Province of Aklan under the term of our Provincial Governor has continued to achieve higher levels of developmental goals and accomplishments. More basic services such as health, social services and infrastructure projects were implemented.

No doubt, our distinguished guest is the father of economic enterprises as major component of his local governance. As a corporate man, it is a masterstroke to liberate local governments from the rigid budgetary prescription of ceilings on personal services appropriations, otherwise, the provincial government of Aklan could not have expanded its services particularly in hospital operations where more doctors, nurses and other health workers are needed. The provincial government of Aklan is the biggest employer here around, tripling its manpower component since our guest assumed office in 2004. The LGU Aklan always complies with the statutory salary standardization for its employees.

But Aklan’s Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) is not just skirting the statutory Personal Services limitation. It found a gold mine in its port operations, a success story which is inscribed in the story books of the department of finance, an experience in bond flotation, how to borrow, repay and earn from it.

According to COA, "the province of Aklan has been aggressive in financing its growth with debt. If this debt were to increase earnings by a greater amount than the debt cost, then the province stands to benefit from it." Our guest can be credited for contracting loans as financial institutions are outracing each other to lend us to the maximum amount of P650 million. This is Aklan’s credit worthiness and trustworthiness.

I opted to dwell on sound fiscal management as Provincial Governor Carlito S. Marquez is the main man and substance of local governance for which he has the mandate of our people since 2004.

I am greatly honored to present to you our guest speaker and inducting officer, Hon. Carlito S. Marquez, Aklan Provincial Governor. /MP