GOV. BONG CARRION'S SOPA

(This morning, the Honorable Gov. Bong Carrion of Marinduque delivered his State of the Province Address at the Capitol Session Hall in Boac, Marinduque. The technical copy of the speech that was accompanied by a powerpoint presentation is reproduced here in full).

STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS
BY HON. GOV. JOSE ANTONIO N. CARRION
Session Hall, Provincial Capitol
August 14, 2009

Good morning, the Presiding Officer- Majority Leader Jaime Jasper Lim, Members of this august body - the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque, All Mayors of our six municipalities, Vice-mayors, Sangguniang Bayan members of the six municipalities, our Barangay Leaders and officials, department heads, heads of offices, distinguished guests from our religious and private sector, sa aking minamahal na mga kababayan:

Today, we meet in this sacred hall as I, your humble servant, am called upon to perform a noble task. The task of accounting for the highest trust that I’ve sought and one that has been bestowed upon me by a great people in May 2007.

As I took my oath of office on that bright, sunny day in July 2007, I was extremely conscious of what the nameless many in the public service, in the religious and private services, and the common ‘tao’, have conveyed to me in many different ways during the campaign: They thirst for a true leader.

During my first term as Governor of Marinduque in 1995, you will recall - we were faced with the biggest environmental disaster we’ve ever known and will perhaps ever know. Yet we confronted it boldly and squarely as one people, for we saw it as a formidable challenge but whose responsibility only lay upon us to resolve, and no one else.

We then gathered the best minds from a broad cross-section of our society, out of which came forth two important documents approved for implementation by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan:

1. The STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (SEMP) FOR MARINDUQUE APPROVED UNDER RESOLUTION NO. 98-53A.

This document provided for the strategies on how Marinduque will pursue its sustainable development...

(Flash: Titles of programs, projects, and activities. “These are programs, projects and activities in support of the strategy of Resource Rehabilitation and Protection; in support of the strategy of increasing water yield; in support of the strategy of Accelerating Guided Urbanization; projects to Enhance Institutional Capability, etcetera. ‘see listing)

2. THE PROVINCIAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN OF MARINDUQUE, ALSO THE FIRST LAND USE PLAN OF THE PROVINCE (1995-2002)

This plan showed how all lands constituting the province would be properly utilized for the common good....

(Flash: Provincial Physical Framework Plan of Marinduque.)

Yet, time was not on our side because soon after, we witnessed and experienced, the ills and sorrows brought about by the subversion of our democratic process. It is on record, that for the first time in our local history, our Catholic leaders condemned through a manifesto, the conduct of the provincial elections in 1998. Needless to say, time stood still. For quite a few more years.

And needless to say, those valuable documents, formulated through genuine participatory democracy, the main battle-cry of my governance, are values that did not sit well with those who’d grown accustomed to monopolizing power - thus, the strategic direction set by our people, was totally disregarded, completely ignored.

When I was given that sacred trust once more by you, mga minamahal kong mga magulang at mga kapatid, I knew from Day One that we could be daunted no more by threats to tear us apart.

No, because I came armed, armed with a mandate and a vision that would free us from the corrosive effects of bad politics and power monopolies, the very negative forces that held in bondage our beloved island-province for so long.

I returned armed with the irrefutable knowledge that, from the most deprived of our brothers and sisters in the far-flung barangays, to those who have sought, like me your humble servant, and like all the honorable men in this historic hall, the clear knowledge that we were given the opportunity to serve our people, with their high expectation that meaningful change and a clear direction, are in the offing.

Narito po ako ngayon, ang inyong abang lingkod, upang ipabatid sa inyong lahat, minamahal kong mga kababayan, na ang ating lalawigan ay may mas makabuluhang pagbabago at higit na katatagan kaysa dati.

We now had the opportunity to merge the two major documents through another first for the province, the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan, which is in compliance with the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 series of 2007.

I immediately instructed the PPDO as PDC Secretariat to create sectoral committees tasked to oversee, review, formulate and recommend plans and programs in pursuit of our collective vision.

