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Resolution No. 08-196 S.2009Downloadables
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| Executive Report 2007 |
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| Written by Mayor Jeff |
| Wednesday, 07 July 2004 11:54 |
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Introduction … I assumed office on June 30, 2007 as the first city mayor to serve a full term of three years. The euphoria of the people had not yet subsided, and everybody was jubilant of the newly-acquired status of Batac … now a City. Republic Act 9407, the law that converted the Municipality of Batac into a component city of the Province of Ilocos Norte, to be known as the City of Batac, was overwhelmingly ratified by the people in a plebiscite conducted last June 23, 2007. Ecstacy, pride and joy were the prevailing sentiments of the people; and even our province-mates were happy of this news. Most definitely, this has been the biggest blessing Our Lord Almighty has given to Batac and the people, with the intercession of our Patroness, the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Our Cityhood all started with a dream and an aspiration in 1998, when we were already qualified to become one. We expected cityhood to come sooner, but it did not. It took all of nine years to achieve this "elusive" dream. It was a long wait, we almost did not have it. But with the firm determination of our municipal officials, barangay officials and municipal employees, headed by the then Mayor Jesus R. Nalupta, Sr., the support of sympathetic congressmen and senators, and the prayers of the people, we finally became a city. The City Officials… your public servants… It definitely is a pride and honor to be the 1st city mayor to serve a full three year term. But at the same time, the position comes with tremendous responsibilities, and a lot of expectations from our people, who are very much eager and hopeful of the benefits cityhood is bringing. Perfect enough that all of your city officials came from the same political grouping. Probably, the 2007 local elections is the first time in Batac, that all candidates coming from the same group, win. Collectively known as Team Aramid Pakakitaan, professionals all, and seasoned public servants. We shared the same Vision, we espoused the same program of government. As the local chief executive, I implement. On the part of the legislative body, the Vice Mayor and the City Councilors enact ordinances and resolutions, to support our program of government. There is much synergy in our vision and in our goals. We were very much focused on our program of government; and we complement each other in so many ways. The work ahead… the promises … Much of work to be done. Immediately, I organized my executive committee composed of department and office heads of the city government. This committee acts as my advisory body in identifying programs, projects and services, which would address and operationalize the vision for the city, and the program of government I had clearly outlined in my inaugural speech. I had also impressed upon all city employees what needed to be done for the next three years. I had reviewed the financial position of the city, determined its level of resources, and prioritized and scheduled on-going projects for completion. I had visited barangays and schools, conferred with the officials and the people, to have a clearer understanding of their problems and their needs. The first 6 months… the calamities… Just days after assuming office, we were briefed by the Undersecretary of the DOST that Northern Luzon, to include the new City of Batac, was headed for a drought. The prolonged dryspell, or absence of rains, has all the markings of a drought. A calamity for the agricultural workers who had already planted palay seeds and other crops. In a separate briefing, the Secretary of Agriculture repeated the same warning, and even encouraged the Provincial Government to declare the province under a state of calamity which they did. Other provinces had done already. Very swiftly, the Governor, through the Provincial Agriculture Office, allocated palay seeds and fertilizers for all the towns and cities of the province. The city government also distributed fertilizers, to ensure relief and support to all farmers who had been affected by the very abnormal weather prevailing. Just as when a declaration of a drought was imminent, two very strong typhoons visited the province. The rains that we had been praying for finally arrived; but the volume of rains was too much. It induced a lot of flooding and destroyed more crops of the farmers instead. The destruction due to the 2 typhoons vis-à -vis the dryspell was twice as much. Upon advice of the City Agricultural Officer, we had to again procure and distribute more certified palay and corn seeds, as well as early maturing vegetable crops, to once again mitigate the impact of this destruction to our lowly farmers. We had to repair a number of irrigation facilities that collapsed due to the typhoons. We had to do a lot of re-gravelling of farm-to-market roads washed out by the typhoons. We had to do a number of upgrading of barangay roads that were destroyed by the typhoons, to give lasting solution to this cyclical gravelling and re-gravelling of hard to traverse roads. We had to address every problems and needs in the barangays that needed swift and priority action. Equipment and other facilities of the city government were made available to where they were much needed. Harvest time. Another typhoon surreptitiously entered the province. Palay ready to be harvested and threshed were under water in a matter of hours. Hectares of corn products completely destroyed. High value vegetable crops, about to be harvested destroyed as well. Early growers of tobacco were not spared, so were mango growers. Bottomline, about 15 million pesos in actual damages. Three calamities in barely 6 months for the farmers. I had to immediately ask the Vice Mayor to initiate a declaration of a state of calamity in the city, so that we could once again speedily mitigate the huge financial loses brought by this calamity to the farmers. About 