With the trust and huge responsibilities on her shoulders, Governor Lilia ‘Nanay Baby’ Pineda has started her mandate as governor of Pampanga with consultative and participative leadership and management attuned to addressing the problems besetting the province.
She has involved the active participation of all sectors in decision-making, working harmoniously with Vice Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, provincial board members, department heads of the provincial government,Pampanga Mayors’ League and barangay officials.
Leadership decisions are achieved as the end result of all sectors’ participation as she seeks strong cooperative relationship with all stakeholders.
She has clearly communicated her vision, objectives, direction and expected outputs in constant consultation with the concerned stakeholders, even to the affected families and communities. Before making major decisions, the governor makes sure to first get input from those that will be affected.
Leading with the feet, the governor has already put in place programs, services and activities of the provincial government within her 100 days in office, creating a sense of urgency and high priority.
Before and during her first days in office, the governor and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan underwent a series of capability building seminars on local governance, budgeting and public administration to hone and refresh their knowledge and capabilities in running the affairs of the provincial government.
Call for Genuine Unity
Knowing that she cannot perform the gargantuan tasks of her office alone, the governor’s first order of business was to converge and call for genuine unity and sincerity among elected and appointive officials in local government units, and even among the private sectors such as the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham), nongovernment and peoples’ organizations to work together as team players.
This, with the end in mind of making Pampanga and its people healthy and vibrant under the spirit of public and private sector partnership in local governance.
Health Care Services for the poor
Primary among the concerns of Nanay Baby is the provision of health care and services to her constituents.
During her first 100 days in office, thousands of indigent-kabalens have benefited from the provincial government’s health programs particularly those with tuberculosis, kidney problems, cancer, dialysis, chemotherapy, goiter, cataracts, dengue, diabetes, upper respiratory illnesses and skin diseases, among others. She has also provided medical and financial assistance for patients under going major operations in public and private hospital in Pampanga and as far as hospitals from Metro Manila. Psychiatric patients have also been provided the necessary assistance.
Nanay Baby had actively worked for the implementation of the Integrated Medical Assistance or IMA in every municipality, which is aimed at bringing comprehensive health care for sick Kapampangans who cannot afford hospitalization and the exorbitant price of medicines.
Along this line is the reactivation of the Malward facility, where indigents and walk-in patients are being admitted.
Pineda wants to see a healthy province with healthy families who are free from the threat of dreaded illnesses, which paralyzes the developments of communities and families.
The governor has tapped the services of doctors and specialists during her numerous medical missions in the province.
Various seminars on the management of maternal health care, breast feeding, prostate, among other trainings intended for the capability enhancement of municipal health officers, barangay health workers and other medical personnel in the 21 municipalities of the province.
Aside from providing health services in the grassroots level, the governor is now upgrading the equipment and facilities of the provincial and district hospitals in the province. This includes the provision of a dialysis center at the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital in Sta. Rita town which is seen to benefit hundreds.
The provincial government has also conducted seminars for the 21 municipal health officers on the management of breast cancer and tuberculosis.
Infrastructure / Rehabilitation of Hospitals
The governor has ordered for the rehabilitation of Macabebe and Balitucan district hospitals, including the purchase of modern medical equipment, completion of the Mabalacat District Hospital and improvement of Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital.
Solid Waste Management / Environment Protection
Because Nanay Baby believes that a clean environment promotes healthy living, she is zeroing in on a zerowaste Pampanga.
The provincial government has facilitated the seminar on solid waste management where all mayors and barangay officials were given instructions to immediately identify areas in their respective jurisdictions where a material recovery facility can be established. This is with the end in view of eradicating all illegal dumpsites in the province.
Meanwhile, nearby sanitary landfills such as Metro Clark Sanitary Landfill is now being utilized by the provincial government.
The provincial government and the Safe Waste Corporation have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to address the infectious waste problem of nine district and one provincial hospital.
The governor also wants her constituents to practice segregation of waste starting at the household level.
With this the provincial government, through the Environment and Natural Resources Office, has distributed 54 units of waste bins for solid waste disposal at the regional government center in Barangay Maimpis, City of San Fernando and other municipalities. Through the intervention of the governor, the Department of Agriculture Regional Office III has provided units of grinders for solid waste management.
Nanay Baby had also launched the “River Clean Up Drive” project which is part of the eco-tourism conversion plan by the provincial government for the Pampanga River.
The governor has directed the installation of billboards informing the residents along the Pampanga River on the prohibition of garbage dumping along the riverbanks.
Part of this ambitious project is a river cruise which would start from Arayat down to Apalit and Macabebe.
Bracing for the perennial flooding besetting several towns in the province, Nanay Baby is also now moving to realize a proposed desilting project along the stretch of the Pampanga River in Arayat town.
As such, with the intervention of Governor Pineda, P25 million has been allotted by the Department of Public Works and Highways for the slope protection and rechanneling of the Pampanga River.
Meanwhile, the governor led tree planting activities in Lubao in a bid to propagate bamboo in every municipality.
