Dagupan City's Mayor 2017 State of the City Address (SOCA)

The Honorable Members of the Sanggunian,

Fellow workers in government,

Friends, ladies and gentlemen,

My fellow Dagupenos:

Good morning.

Today I feel privileged to stand before you as your City Mayor with a great measure of humility, respect and profound affection for the wonderful opportunity to serve the people of Dagupan since 2013, and that you have renewed this confidence with a fresh mandate in 2016 to lead with honor, honesty, integrity and performance.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez delivers on April 3 her State of the City Address on her 

second term as city's chief executive in a simple ceremony at the city plaza before 

the people of Dagupan City. (CIO photo by Jojo Tamayo)

Our Good Lord has been amazing for the great blessings He has bestowed upon this faithful city, and for this we are grateful as He continues to direct our lives and make our communities and our families more abundant, safer, more peaceful, healthier and happier.

Dagupan today is transformed from the Dagupan of four years ago. We are successful and confident. We are proud. Four years ago we watched the fiscal and administrative reforms usher slow and difficult growth, but we were growing nonetheless.

In 2013, I asked hard-working Dagupenos to stand strong, and persevere, because Dagupan is not turning back. Not now, not ever.

It was this spirit of perseverance and courage, which built the success of our city beginning in 2013. And this was the same spirit that made us go through great uncertainties and difficulties.

After four years, we now have drawn positive attention and admiration from many people, local governments, agencies and institutions within the Philippines and from around the world.

No one could have imagined Dagupan would get to where we are now in a short span of time. Now Dagupan City is one of the leading and celebrated breakout stars among cities in the Philippines based on the latest Philippine Competitiveness Index.

We have been adjudged the most improved among all cities in Region 1 where we advanced in rankings while our neighbors declined. Our drive for growth has been strongest as ever, zooming to the number 15 spot among cities throughout the country.

Since our founding of our city in 1947 we registered below radar to be noticed. Today, we are on full throttle as we endeavor to break into the league of the Top 10 cities in the Philippines.

My dear friends… Yes, Dagupan is now the nation’s comeback kid.

We have done ourselves proud with so many achievements we have done together.

The dramatic rise of this great city did not happen overnight nor by accident.

It was ushered by a shared belief that the future of our city depends on the quality of our city government. And a good city government depends so much on the quality of its bureaucracy.

The statement that the whole is the sum of its part has never been truer than today. The state of our city is strong because we now have an incredible wealth of honest, reliable and performing corps of public servants at the City Hall.

The challenges we faced when we assumed office in 2013 were the most profound in decades and that recruiting the best public servants with the very best talents must be our greatest imperative.

Today, allow me to properly recognize the Balon Dagupan team who shares the honor and pride for the changes we see in our city.

Please stand all department heads, division chiefs and all employees.

Many of our employees have spent many years of their productive lives into serving our people. Since 2013, we have awarded long service recognitions to more than 300 employees who served Dagupan at varying lengths, from 10 years up to 40 years. They have received modest gifts of 5,000 to 10,000 from their city.

I am filled with gratitude to work with such a wonderful team so much that the only reward I can think of is to offer them official appointments or promotions. Since 2013, we have issued nearly 175 new appointments and promotions, many of whom have not received fitting recognitions for a long time.

Today is a particular honor for all of us here, especially me, because at this moment, it is just fitting and proper that I should share the stage with our 30 newly appointed employees! My dear friends, let’s give them a warm of applause for they have rightfully earned their positions… Given the enormity of the task that lies ahead, let’s just be grateful that we have them as our partners in public service. We need them, and we need each and everyone here to work for the general welfare of our people, and this city we love.

All of you have been my great family. The City Hall has been our most potent instrument to deliver good and effective public service, and all of you have done so well. Give yourselves a tap on the back and a hearty congratulations because you are all deserving of our applause.

When I assumed office in 2013, we witnessed a vast and inspiring fervor that was stirring in our city. Change and progress does not come from the top; it starts and spreads in the hearts of the people. And in the hearts of Dagupenos, our core principles are as strong as ever.

