Good afternoon, Vice-Governor, the Presiding Officer, Members of this august body - the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque, 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 the private sector.
To all our kababayan here in our province, and those elsewhere who have freely chosen to seek greener pastures yet remained passionate for Marinduque: I come to you to deliver my first State of the Province Address, a year after that memorable first working Monday in July 2007, when most of us also came face to face; where, expressions of support and solidarity with your newly elected governor were the call of the hour.
Traditionally, today's opportunity is used to take to the rooftops for all the world to hear about accomplishments, and all the great things the provincial government has done over the past year. But the calamity that was "Frank" that hit us 16 days ago, compels us to be more introspect and modest in our approach.
We have much to be modest about. For one thing, getting the Marinduqueno to decide - for the first time in our colorful history - where he wants his beloved province to be, where we all know it can be, requires a clear and common vision. This is what the Provincial Development Council (PDC), has done and adopted a month after my assumption into office.
An old Japanese proverb says that 'vision without action is a daydream, and action without vision is a nightmare'. We will make no apologies at all for having a vision of where we want our beloved island-province to be. All our actions, energies, and our singular focus, must emanate and flow from that vision.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Where was Marinduque in June 2007?
In financial resources COA's official report placed Marinduque at No. 72 out of 79 provinces, the only remaining 4th class province, and therefore least developed, in the whole of Southern Tagalog Region. Obviously there's a lot of catching up to do. Immediate attention was required to address glaring social and economic issues and concerns.
We needed all the help we could get. We resorted to outside fund sourcing from various national government agencies and non-government organizations to augment our resources.
ECONOMIC SECTOR
ON INFRASTRUCTURE
To enable a significant number of our farmers to have access to good farm-to-market roads, we secured funds from the Department of Agriculture. Initially obtained was P 37.1-million for various projects including the concreting of farm-to-market roads for Gasan.
In Gasan, the projects for 9 barangays have, to-date, been completed. For Sta. Cruz, concreting of farm-to-market roads for 31 barangays at the cost of P 20-million pesos is 50% finished.
We have also completed the construction of Matalao-Sayao Concrete Bridge in Mogpog for P 1.2-million from our 20% CDF, and have almost completed the construction of Box Culvert Bridge in Balagasan costing Php 2.1-million in Boac and the Rehabilitation of Magsaysay-Quezon Road amounting to Php 1.4-million in Boac.
For Torrijos. Buenavista and Mogpog concreting of Farm to Market Roads amounting to Php 15-million for each of said municipalities, and Php 20-million for Farm to Market Roads in Boac, await an ocular inspection by the DA as was done in Gasan and Sta. Cruz.
The PEO reports that, excluding the farm-to-market roads for identification, out of 106 barangays where road projects have been approved for implementation work, 42 barangays or 40% have been completed or practically finished.
Our engineering people have their hands full. Engr. Reynaldo Ringor of PEO has already noted that the length, span, and number of these projects completed within a year, are unprecedented in our capitol's history. But, we cannot jump up and down to celebrate. We simply have to race for development.
We are following up with tenacity the completion of the Marinduque Airport runway resurfacing project being implemented by the DOTC. This will boost our tourism program. The country's flag-carrier and another airline are ready and raring to serve our airport.
ON TOURISM
Our thrust for tourism promotion and development certainly cannot pay off with a mere Php 1.6-million annual tourism & cultural budget. We've had to undertake more creative and innovative methods to deal with the challenge posed by such a situation.
This humble representation assumed as Chair of the MIMAROPA Committee on Tourism of the Regional Development Council (RDC). This is to more effectively integrate our Marinduque tourism development and promotional programs in that body.
We have re-organized the Provincial Tourism Council designating Provincial Administrator, Atty. Allan Jay Velasco as president. This came after municipalities have organized theirs with their respective mayors at the helm.
Various cultural activities which we conducted successfully with the involvement of all sectors, and undertaken in partnership with national tourism and cultural agencies, and media were designed to initially promote the concept of cultural tourism and eco-tourism in our province.
In addition to various activities initiated by the municipalities as part of their local tourism programs, we have spearheaded the "Battle of Pulang Lupa Commemoration", "Araw ng Marinduque" and "Moriones Festival 2008", among other festivities for development as tourist attractions.
We have constructed a website, at no cost for the government, that has drawn inquiries and positive responses from outside the country.
