2006 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

WHEN I ASSUMED OFFICE AS THE CITY MAYOR OF DAPITAN I BECAME AN INHERITOR OF THE GLORIOUS PAST OF THE CITY AND ALSO A HOSTAGE TO THE CITY’S UNCERTAIN FUTURE. IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, I HAVE TO PROVE EQUAL TO THE TWOFOLD CHALLENGE- THE CHALLENGE OF HOW I WILL TAKE CARE OF MY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PAST AND THE CHALLENGE OF PERFORMING MY OBLIGATION TO THE FUTURE.

OUT OF THE FIFTY (50) BARANGAYS, ALL WAVING THE FLAG OF “ASENSIO DAPITAN”, OUT OF THE HEARTSTRINGS OF SEVENTY- FIVE (75) THOUSAND DAPITANONS ALL VIBRATING TO THE SAME ASPIRATION, I STARTED IN RAISING, STONE BY STONE THE STRUCTURE OF THE OTHER DAPITAN PAINSTAKINGLY DONE OVER THESE YEARS…IF WE FAIL IN THE PRESENT CHALLENGE WE LOSE ALL THAT WE HAVE BUILT. IF WE SUCCEED, WE SUCCEED IN BUILDING THOSE BRIDGES TO THE FUTURE THROUGH WHICH WE REACH A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL OUR PEOPLE BOTH THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE GENERATION. WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THE URGENT CHANGES RELEVANT IN OUR ROAD MAP FOR PROGRESS. WE CANNOT LIVE LONG ON A SNAIL PACE CRAWLING ECONOMY OTHERWISE OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES ALL THESE YEARS WILL BE MORE THAN THE REVENUES WE COULD RAISE. WE CAN’T GO ON THIS WAY. THAT IS WHY WE NEED OUR TAX REMEDIAL MEASURES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVENUES TO REIGN IN THE EXPENDITURE AND SUPPORT THE IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT ARE PART OF OUR PRO-POOR AGENDA, NAMELY MORE JOBS AND MORE INVESTMENTS IN OUR PEOPLE. THIS WILL SIGNAL TO THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT WW DAPITAN CITY HAS TURNED THE CORNER AND IS A PLACE TO INVEST AND TAP THE VITAL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. WE FACED A SHARP SCRUTINY OF OUR FISCAL STATUS AND IF WE HURDLE THE BARRIER WE CAN HAVE ONE OF THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR A STRONG ECONOMIC TAKE- OFF.

ANG ATONG KAGAMHANAN SA DAKBAYAN NANINGUHA SA PAGTUMAN SA USA KA MAKUTI UG MALISUD NGA PAGPANGUBRA SA BULUHISAN SA MGA TAWO ILABINA GAYUD KADTONG MGA TAWO NGA DUNAY DAGKO NGA AMOROSO SA PINGKASAN. ANG MALAMPUSON NGA PAGSINGIL SA MGA BALAYRONON SA KATAWHAN NGADTO SA KAGAMHANAN NAKATABANG UG DAKO ARON IKATAPAK SA KAKULANGON SA MGA GALASTUHAN SA DAKBAYAN. GUMIKAN SA MAKUGIHON NGA PAGPANINGKAMOT UG PAGDUYOG SA KATAWHAN NAPASAKA ATONG KOLEKSIYON SA BULUHISAN SA TUIG 2004-2005 SA BAYNTE SAIS (26%) PORSYENTO SA REAL PROPERTY TAX, DESI-OTSO (18%) PORSYENTO SA BUSINESS TAX UG SAYSENTA ITRES (63%) PORSYENTO SA REGULAR FEES AND OTHER CHARGES KAY SA ATONG NAKUHA SA TUIG 2003-2004.

TO GET THE ECONOMY BACK ON THE TRACK FROM ITS CHRONIC ANEMIA IN THE PAST YEARS, WE IMPROVED TAX COLLECTION, PASSED BUDGET THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR PRO-POOR AGENDA. WE HAVE TAKEN FIRMER ACTIONS IN ORDER NOT TO PERMIT CORRUPTION TO GAIN FOOTHOLD IN THE DIFFERENT CORRIDORS OF GOVERNANCE. TO STRENGTHEN OUR CREED NOT TO STAIN THE CITY GOVERNMENT’S OPERATION WITH THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE ENHANCEMENT OF CAPABILITY BUILDING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, THE CITY GOVERNMENT ASSUMES THE ROLE AS AN ACTIVE AND EFFICIENT AGENT TO IMPLEMENT FAITHFULLY TE OBJECTIVES OF TRANSPARENT ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE. 

