Tabuk City, Kalinga - In his State of the Province Address, Governor Ferdinand Tubban highlighted the progress of his administration in attaining six major development goals.
Delivered during the first Provincial “Dagyaw” 2021, said goals constituting the term-based Executive-Legislative agenda have been guided by his administration’s vision to make “Kalinga as an agri-industrialized and eco-tourism destination with empowered, self-reliant and resilient communities proud of their cultural heritage living in a safe environment.”
“From this vision statement, emanates our prophecy for SHARED governance where it bespeaks our collective thrust and shared responsibilities towards a highly stabilized local government unit delivering excellent services, responsive and shared governance,” Tubban stressed.
Consistent with the sectoral development goals as contained in the provincial development and physical framework plan, the six major development goals were adopted.
Progress of the 6 Major Development Goals of Tubban Administration encapsulated as SHARED
S-ecure community and improve public safety and social justice
With the knowledge that progress and development will not be achieved without stable peace and order in place, the provincial government strengthened law enforcement by providing reliable support and control programs.
As a result, the Kalinga Provincial Police office reported a decrease of 22.51% of crimes committed as compared to the same period last year.
Likewise, the illegal drugs in the province were stabilized. To date, the province conducted 76 police operations, arrested 65 individuals, 559 cases, and recovered, confiscated, and destroyed more than P73 million worth of illegal drugs, specifically marijuana and shabu.
“I would like to highlight that out of the 152 barangays comprising the whole of the province, there are only 10 that have not yet been declared drug-free barangays. However, we will not settle down until all shall be free,” said Tubban.
The anti-insurgency campaign had been intensified, resulting in the crippling of the insurgency movement. This is due to the neutralization of two high-ranking officers of the CPP-NPA in Balbalan early this year.
In addition, almost all LGUs in the province have declared the CPP-NPA and all communist front organizations as persona non grata in their respective municipalities.
In disaster preparedness and mitigation, the Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office in coordination with the Provincial Planning and Development Office formulated the provincial disaster risk reduction and management plan providing a road map to mitigate the effects and hazards of disasters, and at the same time guides the different clusters to immediately take action at the onset and during the occurrence of disasters.
Disaster resilience caravan was conducted in the different LGUs in the province to strengthen their involvement and active participation and to ensure the integrity of its component LGU.
In support of our disaster risk resiliency program, the provincial government allocated P90.1 billion procurement of rescue and heavy equipment and P40.2 million for the construction of public infrastructures and community facilities to avoid potential adverse impacts during the onset of disasters.
Also, the Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera has forged a partnership with PLGU Kalinga for the construction of the regional warehouse to serve as a depository for food and non-food relief items for a more convenient and expedient relief operation during calamities especially for the Northern Eastern part of Cordillera.
The PLGU, according to the governor, provided a lot for the building as a project counterpart. Groundbreaking has been done and the initial stage of the construction is ongoing.
H-igher Level and Sustained Socio-Economic Growth
In support of this thrust, the provincial government implemented various programs and projects to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people. This includes the construction of roads, footbridges, post-harvest facilities, and other public buildings as an aid to the farmers during this pandemic.
Cash assistance was provided to rice farmer-beneficiaries in the amount of P5,000 each for the 7, 429 beneficiaries, or a total amount of P37,145,000 given in 2021. There are still 1, 870 beneficiaries that are about to receive assistance within the year.
Infrastructure support of the administration includes the establishment of the Banana Consolidation and Training Center with P4.7 million and the ongoing construction of Phase I of the Agricultural Extension and Research and farm mechanization building worth P6 million.
Aiming to remain as a rice-sufficient province and the main rice producer in Cordillera, the local government enhanced rice production by ensuring the efficacy of the province’s irrigation system to provide adequate water supplies and by providing equipment, facilities, and farm machinery to the different farmer organizations and cooperatives.
In 2020, a total of 167,226.71 metric tons of palay were produced and 103, 638.79 metric tons in more than 36,000 hectares were produced in the first semester of 2021 only.
In relation, the Office of the Provincial Agricultural Services and partner private agencies just concluded the season-long hybrid rice and production training of 24 seed growers of Kalinga to boost further the province’s hybrid rice production effort.
Also, the office distributed 6,042 seed component bags and 1,499 fertilizer component bags to the rice farmer-beneficiaries to device competitive enhancement fund
An initial fund of P400,000 was also uploaded for the establishment of a coffee processing facility in the municipality of Pasil to boost the coffee industry in Upper Kalinga.
