EDITORIAL - October 2017

[TRANSCRIPT]

Some LGU Facts and Figures for 2017

(Speech delivered by Consultant for Economic Affairs and Focal Person on Local Investments Levin N. Uy in behalf of Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao on the occasion of the 28^th National Statistics Month Celebration - Municipal Level held this month at Bayambang National High School.)

To our very dedicated School Principal Madam Mary Ann J. Payomo…

Thank you for inviting me as your guest in this occasion, the 28^th National Statistics Month Celebration-Municipal Level.

This year’s National Statistics Month’s theme is “FACTS AND FIGURES: Statistics for Evidence-based Decisions Towards AmBisyon Natin 2040.”

First, a backgrounder from NEDA: “AmBisyon Natin 2040 [as defined by NEDA] “represents the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country in the next 25 years. It describes the kind of life that people want to live, and how the country will be by 2040. As such, it is an anchor for development planning across at least four administrations.”

“AmBisyon Natin is a picture of the future, a set life goals for the country. It is different from a plan, which defines the strategies to achieve the goals. It is like a destination that answers the question, ‘Where do we want to be?’ A plan describes the way to get to the destination; AmBisyon Natin 2040 is the vision that guides the future and is the anchor of the country’s plans.”

“AmBisyon Natin 2040 is the result of a long-term visioning process that began in 2015. More than 300 citizens participated in focus group discussions and close to 10,000 answered the national survey. Technical studies were prepared to identify strategic options for realizing the vision articulated by the citizens. The exercise benefitted from the guidance of an Advisory Committee composed of government, private sector, academe, and civil society.”

“The life of all Filipinos in 2040: Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay”

“Filipinos are strongly rooted: MATATAG.” Family is together. Time with friends. Work-life balance. Volunteering.

“Filipinos are comfortable: MAGINHAWA.” Free from hunger and poverty. Secure home ownership. Good transport facilities. Travel and vacation.

“Filipinos are secure: PANATAG.” Matatag. Maginhawa. Panatag. Enough resources for day-to-day needs, unexpected expenses and savings. Peace and security. Long and healthy life. Comfortable retirement.

We cannot achieve all of these in 2040 without a perfect tool or scientific approach. Thus the theme of this year’s celebration is perfect to adopt: “FACTS and FIGURES: Statistics for Evidence-based Decisions Toward AmBisyon Natin 2040.”

In Government Governance, in Corporate Management, Engineering and Architecture, Science and Technology and in every Research and Development, the basic and the ultimate tool as vital requirement are FACTS and FIGURES for every project.

We cannot establish a PERSPECTIVE and make a PLAN without FACTS and FIGURES as PRIMARY GUIDE and barometer in the CONCEPTUALIZATION of strategies and procedures that will lead to designs, blueprints or ground plans of a project or Government or Corporate Goals.

FACTS and FIGURES are DETERMINED EVIDENCE PRESENT and AUTHENTICATED that would serve as a GUIDING TOOL in making a DECISION.

In Government Governance, Corporate Management and other Institutions and Organizations for that matter, different professions and careers, it’s impossible to establish a Vision and Mission, Goals and Objectives of their existence without Facts and Figures of their concerned areas as the base of their startup of whatever they are leading to the future.

WHAT IS OUR AMBITION FOR BAYAMBANG FOR OUR 121,056 POPULATION?

Last Wednesday, September 20, 2017, the Palafox Architecture and Engineering Group came to our municipality for the Kick-Off Meeting for the Conceptualization of a TEN-YEAR to FIFTY-YEAR Comprehensive Land Use Plan of Bayambang based on the current population of 121,056 and [a projected population of] 134,760 by 2026.

What is Bayambang in TEN YEARS and beyond to FIFTY YEARS? What is the demand of public service during those years? What are the LGU strategies and action plans? Who, what, and where are the most in need and who, what, and where are less in need? Which is immediate and which is not? All of these questions will be answered through data—we call it Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) data.

The LGU, as mandated by law, will focus on the National Aspiration on the AmBisyon Natin 2040 and to focus on the five (5) areas of concern through Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term action plans based on the given population of our town.

THE FIVE (5) AREAS OF CONCERN

1.      INSTITUTIONAL: New Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern, Additional Offices (GSO, POSO, ICT, PIO, Tourism, Legal and MAC)

2.      SOCIAL: Health, Education, Culture and Arts, Food Security, Shelter and Peace and Order

3.      ECONOMIC: Local Resources, Livelihood, Investment, and Competitiveness

4.      INFRASTRUCTURE: Construction and Rehabilitation, Government Center and Public Facilities, Road Networks, New Town Center, Communication and Other

5.      ENVIRONMENT: Waste Management, Greening and Disaster Mitigation

TO REVIEW THE POLITICAL AGENDA of the present administration is to (1) END Political Dynasty (which already is resolved) (2) Criminality (which is already delimited) (3) Corruption (which is already contained) and (4) Poverty (which is seriously being taken care of)

FOR SHORT TERM PLAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1.      FOR INSTITUTIONAL: (1) New Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern, (2) Additional Offices (GSO, POSO, ICT, PIO, Tourism, Legal and MAC), (3) More on Corporate Governance and Enterprising Government, (4) Purchase of office vehicles for every department and (5) Barangays.

