State of the City Address 2009 (with photos)
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State of the City Address 2009
By Hon. Pedro B. Achjaron, Jr.
City Mayor, General Santos City
I have declared that 2008 will be a Year of Excellence in public service deliveries. By excellence, we do not mean perfection, Lest we will be frustrated. We, therefore, define excellence as efforts, either by teams or individuals, regardless whether the efforts are great or small. for as long as they are creative, innovative and most of all contributive to our city’s Magandang Gensan vision, a city that is livable, bankable, and competitive.
Excellence is a product of careful planning, strategic direction setting and committed performance.
Our combined little efforts reaped us some extraordinary achievements in the immediate past year. Foremost, of course is having been declared for the third time as among the “Most Competitive Mid-sized Cities” by the Asian Institute of Management. other honors include Excellence in Tourism Administration by the Department of Tourism; Excellence in Hospital Administration by the President of the Philippine Hospital Association; our Tuna Festival adjudged as one of the Best Tourism Events that attracted tourist by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines; our Project for the Enhancement and Development of Reading Opportunities (PEDRO) and Alternative Learning Systems (ALS) Program as among the Best Literacy Practices according to the National Literacy coordinating Council; AMONG THE “BEST PLACES TO LIVE” IN THE COUNTRY ACCORDING TO MONEY TREE PUBLISHING CORPORATION BASED ON STANDARD OF LIVING, QUALITY OF LIFE AND COST OF LIVING. These are very strong indications that indeed our program for excellence is bearing fruit and all these citations express the exemplary participatory governance among all stakeholders.
We cannot discount the victories of our fellow Generals in various fields of interests as well
- EMMANUEL Pacquiao FOR HIS ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE IN BEING THE BEST BOXER IN THE WORLD;
- Philip Cesar Nadela, FOR HIS EXCELLENCE IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC IN BEING THE FIRST LITTLE DREAMER CHAMPION OF PINOY DREAM ACADEMY;
- Exquisite Dancers = FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE IN MODERN DANCE AS THEY REPRESENTED THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY IN THE AUSTRALIAN HIP-HOP DANCE COMPETITION; AND
- Teatro Ambahanon of RMMC, FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE IN contemporary performing arts WHEN THEY TRIUMPHED DURING THE WI-FI DANCE COMPETITION AT THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES and represented not only us, generals, but the country as a whole in japan international contemporary dance.
- Ronald Lagumbay Hidalgo, Benjer Albaran Acosta, and Chanly Lanaja Callano for their excellent performance during the 2008 Mechanical Engineering Board Examinations as they got the first, second and third top ranks.
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i start my state of the city address with reporting to you the triumphs of the human spirit, the conquests of our human resources. their victory is our victory too. and what better way to measure the state of a society than with the state of the human individual. and always, the center of all our endeavors is the general’s welfare. quality people equals quality society.
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Quality work force is one of the components under our Total Quality Service Program. the orientation seminar and workshop of the program was extended to the officials and employees of Barangays Bula, City Heights, Calumpang and Dadiangas West.
Starting with the City Hall Executives and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, 1,251 employees or 86% have undergone training on Leaping Towards Personal Excellence, whose objective is behavioral excellence in dealing with customers.
350 frontline service providers were trained on Total Quality Customer Care, which enhance their competency in dealing with the complex CUSTOMERS of the Local government.
The external training granted and undergone by 267 employees addressed performance gaps and enhanced their managerial, administrative and technical competencies.
all the barangays were also oriented on the city development strategies and barangay development planning and investment programming. we helped all the barangays to re-organize and strengthen their respective project monitoring committees. we also trained 15 technical employees in the use of geographic information system or gis for effective planning and monitoring.
UNDER OUR PROGRAM FOR REWARDS AND INCENTIVES EXCELLENCE OR “PRAISE”, WE RECOGNIZED the EXCELLENT WORK PERFORMANCE by conferring special awards to EMPLOYEES AS individuals and as teams. special prizes given were the magandang gensan award, DANGAL NG GENSAN AWARD for individuals, AND PAGASA NG BAYAN AND SAVINGS PROPAGATOR OF THE YEAR awards to two local government TEAMS.
The City Government has embarked an Office Performance Evaluation System (OPES) to measure the output and performance of personnel and units as mandated by Administrative Order No. 241, implementing RA 9485, which is the Anti Red Tape Act of 2007. The latest complement to sustain the performance under this system is the launching of The Organizational Development Program that will be fully implemented this year.
