SA TANANG KATAWHAN NGA ANIA KARON SA CARLOS P. GARCIA FREEDOM PARK, SA TANANG NAMINAW SA RADIO SA ILANG PANIMALAY, SA ATONG ABTIK NGA CONGRESSWOMAN DARLENE ANTONINO-CUSTODIO, MGA MYEMBRO SA SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD NGA GIPANGULUHAN NI HONORABLE VICE MAYOR FLOR CONGSON, MGA LEDERES UG MGA IGSOON NATO SA CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE PIONEERS, OPISYALES UG MGA MYEMBRO SA BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL, CIVIC, RELIGIOUS, UG EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, MGA KATAWHAN SA HENERAL SANTOS. . .

MY OPENING STATEMENT IS OUR CITY’S VISION. IT IS COMPOSED OF TWENTY-EIGHT WORDS. BUT IF A TWENTY-EIGHT WORD STATEMENT IS TOO LONG TO READ AND REMEMBER, LET ME SIMPLIFY IT IN TWO WORDS. . . MAGANDANG GENSAN!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MGA IGSOON KONG GENERALS, MAGANDANG GENSAN SA ATONG TANAN.

YOU MUST HAVE NOTICED THAT EVERYTIME I DELIVER A SPEECH, I ALWAYS START WITH “MAGANDANG GENSAN.”

IT ALL BEGAN ONE DAY WHEN I WAS THINKING HOW TO TRANSLATE THE VISION INTO SIMPLE, MANAGEABLE AND PARTICIPATIVE MANNER THAT EVERY GENERAL CAN RELATE. I THOUGHT OF THIS…

MAGANDANG GENSAN IS NOT ONLY WORDS. IT IS A STATEMENT OF HOPE.
MAGANDANG GENSAN IS NOT ONLY A GREETING. IT IS A CONVICTION.
MAGANDANG GENSAN IS NOT ONLY A VISION. IT IS A MISSION.

A MISSION, A CONVICTION, A STATEMENT STARTED BY OUR FOREBEARS AND THE PIONEERS, LED BY GENERAL PAULINO SANTOS, WHEN THEY CAME HERE AND PLANTED THE SEEDS OF DREAMS ON FEBRUARY 27, 1939.

WHAT WE SAW A WHILE AGO, IS A DRAMATIZATION OF THOSE DREAMS. 67 YEARS LATER, WE CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE QUALITY OF THAT TRANSFORMATION.

FROM A MERE FARMERS' RESETTLEMENT AREA, WE BECAME THE TUNA CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE GATEWAY TO BIMP-EAGA, AND PART OF THE PHILIPPINE CYBERSPACE CORRIDOR.

HOWEVER, THE HUMAN INDIVIDUAL IS THE ULTIMATE SUBJECT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS. OUR ACHIEVEMENTS ARE ALL ABOUT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERY GENERAL.
(visuals on health services)

MAO KANA ANG RASON NGANONG WALA AKO MAGDUHADUHA SA PAGPALAPAD SA ATONG SERBISYO PARA SA MGA PROGRAMANG PANGLAWAS LABI NA GYUD SA MGA BUNTIS, MGA BATA, UG MGA INAHAN.

SA PANAHON NGAYON, BAWAL ANG MAGKASAKIT. THAT IS WHY WE INTENSIFIED OUR INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. WE ORIENTED 10,000 PEOPLE ON THE PREVENTION OF LIFESTYLE-RELATED DISEASES SUCH AS CANCER, DIABETES, STRESS, HYPERTENSION, AND CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS, AMONG OTHERS.

TODAY, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST WORRIES IS HOSPITALIZATION. HENCE, WE INVESTED 4.5 MILLION PESOS AND ENROLLED 7,600 FAMILIES IN PHILHEALTH. IN RETURN, 1,400 CARDHOLDERS GOT 9.5MILLION PESOS WORTH OF HOSPITAL SERVICES PAID BY PHILHEALTH.

IN ADDITION, WE REFORMED OUR CITY HOSPITAL. WE REGULATED DOCTOR’S PROFESSIONAL FEES WITHIN PHILHEALTH RATES. NOW, OUR PATIENTS CAN HAVE A MAJOR SURGERY AT A MAXIMUM OF 16,000 PESOS COMPARED TO A MINIMUM OF 30,000 PESOS IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL. TINUOD! DAKO KINING TABANG PARA SA KADAGHANAN!

