BY SAMMY JULIAN
WE extend our felicitations to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. of Iloilo for bagging the “most outstanding governor” award in the Philippines in the field of social services.
The recognition is the result of the annual search by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines Inc. (ALSWDOP).
It is no secret that Gov. Defensor has been very supportive of welfare programs like the Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities (ERPAT) and program for solo parents.
So far, 12 municipalities in Iloilo province including 443 barangays covered by Kalahi-CIDSS availed themselves a total of P987.9-million worth of projects.
The types of completed and functional sub-projects most needed by the communities are basic social services facilities such as day care centers, electrification, health stations, school buildings, small-scale irrigation and water systems with 644 projects.
These comprise about 50 percent of the total projects in Western Visayas. The towns of Janiuay and Calinog in Iloilo have the most number of basic social services facilities, each having 67 sub-projects.
The other towns in Iloilo that received projects were Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Carles, Concepcion, Lambunao, Lemery, Maasin, San Dionisio and San Rafael.
The other types of projects commonly identified under the Kalahi-CIDSS in the province are basic access infrastructures with 441 sub-projects or 34.2 percent share and the community production, economic support and common services with 125 projects or 9.8 percent share.
These projects include access trail/footpath, foot or small bridges and roads.
On the other hand, the senior citizens in Iloilo province, aside from the mandated 20 percent nationally-implemented discounts, are also being given 30-percent discounts in all district hospitals.
Volunteer workers like the day care center workers are also covered by Philippine Health Insurance with the provincial government paying for their premiums.
They are also given honoraria.
Based on data, since his return as governor of Iloilo province, Defensor has provided P36-million medical and burial aid to 32,108 indigents from July 2010 to June 2013.
He also provided P2.7 million to the Iloilo Provincial Development Center for Women and Children that help clients in crisis situations.
Defensor also enrolled 92,219 indigent families and 8,136 barangay nutrition scholars, barangay service point officers, and other volunteers in day care centers and barangay health stations in PhilHealth.
He also approved persons with disability (PWD) ordinance and senior citizens ordinance in 2012 to improve the medical healthcare and other privileges of PWDs and the elderly.
The governor also supported the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office’s celebration of Centenarians’ Day by giving the centenarians plaques of recognition and cash incentives.
Defensor is also responsible in providing potable water to 286 barangays and 14 public schools under the Provincial Waterworks and Sanitation program.
The award proves that the provincial government under the leadership of Defensor is doing its best to deliver the social services to its people.
More than what the figures show, this new recognition affirms the results of Gov. Defensor’s call for reform and change, and recognizes the various modes of “transparency and accountability vehicles” instituted by Defensor when he assumed office in July 2010.
It further affirms the harmonious relationship between the Executive and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo.
These are proofs that we have already made inroads in our bid to restore people’s trust and confidence in the provincial government of Iloilo.
Transparency in provincial government transactions has attracted many suppliers to participate in biddings and has resulted to big savings on the part of the provincial government.
Also worth noting is Defensor administration’s regular consultations with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the League of Municipalities and barangay leaders.
The awards that Gov. Defensor has received, including the latest from ALSWDOP, inspire Ilonggos to do more for the province.
These achievements have given Iloilo a new kind of government – a government which is transparent, accountable and free from corruption. A government that leads by example.
People now look forward to a more effective implementation of all the existing programs and ongoing projects of the provincial government./PN
