City Mayor of Dumaguete
A few months from now, my term as City Mayor will be over, but my work does not end with the culmination of my term as local chief executive. I believe there is more work to do and bigger challenges to hurdle. But for now, I am contented to share with the fruits of our labor together in this progressive city.
The formidable work and accomplishments that have taken place in our city are concrete proof the city officials and City Hall employees’ ability to work together for the common good.
To guarantee that my administration would be taking the path in right direction and motivate people using the appropriate thrusts towards a people-centered development, the Executive Branch of the City Government is persistently in serious collaboration with the City Legislative Council headed by City Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling Sr.
Before I leave the august halls of the City Hall, seat of the City Government of Dumaguete from which I have the honor to serve my people, may I have the utmost pleasure to report to you the achievements and accomplishments that the City has experienced under my administration, through a clear vision, responsible planning, and efficient fiscal management, under the principle of “politics of industry and opportunity”.
A progressive city like Dumaguete takes tremendous efforts to attain a vibrant, vigorous economic activity that served as the life blood of the community.
From the time I took over as City Mayor in 2010, Dumaguete has experienced a significant level of economic growth brought about by new investments and large and small business corporations that saw Dumaguete as a lucrative and reliable venue for commerce and trade.
The City Treasurer’s Office reported that 584 new businesses opened in 2015 alone, with more to open in the beginning of this new year.
The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NOCCI) likewise reported that investments generated in Dumaguete City from 2010 to 2016 alone amounted to P13 billion, and generating over 10,000 jobs, as big companies opened their business in Dumaguete City such as the 24-hectare Dumaguete Business Park, Robinsons Supermarket, six Seven-Eleven stores, the 1.2 hectare Linksy IT Park, the 200-room Hotel Essencia, Camella Communities 1&2, the 100-room Go Hotel, the Robinsons Integrated Transport Terminal, the modern Ceres bus terminal, and the on-going construction of the Market Place beside the terminal.
Paseo Perdices which opened in November last year offers the Dumaguete community a taste of international flavors.
Under construction and projected to open within the year are the City Mall, Ace Doctors’ Hospital, the Silliman Portal East Building, Sierra Hotel, and the 12-storey Boulevard Residences which can be one of the forerunners of condo living here in Dumaguete City. The 1.9 hectare Filinvest township, called Marina Spatial, is now in the works, composed of three condominium buildings, a mall, and a hotel.
A total of 18 new commercial banks have opened in Dumaguete City from the period of five years that I have been mayor of the City, indicating that Dumaguete offers a sound environment for good business ventures and the high earning capacity of the people in the community, and their intention to invest their money in banks.
Among these banks are the East West Bank, Maybank, four Banco de Oro Unibank branches, three new Metrobank branches, Security Bank, Robinsons Bank, Asia United Bank, Philippine Bank of Communications.
Qualfon 1&2, along with Spi Global and Teletech, some of the leading customer service providers that cater to business firms abroad, have helped generate jobs in Dumaguete.
NOCCI, that files these reports, has just recently been awarded as the Most Outstanding Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, and has always been collaborative of our efforts in government in business policy making, undertaking programs and activities that help increase commerce and investments in the City.
Businesses that have opened/renewed their enterprise in 2015 totaled 7,508 from 4,212 in 2010, the City Treasurer’s Office reports. Micro-financed businesses and small-scale enterprises also thrive in Dumaguete, and with the friendly business environment that we provide, will eventually, I firmly believe, make it in business.
Our efforts to make business in Dumaguete strong have not escaped the eyes of international monitoring organizations. Tholons List, an international advisory and investments firm for global outsourcing and investments, has listed Dumaguete City in the Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations for 2016, ranking 93, a giant step for Dumaguete which made it in the list for the first time. The Tholons Top 100 list is based on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the place and assessed on business, infrastructure, education, and quality of life.
Infrastructure is an indicator of economic growth in a fast growing city like Dumaguete. It is a major multiplier of jobs, as business activity becomes brisk, and tourism industry becomes active. Convenient access to farm-to-market roads and bridges, road safety, disaster control, drainage and sewage systems, are some of the most important infrastructure projects that we in the City Government invested in, sparing no effort, not to mention tremendous expense.