WITH MORE DOCTORS WE ARE ABLE TO TREAT 26,000 PATIENTS IN A YEAR. WITH A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM AND A REINVIGORATED HOSPITAL STAFF, WE WILL CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THE CITY HOSPITAL OPERATIONS FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

SA NAGAKADAKUNG SIYUDAD SAMA NATO, NAGAKADAKU USAB ANG HAGIT SA PAGHATAG UG EPEKTIBONG SERBISYO PUBLIKO. KADAGHANAN SA ATONG MGA PROGRAMA MAOY PARA SA PANGINABUHI O LIVELIHOOD, PAGTABANG SA DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES NGA MORESULTA SA MGA STREET CHILDREN UG BATANG TUNO-OG, BALIK TULUNGHAAN PROGRAM, UG UBAN PA.

I RECOGNIZE OUR BARANGAY LEADERS IN PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF OUR CHILDREN IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE BARANGAY COUNCILS FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GAWAD KALINGA, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, SOME NGOS AND GENEROUS INDIVIDUALS, WE CONSTRUCTED 120 HOUSES AND RESETTLED 65 DISASTER VICTIMS AT GK PROMISE LAND IN BRGY. MABUHAY. WE ALSO GAVE THEM LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS.

141 FILIPINO FISHERMEN WERE REPATRIATED FROM INDONESIA AND HAPPILY REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES. WE ALSO RESCUED 56 VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THE GENERALLY PEACEFUL CONDITION OF THE CITY IS DUE TO INTENSIFIED POLICE FOOT AND MOBILE PATROLS. COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES THROUGH BARANGAY TANODS AND CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS GAVE A FORCE MULTIPLIER AND AUGMENTED OUR 452 POLICE PERSONNEL.

I COMMEND OUR LOCAL PNP FOR ITS ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS. IT HAS PURSUED DISCIPLINE AND OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE. ELEVEN POLICE PERSONNEL WERE DISCIPLINED EITHER BY DEMOTION, SUSPENSION, OR DISMISSAL.

THEIR PERFORMANCE AND THE REFORMS BEING DONE INSPIRED US TO INVEST IN OUR PNP A TOTAL OF 8.2 MILLION PESOS WHICH INCLUDED EIGHT PATROL CARS IN 2005.

IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATION, WE EMBARKED ON “PEDRO” WHICH MEANS “PROJECT ON EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF READING OPPORTUNITIES.”

OUR AIM IS TO INCREASE THE ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN READING AND MATHEMATICS. THUS, WE TRAINED 440 TEACHERS AND IMPROVED THEIR COMPETENCIES IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE AND ENGLISH.

WE ARE SUSTAINING OUR COMPUTER LITERACY PROGRAM THROUGH ADDITIONAL BUDGET ON TOP OF THE 20 MILLION PESO INVESTMENT. AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE 39 COMPUTER LITERACY CENTERS BENEFITING THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY PUPILS.

WHILE WE ARE DOING THESE, SOME PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY ARE ALSO DOING THEIR PART IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WAYS BUT HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS. MY COMMENDATION ALSO GOES TO THEM.

I THANK THE PARENTS-TEACHERS-COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS IN HELPING WITH OTHER SCHOOLS NEEDS SUCH AS DESKS, TABLES AND CHAIRS.

I ADMIRE OUR LOCAL INVESTORS IN THE ICT INDUSTRY FOR OPENING MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GENERALS.

I ALSO APPRECIATE THE NOTRE DAME OF DADIANGAS COLLEGE AND HOLY TRINITY COLLEGE. THEY WILL NOW OFFER ENGLISH COURSES TAILORED-FIT TO THE CALL CENTER INDUSTRY PROVIDING COMPETENCIES, TRAINING, AND SKILLS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE CALL CENTER AGENTS.

IN THE AREA OF LEGISLATION, OUR MANDATE IS TO SET POLICY AND LEGISLATION THAT ENSURES QUALITY SERVICE DELIVERY FOR SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT. LIKEWISE, WE HAVE INSTALLED EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE MECHANISMS, SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES SUCH AS THE GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT CODE, LOCAL INVESTMENT AND INCENTIVE CODE, AND THE REVENUE CODE.