400,000 pesos in certified seeds and fertilizers are to be distributed once again to the affected farmers before the end of the year, in time for the January planting season. With prayers that next year will be more kind, and a better year for the farmers. The first 6 months… infrastructure… The previous administration had left multi-million and very important projects of great social and economic impact that needed to be continued and finished. The 2nd floor of the Batac Riverside Empanadaan, a showcase of the most famous product of Batac, and a hallmark of tourism promotion, is 90% complete in just about 5 months. The people of Batac was astonished at the record-speed within which this project was built. It was no a miracle. I call that good project management, good planning, strong technical support, teamwork, and determination to make things happen, and get things done. This new building will house as well a tourism office, a PNP/Security Office, a shop that houses the many products of Batac, numerous gift shops, food stalls, a restaurant, and a coffee shop. Declared by a fung shui practioner as a very good location to do business in, this area will continue to be developed as a "mini pueblo", or a mini mall, where people converge, eat and dine, shop, and while the time away. Another important project is the soon to rise Maternal and Child Health Clinic, an expansion project at the City Health Office. This building will address the needs of our people for better medical facilities and access to affordable health care; in addition to the enrolment to the Philhealth Para Sa Masa Program, of at least all heads of families in the city, over a period of three years, which had already been committed to be done by the city officials. This project is on-going, and is expected to be completed between the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2008. Also on-going is the Kalipi Training Center. Originally planned as a training center for livelihood projects for women, this center was expanded 2 spans more. It will not only be a training center, but it will become a multi-purpose function hall as well. This is to address the felt need for more function halls within the city, that may be availed and rented to those who have important occasions to celebrate, and other gatherings sponsored by the city. A training center that has a return on investment. Scheduled for completion as well on the 2nd quarter of 2008. Finally, we have the Central Terminal at the government center. This will be a terminal for Manila-bound buses and travellers, with a bagsakan area for Batac's agricultural products, and those coming from other towns and provinces. It will also have commercial stalls, food stalls, offices, and a stall to showcase souvenirs and products of Batac. Slated for completion as well in 2008. The first 6 months… social services… We are proud to have extended so many social services to our people, especially those who are not financially privileged enough. Our City Health Offices and City Social Welfare Development Office as always, were very much responsive to deliver the services they are mandated to do. We had extended financial aid to a lot of aids-in-crisis-situation clients of the city; made a lot of referrals for higher discounts for hospital patients; assistance for the funeral and burial needs of indigents; social services and livelihood trainings for senior citizens; skills trainings for women in the barangays; nutrition programs for day care children; capacity enhancements trainings and seminars for our farmers; cooperative orientation and re-orientation courses, and a lot more. Where help was needed, the city officials and employees were always ready, for as long as the requests were valid and justifiable. We will not spoon-feed our people, otherwise they will not grow as mature individuals. If they lack skills, we will empower them. We will work to make this city, as a fountain of opportunities, and a source of life and hope for the people. The first 6 months… the agricultural sector… Practically in the whole of 6 months, we have been working to mitigate the harsh economic dislocation of the farmers brought about by the succession of three calamities. By the sides, however, we continued to be on track with our programs and initiatives to improve, to rehabilitate, and to construct more facilities for the agricultural workers. We had completed topographical and technical works for the proposed Small Water Impounding Projects in Sumader, Lubnak and Sumgar. We had started talks with the MMSU as regards the use of their properties affected by the proposed Sumgar SWIP. We are now in the process of inviting investors for the commercial production of sweet sorghum in the entire city. We continued to render technical assistance and trainings to farmers to increase their yields and earnings. The agricultural sector will continue to be developed and supported in this administration. Building this city of dreams … In 2008, it is expected that the Internal Revenue Allotment of Batac as a city, shall begin to pour in; much more than the IRA of Batac as a municipality. The IRA as a city is the new-found source of wealth, and of hope, of the people of Batac. This new-found wealth will pave the way for a more rapid development of the city and the barangays, and henceforth, a tremendous improvement in the quality of life of the people; especially for those who have the industry, the commitment, and the dedication to work. Development will be for everyone who works. The City of Batac has finally achieved her destiny … a gift to the people … a gift for the next generation of Batacquenos. We are very fortunate that we are all here when it happened. As such, we shall all work together, men, women, children, the youth, the senior citizens, the NGOs, the barangay officials, city employess and city officials, to build this new city of our dreams … the home of great leaders. |
| Last Updated on Friday, 19 December 2008 07:11 |
Office of the Mayor
Washington St.
Brgy. #1-S Valdez
City of Batac
2906 Ilocos Norte
Tel. No.: (077) 792-3135
Telefax No.: (077) 792-3441
@mail: citymayor@batac.gov.ph
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