WE HAVE INSTITUTED IRON-FISTED CAMPAIGN PUSHERS AND USERS OF PROHIBITED DRUGS. THE CITY GOVERNMENT HAS RELENTLESSLY INT6ENSIFIED ANTI-ILLEGAL DRUG OPERATIONS RESULTING TO THE ARREST OF PUSHERS AND USERS, STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT WILL TEARDOWN THE MORAL VALUES OF THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH.

TUNGOD SA PAGKAMATINUD-ANON SA KAMPANYA KONTRA SA DRUGA ANG ATONG DAKBAYAN MIGULA NGA MALAMPUSON SA PAGLIMPYO SA KATAWHAN NING BISYO NGA MAOY GIILA NGA CANCER SA KATILINGBAN.

OUR GROWTH RATE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LOT LOWER HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A ROBUST PERFORMANCE OF OUR AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. OUR AGRICULTURE GREW BY 5 PERCENT THIS FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR. THIS PERFORMANCE IS ATTRIBUTED TO FAVORABLE WEATHER, THE RIGHT WORK ATTITUDE OF OUR FARMERS AND THE SCIENTIFIC FARMING APPLIED. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE OUR LEVEL OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH INVESTMENT IN MORE EFFICIENT FARMING METHODS AND INNOVATIONS IN OUR CROPPING. WE NEED TO GROW AT RATE THAT WE COULD ATTAIN TO HAVE MEANINGFUL, IMPACT ON POVERTY REDUCTION. WE HAVE THE SKILLS, THE TECHNOLOGY THE WORK HABITS, THE ENTHUSIASM TO COMPETE TOE-TO-TOE IN A MORE RUTHLESS COMPETITION THEATRE.

WITH THE THRUST FOR A SOUND ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY TO AGRICULTURE THE CITY HAS TAKEN CONCRETE MOVES DESIGNED FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY, AGRI-TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO SCRAP THE SPREADING POVERTY IN THE LARGER PORTION OF THE CONSTITUENTS THROUGH EXTENDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT ON FARMING, FISHING AND COOPERATIVE SECTOR, OPTIMIZING BENEFITS AS WE ENDEAVOR TO USHER AND MOTIVATE OUR FARMERS AND FISHERMEN TO HIGHER LEVEL OF PRODUCTIVITY.

ANAA KARON ANG ATONG MGA TAWO SA AGRICULTURA ARON SA PAG-APOD-APOD NGADTO SA MGA BARANGAY SA GITAWAG  NGA HIGH VALUED CROPS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD INGON MAN ANG PAGPANGHATAG SA MGA TANUM NGA PRUTAS SAMA SA AVOCADO, MANGUSATAN, POMELO, NANGKA, SANTOL, RAMBUTAN, DURIAN, LANZONES UG MANGGA ARON ITANUM UG SA INGON NGA PAAGI ANG GIPAHIMUTANG NGA ECONOMIYA GIKAN SA AGRIKULTURA MOABOT HANGTUD SA KINASU-OKANNG BARANGAY  SA DAKBAYAN. UG SA MOABOT ANG PANAHON NGA ANG MGA TANUM ADUNA NAY PRODUCTO UG MAKATABANAG SA PANGINABUHI SA MGA LUMOLUPYO. KINI MAKADUGANG PAGBASWAT SA KATAWHAN GIKAN SA MALISOD NGA KAHIMTANG.

GANI ADUNA NAY NADAWAT ANG KAGAMHANAN NGA RETURN OF INVESTMENT (ROI) GIKAN NING MAONG KALIHOKAN. USA KINI SA MGA PAAGI PARA MOKITA UG SALAPI ARON IKATAMPO ALANG AS MGA KAAYOHAN SA KADAGAHANAN. NAKAPANIGURO AKO NGA SA PANAHON NGA MAHIMO NA NGA FULLY PRODUCTIVE KINING MAONG MGA TANUM MAHIMO KINING USA SA MGA REVENUE EARNERS SA DAKBAYAN.

