Inaugural Session of the 15th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque
held at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol
Monday, 1 July 2019
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT
AGENDA FOR 2019-2022
By HON. PRESBITERO JOSE
VELASCO, JR.
Governor
I.
GREETINGS
Honorable Vice-Governor
and Presiding Officer, Hon. Romulo A. Bacorro, Jr., and Honorable Members of
the Centennial Sangguniang Panlalawigan: Senior BM Adeline M.
Angeles, BM John R. Pelaez, BM Theresa P. Caballes, BM Gilbert L. Daquioag, BM Melgabal R. Encabo, BM Mercedes R. Rejano, BM Ishmael DP. Lim, BM Juan R. Fernandez,
Jr. LnB Provl Pres./BM
James Marty Lim, PCL Provl Pres/BM Primo
Pamintuan, PPSK Pres/BM Lauren
Rosales.
Partners from the different departments and offices of the Provincial Government; Our partners
from the various National Government
Agencies (NGA’s); our counterparts from the municipal government and the
barangays; partners from the private and business sector; from different Civil Society Organizations/NGOs and POs;
Marinduquenos from varied sectors, Friends and Guests, a pleasant good morning
to one and all.
I am privileged to make this inaugural address in this INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE 15TH
SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN OF THE PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE – The Centennial
Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Centennial because we will be celebrating our
Centennial Anniversary next year – on February
21, 2020 to be exact.
First off – I would like to thank God for this wonderful and
blessed day that brought us together to serve God and country.
II.
WE HAVE TAKEN OUR OATH… now is the
start of the real work.
Yesterday, we took our
Oath as elected leaders of Marinduque, our beloved province. We thanked God and our people for
giving us this chance to lead and serve them. Now the time for real work has
begun.
When we ran for positions and engaged in the last May 2019
election, I know that we have the same intention – that is, when given the
chance we will be instrument of real development for our province… instrumento
ng pagpapaunlad ng lalawigan at pagpapataas sa antas ng buhay ng mamamayan. As
I said yesterday, A golden and rare chance for us – the servant leaders
to work for the GOLDEN AGE OF MARINDUQUE.
The past leaders and administrations of this province have
done their part… AND NOW, “the ball is
in our hands and in the hands of the present generation of Marinduqueno leaders.
I know we are a rare breed – matino, mahusay, maaasahan, makabago at
maka-Diyos.
Sa pagikot ko noong nakaraang election sa ating lalawigan,
higit kong nakita ang likas na ganda at potensyal nito sa maraming aspeto. Sa
kabila ng kagandahan ang nakita konrin ang sitwasyong pangkabuhayan at
pangkalusugan n gating mamamayan lalo na sa mga liblib na bahagi ng ating
lalawigan na nagbibigay-hamon sa ating mga bagong namumuno upang higit na
maisaayos ang kanilang kalagayan.
Nakakalungkot at nakakahabag ang Ibang kabababayan natin, walang
tubig, walang hanap-buhay, walang medical services, walang maayos na tirahan,
kulang sa pagkain, baka walang pag-asa na rin.
Nakita ko sa Sabong ang mga bata 3 to 4 taon kasama ang mga
magulang na naglalakad ng limang kilometro para makapunta sa lugar na
pagpupulungan.
This is a serious challenge to our leadership and
administration…
And when I say serious “Challenge to our administration and
leadership”, I don’t mean MY
leadership or Velasco’s leadership alone. Leadership nating lahat ito.
Nakatingin ito sa ating lahat sa SP –
Vice-Gov. Bacorro and Honorable Members of the Provincial Board, sa mga Mayors,
Vice-Mayors, at SB, sa mga Barangay Captains at mga Kagawad at pati sa lahat ng
mamamayan.
Alam po nating hindi ito madaling mga problema sapagkat
karamihan ng mga suliraning ating bibigyang-tugon ay hinulma ng mahabang
panahon. We don’t expect to solve them all in “a wink of an eye” or in or limited 3-year term.
