STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS

BY HON. AURORA ENERIO-CERILLES
SEPTEMBER 16, 2002

Fifty years ago today, by virtue of Republic Act No. 711, this piece of land was legitimized to be a provincial territory of Zamboanga del Sur. Since then, every Zambosurian takes pride in claiming Zamboanga del Sur, the land of his birth, the land of flowers, and the breeding sanctuary of different species of life. And now we celebrate the golden harvest—the 50th Anniversary of her existence.

It is very fortunate of me having stood at the apex of power in the provincial government on this very season of great jubilation, extending upon each one my sincere gratitude for every inch of effort exerted, for every drop of sweat, for the hands that bled in the struggle for survival, for the indefatigable quest for economic mileage and for everything done in the name of progress—that this beautiful land of ours will be well remembered by her people across generations.

When I assumed the leadership of this province fourteen months ago, I laid down my development agenda inspired by the battlecry: “Bangon Zamboanga del Sur.” The deplorable condition of the province provided me, and each one of us, the tough challenge to contribute an ounce of our strength, of our resources, of his time, in helping Zamboanga del Sur rise and soar to greater heights. That this province will not remain a piece of land in the Philippine soils without distinctive identity, without a name that rings a bell, without being a by-word and an epitome of progress and development and an envy among the country’s local government units.

My dear friends, building a bright image for Zamboanga del Sur does not happen overnight. In the biblical sense, one must have the Wisdom of Solomon, the Courage of David and the Patience of Job to put things in order, in the right perspective, in a definite direction, and in making decisive moves to concretize plans and programs.

During the last fourteen months, our efforts to rebuild Zamboanga del Sur from the devastating effect of the division of the province with the creation of Zamboanga Sibugay through Republic Act 8973 have been difficult. In a province that is 97.5% financially dependent on Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) from the national government, taking away a substantial portion of this IRA in favor of Sibugay is a heavy drain in Zamboanga del Sur’s coffers. From a monthly allocation of 44 Million Pesos, Zamboanga del Sur’s IRA went down to 27 Million Pesos.

With wisdom, my administration was able to lay down the right decisions and explore opportunities to address these difficult concerns while observing the mandate of existing laws and the principle of equity.

With courage, we were able to exercise and muster strong political will in effecting belt-tightening measures to establish a more economical, cost-effective implementation of plans and programs geared towards improving the delivery of basic services to our constituents in the midst of this fiscal constraints.

With patience, my administration painstakingly took time in letting these changes takes its course for we know that there is always a time to reap what we earnestly sow.

And so we were able to bounce back! And I salute our local legislators—the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, for their strong support, for their being one with me in battling the birth pains of my new administration. With them, I was able to chart the future direction of our province. Apart from the support of our provincial officials and employees, equally supportive of my administration are our local leaders in the private sector, the civil society, our friends in the church, the media and so with our peace keepers—our local PNP and the army. They are the strong pillars that provided me strength in running the affairs of my administration. They are the people who shared their valuable time, talents and such other resources in such bodies as the Provincial Development Council, the Provincial School Board, Peace and Order Council, Provincial Health Board and the Tourism Council. And so with the rest of my constituents for their support to my programs and enough patience in taking time to see results. I thank you all and I doff my cap for your help!

And here’s what we have done during my first year at the Capitol.

First, we set specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound targets. Through the auspices of the Local Chief Executive Development Management Program (LDMP), a joint project of the DILG and the RP-Canada Local Development Support Program (LGSP), the 7-point development agenda I conceived during the election campaign were broken down and translated into workable components. Strategic plans were developed, urgent concerns and priorities were identified. As documented, these now constitute my Executive Agenda and shall serve as the blue print of my governance of Zamboanga del Sur in the next 4 years.

Second, my almost a decade experience in the banking industry taught me a lesson that effective governance demands adequate and well-managed fiscal resources. Hence, my administration’s immediate concern is focused on the strengthening of the province’ financial management system.