Adapting the Bottom-Up principle of budgeting, the City of Dumaguete has completed various infrastructure projects that included concreting of city/barangay roads, construction and rehabilitation of public classrooms and facilities, drainage systems, day care centers, lighting systems, livelihood and water supply, which in 2010 alone incurred an expenditures of P48 million.
The City Government allocated a total of P270 million worth of developmental infrastructure projects for the period 2011 to 2015 covering roads of which was allocated for concreting of city/barangay roads including the Metro Dumaguete Diversion Road, drainage system projects, day care centers, lighting systems, livelihood, post-harvest facilities and the Public Market complex, and rehabilitation of the City Hall, the Women’s Center, the dumpsite, and Quezon Park.
The Rizal Boulevard also was given a major make-over. As Mayor, I personally sought the intervention from the Philippine Ports Authority for the continuation of the Boulevard Boardwalk extending until the pier, amounting to P26 million.
In 2013, the signage “I Dumaguete” was installed at the boulevard, and has since become iconic of the City that no tourist/visitor leaves the City without his picture taken first by the signage.
Even as I leave my post as Mayor in June, I will still be leaving behind infrastructure projects that are still on-going, and others already incorporated in the CY 2016. This is because I believe that infrastructure is a huge indicator of the quality of life of a place. I must remind you that Dumaguete was assessed on that when we made it to the Tholons List.
Social Services is one of the top priorities of my administration, and the City Government has a variety of programs that we believe will encompass the various social needs of the people of the community who need special assistance in livelihood, housing, employment, health, and education.
* Livelihood & Employment
There are three vital offices in the City Government that are tasked to carry out my mandate to provide basic services to those who are in need. These are the City Livelihood & Home Industries Office, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and the Sectoral Desk Office.
In 2015, the Sectoral Desk Office organized the urban poor federation with 53 member associations with a total of 740 active members. Thirty people’s organizations and three federations were all formally provided with organization and operating structures, and have been assisted in the processing of their registration and accreditation with the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE).
The City Livelihood and Home Industries Office, on the other hand, has registered in 2015 a total number of 814 students, 605 of whom were able to graduate with all requirements accomplished. Livelihood trainings and skills enhancement programs have also been conducted such as garments shop skills enhancement, candle making, dressmaking, and food and meat processing,
The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) addresses my intense desire to provide employment and employment opportunities for all. PESO has so far registered 27,961 job vacancies and was able to fill 8,399 of the vacancies. These job opportunities was brought about by the opening of big businesses in the City such as restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers. Through referral and placement, PESO was likewise able to record 4,221 referrals, and place 2,962 of them.
PESO has also conducted a Career Guidance and Employment Coaching in seven public high schools in the City, to give students an overview of careers that are in demand, and to guide these students on what track to take in Senior High.
Just very recently, the Job Start Program, in partnership with the DOLE, was implemented at the PESO. The Job Start Program aims to provide young people opportunities for employment by giving them access to skills that potential employers need. The Skills Registration System, on the other hand, is a data base for applicants that can be readily accessed by potential employers seeking for skilled workers.
* Health & Nutrition
I believe that healthy people make a progressive city. Health and nutrition, therefore, are in my list of priorities in my administration.
Through the City Health Office, awareness campaigns on the importance of immunization against communicable diseases have been conducted, raising the accomplishment rate of 48 percent in 2014 to 72 percent in 2015. With the allocated budget of P300,000.00 for dengue control and prevention, we were able to lower the morbidity and mortality rate of dengue-related incidents from 207 in 2014 down to 156 cases in 2015.
Food handlers seminars conducted up to five times a month, and regular inspections of food establishments in the City ensure food safety in Dumaguete City, giving consumers the assurance that the food they eat in restaurants, cafes, diners, carinderias are fresh and safe for consumption.
In 2015, the number of households with no sanitary toilets decreased to a record of 99.84 percent when these households, mostly indigent families, were provided with sanitary toilet facilities, decreasing at the same time the possibility of water- and fecal matter-borne diseases.
The City Nutrition Office’s Operation Timbang Campaign brought down the malnutrition rate to an all time low of 2.27 percent in March 2015, while 343 underweight children become beneficiaries in the supplementary and milk feeding programs. I am proud to say that Dumaguete received the award “Good Nutrition Projects/Practices in the Region” during the 11th Regional Nutrition Officers’ Congress in 2015 in Cebu City.