(Flash: Vision)
(Flash: the following text:

PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Sectoral Committees:
Chair, Public Service Sector Committee: Engr. Rodrigo Opis
Chair, Social Service Sector Committee: BM Cesaria Zoleta
Chair, Environment & Natural Resources Sector: BM Yolando Querubin
Chair, Economic Development Sector: BM Eleuterio Raza, Jr.
Planning Consultant: Gen Recaredo A. Sarmiento III

It was a manifestation of our resolve to exercise transparency, good governance and participatory democracy.

So, buoyed up by the new hopes and expectations we all joined hands.
Sa kadahilanang tayo ay napag-iwanan na ng ating mga karatig-lalawigan sa larangan ng pangkalsadang imprastruktura masugid at tuloy-tuloy ang pagkongkreto ng mga farm-to-market roads.

Natapos na ang farm to market roads sa 42 barangay sa Gasan at Sta Cruz mula sa pondong nanggaling sa Department of Agriculture. Nasa atin na ang Notice of Cash Allocation para sa farm-to-market roads sa mga barangay ng Boac at Torrijos na nagkakahalaga ng 30 milyong piso.


Mula sa pondo ng lalawigan o 20% CDF, nakongkreto ang 1.971 kilometrong haba ng provincial roads sa halagang 5 milyong piso; barangay roads na may habang 1.25 kilometro sa halagang 3.4 milyong piso; natapos ang Matalao-Sayao bridge sa Mogpog sa haagang 1.2 milyong piso; tapos na rin ang Box Culvert Bridge sa Balagasan, Boac sa halagang 2.1 milyong piso.

Natapos na rin ang rehabilitasyon ng Magsaysay-Quezon Road sa Boac sa halagang 1.4 milyong piso.

Ang paglalagay sa maayos na kaayusan ng provincial road networks ang pangunahing gawain ng Provincial Engineer’s Office. Naaspaltohan ang 4.60 kilometrong mga daan sa halagang 2.6 milyong piso; para sa road safety devices (o railings) sa Mogpog at Boac na may kabuuhang 693 linear meters, natapos ito sa halagang 7 milyong piso.


To augment the existing road maintenance equipment several heavy equipment (a Hydraulic Excavator, a Wheel Loader and 2 units of Motor Grader), have been delivered as part of the 67.7 million peso loan from Landbank.
Ang ilan pang gawain tulad ng riprapping, lined canal, instalasyon ng RCCP, pagkumpuni ng mga pampublikong gusali, ospital at paaralan ay naisagawa sa halagang 5.7 milyong piso.

May naisagawa ding instalasyon ng traffic signs and safety devices at lighting improvement sa Santol-Bangbangalon through funding from DPWH at 5-million pesos.

The development of CENTRAL MARINDUQUE, where the climate is cool, as a haven for eco-tourism, or as an ideal site for retirees homes and for academic institutions is one item in my Executive Agenda. The ‘garden city concept’ for central Marinduque, still in the pipeline, is now finding its way to realization.


Under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Strong Infrastructure Program Marinduque province is also the recipient of national road programs. The Balimbing-Bantay Road in Boac with a budget of 67-million pesos is almost completed; the Poblacion Torrijos-Maranlig road budgeted at 50-million pesos is 100% completed. These roads will finally connect Boac and Torrijos with the completion of the Hinapulan-Tumagabok bridge.

Thanks to the efforts of DPWH under Secretary Ebdane and the good District Engr. Magtanggol Roldan, our people have not seen such determination so that these projects would not be haunted by ghosts.

Under the same program the Yook-Libas-Lipata road in Buenavista (82-million), that leads to Bellarocca Island Resort is now being concreted, intermittent sections of the circumferential road from Buenavista to Torrijos road are also being asphalted. In 2008 a total of 300-million pesos has been released for these projects and 130-million pesos during the first half of 2009.

Marinduque Airport after being non-operational for four years, is now being serviced by ZESTAIR since November 2008. SEAIR will soon fly their 19-seater LET aircrafts, and operations will not be hampered when the 161-million peso runway extension goes in full swing.

