By IAN JOHN M. LAGARE
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (7 August 2014) – The first-ever State of the City Address by Mayor Ronnel Rivera was greeted with applause and compliments after what could only be described as a huge success.
The executive report Rivera delivered Tuesday (August 5) before the Sangguniang Panlungsod and thousands of government officials and employees, guests and constituents focused on the improvements in the areas of education, health, social service and local economy – all identified as areas of priority for his administration under his CLEAN Gensan (Creating a Livable Environment for All Generals towards Nation-building) agenda.
Mayor Rivera also highlighted achievements of the city government under his administration for the past year.
On education, Mayor Rivera reported that he has already distributed 4,000 armchairs to different public schools and built 40 classrooms in collaboration with the Department of Education.
"These initiatives," the mayor said, "is to address the backlogs of school equipment and facilities."
The mayor also reported that after more than a decade the General Santos City Hospital has re-opened its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with the help of the P67 million fund from the Department of Health (DOH). The same budget also paved the way for the mayor to open additional Operating Rooms and the refurbishment of Hemodialysis Clinic and Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Clinic.
Mayor Rivera also bared several data that depict the growth of the local economy, with the help of the tuna industry and increased local revenues. He described this period of General Santos economy as one that is akin to a golden age of opportunity for business.
Ordinary local government employees were happy that the mayor included the performance-based incentives they are wishing for.
Even City Hall department heads expressed their gratitude to Mayor Rivera for citing their achievements in their respective departments.
Mayor Rivera indicated in his SOCA that it would be impossible for him to create progress without help from everyone -- public and private groups alike.
City Councilor Elizabeth Bagonoc voiced her elation for the first SOCA of Mayor Rivera. "It is my first time to attend a SOCA that is well-received by the constituents of the city," Councilor Bagonoc said.
Despite the numerous successes that Mayor Rivera has made during his first year as the city mayor, he still humbly said that there are still a lot of challenges waiting ahead that needs to be solved and hurdled.
Aside from this, Mayor Rivera also left a message to his co-workers in government, reminding them to "give to the public what is due to them."
The mayor also left a promise, saying: "Dili ko kamo pakyason" (I will not fail my constituents).
The SOCA earned more than 60 rounds of applause as well as a long standing ovation in the end. (GENSAN CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)
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