By PJTremedal, BND MisOCC-
CIB/OCM
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Hall, Capitol Complex, Oroquieta City – “Nobody’s Perfect” but she had made good job, guests and some provincial official and even employees says after the State of the Province Address of the first lady governor of Misamis Occidental who last July 8 proudly stand before the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan hall to deliver the account of her first 365 days as the chief executive of the province.
Why not give her a perfect score of ten?
“If, we compare her as the mother of a family, there are always bad days and problems that she does not know really what is happening inside her family, there are prodigal sons and daughters, but as the light of every family she chooses to be calm and strong and stand on her own way to make it a close, responsive and strong family.” This is there answer to the query.
The State of the Province Address (SOPA) of the lady governor was indeed a successful activity of day when she stood before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice Governor Henry Oaminal, Representatives and Heads of Government Departments and Offices, the PNP and the AFP represented by both P/SSupt Robert Quenery, Provincial Director and 101st Brigade Commander,1ID, Philippine Army, Colonel Jet Belarmino, AFP, the local Media, PO’s and NGO’s and the private sector and 1st District Congressman Jorge Taghap Almonte.
Before the governor started her SOPA, a brief video presentation was shown that took place 52 weeks in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan were she had laid down her GO HERMIE Agenda that focus on the delivery of basic services and initiating meaningful reforms in local governance.
GO HERMIE means, G- Good Governance, O-Order of Law and Public Safety, H- Health, Social Services and Human Resource Development, E- Education and Youth Development, R Rural and Agricultural Development, M-Micro Enterprise Development, I-Infrastructure Development and Investment Promotions, E- Environmental Enhancement and Events, and Eco-Tourism.
“I am proud to be with you with candour and awareness that all of us have faced great challenges and that total agreement is impossible but total respect is essential. It is our differences in opinion and strong beliefs that signify our greatness, that the fire of democracy is deeply burning within us, amidst our many voices, the will of all Misamisnons, whom we swore to serve and protect, shall be heard. After all, this is the very essence why we are a democracy, listening and addressing every concern and make diversity work for us in order to find the best solution that will benefit our constituents”. With this, the lady governor opened her SOPA.
Good Governance.
In the first days of her administration, Governor Hermie M. Ramiro started right away by establishing the provincial Internal Audit Unit (PIAU) to help institute internal control systems in all departments of the Provincial Government. The Reconstitution of the province’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has made the province procurement mechanism more credible, objective and fair.
The province total revenue collections for the first half of 2011 increased to 107% as compared in last year same period. With this achievement the governor congratulated the Provincial treasury office for a job well done.
“Very soon, I will ask the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to approve the proposed amendments endorsed by the Local Finance Committee on the Revenue Code of Misamis Occidental as we embrace the effect of the reduction of the province Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA)” Governor Ramiro said in this part of Good Governance, as the province experience a slice-off of 20 million for 2011.
With Provincial Development Investment Plan (PDIP) that was endorsed by the Provincial Development Council to the RDC is a concrete manifestation of a participatory, consultative and transparent approach in setting the province direction.
In the management of the province Economic Enterprise, the governor has initiated program to enhance the operations of Misamis Occidental Aqua Marine Park (MOAP), the Misamis Occidental Enterprise Development and Research Center (MOEDRC) and the Misamis Occidental Drug treatment and Rehabilitation Center (MODTRC).
She also created, Tingog Misamisnons to serve as the medium of the provincial government aspirations to its people with the provincial government programs and actions. For it is the mission of the provincial government to have efficient and effective governance driven by a desire to build a healthy, poverty-free, peaceful and progressive province for Misamisnons.
Peace and Security
The necessity to involve all stakeholders in the campaign and maintenance of peace and order in all the fourteen municipalities and three cities, namely; Ozamiz, Tangub and Oroquieta, Governor Hermie Ramiro enter a joint agreement with the Philippine National Police thru the MisOCC PNP Provincial Office under P/SSupt Robert Quenery, PESE to establish the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATS) who shall become the force multiplier in the campaign against crime and other criminal incidents.