Hence, in keeping with my duty under the Local Government Code to report on the state of our city, may I invite you to join me as we reflect on our incredible journey to where we are today.

We started 2016 with a bold declaration to make history. My dear friends, this is our shared story of success.

1. Public Finance Sector

DAGUPAN’S FINANCE STRONGEST IN HISTORY

For the last 4 years, this city administration is fully committed to our balanced budget. We have learned before that by not having a balanced budget, shrewd politicians and agencies can hide money. Because every peso is not accounted for, waste is rampant and fraud all too common.

But our vision for Balon Dagupan is about a blueprint for change, and our commitment to change began by drawing a truthful, functional and a balanced budget. Our commitment to this budget has given us tremendous achievements to celebrate.

I am happy to report that Dagupan has now closed the books on four straight years of actual revenue growth.

I am happy to report that we have consistently posted exponential cash surplus for four straight years, capped by our strongest showing in 2016 by an all time high of more than 120 million pesos.

Our sources of income from market collections also soared high during the last four years.

Aggressive tax mapping, collection efficiency strategies and issuance of notice of delinquencies also resulted in improved collections by our One Stop Business Center in business taxes and license fees.

The operation of our restrooms continues to be impressive, notching a spike from 650,000 in 2010 to more than 7 million in ONE YEAR.

Our strong finance has made possible for us to grant full productivity and performance based incentives and hefty 13^th and 14^th month bonuses to our583-strong personnel of the Dagupan City government, and saved enough to meet the incremental increases to the base pay of our employees pursuant to the provisions of the Salary Standardization Law IV.

We have made all of these to ensure that families of our city employees would enjoy the fruits of working for one of the best performing local governments in the country today.

Let me stress that we also employed the mightiest belt tightening measures to save money.

We beefed up administrative operations without sacrificing quality public service and prevented waste of government resources by rationalizing work implementation, saving our city millions of pesos from overtime pay. Beginning 2014, overtime pay has gone down to its historic lowest level.

We ended the era of wanton waste of government resources, which have been abused for so many years.

Today we have managed to bring allocation of resources for donation down to its lowest levels in our city’s history.

We adopted reasonable austerity measures to ensure that we live within our spending capacity. In 2016, we have brought down our foreign travel spending to zero

We have instilled discipline in all fronts when we rationalized our spending in repair and maintenance of our equipments.

in repair and maintenance of motor vehicles.

when we brought down our fuel expenses

…and we instituted mechanisms to bring down our expenditures in the procurement of our supplies.

Dagupan has never defaulted in its contractual obligations by ensuring that we faithfully comply with our loan repayments. By 2018, we shall achieve our strongest fiscal position when we shall complete our final principal and interest payments to our last remaining balance amounting to 30 million for the construction of the New Malimgas Market, which the city obtained 15 years ago.

I am happy to report that our improved revenues resulted from further streamlined processes for various government transactions.

We maintained established quality management system as certified by SOCOTEC Certification Philippines conforming to the standards of ISO 9001:2008.

We received high customer satisfaction ratings based on gathered customer survey question. We listened to our good taxpayers because their opinion matters to us.

If we sustain our concerted efforts towards honesty, performance, hard work, perseverance and fiscal discipline, in no time shall we be able to build Dagupan as the first one billion peso economy among towns and cities in Pangasinan.

My fellow Dagupenos we are proud to declare that today we have built our city’s strongest economy in the last 70 years.

GREATER EXECUTIVE AND

LEGISLATIVE COOPERATION

We could not have done this without the support of and full cooperation of the Sanggunian Panglungsod for its approval of many vital pieces of legislations and policy support initiated by the City Mayor’s Office, specifically 85 ordinances and more than 135 resolutions which we have strongly endorsed for the Sanggunian’s consideration since 2013.

1. Revised Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2015-2025

2. Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

3. Revised Ordinance on Issuance of Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR)

4. Institutionalizing Measures for the Promotion and Advancement of Bangus Industry in Dagupan City

5. Amending Ordinance No. 1748-2008 otherwise known as Adopting a Revised Comprehensive and Mandatory Traffic Code in the City of Dagupan.