Prioritizing the delivery of the best health services for the people, the PLGU implemented plans and projects and allocated funds from Bayanihan Grant for the procurement of the needed logistical support and supplies.
This is because the government believes that each one has the right to health and medical care without any discrimination or special treatment in the provision and delivery of resources, manpower, equipment, and facilities, especially during this time of the pandemic.
Also, cash assistance of 5,000 each for the families of Covid-related death and assistance to calamity victims, including those affected with lockdowns with the upsurge of Covid cases, were provided.
Vaccination roll-out is in progress that, as of October 25, 2021, over 40,000 have already been inoculated around the province.
The province provided Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) to mitigate the effect of Covid-19 pandemic for informal workers. Around 1,700 beneficiaries were given assistance in 2020 and 1,104 in 2021.
The PLGU hired over 1,500 job orders prioritizing displaced/informal workers during the pandemic, while the Special Program of Employment of Students served a total of 525 beneficiaries for 2020 and 2021.
In support of education, the provincial government ensured better access to education by sustaining the provincial scholarship program to pave the way for a brighter future for the poor but deserving students in the province.
The PLGU also responded to the call of DepEd-Kalinga to support its adopt a school program, giving away 55 units of Epson printers to the different school beneficiaries.
A-ggressive eco-tourism and industry development
One of the province’s developments thrusts is centered on the maintenance, protection, and preservation of tourism assets towards the attainment of its goal to transform Kalinga as an agri-industrialized and eco-tourism destination.
The provincial government took pride in promoting its National Living Treasures and renowned Kalinga culture icons, which include the legendary Mambabatok, Apo Whang-Od, the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Awardee, Alonzo B. Saclag Sr., and the distinct beauty, elegance of the grandest tourism sites that are continuously drawing local and overseas visitors.
The administration and its tourism stakeholders vowed to continue working for the recovery of the province’s tourism industry.
R-eliable and adequate infrastructures
To connect gaps that will lead closer to the development of our goals, the PLGU continues to build roads, bridges, and other support infrastructures around Kalinga.
“With these accomplishments, we have done well, but we aim to have more infrastructure projects in the coming years from the different sectors towards our goal of inclusive development,” the governor affirmed.
E-fficient environment and natural resources conservation protection and managing
To protect and maintain the integrity of its natural resources, the administration, through its Environment and Natural Resources Office, intensified reforestation efforts of denuded forest areas, regulated quarrying activities, and protected critical watershed areas, and mineral resources.
As a proactive measure in promoting a clean and healthy environment throughout the province, each of the component city and municipal LGUs had formulated and developed their comprehensive systems of ecological solid waste management as mandated by RA 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2000.
Likewise, the PLGU has formulated its own provincial solid waste management plan as a support to the said endeavor, and one of its provisions is the establishment of a provincial sanitary landfill that will serve as a garbage disposal facility for the different LGUs in Upper Kalinga.
D-evelopment Administration and Fiscal management
A total of 83 employees who deserved an upgraded in position and for their greater responsibilities were promoted since the governor took office. 84 new employees were appointed as part of his advocacy of quality public service through empowering its organizational structure and strengthening manpower.
The government also conducted monthly executive management committee meetings to review each department’s performance, know their concerns and address their needs.
Likewise, capacity development and team building activities were regularly done for the employees to develop their potentials and skills and maximize their capacity as partners in delivering quality service to the people.
With dedication, the province placed fourth in the national ranking and first in the regional ranking for its compliance with the 2020 Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces (CMGP) fund release requirements. In the same manner, in the overall governance reformed performance assessment, Kalinga placed 12th in the national ranking and first place in the regional ranking.
In 2022, the local government units will be entrusted with greater responsibilities as a result of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling. The province is anticipating a significant number of national government functions to pass on stewardship by way of full devolution and the creation of several plantilla positions to cope with our enhance functions.
“This is the reason why we must brace ourselves, with relevant knowledge and capabilities, be ready for these upcoming engagements,” stressed the governor.
Tubban underscored that SHARED governance not only encourages the achievement of the government goals but also promotes union.
“It is only by helping one another that can we accomplish great things. We may be equipped with the right tools, processes, and right people, but if there is no cooperation, there is no fulfillment in our goals. Let this be our guiding principle as we work together for a brighter tomorrow for our beloved Ykalingas, and most of all, for God's greater longing,” concludes the governor.
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