UNITED TO A JOURNEY FOR A VIBRANT BAGUIO
State of the City Address
14 July 2014
Baguio City Hall Grounds
MAURICIO G. DOMOGAN
City Mayor
The
Honorable Congressman of the Lone District of Baguio, Hon. Nicasio M. Aliping,
Jr.,
Honorable
Members of the City Council headed by Vice Mayor Edison R. Bilog,
Department
Heads and Assistant Department Heads,
Men
and Women in Uniform,
Fellow
workers in Government,
Members
of the Quad-Media, GOOD MORNING!
A year ago, we stood on this ground to
assume another mandate from the people, with a renewed commitment to pursue the
direction that we have laid down in the previous term. Then, we vowed to
address a 5 point action agenda echoing
the wish list of our citizenry harmonized with the national administration’s
contract with the people; for (1) a
sustainable environment, (2) and economy (3) a socially inclusive growth
towards reducing poverty (4) responsible and accountable public servants for good
governance and (5) safe and resilient City.
To lead the City forward is an
adrenaline-charged job. Many times it is thankless but its rewards have been
awe-inspiring, the very reason why we continue to be here as an energized City Government. The divergence and dynamism in many of our undertakings
in managing City affairs across departments and with the City Council show our
individual enthusiasm and the healthy rubrics of governance that at the end of
the day, lead us to a united stand for public welfare. Harry Truman once said,
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”, or may have been
otherwise said, “If you can’t handle
failure, get out of the leadership”. As your humble Janitor of the City, we believe that public service deletes party lines. As we have always emphasized,
public service demands our full commitment putting behind us political
differences and preferences. After all, our
public must deserve our best, because they have decided to put us where we are
today.
Allow me at the outset to express my
sincere gratitude to all of you who continue to work with that rare passion of keeping government and our City going
strong and growing. Where I am today as your Local Chief Executive is where
the rest of you are. It is not only I/me that spell the success or failure of
this Government and the City but WE.
To our Department Heads and Assistant
Department Heads who despite the pressure of their daily grind manage to
perform well and even above expectation. My performance as your Local Chief
Executive can only be as good as how you do things on the ground. For that, I
congratulate each one of you and I truly appreciate your avid support.
It is therefore in earnest, my
obligation to report to you, beloved citizens of Baguio, our performance for
the year just past.
The entire GOVERNANCE process takes into consideration the concept of a
people’s budget that is responsive yet practical. It relies on good
fiscal management ascribing to the basic principles of prudence and
austerity in government operations thereby generating surplus more than what is
projected. Savings will be proposed to be earmarked for impact projects in the
pipeline as contained in the Annual Investment Plan through a Supplemental
Budget. Earlier, the City Council has approved all proposed projects in the
2014 AIP for funding, I am truly grateful!
We operated on a budget of 1.3 Billion
Pesos (P1,286,143,000.00) for 2013 and increasing by 12% for a total of 1.4 Billion
Pesos (P1,439,582,000.00) in 2014. We are not aspiring for tiger increases but
our budget certainly reflects a steady growth and full coverage of all priority
concerns.
The lifeline of the City is from LOCAL REVENUES. We continue to employ innovative measures to encourage public
responsibility in the continuing effort to improve local tax collection. Despite
the pendency of proposed tax increases, we were able to realize significant
increases in local tax collections, that sustained government operations.
Our total collections indicate a 9% excess
over our target of 2013 (P618,610,000.00) or an actual 99.4 Million
Pesos additional collection.
For the current year, we have already
collected 63% of our collection target (413.6 Million Pesos of 653.6 Million Pesos)
as of June 30, 2014, both from tax and non-tax
sources, the remaining 37% spread over the next 6 months.
Business and real property taxes
continue to be the top grossers as tax sources of income, contributing 31% and
25% respectively to the 2013 local income. It is significant to note that both
sources exceeded the targets by 18% and 10% respectively. As of today, we have
collected 76% (106 Million Pesos out of 141 Million Pesos) of our Real Property
Taxes and 85% of our Business Taxes (179 Million Pesos out of 210 Million Pesos).