6. Declaring every 23^rd day of December in the City of Dagupan as Victor Edades Day)

We are grateful that they have also the given positive approval to our 858 million pesos annual appropriations and our various development plans last December 1, 2016 --- the swiftest we have seen in many years.

In behalf of the people of Dagupan, please accept our sincere thanks for your support.

2. Social Services Sector

HEALTHIEST, SAFEST, HAPPIEST

CHILDREN IN THE COUNTRY

With our economy rebounding, the last four years were the perfect time to make smart and strategic investments in our city and our people.

Improving the quality of life of our people has always been at the center of my development agenda.

And for the last 4 years we committed ourselves to support and make the children of Dagupan the brightest, the healthiest, the safest, and the happiest in the country.

EDUCATION

First I believe that the success of our economy depends largely on educating city’s future workforce.

Hence, I have given the highest preferential attention to our MBTF Scholarship Program beginning 2014 where before there was none. With incremental increases, we have allocated 10 million in 2016 to send more than 500 well-deserving children of needy Dagupeños to universities and colleges, to pursue a career of their own choice.

2017

15,000,000.00

                    

I’m also pleased to inform you that from a total of 520 scholars, 120 of them have already graduated, which means that our city’s future is getting more secure.

At this juncture, please allow me to present all of our scholars, our first batch of college graduates as well as their proud parents.  My dear friends, these are all the outstanding scholars of the City of Dagupan.

We have again brought together parents, teachers, and all stakeholders in the annual Children Summit where every year we gather 20,000 children as we discuss about health, safety, security in schools, the music and the arts. We celebrate artistry and creativity, we boost knowledge and confidence, and we teach them about staying away from drugs. This is our biggest celebration for children because we love the children of Dagupan.

We have also given full support to the Balon Dagupan Children’s Choir and the Balon Dagupan Children’s Orchestra. For the last 3 years, they have given us so much pride and honor whenever they perform before us, in the country and overseas.

Our Manlingkor Ya Kalangweran remains to be one of the most admired development programs for children in our country today.

Right now, Dagupan is one of the first few local governments in the Philipppines enrolled under the Juan Konek program of the Department of Science and Technology.

Our Balon Dagupan Mobile Library continues to bring excitement and fun to all day care centers.

Dagupan eyes on becoming a more digitally empowered and digitally literate community through Department of Science and Technology Information and Communications Technology’s TECH4ED program. We are fortunate to have been selected as beneficiary for the program through education, entrepreneurship, employment and economic development. In 2016, the Dagupan City Library has been named the Top 2 Performing TECH4ED Center Library among the Luzon cluster.

SPORTS

For many years, our sports program did not merit the attention our children rightfully deserve. Beginning 2013, we vowed to end the dry spell in the medal tally for Dagupan by extensively reforming our policy and administrative structures that led to the creation of the Dagupan City Sports Council and the Dagupan City Sports Commission as well as stronger collaboration with DepEd, our sporting officials, coaches and many parents.

It is quite unfortunate that we have always been at the perennial bottom of the rankings ladder, at best only manage to bring home the pitiable Best in Uniform award for our athletic delegation. By building fire in the hearts of our athletes, we have provided them full compliment, encouragement and proper guidance. As a result, we are now on the No. 2 spot for two straight years.

We are proud that we have achieved our biggest medal hauls in practically all sports disciplines in both elementary and high school divisions, even beating our own grandest expectations.

R1AA MEDAL COUNT (DAGUPAN CITY)

FROM 3 GOLDS and the BEST IN UNIFORM award IN 2013.

     (golds) (silver) (bronze)

2014    18                  36        35       RANK # 7

2015   44                    38        38        RANK # 2 (1^st place)

2016   51                    40        41        RANK # 2 (1^st place)

Dear friends, this is Dagupan’s best performance ever in the history of our participation in the Region 1 Athletic Association Meet for the last 30 years. There is no denying that our city is an emerging sports powerhouse.

I vow to continue to throw our full support to developing our young athletes, many of whom are either chalking new records or breaking old ones.