THE organizational development PROGRAM IS A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO SATISFY OUR CUSTOMERS. THIS PROGRAM WILL ENSURE THAT WE WILL ANALYZE OUR PROCESSES, REDESIGN OUR STRUCTURES, AND ENHANCE OUR EMPLOYEES’ COMPETENCIES to CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE DELIVERY.
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to ensure continuity of development in the city, we have organized the Core team for the updating of our comprehensive development plan and zoning ordinance for 2011 to 2020.
we extend our appreciation to the efforts of shell, chevron, and petron depots for complying with our zoning ordinance. they conformed and TRANSFERRED their facilities to Barangay bawing and thereby grants safer residential and commercial area in barangay bula.
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last june 10, we were able to chronicle with the registry of deeds the original certificate of title number p-7656 showing our perfected rights over the city government center covering the area from General santos park up to the carlos p. garcia park except pnb and central bank areas.
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our city hospital HAS SERVED 15,000 in-patients who were given medical, pediatric, ob-gyne and surgical ward services while our out-patient department has served 44,000 patients during the year.
with our 100 million peso-budget for the city hospital, our annual per capita appropriation for hospital services is 1,800 pesos. since we have converted our city hospital into an economic enterprise, we realized cash revenue of 30.2 million pesos, excluding our receivables from patients and some government agencies like philhealth, the local GOVERNMENT units of sarangani PROVINCE AND the city’s indigent assistance program.
in time with the city hospital’s 35th foundation anniversary this february 13, we will inaugurate our new private rooms and renovated ob-gyne complex and the icu, together with various hospital equipment and instruments. we will also unveil the perspective drawing of the gsc hospital façade followed by a groundbreaking ceremony for a progressive development of our city hospital infrastrucTure program.
RECOGNIZING OUR STRATEGIC LOCATION IN THE SOCSARGEN AREA, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INVESTED 10 MILLION PESOS FOR THE UPGRADING OF OUR HOSPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITIES LAST YEAR. BEFORE THE YEAR ENDED, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A NEW 30 MILLION-PESO FUND ASSISTANCE FROM DOH FOR HOSPITAL UPGRADING INTO TERTIARY LEVEL primarily through the efforts of the honorable congresswoman darlene antonino-custodio, which we are truly grateful.
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in response to the economic problems that we are experiencing, we felt the need to re-assess the poverty level and indigency classification of all our people so as to update our database and provide the Appropriate social welfare interventions. we have updated the classification of 31,000 families and issued their access cards for basic social services being served by various agencies like the city hospital, social welfare, and philhealth, among others. an updated database of poverty incidence in the city will enable our people to receive effective public service.
therefore, MORE than 9,000 patients received indigency hospital assistance. we appropriated 12 million pesos on our hospital assistance program for our indigent patients. with this mechanism, we also ensured that the hospital is able to collect its revenues from all its CUSTOMERS regardless of poverty situation.
| NO. OF PATIENTS | DISCOUNT RATE GIVEN |
|
500 |
25% |
|
1,800 |
50% |
|
4,800 |
75% |
|
2,000 |
100% |
|
9,100 |
= TOTAL PATIENTS |
aside from opening our poor people’s access to hospital services, we have also widened their access to philhealth services by sustaining our investment in their philhealth card in the amount of 4.5 million pesos ANNUALLY.
1,640 new members were registered last year thru our community-based family RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND MANAGEMENT ENHANCEMENT (f.r.a.m.e.) program. these new members now contributE for philhealth registration from their savings.
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in line with our efforts to strengthen families, we served 16,200 generals the right to a name and THE RIGHT TO a nationality THROUGH THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES; AND THROUGH OUR KASALANG BAYAN PROGRAM 2,800 MARRIAGES WERE SOLEMNIZED.
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to promote gender and development, we trained our barangay officials on the gad concepts THUS, ENABLING them to mainstream gender and development in barangay planning and project implementation. GAD TRAINING WAS ALSO EXTENDED TO THE ACADEME, WHICH RESULTED TO THE CREATION OF THEIR COMMITTEE ON DECORUM AND INVESTIGATION OR CODI TO ENSURE THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS PREVENTED.
