ANNUAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT (ACE-R)
(THE PROGRESS LANDMARKS OF CY 2005)
By: Hon. Jeffrey P. Ferrer
City Mayor
The 8-point Agenda which my political party and I formulated is again the benchmark for this year's Annual Chief Executive's
Report (ACE-R) emanating from the centerpiece of my administration which is ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT . The economic sector is gaining momentum in building good relations with investors and the business community, winning their confidence and establishing an atmosphere conducive to growth and development of commerce and trade. In addition to Lopue's Department Store, Amar Emporium and Shakey's Pizza; Jollibee, the Philippine's biggest fast-food chain has opened in late 2005 heralding a brighter and wider opportunity for stakeholders to invest in La Carlota City.
In livelihood assistance program, a component of the economic Sector, the number of livestock and poultry monitored rose from 3,000 in 2004 to 6,000 in 2005. About 15,000 head of carabao “cattle, goat, swine and chicken were vaccinated, dewormed and treated from diseases. That is to be sure that we produce not only enough, but also healthy livestocks and poultry for local consumption. The Animal Breeding Center Project Stock Augmentation has been funded with P100,000.00 in 2005, the Artificial Insemination Swine Breeding Center was allocated with P200,000 in the same year and the livestock and poultry auction market, still on its pre-development program, was also funded with P50,000.00 as an initial move. To strengthen the economic sector, funding in the amount of P100,000.00 was earmarked for trainings and seminars of skilled workers and for technology transfer of improved farm technology to local farmers.
Institutional improvements on revenue generation were instituted through the ongoing implementation of the Revised Revenue Code of 2005 and massive implementation of the tax information campaign, using attractive provisions on Ordinance No. 113, Series of 2001, otherwise known as the Investment Incentive Code of La Carlota City.
Strict monitoring of project implementation, adherence to rules on internal control or internal audit, establishment of Internal Control Unit at the Office of the City Mayor, proper allocation and utilization of financial resources, supply management procedures leading to an effective management and utilization of the people's money were also strengthened. Cooperatives development has been encouraged and supported through community organizing and sharing of resources with the private sector.
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On INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT , the government has provided support to social infrastructure with 101 constructions, improvements, concreting, repairs, maintenance and installations implemented by the City Engineer's Office at various locations in the city. On record, some of them are worth mentioning:
On Housing
• Concreting of Main Road (Rd. 18) at Employees Village , Brgy. Cubay
• Benedicto Family gave free homelots to 600 Schools Division teachers and non-teaching personnel
• One storey building for Veterans Federation of the Philippines , from Special Project Funds of Cong. Ernesto Gidaya, a native son of La Carlota.
On Health
• Extension of Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial Hospital (DSBMH)
• 1 Million from Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr.,
-- Purchase of: 1 unit Ambulance, 1 unit PNP Patrol Car.
• Improvement of Health Center , La Granja .
On Infra-Tourism/Economic Development/Farm to Market
• Concreting of La Carlota – Bago – Ma-ao section road.
• Concreting of Kaingalan Road , La Granja .
On Community Safety – Infra
• Erosion Control – Riprapping Uriarte Hermanos Street , Uriarte Subdivision.
• Riprapping of Canals and Improvement of drainage system all over the poblacion's strategic areas.
On Economic Enterprise
• Construction of a modern Public Market Annex Bldg.
As to the EDUCATION SECTOR , several social infrastructure support projects have been implemented to provide better facilities to the institutional population, especially the children; the allocation of which amounted to P 15,090,242.00
• La Granja Elementary School comfort room renovation;
• Yubo Elementary School has been ably provided with the newly-constructed Learning Resource Center ; floor tiles and window shields were also installed;
• Barangay II Day Care Center at Canson Subdivision had been repaired and maintained to serve pre-schoolers in the area;
• La Carlota City College Building had been improved;
• CAC Malipayon Elementary School had undergone improvement work on its Marcos - Type School Building ;
• Caiñaman Elementary School had been improved;
• La Carlota South Elementary School had undergone repair and improvement;
• Sitio Carolina Day Care Center at Barangay II had been improved;
• La Carlota North Elementary School Principal's Office had been repaired;
• La Carlota North Elementary School – SPED Bldg. had been installed with ceiling and partition of classrooms;
• RSB Elementary School had its Sports and Music Bldg. reconstructed.