The installation of the eBPLS has
greatly enhanced the business permitting system for the convenience of the
transacting public as well as ease and facility for the City Treasurer’s Office
in processing of documents and collection of fees and charges. Renewal of
business permits can already be completed in 1 hour.
Likewise the continuing initiatives of
the City Assessor’s Office in the assessment of new improvements and cleansing
of real property units towards a GIS based Real Property Data Management,
consistent with the City’s computerization program has greatly contributed to
the increase in Real Property Units (RPU) subjected for taxes. In 2013, a total of 122,405 RPUs was
recorded, increasing to 124, 286 RPUs in 2014. (an addition of 1,881 RPUs or an
equivalent of 2.3 Million Pesos in RP Taxes)
It should be noted that, we draw our
Special Education Fund Tax from our RPT collections. Against a projection of 57
Million Pesos in 2013, we actually gave 65.4 Million Pesos or 15% more. For
2014, the SEF is pegged at 56.8 Million Pesos. We are currently at the 44 Million
Pesos or 78% level of collection. The increase in RPT is important as it
provides the much needed resources to support the Public Education Sector in
the City.
HUMAN
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
As it is always said, in any
organization, its employees are its most important resource. Today, we are a
workforce composed of 1,400 warm bodies. The City continues to enjoy the
benefits of being autonomous but compliant with CSC Rules and Regulations on
Personnel Actions. Our aim is always geared for the total protection of
employees while employed with the City Government.
A significant breakthrough for
Employee Protection is the recent signing of the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), providing City Employees an
opportunity to organize and an avenue to legally ventilate their concerns to
enhance employer-employee relations.
CITY ADMINISTRATION
The City values sport excellence. It
has supported local contingents in various regional and national sporting
events. The sterling performance of the City Teams gained the:
·
National Championship in Iloilo City
in February 2014.
·
Declared as the Overall Champion in
the Philippine National Games in Metro Manila in May 2014.
·
PHILSPADA/National PARA Games
participants garnered 10 golds, 4 silver and 7 Bronze medals.
·
The CAR Team, composed of 90% Baguio
Athletes was elevated from Rank 11 to 5 in the Palarong Pambansa in May 2014.
·
The City also saw the return of some
national and international sporting events and personalities in the City; i.e.
Northface Ultra Marathon, Le Tour de Filipinas, Ronda Pilipinas and the Milo
Marathon Baguio leg. These were also tourism boosters.
One of the success indicators of good
governance is having a booming public market. We will continue our drive to
transform the city market into people and business friendly facility. In
addition to the continuing infrastructure developments, we will strive to clean
and settle the issues of illegal vendors. Let us play a fair game where business
must be conducted following our rules and not putting the city at an expense.
The cleaning and clearing of unwanted stall extensions and illegal vendors in
the market area and walkways along the central business district gained public
support. It is about time to bring back the streets to the people. This is by
the way consistent with the Aquino administration’s Baguio-Boracay
Redevelopment Plan.
CORE
URBAN SOCIAL SERVICES
We provide
socially inclusive programs and services in the areas of Social Welfare,
Health, Education and Public Safety. While much of these services aim to bring
public services closer and more accessible to the marginalized sectors, we have
seen that the community based approaches and decentralization strategies we
have adopted benefitted majority of our constituents. We continue to operate
and upgrade the services of 16 District Health Centers that are all Philhealth
accredited to provide Primary Care Benefit Package among 4Ps, 1 birthing
facility (Atok Trail Health Center) , 3 Social Welfare Facilities (Silungan, SDC
and Child Center), 8 Police Sub-Stations, 1 Fire Sub-Station (Irisan) that will
soon be augmented with 2 more (Aurora Hill and Gibraltar). These facilities have complete manpower
complement and provided with essential equipment in order to operate.