Indeed, consistent with the financial figures I presented in my first State of the Province Address (SOPA 1) last July 19, 2002, CY 2001 ended with a budget deficit of 66.6 Million Pesos. But what my administration worried most was the burgeoning balance of payment (BOP) deficit of Ps101.3 Million Pesos. This is the difference between available cash of only 19.67 Million Pesos as against Current Accounts Payable of 121.02 Million Pesos. The Capitol’s certified financial records indicate that these are accumulated unpaid obligations during the first six months of the year 2001. This is what I inherited—a bankrupt provincial capitol, courtesy from my predecessors! These are stunning financial figures that will certainly drive away the enthusiasm of an uninitiated political leader.

But not this leadership. On the contrary, the province’ tight financial condition during my first six months in office gave us more than enough lessons to learn. Thus, when we prepared the province’ Budget for CY 2002, this year, we saw to it that expenditures should properly match with expected revenues, no deficit, no surplus—a balanced budget. And to ensure the effective implementation of priority development projects, programs and activities identified in my 7-Point Development Agenda, for the first time in this province’ history, we earmarked 30% or 125 Million Pesos of our Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) to finance priority development projects, effectively increasing it by 53% over the mandated requirement of 81.8 Million Pesos. Reviewing our budget, the DBM Region 9 considered it a very ambitious one. With only 70% left to answer the funding requirements for employees’ salaries and wages, maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlay, in my CY 2002 Budget Message, I enjoined all employees of the provincial government, most especially department heads, to adopt austerity measures while at the same time explore avenues and opportunities to generate more revenues.

Thus, with sound fiscal management, we were able to implement and attain the following:

First, In the Area of Infrastructure. (Pause)

“A vote for Enerio is a road to every barrio,” so goes the campaign promise of my dear father, the late Congressman-Engineer Canuto M.S. Enerio, that “caught fire” in the 1957 elections campaign trail. I was eight years old then but that campaign slogan reverberated in my mind and serves as the potent force that compels me to strive in order to give my own share for the fulfillment of that promise. That even during my stint as Congresswoman in the 2nd District in the Eleventh Congress, most of my banner projects pertain to road improvements. In fact, the concreting of secondary national highways and provincial roads in the 2nd Congressional District of this province has become the trademark of the Cerilles’s leadership, a modest legacy to our dear constituents in the area.

And so when I assumed this province’ stewardship, one of my immediate concerns is the development of the provincial road network in Zamboanga del Sur. Having good roads means efficient flow of commerce and trade within the province and thus spur its economic development. With good roads, the more we can effectively deliver basic social services to our constituents.

Starting it right, I asked a status report from the Provincial Engineer’s Office on the actual condition of Zamboanga del Sur’s provincial roads. The report showed that for almost 500 kilometers of the province’ provincial roads and major farm to market roads network, only 9 kilometers of this is concreted. Most road sections are dilapidated and need complete rehabilitation. And even worst, there are those that are completely destroyed and are rendered impassable.

Improving this provincial road network calls for several billions of pesos. As I figured out, with the province’ meager resources and 94% dependent from IRA, it would take more than three terms, even any Governor for that matter, for me to complete its concreting. And by the way, the present standard cost for road concreting is 10 Million Pesos per kilometer.

But just the same, we made realistic targets. Pananglit, as indicated in our CY 2002 Annual Investment Plan, target nato karong tuiga, makapasemento kita og 8.9 kilometers, involving 62.165 Million Pesos. Atong nakab-ot, 11.8 kilometers nga diin mikantidad kini og 111.665 Million Pesos. This means a 133% project implementation efficiency.