When PNP Director General Atty Raul Bacalzo who came to launched the BPATS, he said it is very timely and admirable with the cooperation between LGU and the PNP. As planned and promised by the governor, financial and logistics support to the Misamis Occidental PNP Police Office will surely benefitted and to start the province appropriated 2 million for the renovation of the Provincial Command Administration Office.
With R.A. 10121 or otherwise known the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Law of 2010, the Misamis Occidental Search and Rescue Team (MOSART) was established and been strengthen with the province support on its financial needs it shell-out Php 350-T for its equipments’ and other logistical needs.
Health and Social Services
As a policy, Governor Ramiro adopted the late President Ramon Magsaysay beliefs, that “those who have less in life should have more in law” was the guiding principle that prompted the provincial government to establish the Humanitarian Mission and Relief (HMR) program- a bundled service delivery mechanism that consists a basic medical, dental, nutritional and other services right to the very doorstep of all walks of life in every community.
The province of Misamis Occidental consist of 490 barangays, 266 in the first district and 224 in the second district, a huge number of barangays from a small province of fourteen towns and three rural cities, but proudly supported the Philippine National Health Insurance Law of 1995 not because it is husband legacy, the former 2nd District Congressman and DOH Secretary Hilarion “Nonoy” Ramiro Jr. but for her heart of gold for indigents, the province increased it enrollment to PhilHEALTH from 22,000 in 2010 to 40,000 this year.
And to secure and optimizes its beneficiaries, Governor Ramiro established the PhilHEALTH Help Desk at the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital, and campaign for a smoke-free province thru the upcoming Provincial Ordinance which is now under the second reading.
To add on the GO HERMIE Agenda Health services the province is expected to receive a 78-million grant from the European Communities (EC) to construct and acquire modern hospital medical facilities for the MOPH to become CEmONC Center (Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Newborn Center) and the MOPH unit hospitals in Calamba, Jimenez, Tudela and Tangub will become (Basic Emergency Obstetric Newborn Care) Centers or BEmONC.
The province is also a recipient of KALAHI-CIDSS and CCT-Conditional Cash Transfer (formerly 4P’s) program with today’s’ total beneficiaries of 16,817 households. And for its disabled personalities the provincial Government initiated a “Star for Cause” last Christmas season to help and promote charitable campaigns, while GENDER concerns also saw great strides from her 12 months administration.
Education, Youth and Sports Program
This year 2011, with a counter parting scheme from DepED and the League of Governors, the governor has plan to slice an amount of 6-10 million pesos from her budget to accommodate the request of the local DepED School Division to construct school buildings and other needs in promoting good education.
With her office alone, 500 are now listed as deserving scholars to receive the Governor’s Scholarship Assistance Program. Even the Out-of-school youth are given special attention in partnership with TESDA and instituted seminars, trainings, for the Sangguniang Kabataan thru and in coordination with its federation under BM Sancho Oaminal.
And with the government’s national program on SPES o the Special Program for the Employment f Students, 431 were benefitted, and during the NMRAA for Misamis Occidental young athletes received special incentives scheme and to promote sports goodwill and investment program to achieve not only silver and bronze but more gold medals.
Rural and Agricultural Development
As a flagship agricultural projects to alleviate the plight of poor farmers and other Misamisnons, the provincial government thru its Provincial Agriculture Office introduce the Integrated Organic Vegetable Production Program consisting of projects that includes establishment of vegetables villages, The Grow Organic Vegetable Contests and the VERMIcast Production Project.
On VERMIcast project, the province produced 825 bags of VERMIcast fertilizers and target 5000 sacks every month thru the MRDP CFAD Project with the province investment of 500 thousand pesos on vermi culture facility at MOEDRC.
This year, Governor Ramiro has negotiated with DA thru Secretary Proceso Alcala for financial assistance for the fishery project in MOAP and asked the PAO Staff to prepare proposal for the advantage of DA;’s financial assistance for the benefits of Misamis Occidental fishponds operators and fish-farmers.