However, we must give the best that we can and do the most
that we can accomplish in our limited time. At least, at the end of the 3-year
term, we will leave a province much better than when we found it on June 30,
2019.
III. WHERE AND HOW SHALL WE START
We are guided by the already identified shared VISION and MISSION of the province
which I know were crafted through rigid process and which, based on documents
were aligned with the 8-Point Agenda of
the Duterte Administration, the Philippine Development Plan and the MIMAROPA
Development Plan. Naiintindihan ko na naka molde at constricted na tayo sa
mga plano na ito. Ang gusto ko ay magkaroon ng pagbabago sa ilang aspeto ng mga
naturan pero hindi naman talaga lumalabas dito. Dapat tayong maging creative
and innovative.
The Vision: “A God-centered, empowered,
healthy citizenry, proud of their heritage and identity as globally competitive
Marinduquenos, living peacefully in a safe environment and habitation, a self
sustaining tourism-oriented community with a vibrant local economy under a
responsive, transparent and accountable government”.
The Mission: “To develop competent, accountable,
culturally sensitive and pro-active civil servants committed to establishing
climate change resiliency of communities involved in pursuing sustainable
development and harness the natural, human and physical resources and ensuring
effective and efficient delivery of basic social services and facilities”.
The province has adopted Development Framework of Self-Reliance,
Private Enterprise and Social Justice towards a Vibrant and Productive Entities
that are able to utilize properly the Human and Natural Resources.
These are all good but using the process “SEE-JUDGE-ACT”, I believe the best way for us to proceed now is
for us to SEE and have our common
appreciation first of WHERE WE ARE NOW
as a province, given our long identified Vision,
Mission and Framework. Ito ang ninanais marating ng lalawigan… Nasaan naman
tayo ngayon? Ano na ang totoong sitwasyon ng lalawigan ngayon? – Its strength
and weaknesses; the threats and opportunities at hand; and with the development
directions, framework and strategies adopted, what are the status of the many
interventions and programs implemented through the years? Let us recognize good
practices that are worth enhancing and replicating.
As a province, let us celebrate our humble achievements and
gains.
But at the same time, let us be humble enough to recognize
where we failed or are failing… We must learn from our mistakes… relearn and
unlearn if needed. We must “think out of
the box”. And with new perspectives, revise plans and strategies or try new
paradigm if necessary.
Then, we can start
moving forward –
Decide on our common goal and objectives… WHAT
do WE want to accomplish within
our term and HOW shall we get there?
Then ACT on it.
IV. WHERE WE ARE NOW?
So much has been done
to bring our province to our desired development, and we recognized it. But the
situation of the province now remains a big challenge – the only remaining 4th
class province in the region with 47% of our people still living below poverty.
ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION
MARINDUQUE is fragile island ecosystem gifted with lots of
natural resources but it has suffered from serious environmental destruction
and we need to regain a balanced ecosystem and provide mechanisms for its
sustainable use.
Marinduque is the third most denuded province with remaining
forest cover is still declining; i. Is suffering from continuous watershed
degradation. No wonder water is a serious problem in the province; degraded
coastal and marine resources.
There is presence of serious Geo hazards. (Marinduque is No. 1 in terms of landslides
susceptibility). It has many vulnerabilities to disasters amidst the challenges
of Climate Change.
We have critical ecosystem with overlapping land uses and
land conflicts including illegal occupancy in timberland and illegal extraction
of natural resources.
We are confronted with problems and risks brought about by
previous mining operations in the province – pollution and toxic waste in our
ecosystem; dangerous mine structures; agricultural lands covered by minewastes;
and other health-related concerns and the province’s search for social and
environmental justice is still a big challenge.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
SITUATION:
Ang laki ng problema ng ating mamamayan 47% living below the
poverty threshold; walang tubig, walang irigasyon, walang magandang medical
services, at walang trabaho. Marami ang walang trabaho, yung iba ay
underemployed; may malnutrition sa mga bata, walang medical check-up.