(Flash: Airport, Zestair, Seair)

The rehabilitation of Cawit Port, identified as a vital linkage connecting Marinduque to the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (Western Seaboard) as part of the Luzon Urban Beltway project, has been completed and opened last year. The route Cawit-Lucena and Cawit-San Juan is already being serviced with two shipping lines in operation: Montenegro and Star Horse Shipping Lines. During the Lenten season 7,107 Islands Cruise ship also called on the port a couple of times bringing in hundreds of tourists.

What about power outages? It is obviously the newest challenge that has confronted us. The existing contract between Napocor and Marelco where we are at the mercy of Napocor is no longer tenable. I have requested Gen. Sarmiento to sit down with Sec. Angelo Reyes and find available means to address this situation, as two foreign companies and one local company have already expressed willingness to invest in Marinduque using renewable energy sources.

Sa TURISMO naman, naging higit na masigla ang pagsasagawa ng mga programa para sa pagpapalago ng turismo.

Ibat-ibang adventure sports activities ang naganap upang palaganapin ang konsepto ng ecotourism sa Marinduque: mountain biking, motocross, airsoft war games, defensive shooting, hobies, marathon runs, scuba-diving at spelunking.
Dahil sa mga gawaing ito nagkaroon ng pagkakataong makitang tuluyan ang potential ng ilang mga lugar para sa pagpapalaganap ng barangay-based tourism para sa kapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan.

(Flash: Adventure sports tourism photos)

Ilan dito ang Hinulugan Falls sa Sibuyao, Bulusukan Falls sa Bagtingon, Tarug Caves sa Mogpog, ang Capayang minesite, mga lumitaw na bagong scuba-diving sites sa Torrijos, ang Luzon Datum Ecopark sa Hinanggayon at Argao na nakatakda ng gawing national landmark sa tulong ng NAMRIA at DENR.

(Carrion with Namria & DENR officials)
At sa unang pagkakataon nadiskubre ng cave exploration team ng ating provincial tourism office ang San Isidro Caves at Subterranean River. Maingat ang hakbang na dapat isagawa para ito mapanatili sa kasalukuyang kaanyuan.

(Flash: waterfalls, caves, Luzon Datum, San Isidro Caves)

Nagkaroon ng pagkakataong ipakita ng ating mga kababayan ang iba-t-ibang festivals na patuloy ang pagpapa-develop bilang pangturismong gawain. Naging daan ang pagpupugay sa “Araw ng Marinduque” na idineklara na ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan bilang isang ordinansa, upang patuloy na maibahagi ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ng mga kabataan, ang kanilang kagalingan sa lahat ng bagay na may kinalaman sa kultura at sining.

(Flash: cultural photos, Viva Marinduque, festivals, “Araw ng Marinduque” logo, “Battle of Pulang Lupa”.)

Nagawa nating payabungin pa ang ating Moriones Festival; matagumpay ang pagsasagaw ng Battle of Morions, Pasyondula, Moriones sa Panagbenga at mas malawak na trade expo na nagrehistro ng record sales na 3-milyong piso, doble kaysa nuong nakaraang taon.


(Flash: Moriones photos, trade expo)

Hindi naging sagabal ang kakulangan sa pananalapi para maisagawa ang mga ito. Pinalakas natin ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga LGU’s, DOT, DepEd, NCCA, NHI, at iba pang ahensya gayundin sa mga pribadong kumpanya para maisagawa ang lahat ng ito. Kabilang na ang partisipasyon ng local, national at international tri-media.

(Flash: Kay Susan Tayo, Trip na Trip, mga magazine at news clippings, logo ng Living Asia Channel, ABS-CBN, NBN-4, GMA-7, etc.)

Mas mataas na ang kamalayan natin ngayon tungkol sa turismo, ang industriyang makapagbibigay ng malaking bahagi sa employment at income generation, dulot ng ibat-ibang serbisyong kaakibat nito.

(Flash: STTC photos, resorts)

Sa pagbubukas ng Bellarocca Island Resort ay lalong lumakas ang imahe ng Marinduque bilang isang mahalagang destinasyon. Kamakailan ay sinuportahan natin ang pagbisita sa Bellarocca at Marinduque mainland ng grupo ng international tour operators mula sa iba’t-ibang bansa.
Ang industriya ng MICE o Meetings, Incentives, Conventions at Exhibitions na magiging katuparan sa Bellarocca ay inaasahang magkakaroon ng multiplier effect value na magiging kapaki-pakinabang sa ating mga kababayan, higit sa bayan ng Buenavista.