It is worth to mention that Janelle Alisa Frances Lin of the Balon Dagupan Swimming Team set three new national records in the 2016 Batang Pinoy National Championships held in Tagum City, Davao Del Norte last year. She competed in the under 12 years old category in five swimming events, and holds the distinction as the first Dagupan athlete who broke three national records in the Batang Pinoy National Championships. May I present Janelle, the pride of our city and the current toast of Philippine swimming circle.

HEALTH

Since 2013 Dagupan has strengthened access to quality health care especially among low-income families.

We directed our full attention to care for many of our poor families, for both inpatient and outpatient care, who are entitled to treatment without charge.

Through improved coordination, elimination of duplication of activities and enhanced complementation of assistance, our allied health workers have achieved so much in many areas.

Our Medical and Dental missions have benefitted thousands of infants, children, adults, pregnant mothers and senior citizens for the last four years. Also, our Dental Health Bus has been actively serving our constituents with dental problems in all of our 31 barangays.

With that, we also would like to take this special opportunity to thank our reliable health care partners: the University of Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan Dental Health Association, Pangasinan Medical Society and the Villaflor Hospital.

With the help of Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc., its local chapter thru Dr. Jennifer Wi, our city’s TB patients and patients with lung problems will soon be treated with highest quality health care through the use of STATE OF THE ART FACILTY at our soon to be constructed Chest Clinic.

SOCIAL WELFARE

Nutrition Program

Supplemental feeding programs in our daycare centers as well as our early childhood care and development programs remain to be greatly admired throughout the region, benefitting more than 2,500 children every year since 2013.

Our 46 accredited day care centers continue to receive our full support, as we also manage to extend important assistance to children in conflict with the law, children in need of special protection, and children in custody.

My dear friends, I am pleased to report to you that Dagupan is set to build our Bahay Pagasa in Bonuan Boquig to serve as a safe sanctuary for children in conflict with the law. With total funding of 15 million pesos, this demonstrates our strong resolve to provide care, compassion and support to vulnerable children who seek refuge from beatings and cruelty from their own families. They deserve our love and our support no less with our new Bahay Pagasa.

Since we initiated our pioneering programs against bullying as well as house life and protective services, our social welfare workers continue to work round the clock for our needy clients.

For the last 4 years, Dagupan’s out of school youth find greatest fulfillment through the values orientation, self enhancement and trainings conducted for its active Pagasa Youth Association.

We have never wavered in helping fellow Dagupenos through our emergency relief foods assistance and emergency shelter assistance, especially during calamities for the past 4 years, benefitting as much as 30,000 families, and at least 4000 families receiving 5,000 to 10,000 pesos each for home repairs and improvements.

We made strong investments in livelihood opportunities through skills training and basic business management seminars with the help of the DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT which translate into improved earnings for their families.       

We have also intensified assistance for people with disabilities --- both adult and children --- by continuing to offer them medical missions, bantay-presyon, eye screening/checkup/cataract operations and social pension specifically for them.

Dagupan is the envy of other senior citizens throughout the region because of the many valuable benefits we give to our elderly like:

·         Free access to movies,

·         Special classes on yoga, taichi,

·         and important lessons like operating a personal computer and communicating through social media sites like facebook

STRONGEST SUPPORT FOR WOMEN

Women in Dagupan now have a stronger platform for participation and engagement through our SAKADA, or the Samahan ng mga Kababaihan ng Dagupan, and our city has greatly benefitted from their support.

My fellow Dagupeños, it is my honor to report to you another first in the history of Dagupan – our Women Center has finally opened.

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Dagupan has thrown its full support to helping our people find opportunities to work locally or overseas. Since I assumed office, we have aggressively pursued…

·         local and special recruitment activities,

·         job fairs, special program for employment of students or SPES beneficiaries,

·         government internship, and

·         resolved cases through our OFW migrant desks.

For the last 3 years, several hundreds of firms, companies, corporations, manning and recruitment agencies have set up in Dagupan to offer employment, and many have since joined the labor force and now earning for their families.