Pinaagi sa maong pundo, napasemento nato ang:

1. Tukuran-Lower Bayao Beach Road nga ang gasto mikabat sa 15 Milyones ka Pesos. We give priority to this road section aron mahatagan nato og kasayon ang daghan natong mga kaigsoonan sa ilang naandang pag-picnic sa madanihon ug atong ikapasigarbo nga baybayon sa Tukuran;
2. Ato usab nga gipasemento ang Eastern Bobongan-Sinaguing Road diha sa Ramon Magsaysay nga mikantidad kini og 5 Milyones ka Pesos; ug
3. Ang Mahayag-Dumingag Road sa kantidad nga 7 Million Pesos;
   Sa laing bahin, dako-dako ang atong gibubo nga pundo alang sa pagpasemento sa mga karsada sa Distrito Dos kay nasayod man kita nga ang mga provincial roads sa maong dapit, wala gayod kahatagi og igong pagtagad sa nangaging mga panahon tungod lagi kay baluarte man kini sa mga oposisyon nga Cerilleses to the disadvantage and great inconvenience of our people in that area who, like those in the 1st District, are equally entitled to the benefits of improved services as taxpayers.

Tungod niini, gipasemento nato ang:

1. Kagawasan-Dimataling-Pitogo Road sa kantidand nga 10 Milyones ka Pesos;
2. San Miguel-Dinas Nangka Road sa kantidad nga 35.165 Million Pesos;
3. Two road sections of the 21-kilometer Canunan-San Pablo Road sa kantidad nga 10 Milyones ka Pesos;
4. Bulawan-Lapuyan Road sa kantidad nga 9.5 Milyones ka Pesos; ug
5. Lumbug-Vincenzo Sagun Road sa kantidad nga 6 Milyones ka Pesos; and
6. Road leading to the C.M.S. Enerio Schools of Arts & Trade at Lakewood in the amount of 420,350 Pesos.

Simultaneously with this, we have caused the immediate rehabilitation of the following provincial roads:

1. The Dumingag-Dapiwak Road;
2. Repair and maintenance of Lulutan-Libertad-Baluno-Salawagan Provincial Road in Dimataling;
3. The Dinas-Guiniculalay Provincial Road networks in Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur;
4. Maintenance of Lower Dimaya-Dimataling provincial road;
5. Repair and maintenance of Junction National Highway-Dumalinao-Rebucon provincial road; and
6. Road ground improvement of the Lakewood Training Center.

Furthermore, we have opened and/or constructed new provincial roads at the Junction Tiniapan-Baybay Road in San Pablo and caused the completion of the recently opened Diplo-Salagmanok provincial road in Kumalarang.

These road rehabilitation and new construction works cost the provincial government another 4.98 Million Pesos.

These are just some of the few details of road maintenance works that the province has implemented. To sum it all, as of June 30, 2002, 26 provincial road sections repairs implemented with the total cost of P 131.78 million. There were five (5) road sections completed amounting to P19.6 million, 14 provincial road sections are under on-going construction with the total amount of P 61.68 million and seven (7) provincial road section bed-out amounting to P 50.5 million.

Apart from this, I also caused the construction of the 40 lineal meters Sicpao Modular Bridge in Mahayag and the 55 lineal meters Sibuguey Modular Bridge in Bayog with the total project cost of 12 Million Pesos. The repair of the Salug Dako Bridge in Mahayag damaged by the last year’s flash floods also costs us 5 Million Pesos.

My administration is also very lucky for having friends at the Department of Agriculture who are closely working with the provincial government in the implementation of infrastructure projects benefiting our farming constituents. With our close coordination and working partnership with them, most especially Regional Executive Directors Parawan and Leo Garcia, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the office of Provincial Agriculturist spearheaded the implementation of the Zamboanga Peninsula-Basilan Integrated Agricultural Development Program (ZIADP). The infrastructure components of the project include construction and rehabilitation of farm to market roads, agricultural equipment and machinery and irrigation projects implemented by NIA. Six (6) road sections were completed. Six (6) sites on Small Farms Reservoir (SFR) were completed, 12 Multi-purpose Drying Pavement are being constructed. In addition, the following were also distributed: one (1) farm tractor; 5 floating tillers; 65 knapsack; power sprayer; and three (3) moisture meters. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) also implemented infrastructure projects under their Agrarian Reform Communities (Arcs) with foreign funding assistance. Further, under the DA-LGU 1 million counter-parting program, farm to market roads and overflow bridges were also implemented. To date, a total of 18 projects are already completed and 8 projects are on going. These projects generated 714 jobs.