(Flash: Bellarocca photos)

Sa usaping pangturismo at pangkultura, salamat sa pinagsamang dedikasyon ng lahat sa pangununa nina Bokal Yolando Querubin, Allan “P.A.” Velasco, Gerry Jamilla, Joven Lilles, Eli Obligacion at mga kasamahan sa PPDO.

AGRIKULTURA ang mananatiling pangunahing industriya sa Marinduque. Kaya’t ito ang patuloy na binibigyan natin ng prayoridad.

Sa rice production, 16,590 mga magsasaka ang nabiyayaan dulot ng certified seeds distribution, patuloy na pagbibigay sa kanila ng napapanahong pagtuturo ng mga bagong teknolohiya sa pagtatanim. May mga field schools tayong isinasagawa tuwina tulad ng Palay Check at Palayamanan System, at Information Communication Technology.

Para itaguyod ang Organic Farming sa ating lalawigan, inatasan ko ang Provincial Agriculture’s Office na magsagawa ng mga proyekto tungkol sa Organic Farming at Produksiyon ng Organic Fertilizer at Bio-N.

Sa pangunguna naman ni Gen. Sarmiento bilang Consultant for Agriculture, maging ang ating mga upland farmers na nasasakop ng DBP Forest Project ay naturuan ng nasabing kaalaman sa organic farming.

These are the figures for Rice Production under our watch:
Flash:
Previous program in rice production from 2005-2006 (4 semesters):
Rice Production in hectares: 11,185.97 Yield: 46,904.08 MT
No. of Farmers benefited: 9,093
From 2nd semester 2007 to 1st semester 2009 (4 semesters):

Rice Production in hectares: 15,246,7 ha. Yield: 59,197.65 MT
No. of Farmers benefited: 16,590
Increase of 36% in hectares covered and increase in yield of 26%.
Increase of 82.4% in number of farmers benefited.)

I have earlier conveyed to our Sangguniang Panlalawigan the folly of allowing our people to wallow in hunger and destitution when the bounty of nature is there. Agricultural lands abound province-wide thus irrigation must be prioritized.

Thank you NIA for the rehabilitation of the 10 irrigation systems in Sta. Cruz, Mogpog, Torrijos, Boac and Buenavista from 2007 to present, covering 280 hectares with the total project cost of P 30.5-million pesos.

We continue to support programs in High Value Commercial Crops production such as vegetable production, arrowroot production and banana production. Assorted vegetable seeds continue to be distributed to farmers, and Farmers Field School classes continue. Recently an orientation on Food Terminal for the establishment of Barangay Bagsakan and Bagsakan Center for market access of these products was conducted.


(Flash: Figures on High Value Commercial Crops (Vegetable, Arrowroot, Banana)
(Flash: Two Municipal Bagsakan Centers (Napo, Sta. Cruz and Malbog, Buenavista)
DA FUND: P 860,000.00 for purchase of cold storage and other equipment.
LGU Counterpart: Site, electrical and water system
One Provincial Bagsakan Center (Tabi, Boac)
Funding: P 1-million for rehab of existing building.
Seven (7) Barangay Bagsakan Centers
(Caigangan, Masiga, Balimbing, Mercado (Boac), Matalaba, Landy & Cabuyo.)
DA Fund: P 140,000 each (for freezer and other equipment)
LGU Counterpart: Site, installation of electrical wirings, water system.)

On Fisheries Development, we continue to conduct anti-illegal fishing campaigns with the conduct of land and sea patrols and monitor shipped-out fish at Balanacan and Cawit Ports.

We maintain a Brackish Water Demo Farm in Tamayo. From the second semester of 2007 to the 1st semester of 2009, the demo farm produced a total of 810 kilograms which were sold to provincial government employees. Demos on fish processing are also in place.

We maintain 81 Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Councils, six Municipal FARMC’s and 5 established marine protected areas and fish sanctuaries in coastal areas in Torrijos and Sta. Cruz.