WE ARE NOW USING THE POVERTY-BASED ALLEVIATION THROUGH PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE OR PBA-PI: A MECHANISM THAT DEFINES THE ROLES OF COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATIONS FOR PLANS, PROGRAMS, AND PROJECTS WHICH THEY THEMSELVES HAVE IDENTIFIED.

TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT USES EFFECTIVE AND CONSULTATIVE PLANNING, OUR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS CONTINUALLY STRENGTHENED.

A CRITICAL SUPPORT TO THIS PARTICIPATORY PLANNING PROCESS IS AN EFFECTIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM. AS OF NOW, 13 OF THE 26 BARANGAYS HAVE COMPLETED THE COMMUNITY-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM AND THE POPULATION BASIC SERVICES INTEGRATED SURVEY. COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION ADDS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF OUR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES.

IN THE SERVICE AREA OF REVENUE GENERATION, WE HAVE LINKED THE ASSESSOR AND TREASURY DEPARTMENTS, UPDATED OUR TAX MAPS, INDEXING SYSTEM, AND THE TAX REVENUE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION SYSTEM.

AS A RESULT, WE HAVE MORE THAN 100% COLLECTION EFFICIENCY ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF BUSINESS TAXES AND PERMITS AND LICENSE FEES. THE 2005 TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTION IS P713 MILLION WHICH IS P57 MILLION MORE THAN 2004. THIS SIMPLY SHOWS OUR BUSINESS SECTOR’S CONFIDENCE IN THE LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION AND IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

ALONG OUR TOTAL QUALITY SERVICE EFFORTS, WE HAVE ORIENTED ALL OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL ON THE PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT. THIS ENABLED THEM TO ANALYZE AND STREAMLINE PROCESSES WITH A FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER. SINCE THEN, EMPLOYEES HAVE INSTITUTED CONTINUAL CHANGES IN THEIR OFFICES TO MEET CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS.

I APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR PUBLISHING THE CITY GOVERNMENT PROCEDURAL HANDBOOK. THIS HANDBOOK WILL ASSIST OUR CUSTOMERS HOW TO AVAIL OF ANY FRONTLINE SERVICE FROM THE CITY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

WE ARE CONTINUALLY MAKING OUR CIVIL APPLICATIONS PROCESSES SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS, PROCESSING TIME, NUMBER OF STEPS AND SIGNATORIES, HAVING CLIENT-FRIENDLY FORMS, AND SYSTEMATIZED SYSTEMS.

THAT IS WHY, WE NEVER STOPPED CHALLENGING OUR ONE-STOP-LICENSING CENTER YEAR BY YEAR TO GIVE YOU YOUR BUSINESS PERMIT, BUILDING PERMIT, AND OCCUPANCY PERMIT AT YOUR SATISFACTION AND DELIGHT.

AGRICULTURE, THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY, MUST BE SUSTAINABLE AND PROGRESSIVE. OUR 4-HECTARE PEOPLE’S DEMO FARM IN SINAWAL SHOWCASES PRACTICAL LEARNING IN AGRICULTURE AND PROVIDES QUALITY PLANTING MATERIALS.

WE HAVE COMPLETED THE SOILS AND LAND RESOURCES EVALUATION STUDY WHICH WILL HELP US MAXIMIZE OUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BY IDENTIFYING THE SUITABLE CROPS BY BARANGAY.

OUR FARMING COMMUNITIES ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED INTO HOME RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND FARM YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH AUGMENT FAMILIES’ INCOME.

WE TRAIN HOUSEWIVES IN BACKYARD FOOD PRODUCTION AND HOME MANAGEMENT. THE YOUTH ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN FARMING. NOT ONLY DO THESE PROGRAMS INCREASE INCOME BUT ALSO LIFT THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AS RESPONSIBLE PARTNERS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO DEVELOPMENT IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. TO ENABLE OUR FARM PRODUCTS TO REACH THE MARKETS IN GOOD CONDITION, WE INVESTED 6 MILLION PESOS IN THE UPKEEP OF 131 LINEAR KILOMETERS OF BARANGAY ROADS AND BRIDGES.