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we intensified our CAMPAIGN FOR THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN by conducting 66 sessions of information and education in barangays REPORTED TO HAVE THE HIGHEST VIOLENCE INCIDENTS.
last august 28, we opened the proteksyon para sa babae at anak or pba unit at the city social development center to temporarily house victims of abuse or violence.
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Our intensified information, education, and communication campaign on the importance of population management and responsible sexuality among 7,000 high school students resulted to a 7% decrease in the incidence of teenage pregnancy. 20 schools organized their peer educators’ groups to help guidance counselors AND SERVE AS teen support group. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 448 active members who were trained to give counseling on common youth relationships AND reproductive health.
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along the motto of “matatag na pamilya, matatag na bayan”, WE sustained our programs on responsible parenting and pre-marriage counseling, benefitting 3,200 COUPLES DONE in 213 sessions. the program has reached the community level of barangays and puroks as we have conducted 88 responsible parenting movement classes and trained 880 couples.
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Presently, there are now 32 Madrasah (Arabic School) based in 18 barangays staffed with 135 competent ustadzes to teach basic education and ISLAMIC values to more than 3,000 students. This Federation of Madaris in GENERAL SANTOS CITY actively coordinates with government offices and participates in various LGU programs. They provide valuable assistance in the peace and order, education, sports and beautification programs of the city.
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The LGU extended funding assistance of 51.6 MILLION PESOS to the Department of Education through the Special Education Fund. 28 classrooms were constructed in partnership with the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce; WHILE 29 classrooms were constructed FROM the Local School Board FUNDS. three-year education infrastructure program AMOUNTED TO 20.7 MILLION PESOS.
|
YEAR |
AMOUNT (PHP) |
|
2006 |
11,720,000.00 |
|
2007 |
4,500,000.00 |
|
2008 |
4,500,000.00 |
|
TOTAL |
20,720,000.00 |
1.5 MILLION PESOS was spent for the honoraria of the 62 asatidz who teach ARABIC LANGUAGE AND ISLAMIC VALUES EDUCATION (ALIVE) to pupils in Grades 1 & 2 in our public elementary schools.
6.6 MILLION PESOS was invested for Beginning Language and Reading Books for 14,421 Grade 1 pupils to enhance language appreciation and foster reader development. As a result, there was a very remarkable decrease of non-readers among grade 1’s; from 12% in the pre-test to a mere 1% in the post-test.
At present, there are 95 facilitators OR instruction managers HANDLING the 4 major programs under the ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM: Basic Literacy Program, Accreditation & Equivalency Program both for Elementary and High School, and Livelihood Program. 33% and 31% of the 2,476 total enrollees passed the ACCREDITATION & EQUIVALENCY EXAMS for elementary and high school, respectively, registering the highest passing percentage in the Region.
Our ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM IS exceptionally doing well having been among the Most Outstanding Local Government Units awarded by the Literacy Coordinating Council for literacy practices; TWO of our instructors were declared as National Awardees in the Search for Most Outstanding District ALS Coordinator; ONE instructor was the recipient of the National Awardee for the Most Outstanding Mobile Teacher of GSC Division, Region 12.
INSPIRED BY THESE SUCCESSES AND IN THE PURSUIT OF SUSTAINED VICTORIES IN THE FUTURE, I ISSUED EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 18 SERIES OF 2008 CREATING OUR LOCAL LITERACY COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
Our support to Dep. Ed-endorsed activities yield many accolades as well: the delegates for the Regional and National Schools Press Conferences earned FOR us 11 individual wins and the elementary group was adjudged as the Best Division Performer in the National Level; Balunto High School Choir represented Mindanao to the Traditional Music Category in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and emerged as National Champion; We bagged 2nd Place in the Student Technologists & entrepreneurs of the Philippines (STEP) 2008 National Skills Development Competition; We were awarded as the Best Presenter of the Business Enterprise Learning Tool during the 3rd Youth entrepreneur & Cooperativsm in Schools Training.
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Tambayayong Gensan: BATANG HIMSOG is a multi-NGO partnership project that augments the efforts of our city nutrition council in addressing the nutrition gap of children 7 – 12 years old.
Initially, 1,482 Grades 1 & 2 PUPILS FROM 20 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE THE direct beneficiaries. Program components are: supplemental feeding, health education, Micro-nutrient and Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, distribution of hygiene kits, AND backyard gardening.
