NO LONGER just a city to pass by going north of Negros—nondescript, no significant landmark to speak of; Victorias City has risen from the doldrums, to become one of the more vibrant cities, after Bacolod and Silay.
As the year 2019 closes, the City of Victorias is jubilant over garnering the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Award. Given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Victorias complied and passed the standards in the following areas: Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, Peace and Order, Business Friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Management, and Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
The National SGLG award symbolizes integrity, good governance practices and excellent public service performance, no mean feat Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca with his Vice Mayor Jerry Jover and other leading officials dedicate to its people and team working together for a collective vision, nay prophecy given: Victorias to arise as Prince City of Negros Island.
So, what are the indicators that validates SGLG DILG award given to Victorias City? For one, the crime index that has continually been dropping for the past three years—from 18 percent in 2018, to only 13 percent in 2019. For human rights advocate, the city’s record is exemplary—there is no extrajudicial killing (EJK) committed by its police force.
The social index for Victorias is also encouraging. The City though smaller compared to Bacolod and Silay, has the biggest K7-12 enrolment and population of students in Negros Occidental. Also, the only science high school in the province is located in Victorias—the Negros Occidental Science High School.
Furthermore, one State University has a branch in Victorias, the Central Philippine State University. Soon, the first Veterinary College, and Animal Hospital will be established in the city.
Regarding risk management, it is noteworthy that during the most destructive typhoon that hit the country, Victorias City, which was on its path, recorded zero casualty. In City Economics, under Mayor Francis Palanca’s term, 130 percent increase in tax revenue collection has been reported. Yet, given these impressive accomplishments, there remains some criticisms about negligible infrastructure city developments.
In response to this “learned observation”, Mayor Francis reasons that his focus has been in addressing the widespread problem of “the stomach” among his constituents. Under his stead, the city undertook series of skills training on organic farming, vegetables and herbal production, multiplier farm project, agri-fishery livelihood program (meat and fish processing for Social Enterprise Development) especially for Carp beneficiaries.
With his set focus on his first two years as mayor, Francis Palanca is out to surprise his critics, come 2020. Indeed, the best is yet to come: a regional port to service not only the province, but surrounding Iloilo-Panay on its west side, and Cebu on the other side. Upon construction, ships can soon sail from Victorias City to Bantayan, Victorias to Northern Cebu and Panay. In the coming New Year, work will also start on the New Government Center, plus a Hotel with 14 room capacity by the City Sports and Amusement Complex.
Indeed, the signs are clear to the rising Prince City of the North—Victorious Victorias City under its praying mayor. The secret to the city’s phenomenal rise according to Mayor Palanca is its dedication to prayer that starts at sundown every last Friday of the month and ends the following sunset, and a weekly prayer breakfast in his residence.
For Palanca and the Victoriahanons, the dream does not tarry anymore, it is at hand, unraveling.