Capas Mayor Antonio “TJ” Rodriguez said that this assessment of the DTI also considered his town’s efficient local government management as well as infrastructure projects costing some P400 million.
In the entire country, Capas was ranked 40th most economically progressive, he noted.
This is on top of Capas being consistently the top real property tax collector in Tarlac, he said, noting that real property tax collection rose from P10.1 million in 2010 to P15.6 million as of last year.
“Progress in our town has become well known, especially after we have constructed the new, big and modern municipal building which is now reputed to be the most beautiful in Central Luzon,” the mayor said. It cost about P18 million.
The city hall of Angeles City looks like garbage in comparison, noted an official of Angeles who has ancestral roots in Capas.
Rodriguez noted that economic progress has also led to the rise of the local government budget, from P156 million in 2009 to P278 million this year. “This is an increase of 80 percent,” he noted.
“The municipal income from local sources increased by 164 percent since 2008, amounting to about P63.7 million so far from only P24 million in 2009,” he noted.
Rodriguez said the collections from business permits have also risen significantly from P44 million in 2009 to P35.4 million so far.
“These have enabled us to pursue more programs and projects, including provision of ambulances, motorcycles, bicycles, tractors, fire trucks, uniforms and two-way radios to our barangays,” he reported.
Rodriguez cited various infrastructure projects either finished in the last four years or are still being completed, including the P100-million Cutcut Bridge, P67-million Bangut Bridge, P26.1-million Susuba Bridge, the P23-million Estrada and Dolores bridges, P8.5 million police building, P60 million for 100 new classrooms.
He also noted the completion of the P10-million Ospital ning Capas Extension building, P12-million small water impounding project in Sitio Malutu in Barangay Sta. Lucia, P10-million for three new birthing stations, P2.5-million organic trading post building, and P10 million worth more of other locally funded projects.
He noted that local farmers have been provided not only with tractors but also with other farm inputs that have made Capas a top producer of root crops in Central Luzon.
The local government also spent P45 million for health benefits to indigents, on top of P12 million to provide housing to some 1,200 illegal settlers in the town.
Capas is a recipient of silver and bronze seal of good housekeeping awards from the Department of Interior and Local Governments.
It can be recalled that Capas was severely affected by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 amid devastation caused by volcanic ashfalls and lahar flows.