In 2008, our agriculture technicians assisted in the planting of 39,600 propagules of mangrove in four barangays of Sta. Cruz and 3 barangays of Torrijos.

Also in 2008, 2.1 million pesos worth of technology packages for our fish farmers to increase income derived from seaweeds and bangus culture. Four seaweed nurseries were thus established in Sta. Cruz and Mogpog; 49 hectares of fishpond in 10 barangays in Sta. Cruz and Torrijos were maintained; in addition were lapu-lapu, crab and prawn culture projects in Sta. Cruz to generate increased yield.

A high value and organic fish called Pangassius or Dori Fish will soon be produced locally. The demo pond for this purpose will be established at the Provincial Training Center with design done by PPDO under the supervision of Gen. Sarmiento.

On LIVESTOCK, the improvement of the genetic quality of our livestock; arrest of the dwindling animal population; protection of our island from the incursion of animal diseases; control and eradication of animal diseases are concerns we have addressed seriously.

In support of the hunger mitigation program, we have purchased and distributed imported breeder goats (Boer Buck) and this has benefited 55 goat raisers. The goal is to increase the size of existing native breeder stocks from 20 kg. liveweight to 40-60 kgs. liveweight.
The listing for animal dispersal is as follows:
(Flash:
Cattle – 38 head breeder stocks
Goat – 138 head breeder doe
Pigs - 210 head breeder sow
Sheep – 37 head breeder ewe
Native Chicken – 1,750 heads)

Intensification of quarantine services resulted in the confiscation of eight (8) tons of assorted hot meat sourced from FMD infected areas outside Marinduque. Twenty-one (21) livestock traders and 18 livestock vehicles were accredited.

Our veterinary office under Dr. Josue Victoria has also treated 3,816 different species of animals from various diseases with 1,292 clients served. Our province has the lowest incidence of rabies in the country, and this has been made possible without shooting them and creating headlines; ours also is the only province in southern Luzon without any FMD incident.

My administration remain committed in its pursuit to provide decent employment, adapting various employment generation and facilitation programs. Thanks to Atty. Lord Allan Jay “P.A.” Velasco, to whom I entrusted the operation of our PESO office with the able assistance of Mrs. Erma Reyes and her staff.

(Flash: photos and figures)

In order for us to reach out to the countryside and deliver our services particularly our livelihood programs, I issued Administrative Order No. 2008-01 restructuring the Technology and Livelihood Development Center Management Committee and with full trust and confidence, I entrusted its operation and supervision to Gen. Recaredo A. Sarmiento II.

Various livelihood projects were undertaken with the all out support of the member agencies like DTI, FIDA, DENR, DOST, MSC, LBP, PAGrio, PVet, CDA.

The most recent that’s being pursued is the proposed establishment of the Coco Oil Mill. Dialogue with well known coconut plantation owners and cooperatives has been undertaken and has gained positive response from our stakeholders.

ECCD. One of our deepest concerns is the care of our children at their crucial stage of development, that’s during the time they are still in the womb up to six years old, when the brain is developing. A DepEd study has proven that children with positive child development experience are the ones who make it to higher education, as their capacity to learn and be trained has been developed.

This is the prime reason why I fully supported the Early Childhood Care and Development Program, which Peng Recalde heads. Thanks to the Municipal ECCD Council, they saw this, too.

As I speak to you this morning, we have disbursed 6.6-million pesos for this purpose and still processing 1-million pesos more all for our 0-6 children. We have so far served 6,848 children in Day Care Centers province-wide, including finding ways to continue providing them with school bags and school supplies as we’ve done.
(Flash Table)
38 units of Computer Learning Package were procured and were distributed to the day care centers, sourced from the CDF of Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Lito Lapid.

In EDUCATION, even before my official assumption to office, I personally tasked my technical assistants to meet with the officers of the 57-75 educational consortiums. Determined to pursue the importance of education as stated in my executive agenda, Dir. Mario Deriquito eventually visited the province and held talks with our education stakeholders upon my request.

The First Education Summit was conducted on September 2007, with an overwhelming attendance of 325 participants, thanks to DepEd. And thank you Dr. Celso Guevarra, the President of the Marinduque Education Stakeholders Alliance, Inc. and to Fr. Allan Malapad, the Chairman of the Board.