In Arayat town, she spearheaded the planting of 10,000 mahogany trees in Mount Arayat to protect the mountain from the movement of rocks and loosen soil that may result to another landslide.
Nanay Baby had also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC) for the conversion and management of a 120-hectare land owned by PAC into an agro-eco-tourism farm.
The MOU stipulates the transformation of the land under the provincial capitol as a site for organic farming, food processing, vegetable and dairy production and bamboo propagation.
The province of Pampanga headed by the governor and the vice governor together with the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan had conducted planting of 3,000 fruit-bearing and forest trees within the 120 hectares.
According to the governor, the agro-eco-tourism farm is expected to produce “value-added products using a holistic approach.”
Quarry collection hits 71.325 M high in 100 days
Facing a great challenge, the Pineda administration has worked for the improvement of quarry collection with the creation of the Kapampangan a Lulugud at Matapat (Kalam) – a group of individuals who possess the track record, integrity, honesty and dedication in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
In fact, in the 100 days in office of Gov. Pineda, her administration through the workmanship and efforts of Kalam, hit a P71, 325,000 all time high collection in the quarry industry as of this month, with an average of P900,000 to P1 million per day, equivalent to 969 truckloads of sand in 100 days.
This exemplary performance in quarry collection under the leadership of Gov. Pineda manifested that there is really no miracle and nothing is impossible when elected officials and workers in government are sincere in the fulfilment of their commitment for corruption-free, transparency and accountability in governance.
Aside from the P71.3 million collection, the provincial government has provided more than 1,000 truckloads of filling materials to the towns of Guagua, Bacolor, Lubao, San Simon, San Luis, Mexico, Macabebe, Mexico, Arayat, Apalit, the Capitol Compound and the Pampanga Provincial Police Office.
It has also facilitated gratuitous permit to different agencies such as the DPWH (1st and 2nd district), motorpool of the City government of San Fernando, PEO and municipalities including Bacolor, Porac, Sto. Tomas and Sta. Rita.
The provincial government is also working for the revival of an old provincial road located inside the Megadike which would serve as an access road exclusive for quarry trucks.
The federation of small quarry operators has donated 10 units of nebulizers and blood pressure equipment as manifestation of their support to Pineda’s health care program and as a show of strong partnership between their group and the provincial government.
Due to continuous dialogues with stakeholders, an agreement has been forged to address the anti-overloading problem of haulers and truckers that cause the destruction of roads.
This will be done through the identification of strategic areas where permanent weighing scales will be installed.
Eco-tourism project in Floridablanca
All systems are now go in making barangays Nabuclod and Mawacat as ecotourism centers of Floridablanca. The provincial government is willing to spend P3.7-million for initial development of the said areas.
The governor is also aiming for the total community and family development of Aetas living in the said areas.
In fact, she has provided our native brothers and sisters livelihood opportunities by distributing goats and carabaos for raising, as well as seeds which would yield assorted value root crops. She also led in the distribution of vegetable seedlings in schools and in town halls.
With the revision and inclusion of the provincial government in the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP) which was crafted based on the assessment of the indigenous peoples themselves through the assistance of National Commission on Indigenous People and the local government of Floridablanca, Governor Pineda will lead in working for the total development of the area into an income-generating agro-ecotourism center which would benefit the Aeta families.
Because of the peace and order and sound business atmosphere, many investors have manifested their intention to establish businesses in Pampanga.
Bunk houses for landslide victims
Nanay Baby has also worked for the construction of 64 bunk houses in a resettlement site near Mt. Arayat in a bid to relocate the landslide-affected families. The bunk houses are expected to be completed in December 2010, in time for Christmas celebration.
Pineda said she cannot allow the said families “to live like sardines” under their makeshift shelters at the Arayat National Park in Barangay San Juan Bano.
The Pampanga Truckers’ Association has initiated the hauling of 500 dump trucks of filling materials to the resettlement site in compliance with their commitment of support to the housing project of the governor.
She also provided livelihood and food assistance to the victim-families.
Education
The provincial government has forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University for the creation of the university’s extension in Lubao town.
The DHVTSU Lubao extension would offer all courses such as engineering, education, business management, arts and sciences and even technical courses to cater the educational needs of the indigent students from Lubao, Floridablanca, Sta. Rita, Porac, Sasmuan and Guagua.
Aside from the scholarship, the provincial government would also fund for the construction of the said university extension.
Initially, the DHVTSU Lubao extension will offer welding courses in response of the provincial government to the needs of Hanjin Industries in Subic for 8,000 jobs.After the 6-month training, the graduates could be recommended for possible employment at Hanjin and other companies.
The provincial government and the Pampanga Agricultural College had continued a prior agreement for the payment of P2 million per year as assistance to indigent but deserving students.
The governor has also ordered for the upgrading of low-lying schools in the 2nd and 4th district towns which are most of the time flooded during the rainy season.
Best PESO (Employment)
True to its commitment to provide employment opportunities to thousands of Kapampangans, the provincial Public Employment Services Office (PESO) has been declared national winner in the Best PESO Award-1stclass provincial category recently.