And for the next year’s program of the GO HERMIE Agenda, the lady governor directed the Office of Special Concerns to coordinate with Agriculture and Veterinary Office to conceptualize the establishment of an Integrated Livestock Production and Farming Center while an Animal Disease Treatment will be part of the system.
Micro-Enterprise Development
In an agricultural and low-income province like the Misamis Occidental, micro-enterprises are to serve as the backbone for its local autonomy. The leadership of Governor Ramiro encourages, develop and assist micro and small to medium enterprises thru the help and support of the Department of Trade and Industry.
With OTOP or One Town One Product program, during the province 81st anniversary an OTP Fair was made as take-off point to the local produce, fruits and vegetables promotion but to explore marketing development.
With its participation in the Northern Mindanao “Pasundayag 2010” in SM Mall of Asia, micro-enterprising and business connect with Manila based Business institutions was a great help to the Micro-enterprise Development Program of the GO HERMIE Agenda.
Infrastructure
With it major trust in Infrastructure Program, The 180 million Provincial Capitol renovations is another flagship project of the Ramiro’s Administration, said project will be financed by a loan in concurrence with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan from the proceeds of the loan applied with Veterans Bank amounting to 275 million pesos. The remaining, 95 million will be allotted for the construction of the Misamis Occidental Sports Complex jointly and financially shared with Congressman Jorge Taghap Almonte PDAF.
The GO HERMIE Agenda also thru the Provincial Engineers Office renovated MOAP facility, 19 million for the restaurant and walkway project, another priority is the completion of the 2.5 million Bahay-Pag-asa in Basirang, Tudela.
Infrastructure Projects of the Provincial Government has completed a total of 23 projects that ranged from major construction and rehabilitation of provincial roads to renovation of existing PGMO facilities and offices.
With its collaboration with Aus-AID funded Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF) has came to surface, two projects cost more than 25 million. And to add for Infrastructure projects, it was known during the SOPA that the provincial government has entered into a counterparting agreement with DA’s Mindanao North Coast Integrated Area Development Project (MNCIADP) in the construction of 35 kilometer Farm to Market Road in the municipality of Pana-on, Aloran, Plaridel, Tudela, Calamba, Jimenez and Sinacaban with a total amount 31.5 million which is expected to spur economic activities in those municipalities.
Environment/Events and Eco-Tourism
Environmental Protection, preservation and management is also the concern of the GO HERMIE Agenda.
Last year 2010, the provincial government initiated Roadside Tree Planting and Mangrove Reforestations in Pulot Ozamiz City to start the provincial government campaign to protect its environment.
On the campaign and implementation of R.A 10121 and Climate Change adaptation has taken headway and expected to cover all municipalities before the end of 2011. While the Coastal Resource management efforts of the provincial government are boosted with the US-AID Funded WORLDFISH Project, a ridge to reef environmental protection as well as Mangrove and Coastal areas productivity enhancement.
In tourism development and promotion, the 1st ever Pas’ungko Festival was an acid test to the province of Misamis Occidental but as it touches its culmination with 100% participation and cooperation of all the LGU’s of Misamis Occidental, Pas’ungko Festival is now an annual tourism event.
With the province participation in last year’s Northern Mindanao “Pasundayag 2011” at the SM mall of Asia give the opportunity t6o package the Province of Misamis Occidental as a tourism destination at par with Camarines Sur and other tourist destination in the country for it is rich with natural resources, culture and arts, products and talents.
With the SOPA of the lady governor last July 8, 2011 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has been successful even to some provincial and municipal officials had scored her 8 to 9, but for the rest of the people of Misamis Occidental it is 9.9 job good done.
With his owned word, Congressman Jorge Almonte said, “I heard and listened to the governor, SOPA, SO GOOD, but we have to accept that nobody’s perfect I scored her 9.9.”