GIASIKASO USAB SA KAGAMHANAN ANG ATONG MGA LUNA NGA NAHIMONG FISHING GROUND PINAAGI PAG-AMPING UG PAG-ATIMAN  SA ATONG MGA KATUNGGAN UG PAGPANANUM SA KAHOY NGA ANAA MOTUBO SA KATUNGGAN ARON MAAMPINGAN ANG MGA BREEDING GROUNDS SA ATONG MGA ISDA. ADUNA KITAY PATROL BOAT NGA ANAA NAGBANTAY SA ATONG KADGATAN ARON MASUMPO ANG ILLEGAL NGA PAGPANAGAT KON ILLEGAL FISHING NGA MAOY MAKAHATAG VUG KADAOT SA ATONG RECORSOS NATURALES O BAHANDI SA KADAGATAN. ATONG ANGAY MAHBALOAN NGA ANG ISDA UG UBAN PRODUCTO SA KADAGATAN USA SA MGA GISALIGAN NGA MAKATABANG SA ATONG PANGINABUHI.

THE AGRICULTURE THROUGH THE FISHERY DIVISION IS MAINTAINING DEMO PROJECTS FOR HIGH VALUED FISH IN BARANGAY SAN PEDRO WHICH IS THE SHOWCASE OF AGRICULTURE PROJECTS THAT REAR AND PRODUCE TALAKITOK, LAPU-LAPU AND BANGUS IN FISH CAGES.

SA TINGUHA NGA MODAGHAN ANG ATONG PRODUCTO SA KADAGATAN GIDASIG ANG ATONG MGA BARANGAY NGA ANAA SA KABAYBAYONAN PAGBATON UG FISH SANCTUARY UG KARON ANNA NAY FISH SANCTUARY SA BARANGAY NAPO, GUIMPUTLAN, CANLUCANI, ALIGUAY, SILINOG, BANBANAN, BAYLIMANGO, CARANG UG TAG-ULO.

SA ATONG INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ANG ATONG MGA PROYEKTO NGA NAKOMPLETO NA KARON DINHI SA DAKBAYAN MAO ANG: BEAUTIFICATION SA DAPITAN CITY RIZAL SHRINE, ANG ATONG CANTONIAN LIGHTS NGA SUGA DIIN NAHIMUTANG GIKAN SA BARANGAY LARAYAN HANGTUD SA POLO BRIDGE, INSTALLATION SA GLOBE MULTI-LIGHTING SYSTEM GIKAN SA ROAD NO. 17 TO POLO BRIDGE, STREET LIGHTING OF ROAD NO. 17, ROTUNDA TO SUNSET BOULEVARD NGA ADUNAY SAISENTAY DOS (62) KA SPANISH CASTLE ROAD LAMPSM, PAGBUTANG SA SUGA GIKAN SA LAWA-AN NATIONAL HIGHWAY TO POLO BRIDGE, PAGBUTANG UG USA KA GATOS (100) KA FOG WALL LAMP NGA SUGA SA POLO BRIDGE, PAGBUTANG UG SENTO NUEBE (109) KA CANTONIAN LIGHTS GIKAN POLO BRIDGE HANGTOD NA SA LARAYAN BOUNDARY, PAGCONCRETO SA EL FELIBUSTIRISMO STREET SA BANONONG, PAGCONCRETO SA CRISOSTOMO IBARRA STREET, BANONONG, PAGCONCRETO SA  DATU PAGBUAYA STREET, STA. CRUZ, PAGCONCRETO A ATONG DRAINAGE CANALSA ROAD  NO.21, ON GOING CONSTURCTION  OF PEDRO MANO-O0C STREET, CONCRETING OF JOSE S. CARREON STREET ROAD 23, CONSTRUCTUION SA ATONG CALAMOCSO BRIDGE NGA NATAPOS NA.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUNRISE BOULEVARD IS NOT MERELY TO COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING SUNSET BOULEVARD BUT IS ONE OF THE IMPERATIVES OF DEVELOPMENT. THE SUNRISE BOULEVARD WILL GO ALONG THE CONTOURS OF LIBORAN RIVER AND THE COMMUNITY DWELLING IN THE SWAMPY AREA AND FISH PONDS OWNERS WILL BE THE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES THAT CAN BE GENERATED FROM THE BOULEVARD.