A MORE RESILIENT CITY

Our city has maximized resources in order to respond to emergency situations by establishing the Basic Emergency Life Extending Network 16911 or B.E.L.E.N. 16911, which consolidates the resources of the government units or agencies under one command center and operates 24/7 to meet even the worst hazards in a well coordinated manner.

Since its establishment in 2013 B.E.L.E.N. 16911 has already responded to 871 cases ranging from vehicular accidents, medical, fire, mauling, shooting, OB cases and patient conduction, among others.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Dagupan has greatly improved its capacity to respond to disasters and other forms of emergency, hence, we can state that our city is stronger than ever.

With that, I invite you to look at the necessary upgrades we’ve especially taken and how our dynamic CDRRMC personnel have leveled up for the last four years.

And not only that, I’m happy to announce that we’re putting up a new CDRRMC building, while improving the technological capacity of our Command Center. We have initiated these important measures because of what we’ve learned during the productive WCCD seminar in Dubai Last March 7 & 8.

But above all, we express our deepest gratitude to our heroes on the streets, hence, we offer our applause to the men and women of the Belen 911 hotline and the CDRRMC.

PEACE AND ORDER

We are extremely pleased to report to you that Dagupan has and continue to be one of the dynamic communities in the region where sound peace and order sustains our growth and progress.

Our city is one of the first local governments in the country to make its boldest declaration of support to the drug prevention and anti-criminality campaign of His Excellency President Rodrigo Duterte, not to mention our city’s “Sagip User Rehabilitation and Empowerment” or SURE program, which is purposely created to contribute to our president’s anti-drug campaign.

To date, we have sealed an important partnership with Region 1 Medical Center, DOH Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, the Catholic church and other faith-based organizations to help carry out this program.

Therefore, I am happy to inform this honorable body and our people that our reform strategies are working positively to make Dagupan a drug-free city.

3. Economic Services Sector

STRONGER AGRICULTURE

Our river clean up drive, particularly our plastics debris retrieval initiative, is now at the heart of our sincere, no-nonsense campaign as Dagupan is now recognized as a global leader in ocean protection following my commitment before the United Nations.

With the assistance of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, we obtained proper guidance on how to care for our internal waters while the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute extended assistance by conducting a reconnaissance survey and provided recommendations for us to pursue.

Since 2013, we have dismantled nonstop illegal fishpens throughout Dagupan’s river system, and up to date, our Taskforce Bantay Ilog has now cleared more than 90 hectares of our rivers from (712) illegal fishing structures, and this is our boldest campaign yet to ensure that our small fishermen would be given opportunities to earn decently without hurting our environment.

Tourism

Today, Bangus Festival has evolved into one of the major festivals in the Philippines and loosely acknowledged by the Department of Tourism as the biggest street party there is. Our Festivals of the North, Bangusan Street Party, Bangusine, Gilon Gilon ed Baley, Bangus Rodeo, our multi-stage events and concerts, and our spectacular fireworks are perennial crowd-drawers as we endeavor to bring the spotlight on Dagupan as a serious global investments destination.

Last December our Paseo de Belen has emerged as the runaway favorite among the scores of visual attractions among towns and cities and Pangasinan, with our hardworking barangays producing the most captivating and colorful Nativity scenes, tapping the best talents in our barangays.

We tapped into the emotional consciousness and newfound excitement of young and old Dagupenos and visitors with the return of the grand Carnival reminiscent of our great tradition of Dagupan fiestas of yesteryears.

Our Tondaligan Beach has received a new shot in the arm after we finally emancipated our seashore from eyesores that have driven away potential tourists and residents from enjoying the best sunrises and sunsets in the entire Lingayen gulf.

After decades of abuse and neglect, plans are now underway to effect a massive Tondaligan Redevelopment Plan together with the help of our good Congressman Toff De Venecia. According to the plan, we shall be clearing the remaining obstructions of our ocean’s beautiful view, construct boardwalks, biking and jogging lanes, swimming pool, cleaner shower and restrooms, play grounds and implement year-round events to celebrate the great bounties of the sea.