2.      FOR SOCIAL:

2.1   HEALTH: (1) Additional two (2) Rural Health Units to make it 4 RHUs, (2) Five (5) Service Ambulances for Quick Response of Medical Emergency, (3) Ten (10) Dental Chairs for nine (9) Districts of Municipality, (4) Additional Medical and Health Workers, (5) Higher budget allocation

2.2   EDUCATION: (1) Higher budget allocated for every school through the School Board, (2) Training Center for ALS, (3) Establishment of Speed Class for Students with special cares, (3) Formal Education scholars, (4) Non-Formal Education Scholars in partnership with TESDA, DTI, DEPED, DSWD, DOST, and Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation.

2.3   CULTURE AND ARTS: Enrichment of Culture and Arts through: (1) Establishment of Event and Entertainment Management Office and harmonizing with other affiliated offices, institutions and organizations, (2) Institutionalization of SINGKAPITAL as commemoration of Bayambang as Fifth Capital of the Philippines, (3) Preservation and showcasing of Binasuan Dance as having originated in Bayambang and others.

2.4   FOOD SECURITY: (1) Empowerment of farmers through farm technology development, (2) Farm input support programs and (3) Post-harvest support program.

2.5   SHELTER: (1) Establishment of housing program in Barangay Bical Sur

2.6   PEACE AND ORDER: (1) Containing the criminality in the area, (2) Special program for Drug Surrenderers  or Reformists, (3) Logistic support to PNP Bayambang, (4) Personnel support in campaign for Peace and Order through POSO, (5) Construction of 9 Police Precincts in the 9 districts of the town, and (6) Command Center of CCTV operation.

3.      FOR ECONOMIC:

3.1   LOCAL RESOURCES: (1) Support to farm inputs and (2) Post-harvest of Agriculture Industry, (3) Human development through skills program for farmers’ families.

3.2   LIVELIHOOD: (1) Job generation through Job Fairs and Local Legislative Measures.

3.3   INVESTMENT: Local Investment and Economic Promotion initiatives.

3.4   COMPETITIVENESS: Benchmarking of Cities’ and Municipalities’ Competitiveness.

4.      INFRASTRUCTURE:

4.1   CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF GOVERNMENT CENTER AND PUBLIC FACILITIES: (1) Municipal Hall, Events Center, (2) Public Plaza, (3) Tricycle Terminal, (4) Bus, Van and Jeepney Terminals, (5) Public Market, (6) Bagsakan, (7) Satellite Markets, (8) RHU 3 & 4, (9) Police Precincts, (10) Municipal Library, (11) Kusina ng Bayan, and others.

4.2   ROAD NETWORKS: (1) Concreting and inter-connectivity of Barangay Roads (2) Establishment of Circumferential Road Network.

4.3   POTABLE WATER SYSTEM: (1) Salintubig Program in four (4) different sites.

5.      ENVIRONMENT:

5.1   WASTE MANAGEMENT: (1) Establishment of a Ten-Year Plan for effective and comprehensive Solid Waste Management and (2) Establishment of Barangay MRFs.

5.2   GREENING: (1) Advocating greening program.

5.3   DISASTER MITIGATION: (1) Empowerment of Disaster Preparedness Program through Infrastructures and Information and Education Campaign.

5.4   WEATHER WARNING SYSTEM: (1) Installation of weather warning systems.

FOR MEDIUM- AND LONG-TERM ACTION PLANS

1.      MEDIUM TERM: (1) 200 Million Road Network, Barangay connectivity and Core Local Access Road (Farm-to-Market Road), San Gabriel II-Pantol-Moncada Roadline (through P4), (2) 300 Million (USD6M) Irrigation System to irrigate 2,000 hectares of farm lots in 28 Barangays of the North (through P4), (3) Establishment of Eco-Tourism sites, (4) Completion of drainage system in Poblacion area, (5) Construction of Commercial buildings (through P4).

2.      LONG TERM ACTION PLANS: (1) Establishment of New Town Center, Business Center, Government Center, Central Terminal, Theme Park and Industrial Zone (through P4), (2) Establishment of Multi-Agri Investment (Swine and Poultry) (private initiative), and (3) STOP POVERTY

The LGU Bayambang cannot do this alone. It requires the intervention of private investments and people’s initiative.

We are doing this for our TOWN, our BALON BAYAMBANG…FOR YOU…FOR US… your HOME, your HOME SWEET HOME…and most especially for the NEW GENERATION and the next GENERATIONS TO COME.

Thank you and good day.