ANG PAGBUHAT SA DALAN SA SUNRISE BOULEVARD NGA MAOY APAS DUGTONG SA SUNSET BOULEVARD USA SA MGA NAG-UNA NGA PROYEKTO SA DAKBAYAN.

ARON ATONG MAKUHA ANG KASAYON SA PAGPADAGAN SA MALUNGTARON NGA EKONOMIYA SA ATONG MGA BARANGAY GIKINGAHANGLAN ANG MGA DALAN NGA MODUGTONG GIKAN SA UMAHAN HANGTUD SA BALIGYAANAN. GIPANINGKAMUTAN USAB SA KAGAMHANAN SA DAKBAYAN ANG PAGMENTINAR SA MGA BARANGAY ROADA SA DARO, DAMPALAN, BAYLIMANGO, GUIMPUTLAN, KAUSWAGAN, TAG-ULO, CARANG, STO. NINO, OWAON, SIGAYAN, MARIA URAY, ASENIERO, BANBANAN UG MASIDLAKON DIIN MAO PA KINI ANG UNANG HUT-ONG NGA NAHATAGAN SA ATONG BARANGAY ROAD MAINTENANCE 

ADUNA USAB KITAY NAKUHA NGA ALLOTMENTS GIKAN KANG CONGRESSWOMAN CELY JALOSJOS-CARREON GIKAN SA IYANG DEVELOPMENT FUND DIIN NAPAHIMUSALAN KINI SA MGA BARANGAY SA ANITIPOLO, BARCELONA, BANONONG, BAGTING, CAWA-CAWA, DARO, ILAYA, MASIDLAKON, ORO, POLO, SIGAYAN, SAN NICOLAS, STA. CRUZ UG SULANGON KINSA NAKAANGKON SA TAG SETENTAY SINHKO MIL PESOS UG LAIN USAB NGA TAG SENTO-SINGKO MIL PESOS ANG NAANGKON SA MGA BARANGAY SA BANBANAN, CANLUCANI, MA. CRISTINA, SINONOC, SAN PEDRO UG TAG-ULO DIIN DAKO NA KINI UG IKATABANG SA ATONG MGA KABARANGAYAN.

IN AN EFFORT OF HEALING THE WOUNDS AND THE DIVISIVENESS CAUSED BY DIFFERENCES OF OPPOSING POLITICAL PARTIES THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE LONGER STRIDES ON THE NEED TO BECOME MORE UNITED AS A PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PREPARE  FOR A LONG-TERM, MULTI-FACETED, MULTI- CHANNELED RECONCILIATORY PROCESS TO WORK TOGETHER AND COME OUT STRONGER OF THE VARIETY OF FRONTS. 

THIS ADMINISTRATION PRIORITY OBLIGATION AND CHALLENGE ARE THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. THE CITY IS RICH OF TOURISM SITES AND HISTORICAL LANDMARKS, WHICH CAN MAKE DAPITAN THE PREMIER TOURIST DESTINATION ONCE WELL- DEVELOPED, WITH THE PROMOTION OF TOURISM, ARRIVALS OF TOURISTS HAVE CONSIDERABLY INCREASED TO 90 % COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEARS AND THIS HAS  TRANSLATED INTO AN INCREASED CIRCULATION OF REVENUES WITHIN THE CITY.

GIAMPINGAN SA KAGAMHANAN ANG MGA LUGAR NAG NAGSABAK SA ATONG MGA BAHANDI NGA MAOY MAKADANI SA MGA DUMUDUONG PAG=ANHI UG ARON MAKAKITA NIINING ATONG MGA TOURISTS SITES UG MGA BILILHON NGA NABILIN SA KASAYSAYAN SA DAPITAN. PINAAGI SA USA KA ORDEN ADMINISTRATIBO NGA NAGMANDO SA PAG-ALIMA UG PAG-AMPING SA ATONG CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE NAHIMUGSO ANG USA KA COMITIBA NAG MAOY GIHATAGAN SA TAHAS ARON MAATIMAN PAG-AYO ANG ATONG CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE SA DAKBAYAN.