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Executive Order # 026, series of 2008 created the Interim Integrated Waste Collection and Service Unit as a response to the urgent need to focus on environmental conservation and protection programs as well as establish new approach to improve the city’s waste management.
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GENERAL SANTOS CITY CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE SAFEST AND MOST PEACEFUL CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH A CRIME SOLUTION EFFICIENCY RATING OF 98%.
CONTRIBUTORY TO THIS ARE THE establishment of additional police boxes in strategic areas to intensify police visibility and improve reaction time; and the deployment of plain clothes operatives in different establishments to monitor and apprehend lawless elements.
IN RECOGNITION FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS EFFORTS, THEY COLLECTIVELY EARNED 9 Medalya ng Kagalingan from the Regional Office 12; 72 Medalya ng Papuri; 27 Medalya ng Kasanayan; AND 243 Letters of Commendation from THE City Director
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The General Santos City Fire Office reports that there have been a 40% reduction of fire incidents in 2008 with only 107 incidents compared to the 303 incidents in 2007 mostly due to the Fire prevention services.
Massive orientation campaign was focused on Disaster and Emergency preparedness in cooperation with the CDCC. Barangay VOLUNTEER Fire Brigades were reorganized; lectures/seminars were conduced to public and private institutions with actual fire drills, in addition to the weeklY seminars conducted within the Fire Office. We are already on the 4th year since the LAUNCHING of THE Kiddie fire Marshal that trains grade school pupils on fire prevention at school and in the home.
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NOT WAVERING FROM OUR THRUSTS IN DEVELOPMENT, 2008 PROVED TO BE THE BANNER YEAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH 97% ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR registration of new businesses.
GENSAN’S ONE-TOWN-ONE-PRODUCT PROCESSORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE POSITIVE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE OF THE REGION WHICH earned 651 MILLION PESOS OR AN OVERPRODUCTIVITY BY 32% FROM THE CENTRAL MINDANAO’S TARGET OF 492 MILLION PESOS.
AMONG THE 178 SEED GROWERS IN REGION 12, THREE OF OUR SEED PRODUCERS UNDER THE PROJECT STARS (SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY TO ACCELERATE RICE SUFFICIENCY) WERE AWARDED AS AMONG THE TOP HARVEST ACHIEVERS OF REGION 12
|
|
GROSS INCOME (php) |
YIELD (MT/HECTARE) |
| MR. BASILIO TRAYA |
278,000.00 |
851 |
| MR. DANILO EA |
250,000.00 |
7.69 |
| MR. LONY NARCISO |
204,000.00 |
6.27 |
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The PBA Lounge facilitated 1,379 applications, 967 of WHICH WERE APPROVED WITH a total investment of 1.4 Billion Pesos GENERATING MORE THAN of 4,000 jobs. 431 of the enterprises ventured in Wholesale & Retail business and 225 in the Service Sector.
|
establishments approved under the investment priority areas |
||
|
establishment |
capitalization (in million php) |
|
| robinsons land corporation |
445 |
|
| kcc property holdings, inc. |
350 |
|
| mabuhay i.t. park |
37 |
|
| nanhai food industries ltd., |
15 |
|
| atoco philippines trading, inc. |
15 |
|
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Most notABLE among the achievements of the City
Engineer’S OFFICE are the Implementation of 98 projects with a total cost of 237.18 million PESOS.
By the year-end,
- an aggregate of 2.91 kilometers of roads WAS concrete-paved,
- 1 bridge was completed and
- another one near completion, both BRIDGES total 343 lineal meterS OF farm-to-market road component, and
- a total of 440 lineal meters of sidewalk were completed.
- THE MOST Important project OF THIS TYPE IS THE ON-GOING Installation of Traffic Signal System with Intersection Configuration at Junction National Highway – J. Catolico Ave. and Junction NATIONAL Highway – Santiago BOULEVARD WORTH 18.94 million PESOS.
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611 building permits ISSUED equivalent to a total project cost of 1.2 billion PESOS translate to A promising socio-economic development in the private sector. compared with the 2007 statistical RECORDS, THE 2008 PRIVATE SECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS HIGHER BY 52% IN TERMS OF PROJECT COST. SUCH THAT INVESTMENTS FOR
- INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AMOUNTED TO 166 MILLION PESOS,
- COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS FOR 584 MILLION PESOS,
- INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS FOR 126 MILLION PESOS;
- RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS FOR 197 MILLION PESOS AND
- 106 MILLION PESOS FOR OTHER STRUCTURES.