In the area of
HEALTH AND SANITATION we have once
again proven that if there’s a will there’s a way. Barangays Balsigan and
Imelda Village were awarded as the Region’s Best and National Finalists for the
recently concluded DOH sponsored “Best in Sanitation Practices” for 2013. We
laud Balsigan Barangay for the effort to make a 360° turn from being
one of the originally challenged (worst) environmental health and sanitation
situation in the City and for Imelda Village Barangay for being a consistent
award worthy barangay. It goes without saying that this is with the complete
support of our Health Services Office.
The implementation the Anti-Smoking
Ordinance got its worth with the City being accorded the Pink Orchid Award in implementing the 100% Tobacco Free
Environment. We garnered 75-89%
based on the DOH criteria. We hope to clinch the Red Orchid next year.
The general
health situation in the City is satisfactory with;
·
Epidemic level incidence of diseases
generally controlled.
·
Zero deaths from rabies for 9 straight years
·
Drastic reduction of Dengue Cases by
75% comparing January to June of 2013 and 2014.
·
Zero deaths due to Dengue
·
Zero deaths from Vaccine Preventable
Diseases
o
Maintained a 95% Fully Immunized Child
Rate (0 to 6 y.o.) and Expanded the Immunization Program through the Adolescent
School Based Immunization for Grade 7 to 4th year in 22 public
schools with a 69% accomplishment (13,242 adolescents) and the HPV immunization against cervical cancer
was also administered to Grade 5 female students in 21 public schools in
District 3.
·
Sustained minimal level of HIV/Aids
particularly among men having sex with men (MSM) compared to other Phil.
Cities. Though this continues to be closely monitored by the City.
·
Only 1 recorded case of maternal
death.
·
99% of deliveries in 2013 occurred in
health facilities assisted by skilled birth attendants ensuring the wellness of
newborns.
In keeping with the times, we have
established the Health Information
System in 8 District Health Centers. It adopts the Wireless Access for Health (WAH). This e-technology provides Electronic Medical Records (EMR) for patients and allows them to
consult with the DHCs through the Synchronized
Patients Alert by SMS (SPAsms). The system saves on waiting time and cost
for patients to go to the Health Centers. It also increased the number of
patients served by the DHC. We hope to
complete the installation in the other 8 DHCs by yearend.
SOCIAL
WELFARE SERVICES cater to 7 clientele categories. For
2013, a total of 30, 492 individuals were served by the various social welfare
programs, a figure slightly lower by 12% from the target.
Children, Senior Citizens, Family
Heads and other Needy Adults top the list of clientele served in 2013.
Considered as the most socially vulnerable, our City Social Welfare Programs
therefore are very responsive to these critical sectors.
Under the various programs for
children and the youth, the continued patronage for City initiated Day Care
Services only shows that it is a successful preparatory program to formal
schooling. A total of 7,266 pre-schoolers were enrolled in 2013.
A highlight of the Youth Welfare Program
is the Educational Fund Assistance Program that supported 916 recipients in
2013. 130 students successfully completed their college degrees where 3
graduated Magna Cum Laude and 8 as Cum Laude. This is the very essence why we
want this program to be pursued for deserving and enthusiastic young people who
cannot be supported by their families.
The recent inauguration of the Welfare
Facility for Children at Kayang Street is most welcome and helpful. Its
presence in the City Center has facilitated the services to children who are in
need of assistance.
Senior Citizens have been very active
in a lot of City initiated activities. They are second on the list of social
welfare clients served in 2013 with a total of more than 9,000, under various
services. The institutionalization of the “Senior Citizen Official for a Day”
Program of the City has added a lot of excitement to the twilight years of our
elderly who are eager to give governance a shot even only for a day.
The program for Family Heads and other
Needy Adults is the third most provided service. Its importance lies in valuing
and saving families that are economically reliant and socially integrated.
Serving 7,000 individuals is thus also saving their families.
The other program areas covering
women, distressed clients and people with disabilities have equally performed
well.
