Bangued mayor reports 1-year gains

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

BANGUED, Abra -- After a year in office, the mayor in this town reported his team’s accomplishments, which are highlighted by infrastructure development, improved revenue collection and delivery of social services.

The delivery of the State of the Municipality Address by Mayor Ryan Luna is attuned to the full-disclosure program of the National Government, which is the observance of good governance, transparency and accountability in the government.

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In terms of infrastructure, improvements of the different offices within the municipal building and the Bangued Central Market were done.

The mayor takes pride in the improvements they’ve done in the public market.

“One can go to any corner of the public market without an umbrella during the rainy season and the makeshift tents along the passageways are already completely eliminated. These tents are not only eyesores, but also pose hazards and blockage to traffic in case of emergencies,” he said.

The Bio Organic Fertilizer Production Center in Barangay Cosili East is already finished. This infrastructure supports the Zero Waste Management Program of the LGU.

“In terms of revenue generation, the local government increased revenue collection despite no tax increases. The Assessor’s Office implemented tax mapping and revision of the real property tax declarations resulting in the additional taxable assessed values, which amounted to P621,875,130. Now, this total assessment is a challenge for the revenue collectors.,” Luna said.

He also said to sustain the revenue collection, the Business Permit and Licensing Office also institutionalized the Business-One-Stop-Shop (BOSS) program with the implementation of the new standards of the Business Permit and Licensing System of the LGU.

“This new system does not only streamline the steps for the registration of new and existing businesses but also ensures the eradication of red tape in the process.”

On the delivery of health services, the mayor said they have religiously implemented all national health programs with their respective counterparts in terms of mobilization as well as logistics support.

The economic services of the Municipal Agriculturist also performed well particularly in the distribution of certified seeds and fertilizers to the rice and corn farmers; distribution of high yielding varieties of vegetables and fruit trees of high value cash crops; provided technical assistance in the implementation of the Palay Check farmers field School in the barangays of Cosili West, Dangdangla, Agtangao and Lubong; establishment of a Mini Hatchery in Brgy. Angad seeded with 3,000 fingerlings for breeder stock and distribution of tilapia fingerlings to the farmers in almost all barangays.

He also said that for the concerns of the staff, the accounting office ensured proper recording and reporting of all financial transactions for auditing purposes as well as for the employees and officials to be able to avail of whatever benefits due them from various financial institutions like the GSIS, Pag-Ibig, and lending institutions like the Rang-ay Bank and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Luna also cited the promotion of advocacy for transparency and accountability in local governance saying, to date, a total of 20 out of the 31 barangays in Bangued have already been audited by the Commission on Audit for their Calendar Year 2010 Financial Reports.

Luna thanked all the employees and fellow officials in the LGU as well as the barangay captains for their full support and cooperation. (Maritess B. Beñas)