Our main goal: Reverse the education crisis in the province. Our concerted efforts now appear to bear fruit. In the National Achievement Test result for elementary level, our achievement rate in 2007-2008 was 70.85% - a bit higher than the previous school years’ rates of 50.92% and 62.71% in School Years 2005-2006 and 2006-2007, respectively.

We have secured funds from the DepEd in the amount of 10-million pesos for the construction of the two-storey Marinduque National High School building razed by fire in 2007. Phase 1 of the construction has been completed and Phase 2 is in progress. The new building is expected to be completed in time for the opening of the next school year.

In HEALTH, well for one, we fully documented the sad situation of our provincial hospital within a week after my assumption into office. We have since upgraded the hospital laboratory, operating room, wards and administrative office facilities, and purchased new equipment, hired six additional medical specialists or medical officers and filled out vacancies in the nursing and administrative service. This goes with all our other provincial-run hospitals.

With the support of the Chief of Hospitals we have instituted health reforms in their respective facilities. For the provincial hospital with Dr. Gerardo Caballes as Chief, we have tied up with the Philippine General Hospital for the training of nursing staff, for short course training for medical officers in areas such as emergency medicine and life-saving surgical procedures.

To improve the clinical management of patients at the provincial hospital a Memorandum of Understanding with PGH has been finalized.

To reach out to our people in the remotest barangays, the Mobile Clinic that we launched in June last year has since served 2,863 patients receiving medical/surgical treatment; a thousand patients received dental services; 100 malnourished children given a complete course of treatment and supply of high end multivitamins.

That pregnant mothers and malnourished children are given special attention during the mobile missions is a standing order to these missions. With the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, funds for medicines and supplies for the sustained operation of the mobile clinic have been obtained.

We also continue to collaborate with relevant NGO’s like the Marinduque International, GAWWA Foundation through Mayor Vicky Lao Lim, and recently the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society for the conduct of medical missions.

Instead of seeing an imposing building rot in front of the hospital compound, we secured the necessary funds to complete the ground floor to at least 12 rooms private ward by the end of this year.

The Sta. Cruz District Hospital now networks with medical specialists in Opthalmology and Obstetrics & Gyne for patients needing Cataract Operations and eye consultations, and have scheduled this every 4th week of the month.

I issued Executive Order No. 2009/01 creating the Marinduque Inter-Local Heath Zone. This paved the way for the immediate approval of our 5-year health investment plan for Marinduque with the approved investment cost of P. 478,677.496.00 from the Department of Health.

P 87-million will be the province’s counterpart from the joint resources of LGU’s including the provincial government.

A strong Inter-Local Health Zone headed by Dr. Honesto Marquez is therefore now in place to optimize the sharing of resources, address special medical concerns, including free medicine for the needy.

PHILHEALTH insurance for indigents where the listing for families covered now stands at 11,627, thanks to the LGU’s, will now be extended to 100% more within the year. We will now cover at least 90% of the 28,000 families targeted to benefit from this medical insurance.

We are appropriating 6-million pesos from our local fund to reach the target and give our poor families what they truly deserve.

Upon learning of a system for use in the planning and monitoring of plans and programs, one that could provide specific answers to questions like, “Who are the poor?”, “Where are they?” or “Why are they poor?”, I immediately instructed the PPDO to implement the Community-Based Monitoring System or CBMS.

I issued Administrative Order No. 2007-02 authorizing the updating of our CBMS. Our CBMS Survey 2008 is now completed in all our LGUs all of which are now undergoing barangay data validation. Torrijos was the first municipality to have undergone validation and CBMS data for Torrijos have now been made official. CBMS will eventually be institutionalized as the official data source for planning and monitoring to help improve lives.

Our mandate to provide protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of the disadvantaged individual, family and community is zealously undertaken by the PSWDO under Mrs. Julpha Arevalo.

Various programs for Family Welfare, Women’s Welfare, Child and Youth Welfare, Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, Emergency Assistance Programs, Emergency Shelter Assistance Programs and Food for Work programs.
(Flash: Reports. Note that the PSWDO report is too long to be included in the speech; but Governor conveys his other personal remarks while the report is being flashed on screen).