The Dumaguete HIV-AIDS Council has also been created to address concerns regarding the spread of HIV-AIDS, working hand in hand with national agencies such as the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare & Development.
* Housing
The City Government under my term has provided 1.9 hectares of land to some 109 beneficiaries at Caritas Core Shelter Housing Project II in barangay Bajumpandan, alleviating these beneficiaries from their constant fear of becoming homeless. The City Government also provided 7,200 square meters of land for 51 beneficiaries at iHome Bajumpandan Housing Project.
* Senior Citizens, Women’s, and PWDs
In 2015, the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) facilitated the registration of 4,092 senior citizens with the PhilHealth, with most of them receiving Medical Data Records that is required for hospitalization, as mandated in RA 10645.
OSCA has also issued 378 senior citizens with certifications for burial assistance, a program of the City Government extended to deceased elderly citizens. Through the OSCA, the City Government of Dumaguete has now extended to 480 senior citizens the social pension plan at P500 a month.
Women play an important role in the society. The City Government, therefore, provides full support assistance through programs and activities that promote women empowerment. Women’s conventions, symposium, and lectures and trainings on self-enhancement designed to instill in them dignity and self-esteem. Visitations to women inmates are also conducted, and the program also includes abused, battered, and disadvantaged women, 18-59 years old.
The City Government under my watch cares for persons with disabilities (PWDs), by giving them livelihood programs, and assisting them with monthly medical monitoring tests, especially those who are at present undergoing hemodialysis sessions.
* Cash Assistance
A total of 2,000 recipients have been assisted with their medical, hospital, and calamity needs, and in person with crisis situations for the total project cost of P13 million by utilizing the Emergency Public Assistance Fund and Aid to family in crisis situations.
Sustainable agriculture means sustainable food security. The Office of the City Agriculture has always underscored its important role in the delivery of basic agricultural services, and in ensuring the provision of sustainable food security.
Giant strides have been made in the production of high value commercial crops, and the employment of greenhouses. Campaigns have been held on Gulayan at Pala-isdaan alay sa Kabataan (GPAK) Programs in public high schools in the City, and at the same time boosting its animal dispersal program through the livestock division.
The Office of the City Agriculture consistently undertakes the planing of climate-change resistant crops, to assure the City constituents of food security even during hostile and negative impacts of climate change. The Office has also continually worked on maximizing the use of the remaining 675 hectares of land for agriculture needed to increase production for food sufficiency.
In collaboration with the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG), the City Government of Dumaguete, through the Office of City Agriculture, implemented a program in which inland bodies of water and man-made lagoons will not run out of water, and are perfectly suitable to raising and breeding tilapia. The project is funded by DILG and the City Government with a total amount of P700,000.00. The whole projecct is aimed to enhance the maintenance of ecological balance of fresh water environment, ensuring food security for urban families, population control of disease-causing insects, and the growth of disease vector mosquitoes in the project-covered barangays.
Another project through the initiative of the OCA is the Plow Now-Pay Later Program which resulted to the utilization of 31 hectares of rice that yielded 92.95 metric tons.
In line with the global agenda of mitigating the worsening effects of climate change, the Office of the City Agriculture and the City Environment & Natural Resources (ENRO) have used scientific methods of decreasing volumes of biodegradable wastes through thermolysis composting using bio-enzymes.
To date, ENRO is able to produce 1,500 bags Microbial-Treated Supplement (MTS) organic fertilizer, 1,300 bags of vermicasts, and an additional 3,000 bags of MTS with the use new bio-composter and shredder machines. The City is now the main supplier of organic fertilizers to local farmers.
The Coastal Resource Management program of the City, along with the different socio-civic organizations, civil society, and residents of coastal barangays has made possible the planting of 9,973 growing and maturing mangrove trees with a survival rate of 70 percent at Camp Seasite in barangay Banilad.
For the past 19 years, the City has participated in the International Coastal & Waterways Clean-Up. Yearly coastal clean-up held in the months of April and September yielded 11.5 tons of garbage from our coastal waters.