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THE OFFICE OF THE HONORABLE CONGRESSWOMAN DARLENE ANTONINO-CUSTODIO HAS BEEN TRULY AND INDISPENSABLY HELPFUL TO GENERAL SANTOS CITY IN OUR GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. 100% COMPLETED PROJECTS AS OF DECEMBER 2008 AMOUNTED TO 60.8 MILLION PESOS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES TAKING THE MOST OF THE SHARE WITH 28.35 MILLION PESOS.
|
BREAKDOWN OF PROJECTS |
AMOUNT (‘000 PHP) |
| ROADS AND BRIDGES |
28,350 |
| SCHOOL BUILDINGS & CLASSROOMS |
14,307 |
| WATER SYSTEMS |
7,700 |
| BARANGAY BUILDINGS |
7,000 |
| DRAINAGE & FLOOD CONTROL |
3,500 |
|
TOTAL |
60,857 |
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BY DECEMBER 2008, SOCOTECO II Implemented 71 electrification projects SUCH AS line construction, expansion AND MAINTENANCE AMOUNTING 18.8 MILLION PESOS.
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OUR ONE-TOWN-ONE-PRODUCT (otop) TUNA VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT IS NOW RENAMED AS “PROCESSED AQUA MARINE PRODUCTS.” AND THESE TOO ARE REGISTERING FAVORABLE GROWTH. LOCAL PROCESSORS WITH MARKET WITHIN THE CITY INCREASED BY 35%, WHILE THOSE WITH MARKET ALL OVER THE COUNTRY INCREASED BY 50%; AND EXPORTERS OF THIS PRODUCT INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY By 76%.
|
type |
2007 |
2008 |
percentage (+/-) |
| exporter |
13 |
23 |
76% |
| local processor (GSC market) |
20 |
27 |
35% |
| local processor (philippine market |
10 |
15 |
50% |
| dried fish processor |
32 |
34 |
6.25% |
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OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS GOTTEN STRONGER AS EVIDENCED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW PRIVATE laboratory LOCATED AS THE FISHPORT COMPLEX, WHICH WILL BE MANAGED BY PHILEXPORT. THIS LABORATORY WILL FURTHER BOOST THE POTENTIALS OF THE TUNA INDUSTRY IN PENETRATING THE FOREIGN MARKET. THE 5.3 MILLION PESO TUNA LABORATORY, BUILT FROM A GRANT FROM THE EXPORT DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS AWAITING RECOGNITION FROM THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES (BFAR) TO SUPPLEMENT THE EXISTING BFAR LABORATORY WHICH CAN NO LONGER COPE WITH THE GROWING TESTING DEMANDS OF EXPORTERS IN THE FISHING SECTOR.
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THE ANIMAL HEALTH SERVICES OF OUR CITY VETERINARIAN’S OFFICE INCREASED ITS DELIVERY OF SERVICES BY 16%. A TOTAL OF 14,835 FARMERS RECEIVED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUCH AS VACCINATION AGAINST NEWCASTLE DISEASE AND HEMMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA, HOG CHOLERA, AND DEWORMING. TO ARREST THE SPREAD OF BIRD FLU, WE WORKED WITH USAID AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CONDUCT 36 SEMINARS ON AVIAN INFLUENZA AWARENESS PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY BASED EARLY WARMING SYSTEM. TO THIS DATE, GENERAL SANTOS CITY REMAINS BIRD FLU FREE.
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OUR MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS STILL HOLD A SIGNIFICANT MARKET SHARE IN THE LOCAL AND FOREIGN TRADING. WE HAVE SHIPPED OUT 1.4 BILLION PESOS WORTH OF LIVESTOCK AND 1.9 BILLION PESOS WORTH OF ASSORTED FROZEN MEAT PRODUCTS.
