CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda has organized a more systematic and efficient provincial government in his first 100 days in office, resulting in accomplishments that mirror the many good things to come to Pampanga.
“Inuna ko pong inimprove ang aming organisasyon dahil ito ang makinarya na gagamitin ko para sa mas maayos at magaling na paghahatid ng mga programa, proyekto at serbisyo para sa ating mga kabalen (I have prioritized improving our organization because this is the machinery I’m going to use for the orderly and exemplary delivery of our programs, projects and services to our provincemates),” the 44-year-old governor said.
Pineda said he has the strong backing of 3,674 capitol employees who have shown professionalism and honesty in their work under the supervision of department heads.
“I have trained them to work as a team,” he added.
The governor has also worked closely with the Local Finance Committee, and made sure that every centavo in the budget goes to the people.
The Executive-Legislative Agenda 2020-2022 speaks of the indivisible unity between the governor and the Provincial Legislative Board headed by Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda.
He strengthened unity with the mayors, barangay captains and councils, sangguniang kabataan, the police and military while establishing unity with the business and various sectors and civil society organizations, leading to the revitalization of various councils and bodies that advance the people’s agenda in public governance.
From among the several reforms being carried out by Pineda, the medical aid program has far-reaching impact because it partnered only with private hospitals that provide affordable rates to patients referred by the Capitol. At the same time, the capabilities and equipment of provincial government-run hospitals to handle patients are increased.
After consultations with stakeholders, he issued new guidelines in the operation of quarries to be able to collect more sand tax and protect the environment. He reorganized the Kalam to prevent corruption in the field. To date, quarry revenues have reached P121.4 million since the start of the young Pineda’s leadership.
The governor was decisive in mitigating the African swine fever, creating a task force that proved to be swift in stopping the entry of live pigs and culling suspected swine population to protect the local commercial and backyard hog-growing industry and meat processing plants with the end in view of saving businesses, jobs and public health. The task force has been extra vigilant owing to Pampanga’s nearness to Bulacan where lab sampling tests showed ASF-positive swines.
No time wasted
“Wala po akong sinayang na minuto sa unang 100 araw ng aking administrasyon. Ginamit ko po ang lahat ng panahon to keep the organization running well. Bukod po sa ito ay mandato ko, ito ay pagtupad na rin sa pangako ko na continuity sa mga programa ni Nanay,” Pineda assured, referencing the nine-year administration of his mother.
He said the unity he has harnessed within and outside Capitol has helped the provincial government deliver P32.7 million in medical assistance, P47.8 million in PhilHealth collection and P132.7 million in PhilHealth benefit utilization for 109,859 patients.
In education, his first 100 days saw the construction of P38-million worth of schoolrooms, allotment of P50 million for two new DHVSU extension campuses, processing of P79.8 million in educational assistance for 24,657 beneficiaries.
Social services amounted to P13.34 million for 21,493 members among senior citizens, people with disabilities and indigenous peoples.
Completed and ongoing infrastructures such as multi-purpose buildings, roads, bridges, canals reached P364 million. At least P66.55-million infra works are being processed.
For disaster risk reduction, 6.7 kilometers of waterways have been desilted, P13.89 million has been spent for preparedness, P91.75 million is utilized for the ongoing construction of the Command and Control Center while 6,964 people have been given DRRM training.
Also, part of the governor’s initial major projects involved the relocation of Aetas found to be at high risk to earthquake- induced landslides. With this, the purchase of a 2.8-hectare lot worth P8.58 million in Babo Pangulo, Porac was undertaken and complemented by the construction of 75 housing units in Nabuclod, Floridablanca for Aeta families worth P8.97 million.
In the peace and order front, 637 drug personalities, 132 wanted persons and 39,169 violators of laws have been arrested by the police and other law enforcement units.
The provincial government spent P22.41 million to help build municipal police stations. The provincial government spent P27.3 million for the agricultural modernization program, distributed 11,240 seedlings and plants and served 29,780 farmers and livestock owners.
To increase employment, at least 42,338 job opportunities have been opened through Local Recruitment Activities while 27,825 have been provided livelihood training, coaching and labor education in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Local Public Employment Service Offices.
Gov. Pineda has joined former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in China in meetings with prospective Chinese investors. Some projects in the Pampanga Megalopolis Plan are being implemented like the Lubao-Sasmuan-Minalin-Sto. Tomas Road.
“Marami pa ho ang dapat gawin. At ang focus ko po ay kung paano bubuti ang kabuhayan, kalusugan at kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan. Pagtulungan po natin na mangyari ito,” he urged.