UG ARON KAHATAGAN SA MALANOG NGA KAHULUGAN KINING MAONG PAGAMPING GIKAN SA ROAD NO. 17 PUNTA SA RIZAL SHRINE, MAO KINI ANG HERITAGE DAPITAN UG GIKAN USAB SA ROAD NO. 17 PADULONG PAGAWAS MAO KINI ANFG LAING NAWONG SA DAPITAN DIIN DINHI MAGSUGOD ANG MGA BAG-ONG BALAY NGA PINASUBAY SA PINA-KAULAHI NG PLANO OG DISENYO.

WE HAVE INTRODUCED A CHANGE OF CONSIDERABLE MAGNITUDE. THE CHANGE HAD PORTRAYED THE PROFILE OF THE OTHER DAPITAN. WE HAVE GO-ON MOVING FORWARD SO THAT DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY SHALL GO ON WITH HISTORY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF GLORIA DE DAPITAN IS THE FIRST LANDMARK TO SIGNAL THE MERGING DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS CITY.

ANG DAKBAYAN NAKAANGKON UG TALAGSAON NGA DUNGOG UG GARBO NIADTONG PETSA 8 SA PEBRERO NING MAONG TUIG DIIN AND ATONG PRESIDENTE SA NASUD PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO MITUYO GAYUD PAGANHI DINHI KOMO SA MAOY LABING PINASINDUNGGAN DINAPIT SA CEREMONIAS SA GROUND BREAKING DIDTO SA LUGAR SA BAYBAYON SA STA CRUZ NGA MAOY LUNA NGA GIDUNGGO-AN NI DR.JOSE RIZAL PAGDISTIERO KANIYA DINHI SA DAPOTAN SA GOBYERNONG ESPANYOL. DINHA UNYA SA MAONG LUGAR HIMOON ANG USA KA MONYOMENTO NGA MAGHULAGWAY NIADTONG UNA OG AKTUAL NGA PAGKAGAWAS SA ATONG BAYANI DINHI SA DAPITAN.

SA HAPON SA MAONG PETSSA ANF PRESIDENTE MAOY PORMAL NGA NAGBUKAS SA GLORIA DE DAPITAN. ATOG MAKITA DINHI NG ANG DAKBAYN SA DAPITAN GIHATAGAN GAYUD SA PANAHON ARON MADUAW SA ATONG PRESIDENTE SA KAPOPUD-AN. TUNGOD KINI SA ATONG PAGSUPORTA SA IYANG MG APROGRAMA UG MGA PLANO ARON MAHATAGAN SA HISTONG DEREKSIYON ANG NASUD ALANG SA KAUSWAGAGN SA KADAGHANAN.

SA TINGUHA NGA MALIMPYOHAN ANG ATONG KABAYBAYUNAN LINYA SA SUNSET BOULEVRAD SA MGA ILLEGAL DWELLERS, MALAMPUSON ANG DAKBAYAN PAGPABALHIN NIADTONG MGA PUMUPUYO GIKAN SA ROAD NO. 17 PUNTA SA POLO BRIDGE. MAKITA NOT NGA LIMPYO NA KARON UG ABRI NA ALANG SA UMALABOT NGA PAGPAANINDOT SA ATONG KABAYBAYUNAN. MAGPADAYON KINI GIAN NA USAB SA ROAD NO. 17 NGADTO SA BAGTING BRIDGE UG RIZAL PARK.MGA UNA PALANG KINING MGA LAKANG ARON ATONG MAABOT ANG USA KA MAS MAANINDOT NGA DAKBAYAN SA DAPITAN.

WE HAVE READ THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DECLINE IN THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATION AND DAPITAN CITY IS NOT SPARED IN THIS SAD STATE OF THE DECLINE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. THE ACUTE CLASSROOM SHORTAGE AS WELL AS COMPETENT TEACHERS HAS RESULTED TO BIGGER CLASS SIZES. TEACHERS ARE ALSO OVERWHELMED BY THEIR WORK LOAD. THAT SIMPLY REMEMBERING THE NAMES OF STUDENTS IN A LARGE CLASS IS ALREADY A CHALLENGE.