Our claim to be the Geographical Center of the Philippines has received notice and support from the National Mapping, Resource and Information Authority (NAMRIA), An eco-park will be established at the Luzon Datum of 1911 site in Balanacan by NAMRIA as a new tourist site.
Typhoon "Frank" hit us a couple of days before the holding of the awaited Southern Tagalog Tourism Council Assembly in Marinduque. We've had to move it to the 23rd to 25th of this month. "Marinduque Rising!" is the theme adopted by this assembly of Calabarzon and Mimaropa tourism stakeholders.
With this event, we hope to make a new forward step in tourism discourses both in the regional and national level.
ON AGRICULTURE
Under our watch Marinduque's agriculture, which remains as our main economic driver, must be nourished.
A crop development program has been strengthened to increase self-sufficiency level in rice, corn and high value vegetable, mango and banana. Php 5-million was allocated for the purchase of seeds and fertilizers to boost our food production.
To increase rice yield from 4.35 metric tons per hectare to 5 metric tons per hectare, certified seeds were distributed to 490 rice farmers. Bio-N fertilizer, a microbial-based fertilizer which we started producing on the 3rd quarter last year to minimize the use of commercial fertilizer, are now being disposed to our farmers.
Support to farmers also intensified with the purchase of a hauling truck and tractor at the cost of Php. 2-million to promote mechanized farming.
Interventions to improve corn yield were likewise, undertaken with the distribution to 150 farmers of hybrid corn seeds.
ON LIVESTOCK
Similar interventions in livestock improvement have been undertaken by our veterinary office. Artificial insemination of carabaos and cattle, cross-breeding of native goats by superior breeder bucks like Boer and Anglo-Nobian Buck with the purchase of 12 heads.
These 12 head Breeder bucks have been loaned to our farmers. A similar project to upgrade cattle with Purebred American Brahman Bulls saw 405 heads being naturally bred, serving 350 more farmers.
1,750 heads of native chicken, 15 Boer Bucks and 120 heads of Doe were dispersed by our PVO in connection with a Hunger Mitigation Program by the DA.
Insemination of native goat with Purebred Anglo Nubian semen - this increases the weight of goats by an average of 25 kilos, which is an increase of Php 1,625.00 per head - is an ongoing project.
SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELFARE
ON LIVELIHOOD & EMPLOYMENT:
Our complimentary programs in poverty reduction and job generation took off with the convergence of livelihood and job generating programs which is the concept of the KALAHI (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan). This include PSWDO's projects in Industrial sewing craft conducted in barangays that produced 102 new dressmakers, the PESO program which provided work to 148 displaced workers from Gasan, Boac, Mogpog and Sta. Cruz through rural work projects undertaken by the Capitol.
Another PESO program assisted 336 jobseekers and effected the placement of 73 jobseekers in Cavite and Subic. The Manpower Skills Registry for Offline Philippines Jobnet assisted 319 skilled professional workers and 383 OFWs. The SPES program benefited 52 poor but deserving students. A program for inmates in Morion Mask Making in Paper Mache was undertaken by TLDC to enable them to be productive members of the community.
Administrative Order No. 2008-001 was issued Restructuring the Technology and Livelihood Development Center Management Committee (TLDC ManCom). We have also designated Gen. Recaredo Sarmiento to co-chair the committee. The focus is to provide assistance to farmers and small fisherfolks, women's organizations and cooperatives.
The TLDC also pushed for the commercial pilot testing of the Charcoal Briquetting Technology with fisherfolks of Brgy. Ipil in Sta.Cruz as initial recipient of the project.
In partnership with DTI Marinduque Office, your provincial government has undertaken an interest and collateral-free micro-financing program for livelihood. Since January this year, "Haplos ni Bong Program" has responded to 54 sari-sari store operators, food, fish, vegetable, fruit vendors and traders of various commodities, mostly women. They continue to show improvement in values, attitude and economic capability.
Construction and quarrying activities related to the development of a new resort on Elephant Island and a golf course in Lipata also provided an opportunity for the unemployed to earn income.
We also recognize the efforts undertaken by the entry of non-government organizations such as the Norwegian Mission Alliance. Together with CARD, Rotary Club of Marinduque, the REACT, the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council, the MACEC, FARMC, Marinducare, Marinduque Market Vendors Federation and Farmers Organization they continue to empower our poor to improve the quality of life.
Kabayan visits Marinduque