| inventory of livestock farms | |
|
type |
number |
| piggery |
37 |
| poultry |
36 |
| poultry dressing plant |
2 |
| private ABATTOIR |
1 |
| breakdown of shipped out livestock: | ||
|
livestock |
quantity |
value |
| swine |
199,659 |
1,118,090,400.00 |
| cattle |
6,765 |
175,890,000.00 |
| carabao |
4,907 |
98,140,000.00 |
|
TOTAL |
|
1,392,120,400.00 |
| BREAKDOWN OF SHIPPED OUT FROZEN MEAT PRODUCTS: | ||
|
MEAT PRODUCT |
VOLUME (IN KILOGRAMS) |
VALUE |
| PORK |
12,964,892 |
1,426,138,120.00 |
| BEEF |
962,564 |
385,705,040.00 |
| POULTRY |
1,103,566 |
99,320,940.00 |
|
TOTAL |
|
1,911,164,100.00 |
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THE OFFICE OF THE CITY AGRICULTURE ALSO STEPPED-UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE YEAR OF EXCELLENCE. 125 FARMERS ARE NOW PRODUCING THEIR OWN ORGANIc FERTILIZERS WITH THE USE OF COMPOST FUNGUS ACTIVATOR. we have produced 13,327.47 metric tons of rice, 23,136 metric tons of corn and 138.52 metric tons of freshwater fishes, hito and tilapia, which gained us 24%, 90% and 28% increase in production compared to 2007.
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The Port of Dadiangas was given a Cash Collection Target of P202M for 2008; the actual cash collected amounted to P205M or a cash collection efficiency of 101%.
the Port of Dadiangas recorded an increase of importation value of 48.47% FROM 12.3 MILLION PESOS IN 2007 TO 18.3 MILLION PESOS IN 2008. and an increase in exportation value of 11.67% amountING to 584.5 million U.S. Dollars FROM 523.9 million US Dollars.
Import volume also increased at 29.11%, from 311 million kilograms in 2007 to 402 million kilograms in 2008. export volume increased 2.71% from 506.7 million kilograms in 2007 to 520.5 million kilograms in 2008.
the year 2008 saw the true general’s spirit in action, especially our ingenuity and resiliency, against the odds presented DURING OUR HOSTING OF the first philippine cooperative teamshop last october. THE EVENT was attended by close to 2,000 delegates of various cooperatives from all over the country.
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in the face of economic recession, 612 generals from 13 BARANGAYS AVAILED of livelihood trainings initiated by the local government.
I WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE A FEW COMMENDATIONS TO DESERVING GENERALS WHO PUT INTO GOOD USE THE LIVELIHOOD TRAINING GIVEN.
- Mrs Edwina Suerte attended THE training on Soap making on August 27, 2008. At present, she produces 7,800 pcs of soap per month, 7000 of which is delivered to 2 hotels in the city.
- Mrs Fenie Jardiolin of Barangay Baluan who now has 10 employees producing slippers, coco vinegar, bath soap and rugs. She sells her products within the barangay;
- Elaine Tapel, Marilyn Tapel and Marilou Maranguit of Barangay Ligaya produce slippers and sell them within the barangay, TO ZAMBOANGA City and HAVE EXPORTED THE PRODUCTS TO AFRICA.
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our heightened awareness of the importance of TOURISM BECOMES A tool for, and an INDICATOR of economic development.
There was a marked increase of 30% on hotel occupancy or 83,568 guests, of which 13,047 are foreigners WHO stayed in the 5 major hotels of the city. The summary of airlines passenger report showed a total of 164,423 arrivals for 2008, an INCREASE FROM 150,000 IN 2007.
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Tourism investments poured in as a total of 257 Million pesos was infused by 453 tourism-related enterprises in 2008 registering a remarkable increase of 292%. 11 hotels and pension houses were put up to meet the growing demand for accommodation facilities, as well as, 232 food establishments, 89 games and entertainment establishments and 121 service establishments were registered in 2008.
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the barangay tourism profiling survey reported sites that are waiting to be explored, developed and promoted. these discoveries will expand our city’s tourism POTENTIAL, not only as industrial and commercial tourism destination but also as an eco-tourism site. malakong wall, bunga spring amsekong falls and klaja karst in barangay conel; nopol hills in barangay mabuhay; balakayo hills in Barangay olympog, all offer eco-tourism activities such as natuRe photography, camping, rock climbing, river trekking, motor trailing, downhill biking and 4X4 off-road driving. in addition, barangay upper labay offers a unique cultural experience of tinalak weaving on top of nature and sports activities. we will certainly explore their potentials for inclusion to our tourism promotion program.