ANG ATONG DAKBAYAN BISAN SA KALIMITADO SA ATONG SALAPI WALA MAGPASAGAD NIINING MAONG KAHIMTANG. IGO-IGO NGA APPROPRIATION ANG GIGAHIN SA ATONG DAKBAYAN ALANG SA SCHOOL DIVISION PARA MOSANGPOT NGA ADUNA KITAY QUALITY EDUCATION NGA IKATUNOL SA ATONG MGA KABATAAN GIKAN SA ATONG MGA TULUNGHAAN.

OUR CITY HEALTH OFFICE HAS ADOPTED PROJECTS THAT WILL VIRTUALLY PREVENT AND CONTROL FOOD AND WATER BORN DISEASES LIKE TYPHOID, AMOEBIASIS AND DIARRHEA DURING RAINY SEASON AND THE EMERGING INCIDENTS OF DENGUE. THE SUBJECT PROJECT WILL COVER THE FAR-FLUNG AND DEPRESSED AREAS OF THE CITY TO ADDRESS THE INCIDENCE OF DIFFERENT DISEASES.

ADUNAY MGA PROYEKTO NGA NAGSANTA O NAGKONTROL SA NAGKALAIN-LAIN NGA SAKIT NGA MODANGAT SA MGA KATAWHAN INGON SA DIABETESM, ASTHMA, HEART DISEASE, HEYPERTENSION UG UBAN PA. MGA COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES ANAA SA MGA BARANGAY ARON KADTONG MAGLISOD SA PAGPUNTA SA CLINIC MAHATAGAN GIHAPON SA GIKINAHANGLAN NGA SERBISYO, ILABINA GAYUD KADTONG ATONG MGA IGSOON NGA NAHIMONG PARALISADO.

GUMIKAN USAB SA PAGPANINGKAMOT SA ATONG ADMINISTRASYON ADUNA USAB KITAY NADAWAT GIAN KANG CONGRESSWOMAN CELY JALOSJOS-CARREON NGA HAPIT MOABOT SA TRES MILYONES KA PESOS ARON IKADUGANG PAGPALIT SA MGA TAMBAL DIHA SA ATONG CITY HEALTH OFFICE. 

THROUGH THE UNTIRING EFFORTS OF GOVERNOR YEBES, CONGRESSWOMAN CESAR JALOSJOS, CONGRESSWOMAN CELY JALOSJOS-CARREON AND MYSELF, WE WERE ABLE TO GET ABLE TO GET FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION PESOS INTENDED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE DIPOLOG AIRPORT, THAT WILL INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF NIGHT LANDING FACILITIES AND GADGETS AMONG OTHERS. MALIPAYON USAB AKO PAGPAHIBALO SA MGA BIYAHIDOR NGA ANG CEBU PACIFIC AIRLINES SUGOD KARONG HULYO 13, ADUNA NAY BIYAHE SA DIPOLOG-MANILA SA PLETEHAN NGA DOS MIL PESOS KAPIN ANG ONE-WAY. 

AMID THE PERVADING UNITY OF THE FIFTY BARANGAYS, OUT OF THE HEARTSTRING OF SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DAPITANONS ALL VIBRATING TO ONE ASPIRATION, I SHALL SET THE FINEST STONES OF MY PLEDGE. OUT OF THE SONG OF THE FARMERS AT SUNRISE WHEN THEY GO TO WORK IN THE FIELDS; OUT OF THE SWEAT OF THE HARD-BITTEN PIONEERS THAT DISCOVERED THIS PLACE; OUT OF THE SILENT ENDURANCE OF THE PEOPLE AT THE FAR-FLUNG DEPRESSED AREAS AND THE MUFFLED CLAMOR OF PEASANTS IN OUR MOUNTAIN FASTNESSES; OUT OF THE FIRST CRIES OF BABIES NEWLY BORN AND THE LULLABIES THAT MOTHERS SING; OUT OF THE CRUNCH OF PLOWS UPTURNING THE EARTH; OUT OF THE LIMITLESS PATIENCE OF TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOMS AND DOCTORS IN THE CLINICS; I SHALL MAKE THE PATTERN OF MY PLEDGE.