The provincial PESO has edged other provinces by empowering each municipal PESO, strengthening its linkages and involving them in the initiation of programs and services in a bid to assist Kapampangans in seeking employment.
Last September, more than 2,700 Kapampangan applicants were given permits for Korean language test facilitated by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency through the intervention of Governor Pineda.
Successful applicants will be included in the roster of passers for possible employment in Korea.
Livelihood / Investment
In consultation with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development officers in all municipalities, the governor has decided to allot P5-million for the livelihood program intended for the women, senior citizens and youth under the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) scheme.
Agriculture
The governor has consulted with the Regional Management Council (RMC) of the Department of Agriculture on how to help the 25,000 farmers of the province.
She also met with officers and members of the Pampanga Agricultural and Fishery Councils (PAFC), the Farmers Irrigators Association of Pampanga for the effective and efficient implementation of projects and services intended for the benefit of the fishermen and farmers.
Disaster Preparedness
The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) led by Gov. Lilia G. Pineda has conducted Disaster Preparedness and Risk Management participated in by all members of municipal disaster coordinating councils in various municipalities, Environment Managemeng Bureau (EMB), Office of Civil Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD) , Philippine National Police and other stakeholders to reaffirm their coordination and readiness in times of calamities and disaster.
The EMB has presented their study on geological hazards being faced by Mount Arayat and its inhabitants living near the mountain.
The PDCC has also held a special meeting to discuss problems and solutions to minimize vulnerabilities along the Pampanga River, a special Flood drill in Mexico town for the BDCC of San Jose Matulid, first aid and CPR training and high angle rescue training in different municipalities.
Presently, they are monitoring various dikes and creeks in coordination with LGUs and is in close coordination with all MDCCs in the implementation of disaster risk management.
The PDCC has also conducted activities like earthquake drills and Water Search and Rescue participated in by various stakeholders.
Peace and Order
In general, the Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO) has managed to keep peace and order working in the province paving the way to have a sound business atmosphere, peaceful and friendly place to live in.
The provincial government has empowered the PPO through providing intelligence fund for the round-the-clock operations, police visibility, provision of more service vehicles and other logistics.
Review of the payables of the previous administration The provincial government has reviewed for payment the P240-million obligations and indebtedness on projects and cash advances of the previous administration.
Review of Pending Cases at Provincial Jail
Nanay Baby has formed a group of 14 volunteer lawyers to conduct a review of the pending cases of detainees at the Pampanga Provincial and District Jails, to fasttrack the resolution of their cases — at no cost.
The Pampanga Provincial Jail houses more than 600 detainees although it can only hold 300 detainees at one time.
This situation has alarmed Pineda, expressing concern for the inmates’ health as many are afflicted with tuberculosis, skin diseases and other ailments, prompting her to form the said volunteer group to give free legal assistance.
As of now, they have already finished the review of pending cases. The volunteer lawyers are now in the process of coordinating and facilitating the reviewed cases in the respective courts.
The provincial government spends some P10 million a year for food and other requirements of the detainees. Decongesting the jail would mean less expense for the government and freedom and a new life for those whose cases will be resolved and set free.
These lawyers comprise the Legal Aid for Local Government of Pampanga (LA for LGP), which will serve the indigent Kapampangans who are in need of justice.
They will also conduct “legal missions” in every municipality and train the barangay officials in the mechanics of barangay conciliation and mediation system.
The provincial government is now facilitating the improvement and repair of the old provincial jail building and the construction of another building for the inmates.
Creation of PACOC
A new office, the Provincial Action Center for OFW Concerns (PACOC), has been created in an effort to facilitate the provision of services to needy sectors of the population, particularly the Overseas Filipino Workers.
The PACOC is a “baby” of the governor, who is very much concerned with the plight of OFWs and their families.
Joining hands with the Pampanga Inter-Agency Council for Migrants’ Concerns (PIAMCO), and government line agencies such as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the provincial leadership put up the PACOC to be able to closely monitor and look after the welfare of OFWs and their families.
Physical Rehabilitation of Capitol Compound
The provincial government has initiated the concreting of the General Services Office compound which has been held off for 15 years.
The GSO has initiated the improvement of the new PACOC and the Provincial Information Office. The Arnedo Park, under the care of the GSO, is being given 100 percent maintenance.
Bids and Awards Comm ittee
Transactions under the Bids and Awards Committee are open and transparent to suppliers, paving the way for equal distribution of opportunities to all legitimate suppliers who wish to do business with the provincial government.
Conclusion
All of Governor Pineda’s accomplishments were made possible through the active support and participation of all members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao.
Their unity and harmonious relationship has contributed to the achievement of the Pineda administration in 100 days.
Service can only be called “true” if it comes from the heart of someone whose sole intention in running for public office is to uplift the lives of every Kapampangan.
Touching the lives of thousands who have been deprived of true service can be a very taxing task, but not if you mean it with all your heart.
Nanay Baby did this and a whole lot more – all in a hundred day’s work.