Public Infrastructure – Markets

I am delighted to inform you that we have made significant improvements in our public markets as a key economic enterprise activity, and these improvements are:

·         The New Galvan Market has been repaired and elevated.

·         Repair of consignation market

·         Reyes Street, the access road to the Magsaysay Fish Market, has now been upgraded to finally end the perennial flooding in the area.

·         Repair of Makong Market

We also have expanded the deboning area at the New Malimgas Market, and installed smoke fish machine and other equipment.

4. General Public Services Sector

“Dagupan Lungsod ng Disiplina”

Lasting Solutions to Dagupan’s Traffic Woes

Even if it personally takes me to stand under the heat of the sun to fully understand and find ways to solve our chronic traffic mess, I will do so. And that is exactly what I did.

Idle for nearly 15 years, we directed the reinstallation of our traffic lights with digital counters in key strategic points in the city.

We also implemented the sidewalk recovery program as well as enforced pedestrian discipline, which was integral for the new traffic scheme to work.

We have restored the use of sidewalks for pedestrians by removing obstructions placed by many business establishments. Aside from that, we have worked with the DPWH for the repainting of road signages.

The full range of measures to address traffic congestion also included the enforcement of the Comprehensive and Mandatory Traffic Code of Dagupan, which provides for new loading and unloading stations for public utility vehicles plying our streets, as well as implementation of clearing operations on illegal parking, and apprehension of barkers which have long been the front of “kotong”

Because of our intensified “Zero Kotong Policy”, I’m proud to report that our collection from traffic violation has tremendously increased from an average of P200,000 to a million, and that’s only for the month of January!

By signing up with an agreement with the Land Transportation Office to deputize select POSO personnel, we are indeed, doing our best to strictly implement our traffic laws.

And we have installed CCTV cameras in strategic locations throughout the city, which is manned by competent Public Alert and Response Monitoring Center personnel on a 24/7 basis to ensure public safety.

Waste to Energy

Dagupan is close to ending its 50-year garbage problem with the forthcoming implementation of the waste to energy technology to manage our waste.

All roadblocks have now been cleared, and in fact, our Waste to Worth Facility has already been awarded. Now, this is to show that we’ve been working on this matter very seriously. In fact, this garbage problem has been our priority, and we’ve been treating it with a sense of urgency, as opposed to the negative rumors being peddled by some fake newsmen.

My Dear Kabaleyans, let’s all be patient, because every step we take must be in compliance with the Implementing Rules and Regulation of DENR. With that, our people are assured that their government is truly for them, and that I, as your chief executive, is 100% committed to following our laws, as well as taking the next bold step to managing our waste.

Today, the stage is set for us to benefit from the blessings of a modern technology at no expense to our city. To prepare for this, we are now procuring at total of 10 dump trucks to haul wastes in all 31 barangays in our city. And we are working closely with barangays in the enforcement of solid waste segregation, composting and sustained information and education on proper waste disposal.

Massive Physical Infrastructure Spending

Since the start of my administration, building the physical infrastructures to support our growth has been the most aggressive since the massive rehabilitation of Dagupan after the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.

Over the course of the last four years, we have built completely new roads and rehabilitated old ones in 17 barangays in Dagupan, as we endeavor to start new ones in the remaining 14 barangays in the next few years.

By emphasizing the importance of fiscal prudence and judicious utilization of resources, our 20% development fund translated into the implementation of nearly54 million pesos for the maintenance of our city roads.

Since 2013, we have thrown huge resources of  government to rehabilitate many long neglected and flood prone sitios in Bacayao Norte, Barangay I, Bonuan Boquig, Bonuan Gueset, Calmay, Caranglaan, Herrero Perez, Lasip Chico, Lasip Grande, Lucao, Malued, Manguin, Mayombo, Pantal, Pogo-Chico, Pogo Grande and Tapuac. All of these have a combined length spanning nearly 8 kilometers long throughout the city. May I invite you to witness the numerous projects in the city UNDER YOUR TAXES MADE IT POSSIBLE PROGRAM:

For the last four years, our public schools have enjoyed the biggest funding support from the city government apart from the funds we obtained from the national government and from private institutions and individuals.  My dear friends, I am happy to report that these are what we have built since 2013.