As of mid 2014, we have covered 53% of
our identified social welfare target clientele.
EDUCATION
The Division of City Schools persists
to demonstrate its zeal to achieve
excellence in public education. The numerous awards and recognitions
garnered from regional, national & international arena are proof of this competitive
initiative with the end in view of enriching the entire system and bringing honor
to the City.
·
Sped Center Student placed 3rd
in Asia Pacific Math Contest
·
The Division Representatives mostly
brought home major awards in Regional Competitions
·
2014 Overall CARAA Champion
·
We have the most outstanding SPED
Center nationwide for SY 2013-2014, with outstanding SPED teachers for fast
learners as the national champion and 1st Runner-Up for the
Receiving Teacher.
·
SPED Center also clinched the 1st
Runner-Up award for Outstanding HEKASI Teacher nationwide.
·
The Alternative Learning System of the
Division also has the highest Passing Rate in the “Accreditation &
Equivalency Test” in the Region.
The City has remained peaceful and
safe, with the CRIME SITUATION remaining at a manageable level. This is a
result of the relentless campaign for police visibility and intensified
implementation of crime prevention programs in the City. The period reported
compares crime situation scenarios between July-December 2013 and January –June
2014. Declining rates across all criminality indices are observed, while
efficiency indicators are remarkably good indicating steadfast performance by
our men in uniform. The Report reveals:
·
A 9.58 % decrease in the total crime
volume (TCV)
·
Crime Solution Efficiency (CSE) had a
remarkable increase of 30.46% between the two semesters, from 43.55% in 2013 to
74% in 2014.
·
The campaign to arrest the Top Most
Wanted Persons (TMWP) resulted in the capture 38 persons over the 12 month
period.
·
The neutralization of 8 criminal gangs
and the arrest of some members have constrained further criminal activities in
the City.
·
The relentless campaign across all
crime prevention programs and enforcement of City Ordinances and related laws with
the new strategy of engaging vulnerable areas and sectors in the City resulted
in more arrests and increased awareness among barangays, property owners,
senior citizens, etc. and the public in general, contributing to a more
peaceful and safer City.
·
Traffic Law Enforcement apprehended a
total of 38,011 drivers and generated 8.1 Million Pesos in fines.
FIRE
Protection launched a massive campaign on Fire Safety
Inspection as a prerequisite for building occupancy and business permits. It
resulted in the issuance of 301 certificates for building occupancy and 7,672
certificates for business permits. It generated 1.99 Million Pesos in Fire Code
Fees. Over and above that, it is helping the public realize that fire
consciousness is necessary for safety and protection of residents and economic
activities in the City.
·
A 25% decrease in structural fires was
noted during the 12 month period covered in this report.
The years 2013 and 2014 spared the
City from major disaster events. Just in time, in compliance with RA 10121 or
the Disaster Management Act of 2010, the City was able to finally complete and
submit its City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan for 2014-2016 and
approved by the City Council.
URBAN
INFRASTRUCTURE
Despite
the stringent requirements for procurement, the City abided strictly by the
prescribed procedures of RA 9184 to procure services to implement necessary
urban projects. We have for the 2 semesters been able to bid out 323
infrastructure projects with a total approved amount of 160.86 Million Pesos.
On the other hand, during the same period 184 projects have been successfully
awarded to various qualified contractors. The total approved amount for these awarded
projects was 99.45 Million Pesos compared to an aggregate bid amount of 88.79 Million
Pesos generating 10% savings or about 11 Million Pesos.
·
Project execution by the implementing
departments indicate that the CBAO was able to implement 70 vertical
infrastructure projects at the cost of 51.05 Million Pesos and saving 5.3 Million
Pesos.
·
The CEO on the other hand was able to
implement 338 horizontal infrastructure projects including previously bidded
out projects outside the 323 at a cost of 84.12 Million Pesos. These are mostly
roads, slope protection, drainage and sewerline projects.
·
In like manner, a total of 188
completed infrastructure projects costing 93.65 Million Pesos were monitored
and evaluated prior to final acceptance by the City.
