MADAYAW MATINIANS!

IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE I OFFICIALLY RESUMED OFFICE AS YOUR ELECTED CITY MAYOR OF MATI. THE PAST 365 DAYS HAVE BEEN VERY CHALLENGING, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR ALL OF US.

WITH THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THAT AFFECTED NOT JUST THE CITY OF MATI BUT THE ENTIRE WORLD, ALL OF US WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

AT FIRST, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS ENEMY THAT WE CANNOT SEE.

BUT WE KNOW IT’S OUT THERE WAITING FOR US TO LET OUR GUARDS DOWN AND DECIMATE ALL OF US IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL.

THE YEAR 2020 WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR MATI.

WITH THE MYRIAD PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS WE HAVE IN PLAN.

BUT THEN AGAIN, WE PRIORITIZE WHAT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ALL OF US – PEOPLE’S LIVES.

I HAVE ALWAYS PLACED IMPORTANCE ON THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE THAT IS WHY IN THE 2020 BUDGET I MADE IT SURE THAT THE ALLOCATION FOR OUR CITY HEALTH OFFICE GETS AN INCREASE FROM 4.11% TO THE MAXIMUM 15% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.

TRANSLATED TO PESO THAT IS FROM P48.3 MILLION IN 2019 TO P122.9 MILLION THIS YEAR.

AND THIS INCREASE HAPPENED BEFORE WE EVEN HAD THIS PANDEMIC.

THIS, I THINK, IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE AS TO WHY WE READILY ESTABLISHED OUR ALTERNATE CARE SITE IN MILAGROSA TO THE TUNE OF P10 MILLION. PLUS, ANOTHER 15 MILLION PESOS ALLOCATION FOR THE OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR AN INITIAL 6 MONTHS OPERATION.

IT IS A HUGE COST, BUT IT’S NOTHING COMPARED TO THE LIVES THAT WE SAVED AND THE COMMUNITY WE PROTECTED FROM COVID-19.

ASIDE FROM HEALTH, OUR FOOD SECURITY IS ANOTHER PRIORITY.

WITH THE MONTHS-LONG LOCKDOWN, WE PROVIDED OVER 200,000 FOODPACKS FOR OUR MATI RESIDENTS FROM MARCH TO JUNE, DIVIDED INTO 4 TRANCHES.

WHILE THE CITY SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE ALONG WITH OUR COUNCILORS ARE BUSY DISTRIBUTING FOODPACKS IN ALL 26 BARANGAYS, OUR CITY AGRICULTURE OFFICE IS ALSO BUSY WITH THEIR SEED DISTRIBUTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES TO ENSURE THAT MATI CITY WOULD NOT RUN OUT OF FRESH FOOD SUPPLIES.

WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE OF OUR BARANGAYS IN OUR CONTINUING FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

WE HAVE OUR BARANGAY HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS AT THE FOREFRONT TOGETHER WITH OUR BARANGAY TANODS AND THE AUXILIARY TASK FORCE AND THE LUPONG TAGAPAMAYAPA.

WE SPEND ABOUT P2.7 MILLION PER MONTH FOR OUR BARANGAY FRONTLINERS WHO ARE DOING THEIR JOB WELL, NOT WITHSTANDING THE THREAT THE VIRUS POSES.

OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, HEADED BY DR. BEN HUR CATBAGAN TOGETHER WITH THE CITY HEALTH OFFICE, THE CITY DISASTER RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT OFFICE, THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS, AND ALL OTHER LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PANDEMIC, HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF THE SITUATION SINCE DAY 1.

SINCE FEBRUARY, WE ALREADY HAVE SERVED A TOTAL OF 2,073 PUMs, 74 PUIs, and 5 CONFIRMED PATIENTS. (THIS WILL BE REVISED ANYTIME)

ALL PUMs HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE CITY WITH FOOD PROVISION FOR 14 DAYS WHILE IN HOME QUARANTINE.

AND FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR STAY AT OUR ALTERNATE CARE SITE, PUIs and CONFIRMED PATIENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH FOOD, MEDICINE, AND ALL OTHER NECESSITIES –ALL FOR FREE.

WE DO THIS TO ENSURE THAT OUR PATIENTS WOULD REALLY STAY IN ISOLATION SO AS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM GETTING INFECTED AS WELL.

WHILE WE FIGHT THE PANDEMIC, SOME GOVERNMENT PROJECTS CONTINUE.

ESPECIALLY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

WE HAVE OUR ONGOING CONSTRUCTION IN OUR BUSO HOT SPRING, AND OF COURSE THE REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF OUR FGR PARK AND BAYWALK.

ENOUGH SAID, I WILL JUST ALLOW YOU TO SEE FOR YOURSELF ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES HAVE

IN THE NEXT COMING MONTHS AND THE YEAR, I GUESS IT WOULD STILL BE THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID THAT IS IN OUR PRIORITY.

BUT SINCE WE HAVE OUR SYSTEMS IN PLACE ALREADY I THINK WE ARE A LITTLE BIT COMFORTABLE SO WE COULD PROCEED WITH OUR OTHER PLANS.

DURING THE COVID PERIOD, WE CONTINUED WITH OUR CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE NEW TOURISM SITES. ABOUT TO START IS THE GUANG-GUANG FOR OUR SAFARI NIGHTS PROGRAM AND THE BAYWALK IMPROVEMENT AND REHABILITATION.

I ALSO WANTED TO PUT UP A BOTANICAL GARDEN UP THEIR IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CULIAN BUT MAYBE FUNDING SOURCE WOULD BE DIFFICULT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FISHPORT COMPLEX FOR OUR FOOD SECURITY, WE ARE SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS NOW TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT COZ IM ASKING SUPPORT FOR FUNDING.

AND THE CHICKEN DRESSING PLANT, THE CONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT TO START AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE A LOAN FROM LANDBANK TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM.

IF YOU NOTICE, WE ARE SHIFTING FROM CONCENTRATING SO MUCH IN TOURISM TO FOOD SECURITY.

WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED OUR SEEDLINGS FOR VEGETABLES, WE CONSTRUCTED SIMPLE IRRIGATION FOR FARMERS TO USE.

ALL AT THE EXPENSE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

BECAUSE AFTER ALL, I ALSO CONSIDER OUR FARMERS TO BE FRONTLINERS.

THE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET IS STILL HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

BECAUSE AFTER ALL, THESE ARE THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE REALLY ON TOP OF THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID.

TO THE PEOPLE OF MATI, REST ASSURED THAT YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS WORKING FOR YOU IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS.

WE THANK THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE AND ALL OF OUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE HELPED US AND CONTINUE TO HELP US SURVIVE THIS PANDEMIC.

LASTLY, I THANK YOU ALL THE PEOPLE OF MATI FOR YOR COOPERATION AND SUPPORT IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. MOST ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST COVID 19.

TOGETHER WE CAN DEFEAT THE VIRUS.

DO YOUR SHARE BY ALWAYS WEARING FACE MASK WHEN GOING OUT, FREQUENTLY WASHING HANDS , AND OBSERVING PHYSICAL DISTANCING.

GAMAY NGA BUTANG, PERO DAKONG TABANG SA TANAN!

DAGHANG SALAMAT. MAKE IT MATI, MAGANAHAY NGADI!