Lately also, a 111.2 Million Pesos is being earmarked for the development and/or expansion of the Pagadian Port. Once, completed, this project will certainly be a boon to Pagadian being the new Regional Center for Region IX.

One of the major infrastructure projects executed by the DPWH funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is the Pagadian City to Buug Road Project of the 6MI Zamboanga City–Pagadian City Road Improvement Project. The said project with adjusted amount of P716.5 Million is expected to be completed by June 13, 2003. As of June 25, 2002 it has only 38.85% completion. The scheduled cumulative accomplishment to date is supposed to be 71.72%, hence a slippage of 32.8%. Due to its failure to deliver expected accomplishment on time, the Provincial Government in close coordination with the Infrastructure Monitoring Advisory Group (IMAG) headed by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO), is tasked to substantially monitor and evaluate the physical accomplishments and condition of the project. In fact, earlier I insisted for the termination of the contract with the existing developer and have it awarded to the Hanjin group, the second highest bidder of the project.

Next year, should our loan negotiation with the Department of Finance’ LOGFIND materialize (to the tune of 125 Million Pesos to include our counterpart), 80% of this fund shall be appropriated for the concreting of the dilapidated sections of the Dinas-Dimataling-Tabina-Pitogo road network, while the rest shall be earmarked for concreting in some road sections in the First District.

In the area of Social Development

Providing greater access to basic services such as health, education, social welfare and protection are among the priority agenda that the provincial government would like to directly respond to. It is encouraging to note that the provincial, national and other local government units carried out their services jointly with us with the complementary efforts and assistance from the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) or Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

The medical services particularly on the curative aspects provided by the Provincial Government for the year were very inadequate due to funding constraints. Despite this, however, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) continuously implemented the preventive measures on health through the Rural Health Units (RHUs) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). For health programs, the Balik Patak Kontra Polio has accomplished 96.1 % or 102,583 children out of 106,726. Another program is the Garantisadong Pambata, a weeklong delivery of health services providing Vitamin A capsules to 97,097 children.

The Fifth Country Program for Children (CPC V) assisted by the UNICEF, which now covers all the municipalities has capacitated the rural folks on child survival, protection, development and participation. Series of advocacy meetings were conducted to all municipalities to promote the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This program adopts the strategy of a Child Friendly Movement (CFM), which encouraged key players for collective efforts for the well being of the children such as families, local communities, NGOs,POs, Civil Society, Church, Schools, LGUs, National Government, and the mass media. The offices of the Provincial Health Office, Provincial Social Welfare, Provincial Planning and Development as well as the national agencies of the DILG, Department of Education, DOLE, PIA and the NGO Sabakan Foundation collaboratively implemented CFM initiatives in the province. To date, 21 model communities are established in Dumingag, 13 in Bayog, 12 in Labangan, 8 in V. Sagun 12 in Dinas and 33 in Midsalip. Other Municipalities included in 2002 scaling up committed to establish 105 model barangays for CFM including the City of Pagadian.

The proposal to relocate and construct the Provincial Hospital from its present location to PADAP Compound, Dao, Pagadian City is still under negotiation with the Finland Government. A Provincial Development Council Resolution No.23. S. 2002 approving the proposed establishment of a modern 200 bed tertiary hospital to provide better hospital care and allow efficient and effective hospital administration was adopted for this purpose.