·
The Demolition of 60 illegal
structures was done after thorough investigation. The City will pursue what has
to be done at the old BIBAK Dorm along Harrison Road.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
The proper management of our remaining
environmental resources is a very
critical concern of the City, the reason why we have adopted Green Governance
as a core thrust of our administration. Today, urban solutions can no longer
just depend on advocacy and traditional project planning. We have adopted
drastic shifts in recovering our natural resources. As we see it now, solutions
must include scientific methods, legislative reforms, expert advice, technology
and a lot of stakeholder collaboration. Our initiatives as a local government
focus on the following:
·
Wastewater Management. Our Sewage
Treatment Plant is now 28 years old but still operates efficiently. Its initial
expansion is in the offing once we will be able to procure the 16 Million Pesos
Dewatering Machine to complement the processing of its current overload intake.
(The Documents are now with the BAC)
·
We have forged a partnership with the
Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) who awarded us a technical study
grant amounting to $225,000 (or 10 Million Pesos) to study options how best we
can expand our current BSTP, following the Integrated Water Resources
Management Concept.
·
Today, we have another group of
experts from GIZ (German Consultants) to help us study our Communal Septic
Tanks and how we can rehabilitate them with newer wastewater management
technologies following the Nexus Approach for Urban Wastewater Management.
·
The “Salaknib ti Waig” has now been
extended to the 4 major waterways in the City. Sampling points are now
established and continuously monitored.
·
We are happy to have all the major schools as
partners doing the biological research and science advocacy for this
undertaking. The Industry and business sectors led by PEZA are also our
partners. The barangays especially those abutting the waterways are very active
partners in all the clean-ups and monitoring houses to compel connection or
construct septic tanks that dispose wastewater into the drainage and waterways.
That I truly appreciate.
·
Balili River is now declared a Water
Quality Monitoring Area, that means we all have to work to recover its BOD
level as a Class A River. Bued River is being considered also as another WQMA.
This means that we will have to work harder to remove garbage and stop the
indiscriminate disposal of wastewater into our waterways.
·
Air Quality Management. We were
suddenly in the limelight 2 months ago because of air pollution. Cities for
that matter are the busiest hubs of human activity generating all kinds of
emissions. That is the very reason why we are relentless in our efforts to
advocate for local actions to help us clean our air.
·
Our Roadside Inspection, Testing and
Monitoring Team (RITMT) continues to operate. The results of operations
indicate that we have improved in the passing rate of emission compliant
vehicles. We are now at the 67% level compared to 39% when we first started.
·
We also noted that recent RITMT reports
show that the public transport sector are now more emission compliant than
privately owned vehicles that were tested. This can be attributed to the
cooperation and collaboration with the public transport groups who are very
active and supportive of the City’s Preventive Maintenance Courses for Drivers
& Operators running on its 5th year.
·
Another major finding reveals that smoke
belching vehicles are those that are not properly maintained, or are subjected
to preventive maintenance only when caught.
·
To assure us that Baguio Air is still
good. We have just inaugurated another air quality monitoring unit in Burnham
with the DENR, in addition to the Roadside Monitoring Unit at Ground Zero. The
readings of the Burnham unit indicates that the general ambient air quality of
our City is very much standard compliant. We also have our own 2 mobile units
that complement the stationary units both for PM 10 and 2.5.
·
With EMB-DENR CAR, we had media
orientation for proper reporting of critical information like air pollution. We
still have a standing offer from Dr. Deocaris - a Balik Scientist, DOST scholar
and Clean Air Asia (our Asian Network Partner on clean air) for a second phase
orientation for our media friends.
·
To add, we must also look into the
stricter implementation of our City Ordinance that prohibits burning,
especially of garbage in the barangays and for our citizens to be more
responsible car owners.
·
The Plastic Ordinance has to be
reviewed before its full implementation considering factors such as convenience
of costumers and a need for more thorough information and education campaign.