I AM A DAPITANON YEARNING FOR THE ECONOMIC SALVATION OF MY CITY, I SHALL NOT REST UNTIL ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF DAPITAN SHALL HAVE BEEN ADDED INTO MY INHERITANCE- FOR MYSELF AND THE GENERATION THAT WILL COME AFTER.

THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING!

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
BY: HONORABLE PATRI BAJAMUNDE-CHAN

Our City Mayor, Hon. Dominador G. Jalosjos, Jr., distinguished members of our Sangguniang Panlungsod, invited guests, the Heads of Offices of our respective city and the national governmental departments, Barangay Captains and Officials, fellow workers in the government, students, fellow Dapitanons, ladies and gentlemen.

As we are all gathered here today to listen to the State of the City Address of the Honorable Mayor, let this be also an opportune time to reinforce our faith in God and strengthen our solidarity and shared dreams and aspirations as a community. 

Equally important, may I extend, on behalf of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dapitan, its members and staff, our sincerest wishes to Mayor Jun Jalosjos for a very blessed and happy birthday that we may share more birthdays with him. Mayor- Happy Birthday.

This year we have all the reasons to celebrate. Despite economic setbacks, still, the Dapitanons continue to move this scenic and historical city towards temporal and spiritual progress; a phenomenon explainable only through  faith: faith in its governance, its people’s capacity and faith in God Who directs a people  who love and seek for His divine guidance. But we need to do more and we have the political will to do what is bet to be done to improve our lot. As we pause to imagine what Dapitan was some years back and what it is now, I urge one and all to cooperate and be counted in one crusade to give our people the government that they have longed for and will cherish to remember.

The Legislative Department, organizationally and operationally, has been departmentalized to be able to address and be responsive to the needs of the public. We are actually servicing the public through our three (3) delineated offices- the office of the City Vice- Mayor, the office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and the office of the Secretary to the Sanggunian.

The support staff and personnel of the legislative department comprise 18% of the total wokforce of the city government and distributed to our 3 offices, either for administrative support, security and maintenance. Councilors are allotted support staff in the operations of their respective offices. A number of these personnel have already undergone service- related seminar and trainings under the auspices of our department. May I proudly inform you that last December 15-16, 2005, all regular as well as co-terminus employees attended a seminar conducted by the Civil Service Commission Regional Office No. IX at Dakak Park and Beach Resort, unprecedented, because we never before that this branch of the government, in particular, has sent all of its regular and co-terminus employees to a seminar at one time. This I’ve done as part of human resource development program to improve their attitude towards their jobs and co-employees and make them better deliverers of service.

To illustrate how we have been faring in our functions, I would like to impart that since we were elected into and assume office in July 2005 up to the present, or exactly 24 months, we drafted 53 ordinances and 658 resolutions.  Of the 52 weeks allotted to us each year to legislate, this present set of council had adopted and enacted a total of 55 ordinances and 615 resolutions.

This is only an indication that our officials in the legislative department have become enthusiastic and deeply inspired in performing their respective duties and responsibilities given all these amenities, support and conducive working conditions. It is, undoubtly, the fruit or result of all these changes we have initiated, the bottom line of which is, we cannot short-change the public for what we have now.

It gives me pleasure to inform you that the office of the Vice-Mayor has likewise embarked on other projects to help improve and uplift the social and economic well being of our constituents. We have organized the PESO FOR HEALTH. Program which is an innovative mechanism for health financing. Under the program with the one peso month contribution, member patient is provided with free hospital accommodation at the district hospital, discounts on laboratory fees and free medicines worth 300.00 pesos upon confinement. To date, we have 7,925 members from 48 barangays. 69 of the members have already availed of the services as they were confined and served at Integrated Provincial Hospital in Dipolog City, Pinan District Hospital and at the Jose Rizal Memorial District Hospital in Dapitan City granting them 20,700 for medicine alone. We intend to raise the medical assistance to 400 pesos next year if our finances would warrant.