In my desire to provide improved health services to our people while this Finland Government Assistance is still being negotiated—which I believe will materialize in two years time yet—I decided to rehabilitate the Provincial Hospital and with this, we have now improved the hospital’s emergency room and earmarked some 5.4 Million Pesos for the immediate rehabilitation of the east wing ward of the hospital where the rehabilitation work shall start before the end of this month. Next year, I intend to also rehabilitate the west wing ward of the hospital. The provincial government ran hospitals in Lakewood, Dinas, Tambulig, Aurora and Mahayag shall also be given their equal share in this hospital improvement program.

Supporting the Health sub-sector is the Provincial Health Board (PHB), which regularly meet to discuss relevant matters on health services. To be more effective in providing this services particularly to indigent constituents, an Inter-local Health Zone approach is adopted. Of this, government hospitals shall improve its operation and has its fiscal autonomy and the delivery of public health programs will be more effective.

In the area of education, the active support of the Provincial School Board (PSB) facilitated the resolution of problems and issues concerning education. The Third Elementary Education Program-School Building Program (TEEP-SBP) funded by the World Bank with counterpart fund from the recipient LGUs (province, municipalities and barangays), is now on its 4th year of implementation. The program covers new construction and repair of elementary school buildings especially in barangays without schools. Issues on the low availment as to the target allocation of school building were experienced specially for the LGU led TEEP Projects. These problems need to be looked into by the task force organized for this purpose. TEEP also caters to other educational components, which Department of Education has successfully availed of, for its several schools in the province. In the secondary schools, facilities are still inadequate. School buildings need repair while other National High Schools require additional classrooms due to increase in enrolment. Teachers are lacking in some schools hence, for SY 2001-2002, the Provincial Government, using its Special Education Fund (SEF) hired at least 20 provincial paid contractual teachers to temporarily handle classes, in fact, there are some regular teachers who are also paid by the province.

Further, to help address the low book-to-student ratio in the elementary and high schools within the province, the provincial government facilitated the purchase of Makabayan books worth 3 Million Pesos and are now ready for distribution to these schools.

The tertiary education has improved its number of enrolment due to the presence of the private and public colleges and extension universities such as the WMSU and MSU located within the province, which are offering various courses. The conversion of Josefina H. Cerilles Polytechnic College into a State College in 2001 was a big leap in our education sector. In fact, with the provincial governments financial assistance, the new state college was able to open an extension campus at the San Carlos National High School in Tukuran. The increasing number of indigents provided with educational assistance through its scholarship program by the elected officials of the province assured a promising future to the beneficiaries.

In the area of social welfare, the services we have provided in the form of cash, in kind and psychosocial assistance benefited a good number of our indigent constituents. In crisis situation, we have provided them medical, burial, hospital bills settlement, transportation and other assistance. Livelihood assistance is also provided to the poor. The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council served the victims of the disaster that hit the municipalities in the Salug Valley area (Molave, Tambulig, Aurora, Mahayag Ramon Magsaysay) and Bayog and Kumalarang due to the flush flood last August 2001. A total of 6,322 families affected were extended assistance in the form of food for work, food assistance and emergency shelter assistance that benefited 3,475families. When the municipality of Margosatubig and Pagadian City experienced man made disaster due to fire, we have extended financial assistance to the fire victims to the tune of 5 Million Pesos.

To sum it all, tungod niining atong pagpaningkamot nga atong mapauswag ang pag-tubag sa panginahanglan sa mga kabus natong mga kaigsoonan, ang statistics sa atong Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office nagpakita nga gikan sa atong target nga makahatag og tukmang katilingbanong pag-alagad o social services sa may 9,366 ka individuals, ang nakab-ot nato 12,806 or a gratifying accomplishment percentage of 137%.

Economy and Environment

Being an agricultural area, the province is a recipient of national programs and projects geared towards increasing agricultural productivity. The offices of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Veterinarian, together with the Department of Agriculture, jointly implemented the “Ginintuang Masaganang Ani” (GMA) Program. This program intensified the rice, corn, high value commercial crops and livestock production.

