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[av_heading heading=’Gov. Defensor’s SOPA: Ilonggos won’t forget ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Wednesday, November 8, 2017
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ILOILO – What’s the state of Iloilo province?
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.’s litany of awards that the provincial government reaped stressed a point: Iloilo is indeed a “best-performing” province.
In his seventh State of the Province Address (SOPA) yesterday at the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Defensor said the awards were proof that, “We have come so far.”
Among the multimillion-peso infrastructure projects implemented, on the other hand, Defensor cited farm-to-market roads that improved the accessibility of remote barangays and transport of goods.
“People will forget what we say about Iloilo but they will never forget what we did for Iloilo,” said Defensor who is ending his third consecutive term as governor this 2019.
He boasted of the improvements made on the 12 district hospitals of the province.
“Our hospital upgrading program does not only involve the construction and improvement of buildings and facilities. It also ensures sufficient supply of medicines, the acquisition of much-needed medical equipment and hiring of additional medical personnel,” said Defensor.
The goal, he said, was to transform the district hospitals into “real hospitals for the poor.”
“We have come so far because we have travelled down the road hand-in-hand together,” said Defensor.
He also bared the impending redevelopment of provincial capitol grounds, and his programs on agriculture, education, social services, environment, and against criminalities such as drug trafficking.
The Iloilo Provincial Capitol Complex Redevelopment Project may be completed before the end of Defensor’s term. The provincial government has allotted P400 million for this.
“The road stretches far ahead of us into where we could not see. But we will always get to where we want to be if we simply set our hearts on it,” said Defensor.
For three successive years – 2014, 2015 and 2016 – the Department of Interior and Local Government cited Iloilo as “Best Performing Province” for continuously exhibiting above-benchmark performance in all facets of governance (administrative, social, economic, and environmental).
‘OVERACHIEVER’
“I am proud to be an Ilonggo because he is our governor. Kanami sang feeling nga we are being lead by a very capable, very efficient and very veteran politician,” said Cong. Sharon Garin of the party-list Asosasyon sang Manguguma nga Bisaya – OWA Mangunguma. She attended the governor’s SOPA.
The governor has not only improved Iloilo but brought it to the national consciousness by being hailed as “most outstanding province,” according to Garin.
“Overachiever gid ‘ya ang aton governor. Eighty percent of his speech is about the achievements. Damu gid man sang nahimo si Gov sa probinsya,” she stressed.
Second District Provincial Board member Leicel Seville, on the other hand, said these achievements were “fruits of the unity” of local government units and the provincial government.
“The province, being an awardee, patimaan lang nga maayo ang pagdumala sang aton gobernador sang aton nga probinsya,” said Seville.
For his part, 4th District Provincial Board member Domingo Oso gave Defensor a performance rating of “8 to 9” in a scale of 10.
“The SP fully supports the governor. We have seen how he works for the welfare of the people,” said Oso.
Vice Gov. Christine Garin, on the other hand, said Ilonggos should be proud of Iloilo.
“Ang probinsya ta nagtinguha gid. I am proud to be a vice governor sang isa ka province nga one of the most outstanding in the whole Philippines,” she said.
Among the awards and recognitions Iloilo province got were the following:
* Seal of Good Housekeeping (2011)
* Seal of Good Local Governance (Hall of Fame for winning in 2015, 2016 and 2017)
* Most Outstanding Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in the whole Philippines (2015 and 2016)
* national winner of the 2017 Apolinario Mabini Award for the Local Government
* commendations from the Institute of Governance and Sustainable Development based in Washington DC, and the United Nations Environment Programme in Bangkok, Thailand for the Bantay Dagat
* Gawad sa Makabayang Teknolohiyang Panlipunan for Persons with Disabilities and the GAPAS Award for implementing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
* Best Local Government Unit Functionality in the Implementation of Social Welfare Services
* Best Employer Award – first place in Government Sector from PhilHealth Region 6
* Achievers Award for Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan town given by the Department of Health and the New Born Screen Center – Visayas
* Best LGU / Agency Newsletter for 2016 in Western Visayas for “Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo” given by the Philippine Information Agency
* 2017 GAWAD EMB by the Environmental Management Bureau
* Environmental Champion in Western Visayas by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
* finalist for the second time in the Galing Pook Awards for Teen Center Program dubbed “Teeniran: Facilidad sang Kabataan”/PN
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