OUR URBAN COMMUNITIES SHOULD HAVE FELT THE COMFORT OF WELL MAINTAINED 132 LINEAR KILOMETERS OF CITY ROADS AND BRIDGES WHICH COST US MORE THAN 4 MILLION PESOS. ON TOP OF THAT, WE MAINTAINED AND LIGHTED ALMOST 5,000 STREETLIGHTS COSTING US 21 MILLION PESOS ANNUALLY.

TO SUPPORT OUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, 84 MILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED, HIGHLIGHTS OF WHICH ARE WIDENING OF DAPROZA STREET WITH DRAINAGE CURB AND GUTTER, EXPANSION OF BULA ROAD WITH DRAINAGE, AND DRAINAGE OUTFALL AT BULA. THIS SOLVED THE PERENNIAL PROBLEM OF FLOODING IN SANTIAGO BOULEVARD AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.

READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION ARE 37 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WORTH 55 MILLION, HIGHLIGHTS OF WHICH ARE DRAINAGE SYSTEM, REPAIR OF PUBLIC MARKET AND ROAD WIDENING. ALSO, TRAFFIC LIGHTS WILL SOON RISE IN THE INTERSECTIONS OF PIONEER-MAGSAYSAY AND PIONEER-ACHARON.

OUR EFFORTS IN MAKING OUR CITY LIVABLE WERE RECOGNIZED THROUGH THE GAWAD PANGULO SA KAPALIGIRAN – HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES CATEGORY, THIS IS A TANGIBLE PROOF OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH TOWARDS ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION IS BEING PLANNED THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE PROJECT OR ECO-GOV2. THIS INCLUDES THE INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE AND WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS, AND THE SARANGANI BAY PROTECTED SEASCAPE PLAN, WHICH IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SARANGANI PROVINCE.

WE CAN NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR SANITARY LANDFILL AFTER THE SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN BRGY. SINAWAL.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS NOT EVEN HALF OF OUR POTENTIALS. THE WHEELS OF TRANSFORMATION MUST NOT STOP. WE HAVE TO ENSURE A BRIGHTER TOMORROW FOR THE FUTURE GENERALS THROUGH OUR 15-YEAR CITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES OR SHEEP DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

GENERALS ARE ALWAYS A SURVIVOR, ALWAYS A WINNER. OUR VISION SAYS – WE ARE A WELL-SPRING OF WINNERS. OUR CHAMPION – MANNY PACQUIAO – A GENERAL – HAS PROVEN THAT – FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD TO SEE.

WE ARE ALL MANNY PACQUIAOS. WE ARE ALWAYS A PEOPLE THAT BREATHES VICTORY. LIKE MANNY, WE HAVE PROVEN WE ARE NOT EASY TO DEFEAT. LIKE MANNY, WE HAVE SHOWN THAT DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING ODDS, WE STOOD UP AND GAVE A GOOD FIGHT, AN EXCELLENT VICTORY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT IS WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE. THE ULTIMATE VICTORY IS WHEN WE NEVER GIVE UP DESPITE THE ODDS.

ULTIMATE VICTORY IS IN ACCORD WITH OUR VISION ANCHORED ON THE FRUITS OF THE PAST.

THE STATE OF THE CITY IS ALWAYS MEASURED BY THE PEOPLE’S QUALITY OF LIFE. THE HUMAN RESOURCE CONDITION IS NO DOUBT THE YARDSTICK OF THE CITY’S STATE.

WHEN EVERY GENERAL IS CONTENTED AND LIVES IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITH NATURE AND CULTURE, THAT IS ULTIMATE VICTORY.

WHEN WE HEAR THAT EVERY GENERAL SHOUTS “MAGANDANG GENSAN” IN HARMONY THAT IS ALREADY AN INDICATION OF THE ULTIMATE STATE OF OUR VISION.

UBANI AKO NINYO, I-SYAGIT NATO. . .MAGANDANG GENSAN!

… AND THAT MY DEAR GENERALS, IS THE PRESENT STATE OF GENERAL SANTOS CITY. DAGHANG SALAMAT KANINYONG TANAN, UG SA MAKA-USA PA… USA KA MAGANDANG GENSAN!