The DBP Forest Project, considered the largest in scope and area among other DBP Forest Project sites in the country, involves watershed rehabilitation, fruit tree forestation and mangrove rehabilitation in an aggregate area of 500 hectares of Marinduque public land.

With the convergence of efforts and resources from Boac, Sta. Cruz and Torrijos LGU’s covering 33 barangays, under the stewardship of Ret. Gen. Recaredo Sarmiento II, it is one project that is also ensured of success.

In addition, an eco-tourism cum livelihood project is being established in the 100 hectare forest area of Brgy. Tungib-Lipata, a joint undertaking of the Provincial Government, the Municipality of Buenavista and Gold Barrel, Inc.

As you know, the only remuneration the General gets for all his efforts is the happiness to be of service to his fellow Marinduqueno.

“HAPLOS NI BONG” continues to help our small-scale entrepreneurs augment their income in an interest and collateral-free micro financing program.

55 beneficiaries from Boac comprised the first batch; funds for the second batch of 30 beneficiaries from Mogpog and Sta. Cruz were released last April; the 3rd batch with 29 beneficiaries are from Gasan, Torrijos and Sta. Cruz, with financial assistance released last July 6. We are happy to note that the collection percentage of the program is from 95 – 100%.

In PEACE AND ORDER, economic progress can be achieved where peace and order reigns. On July 31, 2009, during the commemoration of the Battle of Paye, the Internal Security Operation (ISO) in Marinduque was officially turned over to our LGU and local police - the first such turn-over for any provincial government in the country cleared of NPA presence and influence.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between our province as represented by your humble servant, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Our gratitude goes to Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa, Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit and Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali and our municipalities for their all-out campaign against insurgency.

In FINANCE, our income for CY 2008 rose slightly to P 304,273,527,05 with expenditures amounting to P 267,088,136.39. For the first 6 months of 2009, P 167,585,827.43. Expenditures for the same period for personnel services, MOOE, and capitol outlay amounted to P 107,085,315.92 or a margin of P. 60,500,511.51 income over expenditure.

We have given all the benefits due our provincial employees like the implementation of Magna Carta for health workers and the Collective Negotiation Agreement incentives for each of our rank and file employees.

Our meager resources did not prevent us from pursuing various development projects and services.
A major breakthrough in the field of assessment is the revision by the Supreme Court, of the Court of Appeals ruling on Marcopper Mining Corporation real properties particularly its Siltation Dam and Decant System.

The decision ordered Marcopper Mining Corporation including its siltation dam and decant system to pay real property tax to the Provincial Government of Marinduque. This amounts to over P 36-million pesos, and the previously claimed as tax exempt are now taxable. Telecommunication companies, meanwhile, are now also subject to tax collection.

But friends, ladies and gentlemen, this SOPA cannot be all about figures. A more thorough report has been prepared by the hardworking staff of PPDO, which should be considered an integral part of this speech.

We could go on and on, but really the true state of our province cannot be captured in photos, charts and figures alone.

A new spirit moves our people because of their newfound hope and dignity.
Most of all, the stark realization that we know ourselves even better now, as an empowered people capable of moving forward to chart our destiny together. That is the state of our province.

The feeling of intense pride is everywhere, found in the beaming faces of our women and children, our farmers and fisherfolks who have become aware that the politics of dependence and dole-outs are no more.
(Insert here: thanks to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, etc.)

We have known our beloved island-province to be the heart of a country, a country often enmeshed in the very same problems that we have faced in our time. But history tells us that we, Marinduquenos, are always the first to move together against despicable acts that make our lives miserable, or even threaten our peaceful and honorable existence. Which is why we celebrate the historic battles we’ve won.

We all know that change could only come from the heart, the heart of a province that we all love. This is the same knowledge that has inspired us to serve our people selflessly and in humility. For our new pride as a people is the source of our strength, one that will outlive those who seek only to tear us apart.

We have just begun and we will continue marching on to victory!
Salamat sa Panginoon! Salamat po sa inyo, mga kapuso, at minamahal kong mga Kababayan!