There were times when my work as a journalist starts earlier than expected; most of these instances when I have to cover the activities of Gov. Lilia Pineda for a day.
The first challenge of 2013 for me is the whole day affair of the provincial government in the town of Candaba. I have to wake up five o’clock in the morning and be in the town before seven in the morning. Knowing Gov. Pineda, she used to come earlier than the appointed time.
As expected, the itinerary of the day consists of four events in different venues: the capsule laying of the proposed rice processing complex in Brgy. Salapungan; inspection of the Candaba-San Miguel Road; groundbreaking of Birthing Station in Brgy Bahay Pare and visit in Candaba public market for the electrical installation of generator.
Anak ning Candaba (ANC) Movement, Board members Nestor Tolentino, Ric Yabut, Fritzie David-Dizon and the town’s local officials.
CAPSULE LAYING
Agriculture is one of the major sources of income in Candaba especially in the Tagalog region where rice is their main product. In support to the Candaba farmers, the provincial government through Department of Agriculture (DA) funded the establishment of a P6 million rice processing complex inside the municipal hall extension in Brgy. Salapungan.
The capsule laying signals the start of construction of the complex that will house a mechanical solar dryer, rice mill, warehouse and administrative offices. “This project is part of our nine-year development agenda as mayor and we were able to accomplish this through the help of the provincial government which funded the complex,” Pelayo said.
INSPECTION OF ROAD
Last year, all the towns of Pampanga received P5-million worth of projects from the provincial government, Mayor Pelayo allotted the said funds for the construction of the Candaba-San Miguel Road. Gov. Pineda lauded the action of the local government units saying that this project will as serve as farm to market road.
GROUNDBREAKING
Most of the pregnant mothers in Candaba are giving birth at home because the San Luis District Hospital is very far from the town, endangering the mother and the child’s life. This predicament prompted the provincial government to construct a birthing station in Brgy. Bahay Pare which will attend mostly to residents from the 15 remote villages of the Tagalog region. The P5-million birthing station funded by the Pineda administration will serve as the first phase in the construction of a community hospital. In three months’ time after the groundbreaking ceremony, the Candabeños will have their own birthing clinic that they can rely upon anytime and every time that a new baby is born.
PUBLIC MARKET
Being with the governor, you won’t realize how time passes by. We are now on the fourth destination–Candaba Public Market. Here, the provincial government assisted the LGU in the installation of a generator for the whole commercial area located in the heart of the town proper.
According to Mayor Pelayo, one of the problems besetting the vendors and small businessmen is the spoilage of perishable goods such as vegetables, fruits, meat and fish every time a power interruption takes place. Thus, this intervention of the provincial government will greatly help the merchants.
Four events in a row and a lunch at Bebe Ilog completed my day in Candaba. But mind you, this is not the last activity in the schedule of the governor because after here, she went to Sto.Tomas to visit the construction of the Don Honorio Ventura Technical State University Satellite Campus. A busy day for me but for a working governor like Nanay Gob this is just an ordinary day and this happened – all in a day’s work in Candaba. ●JENNA LUMBANG
