STATE OF THE PROVINCE
Tupas highlights accomplishments for 2005
TUPAS: The outlook for Iloilo is bright...
Iloilo -- With the fizzling out of the year 2005 begins another year of Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr.'s undaunted wrestling with the challenges in his administration and continuation and formulation of plans and programs for the good of his constituents. But the year 2005 would not be completed without looking back with the accomplishments of the governor that took place during that year.
Based on the highlights of the governor's accomplishments, the year 2005 is indeed fruitful for his administration.
He made things happened in various fields such as agriculture and fisheries, environmental management, peace and order, entrepreneurship development, health, nutrition and social welfare, education, information technology, organizational restructuring and support infrastructure.
In the field of agriculture, rice production recorded at its highest peak for the last ten years, which recorded highest yield of 9.3 metric tons per hectare of hybrid seeds; the implementation of various crops development projects that promote minimal or non-usage of pesticides on rice, corn and vegetables through the Integrated Pest Management; improved native stocks of livestock, conducted artificial insemination through the various breeding stations of the province; and the establishment of first Dairy Processing Plant in the Municipality of Tigbauan, Iloilo that would process fresh milk coming from dairy zones of Miagao, Igbaras, Tigbauan, Oton and Leon; enhanced campaign against illegal fishing through the "bantay dagat program;
Continued to provide veterinary services such as anti-rabies vaccination projects and conducted advocacies from among the local officials on anti-rabies; and provided technical and financial support to Farmers Association Development Project, Farm Youth Development Project, Rural Improvement Club, etc.
In terms of Environmental Management, Tupas has continued the establishment of communal forest and plant trees along roadsides; strengthened the Iloilo Watershed Management Councils and established river board, strengthened cooperation with the NGO's on watershed management; ranked 3rd in the Most Cleanest and Greenest among the 78 provinces in the country; and consistent number 1 among the Cleanest and Greenest Province in Western Visayas.
Talking about the peace and order, the governor has gained national recognition in the campaign against illegal fishing and illegal drugs; continued to conduct advocacy on the ill effect of dangerous drugs through the Task Force Against Dangerous drugs though the Task Force Against Dangerous Drugs and Other Vices; has an active Disaster Management Councils in the province as well as that of the municipalities; and about to complete the modern Iloilo Rehabilitation Center at Brgy. Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo that would house an average of 1,000 inmates.
In the field of entrepreneurship development, established Iloilo Technology Development Center that provided technology and entrepreneurship training and assistance to existing and would-be entrepreneurs; provided loan assistance to various cooperatives in the province through the Provincial Livelihood Development Fund; provided technical and vocational trainings to 135 Out-of-School Youths through the project MYRNA (Mobilizing the Youth Through Responsive National Advancement); organized and strengthened the cooperatives in the province through the Cooperative Development Office;
Enhanced tourism initiatives such as promotion of tourism sites and destinations, festivals and historical landmarks; strengthened the Association of Tourism Officers in the Province of Iloilo; Assisted job applicants through the Public Employment Service Office of the Iloilo Provincial Government; and supported the operation of GMA Nutri Plant in Barotac Viejo as a pioneer economic enterprise of a local government unit.
For health, nutrition and social welfare, the governor implemented the health reform agenda such as health financing, hospital reform, public health reform and local health system; improved hospital infrastructure such as repair and rehabilitation of hospitals, purchased needed health equipment and facilities; allocated P5M and enrolled more that 40,000 indigents in the province of Iloilo including volunteers such as barangay health workers, barangay service point officers and day care workers;
Activated the Provincial Nutrition Council and provided funding for milk supplementation of the malnourished children of Iloilo; strengthened the organization of marginalized groups such as elderly, disabled, indigenous peoples, women and children; allocated P16 M for the honoraria of more than 10,000 volunteers such as BHWs, DCWs and BSPOs in recognition of their contribution to improve the health, nutrition and social welfare services in the province of Iloilo.
In education, through the Provincial School Board, provided funds for the repair and rehabilitation of school buildings in the elementary and secondary level; hired additional 140 teachers to complement the much needed elementary teachers funded by the local school board funds; hosted the First Education Summit in the province of Iloilo; hosted the Palarong Pambansa; and enrolled 119 scholars in four year Baccalaureate Degree as part of the "Iskolar Sang Iloilo"Program.
For information technology, continued to operate and update the Iloilo Website in cooperation with the National Computer Center;
Established and operated the Geographic Information System, map based decision tool; developed various management softwares through the Management Information System (MIS); and continued to update both softwares and hardwares of the IPG.
The governor also recognized the support of the civil society in governance and has an active Provincial Development Council with NGO as co-chair as way of broadening the private sector participation in governance.
Finally, in support infrastructure, the governor has provided more that 30 million worth of community direct action projects and 10.5 M Poveryt Alleviation Projects in terms of small infrastructure such as waster system, day care centers, small irrigation projects, electrifications, barangay halls multi-purpose pavement, street lighting to more than a thousand of small projects through the barangay captains, municipal mayors and the sangguniang pambarangay; the Provincial Engineer's Office has completed 89 projects with total cost of P48,915,054.93; and the PEO also constructed 19 on-going bridges , overflow and RC box culverts, roads and pipe culverts, hospitals and building with the total project cost of P45,943,732.63; and Truck Team maintained a total of 662.619 kms. of provincial roads and 265.9 kms. of barangay roads. (Capitol News)