Alvarez-Lacson tandem bares ‘Love Negros Agenda’

THE tandem of Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez and former San Carlos City mayor Eugenio Lacson, candidates for governor and vice governor of the Nationalist People's Coalition in Negros Occidental, bared its “love and true service” agenda to its constituents.

The duo batted for the efficient management of the Provincial Government’s resources to realize its programs for the people and negate the option of more loans from banks and other financial institutions.

Alvarez and Lacson believe that the resources of Negros Occidental are more than enough to help the government leadership carry out its desire to deliver social services to the people, if indeed it is truthful to use resources properly to alleviate the living condition in the countryside.

"The people could not afford a life full of liabilities, which is a manifestation of mismanagement in public office, hiding behind the programs that were not actually felt and realized," Alvarez added.

"Given three more years under the present leadership, the province will drown itself with loans and will sacrifice future delivery of social services because it is set to pay debts of the present administration. The present leadership is in fact the first to incur a debt of more than a billion pesos in the history of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental," the vice-governor said.

He added that the people deserve a government that is transparent and collaborative to work toward progress, which can be experienced by every family without prejudice to location and political affiliation.

"For this reason, the Alvarez-Lacson team offers to create a united, dynamic, efficient, and truthful government, determined to bring social services to the people, right at the doorstep of every home and to every member of the family to achieve quality life," Alvarez said.

Love Negros Agenda stands for: L - Livelihood and Employment Opportunities; O - Outstanding Programs on Health, Food Sufficiency and Agriculture; V - Vision in Action on Tourism, Trade and Investment, Environmental Protection and Infrastructure; and E - Education, Transparency and Good Governance, Livelihood and Employment Opportunities.

The agenda aim to establish training centers, in cooperation with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), local government units, state universities and colleges; offer short term vocational and IT courses; provide computer and English proficiency training; and establish partnership in the private sector to create opportunities, local and abroad.

Animal dispersal program for livelihood

The Alvarez-Lacson tandem also plans to establish an animal dispersal program that is familiar with the people. The animals include pigs, goats, carabaos, chicken and other livestock.

These animals will be purchased from local businessmen and local breeders or farmers.

The program, Alvarez said, also seeks to improve the Philippine Carabao Center, and protect and proliferate carabaos for distribution to farmers.

Health

Alvarez said they are also pushing for free hospitalization, medicines and medical procedures in any government hospital, upgrade medical and laboratory facilities, as well as ensure the supply of medicines in provincial and district hospitals.

They also envision reinforcing manpower with additional health professionals like doctors, nurses and midwives, creating a mobile medical and dental team equipped with medicines and other medical equipments to regularly conduct visits in the remote areas of the province, provide access to potable water supply and provide fund for burial assistance.

Food sufficiency and agriculture

The tandem said it will ensure productivity by extending support in pre-harvest (hand tractors) and post-harvest (threshers, dryers) facilities to farmers and agricultural groups, including the provision of other farm inputs such as fertilizer, enhance cooperation with the private sector to establish marketing strategies for farm products, support fisherfolk, such as giving out of pump boats, and support sugar industry by providing fertilizers to sugarcane planters.

Alvarez said they will also pursue collaboration with state universities and colleges in matters related to agricultural research and development.

Tourism

Alvarez and Lacson also plan to encourage and support initiatives by private investors to develop tourism destinations and facilities, and to find a private partner for the operation and further development of Mambukal Mountain Resort.

The vice governor said the team believes that delivery of basic services to the people is the business of the government and not to run a resort.

They also plan to develop areas and encourage hosting of sports tourism activities in Negros Occidental, citing Sipalay City could be promoted as a new triathlon destination, Bago City for boxing and Victorias for basketball.

Trade and investment

The duo said they will work for an investor-friendly province by promoting and strengthening public-private partnerships, transparent and fair dealings with private investors and businessmen, establishing an investment promotion office to encourage entry of investments in the different local government units (LGUs( of the province, and partnership with other provinces and foreign LGUs for tourism, investment and employment opportunities.

Environmental protection

Alvarez also said they will enforce environmental laws for the protection, management and preservation of natural resources; implement the "Million Trees Movement;" establish and rehabilitate mangrove plantations; enforce responsible mining; educate people on climate change and solid waste management; promote renewable energy; and tap sources of power that are not harmful to the environment, such as water, wind, sun and geothermal heat.

Infrastructure

As to infrastructure, the team plans to upgrade and rehabilitate provincial roads to provide easy access for the transport of agricultural products.

Alvarez said they will also upgrade and rehabilitate irrigation facilities.

Education

The duo also aims to establish an educational financial assistance program for students in pursuit of college education, as well as provide scholarship programs for masters degree, doctorate and vocational courses.

Alvarez and Lacson said they will utilize the Special Education Fund for deployment of additional para-teachers and literacy teachers as well as for procurement of textbooks, and support sports and cultural activities and initiatives in schools and LGUs.

Good governance and transparency

Alvarez also said that they plan to implement an "open door, no noon break" policy at the Provincial Government to ensure continued service to the constituents, starting with the Office of the Governor.

He said they will encourage the participation of non-government organizations, people's organizations and civic groups in governance and policy-making in fulfillment of government's policy on public-private partnership.

The team also envisions to establish a strong partnership with other LGUs based on mutual respect and consultation in delivering services to the people; responsible and practical utilization of the resources of the Provincial Government which will not incur additional loans; and to invoke a high level of trust and confidence of the people by promoting a provincial government that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the people.