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LEST I FORGET, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR FINALLY PUTTING UP THEIR REGIONAL CONSULAR OFFICE IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS CONSULAR OFFICE EFFECTIVELY REDUCES THE COST OF SECURING PASSPORTS OF OUR FISHERMEN. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HONORABLE CONGRESSWOMAN DARLENE ANTONINO CUSTODIO FOR THE 10 MILLION-PESO SUPPORT FOR THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE ENDEAVOR.
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FOR 2008 OUR TOTAL REVENUE WAS 931.7M PESOS OR 12% HIGHER THAN TARGET MADE UP OF INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT (IRA) AT 662.6M WHILE RECEIPTS FROM LOCAL TAXES AND OTHER IMPOSITIONS AT 269.1M.
AND THE TOTAL BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR IS 1.1 BILLION PESOS, WHICH INCLUDES THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGETS. OTHER FUNDS WERE SOURCED FROM IRA ADJUSTMENTS, BUDGETARY RESERVES AND REVERSIONS OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY 172.3M.
THESE IN TURN WERE ALLOCATED FOR THE SERVICES AND FACILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERY GENERAL;
- 34% FOR GENERAL PUBLIC SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES THE MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND ORDER
- 32% FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE
- 29% FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE, AND
- 6% FOR OTHER SERVICES.
THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY WILL ALWAYS BE GREATER THAN WHAT WE CAN ALL TOGETHER CONTRIBUTE; A REALITY, WHICH MAKES IT IMPERATIVE FOR EVERYBODY IN GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY PESO BUDGETED, IS WISELY SPENT.
THIS WE HAVE DONE AND SHALL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
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PROJECTS MARKED FOR DEFINITE COMPLETION IN 2009 ARE:
- THE 14.2 MILLION-PESO IMPROVEMENT OF GENERAL SANTOS PARK AND THE OVAL PLAZA,
- 21.6 MILLION PESO CONSTRUCTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE BUILDING,
- CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CITY TERMINAL WORTH 2.5 MILLION PESOS,
- THE 18 MILLION INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM WITH INTERSECTION CONFIGURATION AT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY – J. CATOLICO AVENUE JUNCTION AND NATIONAL HIGHWAY – SANTIAGO BOULEVARD JUNCTION.
WE WILL BE CONSTRUCTING A LIVELIHOOD CENTER WORTH 2 MILLION PESOS, AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF 2 UNITS VILLAGE TYPE POST-HARVEST FACILITY, CORN COB DRYER, RECIRCULATING DRYER WITH BIOMASS FIRED FURNACE WHICH WILL BE THE CREATIVE AND INCOME FACTORY FOR THE GENERALS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR CITY AN BARANGAY ROADS FOR THE BENEFIT AND CONVENIENCE OF THE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY
- THE DADIANGAS-MABUHAY ROAD,
- FERNANDEZ STREET LEADING TO THE CITY HOSPITAL,
- NUÑEZ STREET EXTENSION LEADING TO MALESIDO HOMES PHASE 3
- fataldao bridge and farm-to-market road in barangay san jose
- Rehabilitation of conel-mahubay farm-to-market road
- rehabilitation of balakayo-alferaz farm-to-market road in barangay olympog
- MAJOR DRAINAGE PROJECT ALONG P. ACHARON BOULEVARD, AND
- A DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN, IN COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION, IN AREAS OF SAN ISIDRO, CITY HEIGHTS AND LAGAO THAT WILL RESOLVE THE FLOODING IN KATANGAWAN, LAGAO, BALUAN AND BULA.
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FELLOW GENERALS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY FOR THE YEAR 2009. MOSTLY, SAD TO SAY, ARE DISHEARTENING AND DEPRESSING. THE EFFECTS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION, WHICH STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IS EXPECTED TO HIT THIS YEAR. I NEED NOT ENUMERATE THE DEVASTATIONS THE CRISIS WILL BRING SINCE MEDIA HAS MORE THAN ADEQUATELY SHOWN US.
IN THE UNFORTUNATE EVENT THAT THE PREDICTIONS WILL COME TRUE WE ARE READY AND PREPARED TO CUSHION THE IMPACT. SHOULD WE BE SPARED OF THIS EVENTUALITY, THEN GENERALS ARE TRULY BLESSED.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED CRISES; WE HAD CALAMITIES, BOTH NATURAL AND MAN-MADE; WE HAD DISASTERS, BUT WE SURVIVED THEM ALL!