• LCSES I and LCNES had their concrete boundary walls reconstructed for children's safety;
• DHSBNHS had an additional 1 – Classroom Bldg. constructed to meet the growing number of secondary school students;
• DHSBNHS and South II Elementary School had their fences and plant boxes constructed and canals riprapped;
• La Carlota City College Science Classroom (Phase 1) had been constructed;
• School of the Future was repainted;
• Dep.Ed Division Office had been rehabilitated;
• 6 Marcos – Type Classroom Bldgs. were repaired;
• Sitio Dulom Elementary School had undergone expansion and improvement;
• Ayungon and Nagasi Elementary Schools have undergone Construction of its Covered Court ;
• South Elementary School buildings were repainted;
• South I and North Elementary Schools have undergone Construction of Student Sidewalk Fabrication and Student Shed with improvement of Perimeter Fences;
• Esperanza Elementary School was repaired and Batuan Elementary School was improved;
• Ara-al Elementary School Library was painted;
• Haguimit Day Care Center had its Perimeter Fence constructed;
• La Granja Elementary School has its LRC and MSEP Bldg. repaired;
• Sitio Kaingalan, La Granja Day Care Center (Phase I) was constructed;
• Brgy. Yubo Day Care Center was repaired and renovated;
• Balabag Elementary School has been improved.
• So. Hamindang, Brgy. Haguimit had a one (1) unit Classroom contructed; paving the way for a stronger and better educational development of the children in that far-flung area.
The health of the nation depends on the health of the families comprising it. What better way can we assure our people of good health than converging sufficient resources to fund appropriate strategies for the sector. Among the major accomplishments are:
• The Health Station's improvements;
• Sentrong Sigla Program implementation;
• The health financing program for indigents;
• The Sandugo Awards (Blood-Letting program Evaluation);
• The PHILHEALTH provision for the indigents;
• The Asin program;
• The provision of Incentive Allowance to good performance among Barangay Health Workers (BHWs);
• The Surgical, Dental and Medical Missions conducted;
• The operation of Community-Based Rehabilitation Services (CBRS);
• The effective Family-Planning and Nutrition Program;
• The Extension of the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial Hospital (DSBMH);
• The provision of the Health Component to the KAPALIGIRAN PROGRAM;
• The regular immunization of children against infectious diseases;
• The information and education component for good health, and
• The promotion of proper environmental sanitation practices.
Continuous institutional reforms are ongoing on the ADMINISTRATIVE SECTOR considering its role in the input performance area showing the underlying capacity of a local government to respond to the contigent situation in terms of structure, policies, guidelines, administrative system, managerial and technical competencies, tools, facilities, equipment, and financial resources.
• The Revised Revenue Code of 2005 is now on its second year and revenues in Real Property, Business taxes and permits, other taxes, Non-Tax Revenue and collections coming from Economic Enterprises rose by 18%; that is from the target of P31,450,000.00 to the actual collection of P37,432,502.65 and out of the programmed fund for attaining this target which is P9,658,940.43, only 96% was efficiently disbursed.
• As an incentive to government workers which include group appointees, an Additional Compensation (ADCOM) of P1,000.00 per month was given to employees/officers as of January 2006.
• An Executive Order was issued to create a Public Market Task Force Core Group Technical Team effective January 16, 2006 to attend to situational problems related to the construction of an Annex Building at the Agora Complex;
• Our Mangkas Tribune Quarterly Publication is getting stronger in informing, educating, entertaining and empowering our people in the barangays as well as those outside the city;
• Policy formulation for market has undergone reform even as the Accountant, the City Treasurer and the Market Superintendent were enjoined by the Chief Executive to keep, maintain and manage records and documents regarding Market and Slaughterhouse Operation especially in collection of fees, rentals, water and electric bills;
• As to Accounting and Auditing processes and procedures, the New Government Accounting System (NGAS) has prescribed a new form for Obligation Request (Obr) and for Disbursements Voucher (Dv) which are now implementing.
On TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, it is noteworthy to mention the following acquisitions and events:
• The Annual Star-studded Cultural and religious thanksgiving event, the PASALAMAT FESTIVAL 2006 celebration was widely acclaimed;
• The new TOURISM BUS for GUESTS, VISITORS, PERFORMERS, TOURISTS, was acquired;
• Continuous maintenance support to the Guintubdan Pavilion Mountain Resort;
• Pasalamat Drumbeaters delegation to 2005 World Expo in Japan was funded;
• Representation to DOT's Best of the Region 2005 in Intramuros, Manila was also sent; including attendance as special guests at the annual fiesta celebration of San Fernando , La Union hosted by Hon. Mario Ortega;
• Guest performance at the Opening Salvo of the Negros Trade Fair hosted by the Association of Negros Producers at the Gateway Mall, Araneta Center , Cubao, Quezon City last 25 September 2005 ;
• Guest performers of the GMA's Unang Hirit Program at the Gateway Mall, Cubao, Quezon City last 26 September 2005 ;
• Continuous networking and coordination with TV, radio and Print media.
• Creation of a technical advisory group to support the City Investment Incentive Board.
On SPORTS DEVELOPMENT, from the Barangay Sports Development activities being implemented, the City Sports Development Council has extended its arms wider to neighboring towns and cities as well as to the private sector for wider coverage so that sports development may prosper even among satellite municipalities.
• Basketball Tournament on 19-Under among nearby towns and the private sector's;
• Bowling tournament among city employees: men and women in connection with the annual sports festival;
• Basketball Tournament among Government Employees in the Annual Sports Competition;
• La Carlota Air Gun Association was organized with the support of the local government;
• Coordinated with schools in the yearly participation to Palarong Pambansa and winning of medals at Track and Field, Lawn and Table Tennis and Taekwondo Events.
On PEACE AND ORDER, the following development projects were implemented in response to the call for building a better and safer community.
• The Peace and Order Council has successfully brought peace concerns to the attention of all member agencies, including the barangays, sitios, and puroks for study and appropriate action;
• The integration of all peace concerns has produced better relations with the 11 th Infantry Battalion (IB), the Regional Mobile Group (RMG), the Barangay Tanods and Volunteers, the PNP and the City Civil Security Unit;
• Community order and safety has been maintained and improved thru a community safety plan formulated by the PNP and the rest of the POC members, has generated as peaceful and safe atmosphere.
Ladies and Gentlemen, building a sustainable future for La Carloteños has been a challenge to this administration. The year 2005 has, in fact been a difficult economic year. Be that as it may, rest assured that those at the helm of the local government possess the moral responsibility that should anchor this city to safer, better, stronger shores. The policy direction embodied in the development philosophy “Lets Go La Carlota” was translated to “doable” actions as shown by the steady growth of the LGU's three – year performance:
2003 ---- 110.85%
2004 ---- 110.90%
2005 ---- 112.96%
highlighting the 2005 Revenue Generation that exceeded collection and other development fund-sourcing target by 18%. The Agriculture sector's target was exceeded by 39.37%, the Civil Registration by 41.33% and the Veterinary Services scored 116.95%.
I believe that what we have started two years ago is well on its way to fulfillment. The welfare of the people is our main concern and we are surely getting there.
Let me finish this report with manifold thanks to all the people of the city whose trust and confidence inspired the Chief Executive , the City Vice Mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod in steering the helm of leadership towards progress, I extend gratitude and appreciation to our co-workers in the local government for their diligence and this unselfish dedication to their duties. To the department heads, supervisors, administrators, and so on down the line delegated to the lowest position of responsibility. We have labored together. We have succeeded together.
Again, thank you and congratulations to one and all for your assistance in accomplishing a herculean job.
“Let's Go La Carlota!”
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