Because Dapitan is historical, let me also give my report on how we assisted our existed in pursuing our bid to become an eco-tourism destination and heritage center at the south. Through an ordinance, we have divided Dapitan City into major areas namely the Glorious or New Dapitan and the heritage or the Old Dapitan. This we initiated so as not to deprived our people of the modern changes brought about by time while trying to preserve the heritage blissfully bestowed upon us. The city mayor has designated me to the Chair the heritage Dapitan Task force whose main function and objective is to preserve and conserve its areas of historical values and at the same time make a research, study and plan on how to enhance and protect our precious heritage particularly the legacies left by our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal and that of the Spanish and American regime. Blueprint relative to this project have been approved already by the City Mayor and is now ready for implementation.

With the advent of technological advancement where instant communications are readily available at our hands, we are but proud to note that our legislative effort to expedite the realization of an internet linkages/services conceived through SP Resolution No. 2004-222 judiciously passed in the preceding sessions, “urging the Philippine Long Distance telephone (PLDT) through CRUSTELCO to upgrade the present long distance system from analog to digital and to allow the operation of internet,” bore success through the PLDT Internet Services. Unprecedented, so as to state this type of services is not one of its kind but is coupled by the timely accessibility of another internet provider offering the same services, the SMART-driven WIFI internet connection. This logistic support opens, practically, allows a user to surf to hundreds, if not millions of websites differently situated throughout the world; a breakthrough  that plentifully offers wide golden opportunities to our local constituents in search for a greener pasture, and for the city to become globally, competitive in worldwide market in terms of Information Technology.

For cost-efficient, time saving and convenient air flight to CEBU-MANILA and vice versa in addition to the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) services, thus partly breaking the old monopoly, soon to operate is the CEBU pacific Airlines which is the tangible product of an independent effort by the legislature when it enacted SP resolution 2004- 186, earnestly requesting Mr. Lance Gokongwei to open flight for Dipolog-Manila and vice versa. This encouraging development would resolve outright and the dilemma in air transportation and would insure potential rapid growth for all kinds of business undertakings at our doorsteps, aside from the availability of FAST- CRAFT and RORO servicing the neighboring key provinces and cities, thereby making the Shrine City of Dapitan a true gateway to Mindanao.

While we merely occupy a tiny yet significant dot in the global village, let our voices alone echo through the four (4) corners of the world, as we keep our faith to the Omnipotent Father while taking a gigantic step in fulfilling our dreams and aspirations, the same immortal dreams and ideals bequeathed by our forebears and past leaders, for us to be equally sustainable and competitive as we take with pride our extra challenging journey amid the dawning of a new era, the Conceptual Age. This epochal change, whether you like it or not, should be welcomed with open arms, preparedness and grateful anticipation, for if we are caught off guard in the middle of a crossroad, only time can tell out fate, the fate of our beloved Dapitan.

For this purpose alone, our city’s think tanks and notable planners spearheaded by the chief executive and that of legislative, through this humble representation, amended and/or have caused the revision and fuel of the Tax Revenue Code for the City of Dapitan, the lifeblood machineries, to squarely answer the burgeoning demands and needs, for more tourism-oriented infrastructure and livelihood projects.

Yes! We have proven right with our conviction and time and again, still, we desirously want to pursue this noble intention. The result of which, ladies and gentlemen, may not be achieved in an overnight situation or in a blink of an eye but we are optimistically foreseeing a long-lasting economic development and vibrancy for a strong, better and self-sufficient Dapitan in the very near future.

If we have traveled and conquered this far in our trek for progress, this we owe to a great extent to our skillful, intelligent and highly professional members and gentlemen of this city’s legislative body, for their continued and unwavering support, trust and confidence in our leadership and in our quest for public service excellence through responsive and effective local legislation.

Common to a legislative scenario and forum such as this law-making body, there may be times or instances when we were almost undoubtedly carried away by our individual emotion, understanding and perception on a particular issue at hand, especially during heated debates, yet this present set of Council had never been remiss of their sworn duty to uphold the rule of truth, justice and equality for all the Dapitanon’s, a cornerstone of this administration’s political and socio- economic policies. 

And to cap this report, let me say here that for every adopted and every project undertaken by us, is all means intended to redound to the benefit and welfare of the people. Our efforts are for the future of our people and community. And it is in this spirit that we have resorted to innovative approach in order to reshape the organization of the legislative department according to our collective vision and more importantly, according to the needs of our constituents. We are always reminded that whatever we do today we arrows we shoot into the future for an Asenso Dapitan.