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT
FRAMEWORK & DIRECTION
Vice Governor Bacorro
and Honorable Members of the Provincial Board, my proposed Development
Framework is simple… actually not new:
To achieve the kind of development that the province
envisions, we must consider 5-pronged approach:
1.
Environmental Rehabilitation and
Sustainable Management & Use of Natural Resources
2.
People Empowerment &
Self-Reliance
3.
Strong Public-Private Partnership
4.
Social Justice & Protection
5.
Revenue generation through economic
enterprise
We cannot
talk about development with a degraded environment.
We cannot
achieve economic progress as a province without strong Public and Private Partnerships.
And any
“economic growth” is not development without Social Justice, Empowerment and Protection for our people.
Our Development Principles and Goals are also not really new.
Other local
government units (LGUs) have similar goals. (Many are similarly identified in
documents of the Provincial Government).
1.
Sustainably Managed Environment and
Use of Ecosystem Services
We must work
for the Rehabilitation of Degraded
Ecosystems.
There must be Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and
Various Ecosystem Services. Development plans and programs must always
consider the islands’s fragile ecosystems and its carrying capacity.
Dear
Partners in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, enactment of a Provincial Environmental Code is very necessary. Effective and efficient Disaster Risk
Reduction & Management/Climate Change Adaptation Measures is also a must.
2.
People Empowerment and Self-Reliance
Marinduque
is an agricultural province. We must work for and implement a Strategic Agricultural Development Plans
and Programs that not only result to immediate Agricultural Productivity and Food Sufficiency but will give impact
of really improving the lives of
those in the agriculture sector and steer the economic development of the
province. Let us provide the needed support mechanisms and infrastructure, like
irrigation facilities and FMR’s for real agricultural development. Let us not
be activity oriented in our interventions but impact-driven.
Let us
seriously consider Cooperative
Development and Strengthening as important vehicle in empowering our people
to steer development on the ground; continue to Provide Livelihood Opportunities to our people and have effective Employment Generation within the
province and outside the province/country through effective Networking and Linkaging strategies.
These, taking into consideration also the many opportunities in our globalized economy and the various
multi-lateral and bilateral agreements entered into by the Philippines.
I request
this Honorable Body for Complementary
Legislative Measures on these.
3.
Strong Public and Private Partnership
Let us make Marinduque a Desirable
Investment Destination, Business-Friendly and Competitive in this age of
globalization. We must prepare our province for the development of an ECONOMIC ZONE that will provide lots of
opportunities to improve the lives of our people. Given the chance to be House
Speaker, Cong. Lord Allan Q. Velasco could
help us a lot in this undertaking as it will require a lot of help and support
from the national government. But on the part of the province, let us already
start the needed preparations.
Honorable SP Members, we need an Updated
Provincial Investment Code and a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Ordinance
to be enacted as soon as possible.
Sustainable Tourism Development is an important vehicle that could
bring progress to our province. This is considering the natural gifts of nature
given to this province, its rich culture and roles taken in history not to
mention its lands, people that are just awaiting to be fully developed and
harnessed towards our end. But we must have a common roadmap for this.
Dear SP Members, we need to have a Strategic
Tourism Development Plan and Tourism Master Plan in soonest
possible time.
Let us Promote Social
Entrepreneurship and support business people and organizations adopting
this approach of doing business.
In partnership with other agencies, we also need to help Develop, Support and Strengthen Small &
Medium Enterprises in the province.
The Civil Society (includes
NGO/PO); Business and Religious Organizations; Academe/Media etc.) are all
important partners in development and governance. We will Strengthen this LGU-CSO Partnership in the province.
Infrastructure Development. In partnership with the National
Government and all its departments and agencies, Infrastructure Development
will always be a key driver for progress of the province. It is a critical
enabler for productivity and sustainable economic growth and development.
Corollary to this too is the needed Improvement
of our Transportation, Power and
Communications.
4.
Social Justice and Protection
Honorable SP Members, we must work together to have Improved Social Services in the
province.