·
The 15 Million Retrofitting into LED
of our Streetlights and Park lights is also another initiative to Conserve
Energy but it is also another strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
emitted by traditional lighting devices.
·
Our parks continue to be the showcase
of local biodiversity and tourism. Developments continue mostly for fencing,
sewer lines and drainage systems. For us and our visitors to really enjoy their
visits, we have issued policies to regulate ambulant vending, parking and the
conduct of activities within our parks. We are also finalizing the complete
inventory of legitimate concessionaires in all our parks.
·
We have also started the move for us
to go more organic by using our own fertilizer from the ERS 5 and the treated
water from our BSTP for the use in our parks. Barangays and schools have also
started using the fertilizer in their school gardens. We should soon be updated
on its results.
·
Burnham Park (Concreting of Biking
Lane and Juan Luna Drive and Paving of Sidewalks) and Wright Park (Installation
of Drainage System) are seeing major facelifts. We thank the national
government through the Department of Tourism for the funding support.
·
Diplomat Heritage and Nature Park is
gaining popularity as a venue for
weddings, parties and shootings. It will soon be marked as heritage site by the
National Heritage Institute.
·
Forest and Watershed Management. We
are glad that the City Government is compliant with the National Greening
Program. It was a successful start with a total of 8.4 hectares planted with
21,982 seedlings last year. We are in the process of determining the survival
rate to compare with the 85% reported on the first year.
·
We have prepared a 4 hectare portion
within Forbes Park Parcel 1 as the second planting site of the City. As of
today, City employees have planted a total of 4,173 or 13% and together with
our partners 19% (6,033 seedlings) out of our 32,125 seedlings ready for
planting.
·
We will also make sure that we will be
able to establish our nursery at the Busol Watershed as an additional site for
the propagation of more trees.
·
We have also ordered the immediate
inventory of dead trees around the City. 92 barangays have completed their
inventories with a total of 1,066 trees. We have already assisted in the
cutting of 600 trees considered as dangerous thus priority.
·
We are fortunate to already have a
climate change study for Baguio done in partnership with ICLEI. (our partner
for Local Governments for Sustainability) While we continue with our
mainstreaming activities across various sectors as part of our Action Plan, we
are in the process of completing our Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Plan.
·
We have adopted the Integrated Solid
Waste Management System for our City. It is a Waste to Energy technology that
uses Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) to generate power. We located a site at the Sto. Tomas area that
is ready to be surveyed so we can start with the preparation of the Physical
Development Plan. Consultations have already been done where we gained a very
positive response from the host and adjoining barangays including their
officials. We are looking forward to start development before the year ends.
Local
Legislation. The City Council Members have been very
supportive at crafting the legal frameworks for us to operate and pursue
governance that is unimpeded. However, that is not without the vigorous and
arduous dynamics in the Session Hall. I personally view the proceedings as an
ultimate screening process that turns all stones to arrive at a common stand. We
acknowledge the hard work of each member of the City Council for the protection
of Baguio’s Citizenry.
They have consistently supported us
particularly in the approval of essential legislation like our Annual City
Budget and its companion Annual Investment Plan in record time for the 3rd
consecutive year. Likewise for the speedy passage of our City Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Plan, that will enable us to respond immediately and appropriately.
The City Council passed a total of 111
Ordinances for the period under report.
I would like to appeal once again for
the City Council to consider as priority our proposed Land Use Plan and its
companion Zoning Ordinance, The Proposed Revenue Code and the Revision of the
Real Property Valuation as well as our proposed Environment Code. These are
vital pieces of legislation that matter for our sustainability.
OTHER
GOVERNANCE CONCERNS
There is truth to the adage that no
man is an island. It is along this line that we are strongly supporting the
twin concepts of Cordillera Autonomy and the BLISTT as strategies of more
realistic and integrative development in our Region.
