The forum will be participated in by local government executives, local business leaders and investors “who shall chart the course of provincial development, not only in my final term of office but in the long haul,” said Pineda as she outlined her program of “Enhanced Local Business Growth” during her inaugural address that followed the mass oath-taking of elected officials of Pampanga at the LausGroup Event Center here Wednesday morning.
“Palalakasin pa natin ang lokal na pamumuhunan at pagpapaunlad sa pagnenegosyo na magsisimula sa tinatawag na “One Stop Processing of Business Licenses” katulad ng mabilis, maayos at matapat na pagpoproseso ng business permit sa lahat ng mga bayan at siyudad sa Pampanga,” she said.
That, coming with hands-on leadership she expressed thus: “Nais kung makita na maayos na natutupad ang systema sa pamamagitan ng ‘automation’ sa paraang personal kong nasusubaybayan araw-araw ang pag-unlad ng pamumuhunan at pagnenegosyo sa mga bayan at siyudad.”
The needs of local businesses, she vowed, will serve as benchmarks for the prioritization of development programs for the province: “Ang pangangailangan ng mga local businesses ang magiging basehan natin sa pagbibigay prayoridad sa mga proyektong ating ipatutupad bukod pa sa kapakanan pangkalusugan at pang-edukasyon na ating ipinapatupad sa pamamagitan ng matapat at maayos na paggamit ng pondo ng pamahalaan.”
Pineda likewise made her inaugural speech as a state-of-the-province address, reporting on her accomplishments since her assumption to office in July 2010, among which are:
The total income of the at P11,888,000,731 to date.
A total of P279 million spent for the construction and rehabilitation of 11 district hospitals; P329 million for 240 school buildings; P89.9 million for 54 multi-purpose covered area/school stages; P16 million for 43 public toilets; and P18.6 million for birthing stations. P20.48 million was spent for the establishment of materials recovery facilities in different towns.
The construction, repair and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and canals came at a cost of P556.7 million. Another P353.8 million was spent for other infrastructures like evacuation centers, multi-purpose/health centers, bunk houses, day care centers, housing for indigenous peoples, the Capitol building and the provincial jail.
The Capitol likewise spent P21.8 million for the satellite campus of the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University; P20 million for Phase 1 and 2 of the Philippine State College of Aeronautics; P11 million for the Mabalacat City College Annex Building; and P12.5 million for the Provincial Development Academy.
National government offices – the DSWD, DepEd, DOST, NBI, Comelec, DILG, RTC, BFP, LTO, COA, PhilPost, PDEA, PCSO and PNP – were likewise assisted by the provincial government in the construction of their buildings to the tune of P97 million.
In infrastructure cost, the Capitol incurred a total of P2.095 billion.
Health services benefited 88,580 patients at a cost of P492.4 million in direct assistance. A total of 23,709 were helped for assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which totaled to P888 million.
Under the Point of Care Program, the Capitol paid PhilHealth P121 million for 219,557 beneficiaries.
PhilHealth collection in the 11 district hospitals amounted to P1.335 billion.
For the 21,517 patients admitted to the district hospitals, a total of P141 million was extended.
The PhilHealth Alaga Ka Program on the other hand extended P27.5 million financial assistance to 110,103 beneficiaries.
The province’s health program has so far amounted to a staggering P1.8 billion.
A total of P154.7 million was spent under the Educational Financial Assistance Program for 5,011 students, with 1,274 already graduating.
In agriculture, P34.9 million was spent, with 38,895,960 sacks of rice as among the immediate returns.
The Capitol extended P50.3 million to the SPES program aside from the P33.5 million from DOLE. P127.5 million was appropriated for job seekers and those looking for livelihood.
In 2015, centenarians numbering 57 were awarded P100,000 each. In 2016, the age was lowered to 95 years old and 114 seniors availed of the P100,000.
A total of P690.9 million in assistance was extended to IPs, PWDs, youths and victims of disasters.
The centerpiece achievement has remained the P1.9 billion quarry collections.
The above makes a large part, but is not the whole, of the accomplishments of the Pineda administration.
Mass
The oath-taking ceremonies were preceded by a concelebrated Mass of a dozen priests with Archbishop Emeritus Paciano B. Aniceto as main celebrant.
In his homily, Aniceto underscored the “culture of accompaniment” as integral in the life of public servants.
Archbisjop Florentino Lavarias on the other hand imparted his apostolic blessing before the actual oath-taking of the lected officials.
Absent
Of Pampanga’s four elected representatives, only neophyte Carmelo Lazatin II of the 1st District was present.
Among the mayors, City of San Fernando’s Edwin Santiago and Sto. Tomas’ new mayor John Sambo were conspicuously absent.