Three marine sanctuaries have been successfully established and maintained in Banilad, Looc and Bantayan. Other coastal barangays are expected to follow after coordination meetings with barangay officials, monthly and yearly meetings as conducted by the deputized fish wardens association. Two fisherfolk associations have been organized and registered with the DOLE in line with the CRM’s expansion program.
The Waste Water Treatment Facility in barangay Camanjac has remained well-managed and -maintained, and leads in a tourism survey as the most visited facility by local government officials, students, and other guests from outside Dumaguete on educational trips to the City.
Disasters — whether natural or man-made — when uncontrolled can put all our efforts to waste. Economic growth can be reversed, poverty will worsen, and will result in untold human suffering. Disasters can destroy infrastructure, not to mention havoc on the environment. In other words, disasters and calamities can heavily impact on development and progress.
But I am proud to say to you that as Dumaguete continuous to grow in population, we are able to manage a variety of disasters with the programs and projects that we have started.
With a total amount of P3.5 million budget, the Local Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Fund was able to complete the construction of flood and erosion control structures along rivers and waterways, and the construction of shoreline protection along the coastal barangays. We have also implemented the rehabilitation and de-clogging of drainage canals to be prepared for the coming of the rainy season.
We have strengthened our cooperation, and fostered partnerships with volunteer groups such as amateur radio clubs, SCUBA divers, and have established better coordination planning and management with these groups regarding crisis management.
I know that peace and order goes hand in hand with economic growth, but I’m realistic enough to admit that with progress come problems on violence and criminal activity. I assure you that I, with the full support of the Philippine National Police, am doing everything I can to provide safety, peace and order to the public.
In 2015, the City PNP was able to solve 63.91 percent of crimes, and cleared 64.27 percent of it. I know its not much but we are definitely getting to make headway in solving at least almost all of them. An allocation of P15 million for the installation of CCTVs around the City and a state-of-the-art command system.
The City police force is augmented by an increased number of auxiliary police and barangay tanods in all 30 barangays. Just recently, the City Police received 10 hand-held radio sets and three Pick-up truck vehicles, very important for quick police emergency response.
Members from the private sector likewise made donations to the City Police Station such as 10 hand-held radio sets, bullet proof vests, and two motorcycles from Silliman University. This is a clear response to the call that the peace and order of the City is everyone’s concern, and that the private sector can also help a lot in a very significant way in preventing crimes in the City.
In June 2015, a delegation from Dumaguete City headed by myself as Mayor left for Alameda City, California, USA, to forge a sisterhood partnership and friendly understanding with the city government there. It was able to form broader cooperation abroad, and to promote common interests in trade and tourism, education, good governance, climate change mitigation, and peace and security.
The trip was very successful that government officials from Alameda City made a reciprocal visit to Dumaguete in November 2015. They were joined by government officials from Yeongdong-gun, South Korea, also a sister city of Dumaguete, which had agreed in the previous year to come visit our City to turn-over 100 units of computers.
This gathering of key leaders from these three sister cities provided an opportunity for positive exchanges in information and technology, and sharing of views on common areas of concern.
For the past year and a half, people have repeatedly regarded Dumaguete as having been identified as the 5th Best Place to Retire in the World.
Of course, we took pride in that, and even did our share of bragging about it because the information came from one of the most reliable organizations, the International Living magazine, and which was picked by Yahoo Finance and Forbes.
Even before I took over the helm of the City as mayor, I knew the benefits that a good tourism plan and management can bring to the community. Not only because I had traveled or was chairman of the City Tourism Council and the Committee on Tourism of the Dumaguete Sangguniang Panlungsod for several years, but because I understood the dynamics that Tourism Equals Livelihood, and that tourism is everybody’s business if you want inclusive growth.
Agoda.com., an accommodations booking site, lists Dumaguete as #1 in the 2015 list of 10 Most Visited Cities in Asia, as compiled by young and independent Chinese tourists. Quoting Agoda.com, GMA News reported that Dumaguete obtained a staggering 805 percent in bookings in 2015, besting other wonderful cities in Asia such as Yuto and Nagoya in Japan, Koh Lanta in Thailand or Nha Trang in Vietnam.