At present, the Provincial Government embarks on the mass production of commercial crops, particularly cassava, through the two farmers cooperatives, namely: Mt. Malindang Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Baganian Peninsula Multi-Purpose Cooperative. The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist provided technical assistance to the recipient farmers. To be assured of the market and financing, a Memorandum of Agreement was entered into with the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and QUEDANCOR. At present, about 1,038 hectares have already been planted with cassava throughout the province. Based on the expected production output and the established floor prices, this high value crop production program would generate no less than 84 Million Pesos to the benefit of the province’ agricultural sector.

In like manner, we have also strengthened our veterinary services within the province. Statistics from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian shows that our programs in the area of Livestock Disease Prevention, Veterinary Clinic Operation, Dispersals and Upgrading of Large Animals posted remarkable results. From the targeted activities, plans and programs implementation in this area of 5,177, we were able to attain 8,585 or a stunning accomplishment of 168%.

The Provincial Government continued to adopt the clustering of municipalities in order to converge and coordinate the efforts and initiatives toward effective management and development of the critical ecosystems. These are the Salug Valley covering 9 municipalities, Illana Bay with 7 municipalities and the Baganian area clusters of 16 municipalities.

The Honorable Members of the Board, my friends, ladies and gentlemen, these are the major accomplishment this administration has done in its first year in office. It is my intent to give more to our people in the future. And we can only do that with our collective efforts. Figures from the local office of the National Statistics on the province’ economy is very gratifying for all of us. From last year’s average inflation rate of 3.9%, it plunged to a very rewarding low at 1.7% as of July this year. Indeed, we have made meaningful contributions to better the lives of our people. Today we may have done our best, but we always believe that the best has yet to come, hence, we have to strive more to better our best.

I, therefore, endorse the collective wisdom of our Sangguniang Panlalawigan to go on passing quality legislations that would benefit more our people. We must pass laws that would give us an even opportunity of increasing our resources. We must explore possibilities of adopting new revenue measures. The obligations, the accounts payables we have inherited from the past administrations of the previously undivided Zamboanga del Sur has taken a heavy toll in our present financial position. Appropriation wise, we are operating on a very comfortable level. We have, in fact, realized a budget surplus at the end of the first semester of this year, the reason we passed a Supplemental Budget just a month ago utilizing this surplus to finance more development projects. Cash position wise, however, the inherited obligations and payables seemed to be like original sins that keep on pulling us back, a burden that saddled our way as we move further to serve our people better.

I ask, therefore, our honorable Board Members, with a great sense of urgency, to pass a legislation compelling the Zamboanga Sibugay provincial government to share with us this burden in accordance with law, while we are still waiting the complete sharing of the rest of the properties by the President.

Further, our efforts will only be in vain if we have not mustered the cooperation of our local government units, most especially the municipalities for they are the foundation of a strong provincial government. I am, therefore, also asking the full cooperation of the Municipal Mayors to review their plans and budgets so they can focus more the utilization of their resources in development projects benefiting the greater number of their respective constituents. And in the same vein and in accordance with Section 237 of the Local Government Code, I am equally asking the Sangguniang Panlalawigan who will be reviewing these municipal budgets to see the possibilities of convincing our municipal leaders to harmonize the annual investment programs in their respective budgets with the development thrusts of the provincial government.

In the last fourteen months, I led our provincial government in meeting targets we so nobly set to better the lives of our people and to regain the glory of Zamboanga del Sur. We have done what we have set with our battlecry: “Bangon Zamboanga del Sur.” Now I will lead our people towards building a strong provincial government. Duyogi ninyo ako. Uban kamo kanako. Tabangi ninyo ako sa pagpabarog sa usa ka malig-on nga lalawigan uban sa atong bag-ong battlecry: “PADAYON ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR PADULONG SA BULAWANONG PAGLAMBO!”

Daghang Salamat Kaninyong Tanan ug Malipayong Pagsaulog sa Bulawanong Anibersayo sa Zamboanga del Sur!

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