We are still hopeful and aggressive in
our advocacy and campaign for Cordillera
Autonomy. We thank the seven Cordillera solons for signing and filing House
Bill 4649 on June 11 of this year. Indeed, they did not wait for another batch
of CAR Congressmen to do it for them. Let
us support House Bill 4649- The third Cordillera Autonomous Region organic act
and say YES to Autonomy for it is the future of the Cordilleras.
I am truly honored to have the confidence of my colleagues at the BLISTT Governing and Development Council.
Over my objection, they have unanimously voted me to be the Chairman. I will do
my best to be an instrument for a unified stand on trans-boundary issues on
water, solid waste, and tourism, to the end that the BLISTT is developed in an
integrated and wholesome manner for the good of all.
We will commit to work along the lines
of more collaboration, generous political goodwill rather than competition and
indifference. That way, while valuing our own independence as an LGU, we will
be able to see how best we can be of help to each other to open the
opportunities for more responsive and beneficial growth that can be reinforced
by the BLISTT contiguous landscape where the metro planning concept of
development is appropriate.
Honorable Congressman Nic Aliping Jr.
has filed House Bill 3463 –“An Act
Revising the Charter of the City of Baguio”. We are now 105 years old as a City.
The old Charter can longer hold true to this day. It is our hope that it will
be passed for us to be able to keep up with the rapidly changing times.
EMERGING
CHALLENGES
There is no denying that rapid
urbanization and population growth will continue to be our major challenges.
These will continue to affect our resources and our capacity to manage them,
especially critical infra for waste management.
As we
vigorously pursue our growth as a City, the roads we shall trek continue to be
complicated. If we continue to choose the same roads, we already know the end
in sight. Will you then choose with me to walk the less trodden road that will lead
us back to the basics?
I would like
to emphasize the need for us to unite and work our way to resolve our concerns.
Most of the times, solutions are simple and inexpensive, all that is needed is
a little discipline and change of habits from bad to good.
We as Citizens
should do more, each one must share in the responsibility to keep Baguio
vibrant. Let me share with you some key
messages that can direct our way forward . . .
·
Government is not a perfect system, in
order to rise up to the challenge, you and I should take and share
responsibility. (Good Governance)
·
In the City Government, we do not only
count our pesos, but we make every peso count. (Financial Management; austerity and prudence in a people’s budget)
·
If you must go to market or grocery,
bring your own receptacle to lessen the use of plastic. (Solid Waste)
·
Let us help clean the air by walking
more and riding less. If you own a car, then be a responsible owner. (Clean Air
& Healthy Lifestyle)
·
Smoking, drinking and drugs are the
fastest routes to the grave.
(Anti-
Smoking Ordinance & Healthy Lifestyle)
·
Plant more trees! If you don’t have a
yard or garden, then pot it. (Tree Planting Ordinance)
·
Our City Parks are not valued only because
of income they can generate, but of their intrinsic worth as a life support
system; because of the trees, plants and flowers it nurtures that bring back birds,
butterflies and bees; but also the water beneath it. (Green, Beautiful,
Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management)
·
Conserve Light and Water. (Resource
Management)
·
Convert the waterway and drainage as
your frontage, treat it as if it were your own face. (Wastewater Management)
·
Smart roads promote ease in mobility
and access to goods & services, it is a conveyance without congestion &
air pollution. (people centered transport policy)
·
Urban solutions for waste management
today demand a science interphase with policy and a choice of technology. (Scientific
Technology Solutions for Solid & Liquid Waste Mangement)
But most of
all let us be positive thinkers and doers. Of course, we need our critics to
keep our feet on the ground. But I also challenge those who criticize, TO SPEAK
THE TRUTH AND SUGGEST SOLUTIONS, and we in Government will readily welcome them
and adjust our programs as deemed possible and appropriate.
Yes, I am your leader, it is easy to say follow me to
achieve our goals, but for now, with all humility, may I say, I need the
guidance and inspiration of the entire citizenry, let us walk side by side to
reach our vision of a vibrant Baguio.
THANK YOU AND
GOOD MORNING!!!