We need to improve the condition and services of our Provincial Hospitals which condition
have been cause of people’s discontent and anger of many.
Complementing this is the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles among our people.
We will continue to Support
the Provision of Quality Education in the province; support the poor but
deserving students while addressing needs for particular profession/expertise
in the province through a Provincial
Scholarship Program.
We will Sustain if not
Improve the Favorable Peace and Order Situation of the province.
Gender Advocacy and
Development had long
been a commitment of LGUs and government agencies in the country and we need an Impact-driven Plans and Programs (as
against the tendency for activity-oriented approach) especially for the
utilization of the GAD Fund of the province.
Quality and Timely
Support Interventions to Vulnerable Sectors (elderly, youth, differently abled persons, poorest
of the poor, especially those in agricultural sector and other marginalized
groups), must be provided.
We need an Effective
Disaster Risk Resuction & Management and Programmatic Climate Change
Adaptation & Mitigation Plans and Strategies. Utilization of the Local
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund must be responsive to the actual
needs.
Pursue Search for
Environment & Social Justice through any legal means including but not limited to
filing/refiling cases for valid claims for envi-economic damages caused by
irresponsible mining operations in the province.
Continuous Support to
Volunteers and Partners of the Provincial Government. We recognized the vital role of
government volunteers (including BHWs, BNS, etc.) in providing the needed
services of the Provincial Government and we need to continuously provide
support to them based on the province’s capacity.
5.
Good Governance, Public
Accountability and Transparency
There can never be development without Good, Accountable and Transparent Governance.
In line with this, we need to work for an Updated and Development-Responsive
Organizational Structure in the Provincial Government, manned by committed
and capable personnel working in the most accountable and professional manner.
To do this, we need an Effective
Implementation of the PGM Performance Management System.
We need to put in place and implement the Provincial Internal Audit System and other Necessary Administrative Reforms.
We shall undertake Good
Fiscal Management. Every Peso from the taxes paid by our people is
important. Thus, Prudent Utilization of Available Financial Resources in the
province is important.
We will undertake Improved
Revenue Generation (both from Internal/External sources). We shall explore
new opportunities to increase our revenue by
Developing New Economic Enterprise by the Provincial Government.
We need to Explore and
Utilize Funding Opportunities from National Governments, International and
Local Funders/Donors and Agencies and other similar sources.
Inter-Local Government
Collaborations.
Recognizing the resources available to other local government units, Inter-LGU
Collaboration to fund common priority development programs and projects in the
province must likewise be pursued.
CONCLUSION
Nang magdesisyon po akong makisangkot sa pamamahala ng ating
lalawigan, simple po lamang ang aking pangarap para sa ating lalawigan at mga
kababayan (though admittedly not easy to achieve). That is to help provide our
people with opportunities to have at least the BASIC things that we need to live a decent and peaceful life in
Marinduque. --- maayos na pagkain, tubig, desente at payapang tirahan at
kapaligiran… maayos na kalusugan… kung magkasakit ay may maasahang institusyon
tulad ng hospital, makapagbigay ng oportunidad upang mapag-aral ang kanilang
mga anak at mabigyan ng maayos na kinabukasan nang sa ganon sila din sa tamang
panahon ay makapag-ambag para sa ikabubuti ng lalawigan at sa bansa bilang mga
responsableng mamamayan. Simple po ang pangarap na ito pero alam nating hindi
madali.
But with GOOD LEADERS
(na atin pare-parehong pagsusumikapang maging) and members of the bureaucracy who
will create and implement GOOD SYSTEMS
AND PROGRAMS with the support of GOOD
PEOPLE – the Marinduquenos in general guided and blessed by DIVINE PROVIDENCE, buo po ang aking
pananalig at pagtitiwala na sa pagtutulungan nating lahat, Vice Governor Bacorro and
Honorable Members of this August Body, unti-unti, makakamtan natin ang ating
mga pangarap at minimithi para sa ating lalawigan.
MARAMING SALAMAT !
MABUHAY ANG MARINDUQUE !
