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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – Capitol managed to carry out various projects beneficial to the people because of its partnerships, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said.
In his sixth State of the Province Address (SOPA) yesterday, Defensor emphasized that its ties with government agencies and foreign organizations allowed the provincial government to reach out to more Ilonggos.
He also boasted of the awards and recognition the capitol received for its outstanding performance in various fields.
Defensor cited the Department of Agrarian Reform, which is concreting farm-to-market roads through the Agrarian Reform Communities Project Phase 2 in Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Dumangas, Lambunao, and San Rafael.
He also mentioned three ongoing projects under the World Bank and Philippine Rural Development Program: the 28-kilometer (km) Passi City-Gemumua Agahon road, the 10.2-km Poblacion to Tacuyong Norte road in Leon and the 7-km Parara-Jamog road in Tigbauan.
The concreting of a 15.3-km road connecting Anilao, Dingle and San Enrique is also ongoing under the Kalsada program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said the governor.
He said the Korea International Cooperation Agency also helped upgrade the bed capacities and services of three hospitals.
The foreign aid organization provided Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care facilities and equipment for Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian, Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan and Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog.
“The rest of our hospitals are also undergoing similar transformation, especially with the Hospital Facilities Enhancement Program in partnership with the Department of Health,” he told the audience at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall.
Defensor also thanked the Italian government for donating two sea ambulances for northern Iloilo and the Irish nongovernment organization Concern Worldwide for the P260-million livelihood projects for super typhoon “Yolanda” survivors, also in northern Iloilo.
He also enumerated the provincial government’s awards. Among others, he mentioned the DILG’s Excellence on Local Governance Awards, which named Iloilo as Best Performing Province; Most Outstanding award from the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officer, Inc.; National Best Public Employment Service Office Award from the Department of Labor and Employment; and Kalikasan Award from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
On Friday Defensor will receive the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance, a second for the province, at the DILG central office in Manila.
“All the honor and acclaim that come our way are but bonuses for the work we have done and continue to do,” he said. “We simply do our best to attain the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. If we can’t do that, awards are meaningless. If we do that, awards are not necessary.”
His fellow officials commended Defensor.
“Kanami bangod ang iya focus is not his achievement but that of people supporting him,” Vice Gov. Christine Garin said of the SOPA. “He (Defensor) thinks of the people who helped him, indi nga gina-angkon ya lang.”
Meanwhile former political ally Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr., mayor of Guimbal, said, “Grabe! Terible! Grabe nga accomplishments and awards. Many, many good things are really happening in the province.”
“All I can say is congratulations to the governor and congratulations to the province of Iloilo for such achievements,” he added. “Sige pa ina kay ara pa ang kusog kag kabaskog ni Governor Defensor.”
Ajuy mayor Jett Rojas, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Iloilo chapter, rated the governor “99.9.”
But Rojas would have wanted to hear more about how the provincial government’s programs contributed to poverty reduction.
“I recommend that every year dapat may comparison para makita [kon] ang mga programa sang kapitolyo naka-apekto sa poverty incidence,” he said. (With E.C. Garcia, Capitol News/PN)
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