Also last year, Dumaguete City was the recipient of two national awards in tourism, the ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards 2015 for tourism best practices. Tourist arrivals in 2015 reached 489,814, with a growth rate of 135.52 percent since 2011, which recorded 207,971, ranking Dumaguete as 3rd in Region 7, after Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City.
Contrary to what was said about the financial situation of the City government, ours is based on a sound fiscal management, more so that every infrastructure project, social services projects, employee salaries and benefits have been met satisfactorily and timely.
And contrary to what detractors say, local tax collection during the five years of my administration experienced unprecedented increases every year.
In 2010, the first year of my term, local collection amounted to P130,271,031. Collection grew in 2011 to P179,231,954.12, increased in 2012 to P201,868,531.52, then grew to P216,165,306.76 in 2013. In 2014, collection grew to P236, 410,306, and last year 2015, collection reached P257,596,791.69, or a growth rate of 97.74 percent for the past five years.
With a very successful tax collection, and responsible fiscal management based on prudent spending, and effective and efficient budgeting, I am confident I am leaving the City in a stable financial status.
Awards & Accolades Received
My desire to be a good leader, and the efforts we have exerted to make our City as the Most Ideal Place to Live In have not been for naught, since Dumaguete City has consistently been a recipient of multiple awards, validating all our sincere efforts, and recognizing our hard work and perseverance.
2011
Most Promising City in Central Visayas for its Nutrition Action Plan & Programs
Seal of Good Housekeeping Award for Exemplary Performance in Administrative, Social & Economic Governance
Regional Gawad Saka Outstanding Women Award
Regional Gawad Saka Outstanding Organic Farmer Award
2012
Seal of Good Housekeeping Award for Good Governance & Performance in Good Planning, Sound Fiscal Management, Transparency & Accountability, Valuing Performance Management
Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award for Transparency & Accountability
Galing Pook Environment Award for Showcasing Best Practices in Implementing an Innovative “City Wide Septage Management Program” in the Philippines
Philippines’ Top 10 Next Wave Cities for BPOs
2013
Regional Best PESO
Awards for Agriculture & Fisheries
Regional Outstanding Organic Farmer Award
Regional Outstanding Farm Family Award
Regional Outstanding Young Farmers’ Organization Award
Regional Outstanding Agricultural Scientist Award
2014
DOH Red Orchid Award for Effective Implementation of
Smoke-Free Program
PESO Top Regional Performer
Forbes: Dumaguete City as One of the World’s Seven Best
Places to Retire
Regional “Gawad Saka” Outstanding Agriculture Extension Worker Award
Regional “Gawad Saka” Outstanding Young Farmers’ Organization Award
Regional “Gawad Saka” Outstanding Agriculture Focal Person Award
2015
DILG Seal of Good Local Governance
City Civil Registry Office Top Performer of the Region (Top 10)
Grand Champion, ATOP/DOT Pearl Award on Best Tourism Week Celebration
ATOP/DOT Pearl Award on Best Tourism Event (Sports/Adventure/Wellness)
DILG Good Financial Housekeeping Award for Sustaining the Practice of Accountability & Transparency and for Espousing a Proactive Financial Judgment
Top Performing LGU on Facility Based Delivery and TB Case Detection Rate
Best in Nutrition Project in Region 7
Most Outstanding Sanggunian Panglungsod in Region 7
2016
#1 Asian Destination by independent travelers from China
Top 100 Best BPO Destination in the World (Rank 93, first time to make it to the List)
CONCLUSION
My two terms in government service as City Mayor have been fulfilling for me, and hopefully with you also. We have risen above the challenges, and came out victorious. Dumaguete City has become more economically-stable, and I am confident that we can still achieve more.
I want to recognize the hard work and commitment of all the City officials and employees of the 33 departments and offices of the City Government of Dumaguete. The services that have provided every day have made us the strongest city in Negros Oriental, a multi-awarded city in the Philippines. All of you truly have my deep gratitude and respect.
To the people of Dumaguete, the state of the City is in your hands. You have the power to make a change to continue to move forward. The City Government of Dumaguete has demonstrated the courage to make tough choices, and the wisdom to make investments that reward the future. We’ve come too far, and made much progress.
I wish you well, Dumaguete. Thank you very much.