AND TOGETHER, WE CAN WEATHER THE CHALLENGES OF 2009.
I NOW ASK THE SUPPORT OF THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD TO HELP THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO CRAFT INVESTMENT POLICIES THAT ARE responsive AND friendly TO MICRO ENTERPRISES. IN THE FACE OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SLUMP, SOME OF OUR OFW’S MIGHT BE COMING HOME AND SOME OF OUR FELLOW GENERALS WITHIN THE CITY MIGHT SHIFT FROM BEING EMPLOYED TO BEING ENTREPRENEURS. IT IS OUR DUTY TO SAFEGUARD THEIR WELFARE AND PROVIDE A FALLBACK POSITION IN THE MOST EQUITABLE MANNER THAT WE CAN AFFORD. I HAVE ALREADY INSTRUCTED THE GSC-INVESTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS BOARD TO REVISIT OUR INVESTMENT CODE AND ITS IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS TO LIBERALIZE CERTAIN INCENTIVES IN THEIR FAVOR.
I ALSO EXTEND THE SAME REQUEST OF SUPPORT TO OUR NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION PARTNERS TO JOIN US IN THE AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN FOR LIVELIHOOD TRAINING AND SKILLS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL RESULT TO THE AUGMENTATION OF FAMILY INCOME IN A FELLOW GENERAL’S HOME. CURRENTLY, WE ARE DRAFTING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOYEES THAT MAY ME AFFECTED BY THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
I AM CALLING AS WELL OUR allies FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO RELAX, EVEN TEMPORARILY, REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL ENABLE THE GENERALS TO GAIN ACCESS TO START-UP CAPITALIZATION.
AS THE ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WILL BE FULLY EXECUTED THIS YEAR, I GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL RE-ENGINEER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S PROCESSES IN ORDER TO FAST TRACK THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OUR CUSTOMERS.
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I ASSIGNED THIS YEAR AS THE “YEAR OF LEGACY.” AND WITH THAT DECLARATION, WE ALSO LAUNCHED THE “MAGANDANG GENSAN” PROGRAM.
“MAGANDANG GENSAN” AS IN OUR VISION STATEMENT WILL BE A CITY WHERE FELLOW GENERALS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH OTHER AND PROTECT EACH OTHER’S WELL-BEING, REJOICE IN EACH OTHER’S TRIUMPHS AND SUPPORT IN EACH OTHERS NEEDS AND INTERESTS.
THE “YEAR OF LEGACY” WILL BE MORE THAN TANGIBLE THINGS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES, MONEY OR RESOURCES. THE LEGACY THAT I ENVISION, IS THE LEGACY OF PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION, THE LEGACY OF ACCOUNTABLE DEMOCRACY, AND THE LEGACY OF EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE GENERALS.
IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, “MAGANDANG GENSAN” WILL NO LONGER REMAIN A VISION, IT IS NOW A LEGACY. A MARK OF DISTINCTION AND AN ICON OF EXCELLENCE.
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. delivers his State of the City Address on February 12, 2009 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Hall before members of the City Council and invited guests from various sectors of the city. During his speech, the mayor assigned 2009 as the “Year of Legacy” and with that, the “Magandang GenSan” program. (GenSan CMO/avel manansala)
ALL EARS FOR MAYOR’S SOCA. GenSan City Councilors together with invited guests from various sectors of the city listen intently to GenSan City Mayor Jun Acharon’s delivery of his State of the City Address during their session on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at the SP Hall. The mayor enumerated the past year’s achievements of some notable generals, local NGOs, and that of the city government, among others and the continuing construction of infrastructure projects for the benefit of his constituents while inviting them to be one with him as he proclaimed 2009 as the Year of Legacy. (GenSan CMO/avel manansala)
AFTER THE SOCA. GenSan City Mayor Jun Acharon is all smiles with his First Lady Dr. Rose Acharon together with Association of Barangay Captains President Lulu Casabuena right after his delivery of his State of the City Address (SOCA) on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at the SP Hall. The mayor’s family including his brothers Barangay Kagawad Aying and Engineer Butch and daughter Honey were on hand to lend him their moral support. (GenSan CMO/avel manansala)
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