For the last four years, this city administration has aggressively pursued the construction of many socially relevant infrastructures for women, the youth, our senior citizens, among many others. My dear friends, may I ask you to watch these new infrastructures that has changed the skylines of our city.

For the last four years, our Dagupan has made its biggest investments with our acquisition of the largest fleet of emergency and service vehicles, dump trucks, boats, modern construction and dredging equipment, tools and implements in our broadest and optimistic strategy for economic development and growth.

For the last four years, we have made our strongest investments to position Dagupan as one of the country’s Smart Cities through various initiatives which are responsive to the 21^st Century ASEAN Design challenge, along with our strong support to our fully functional Public Alert Response Monitoring Center which currently is the most instrumented center of its kind in this part of the country.

In 2017, we shall continue to lay the brick for the next chapter of growth of our city with the following projects under our 20% Development Fund and

Supplemental appropriation for 2017 which includes the:

-Installation of more traffic lights and CCTV.

-Construction of Youth center

-grant of one time gratuity pay to job order and contract service workers in the Government

-purchase of 22,019 sq meter lot for core shelter at bonuan boquig

-completion of the three (3) storey Special program for the arts School building at DCNHS

-construction of Magsaysay Merket Extension

-additional cost for the upgrading of PCC Pavement and construction of lateral drainage at Calarin Road, Malued

- additional cost for the extension of waiting area at Sitio Korea Health Center,

- procurement of signboard with reflectorized sticker

-training of teachers and students for ROBOTICS as part of the  Dagupan City's priority projects.  and more….

Soon to start projects including our first ….

TEEN CENTER

We can do all these. I know we can, because we’ve done it before.

That’s why, I’m very optimistic, that we can build a New Government Center, which will serve as our major step-forward in realizing our city’s economic progress, an economy that is built to last.

As soon as I woke up this morning, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from someone, whose heart is also directed towards the fulfillment of this proposed Government Center. And although he knows I’m speaking before you today, he reminded me of our father’s legacy, adding that as a family, we can make a difference in this city that has been so good to us. In short, he surprised me with an idea – a surprising idea that he’s donating his property in barangay Pantal, which I think is a perfect location of this New Government Center.

That’s why, right now, the only thing left for us to do is to ask our dear SP members about whether or not they’re happy with the donation. After all, it’s a DONATION.

I share the belief and conviction of many that when leaders are leading by example, sincerely working together for the best interest of our city by COMPLETELY ERADICATING RED TAPE and CORRUPTION in all of our government processes, then progress must be inevitable.

That’s what we’ve been doing through our Investment and Development Board, and that should be the reason why we have earned the trust and confidence of our stakeholders, especially investors from multi-national companies like SM, Double Dragon Properties Inc., Sta. Lucia Land Inc. and a lot more…

For four years, we have accomplished so much to keep the state of our city strong. In fact, our city is way above stronger today than the way we found it in 2013.

And Dagupan is not turning back. Not now. Not ever.

We are stronger today than four years ago because we have established a good and just system of governance, stronger economy, stronger barangays, stronger schools, stronger participation and engagement by women, children, people with disabilities, and senior citizens.

We are stronger today because we fortified our city by working on our weaknesses to build our strength. And we are stronger because we have done away with waste and acted swiftly without complacency.

It has been said that history is driven, over the long haul, by what men and women honor, cherish and worship; by what societies deem to be true and good; by what individuals and societies are willing to stake their lives on.

My fellow Dagupenos: The state of our city is strong because we all committed to clean and good governance, accountability, and transparency and, with my life, I shall always hold dear my oath to always faithfully serve our people.

Laging po ninyong tatandaan: Sa kagustuhan kong maging mahusay at maging magaling, hindi kailanman natin ipinagpalit na maging mabuti.  Mahal ko po ang ating lungsod at mahal ko po ang bawat Dagupeno.

Thank you very much.