Firstly, my warmest welcome to all fellow public servants,  our guests from the private sector,  – the NGO’s,  the civic organizations,  and the media community, in attendance this morning.

Let me thank our Sangguniang Panlalawigan, headed by Vice Gov. Gabrielle “Billie” Calizo for this opportunity to render my report to the people of Aklan, my 4th State of the Province Address.

Let me also take this as an occasion for expressing my gratitude to the honorable body’s continued support for and cooperation in the implementation of our programs of government.

Indeed, When it comes to the welfare of Aklanons, to the continued development of our beloved province, there are no partisan political boundaries.

the legislative support that I have had from the honorable body with its new composition, The sincere cooperation that they have extended to the executive department, and the harmony in our working relationship, show that, clearly, and without doubt, we are working together, and we will be working together, IN the difficult task of advancing the social and economic well-being of Aklan and the Aklanons.

There will always be differences of opinion, AS there will be varied ways of reaching the same destination but this is so in a democracy.  And in the session hall of our sangguniang panlalawigan, the free-wheeling debates, the sometimes heated and extended discussions, will all be settled by one overriding consideration:  whether this or that enactment will be for the good of the greater number of Aklanons.

Let me thank the honorable body for their 416 resolutions, 56 provincial ordinances, and 2 appropriation ordinances after 39 regular sessions, 4 special sessions, 5 public hearings, and 101 committee hearings.  Truly an extraordinary output!

We do have a workaholic Sangguniang Panlalawigan!

We do have a workaholic vice governor of the province!

I refer to the task of administering our province as “difficult” because there will always be the perennial problem of Aklan’s inherently meager resources.  Our small budget does not even go half or maybe a fourth of that of our richer provinces and even cities and municipalities.

We have big dreams but too little with which to make these dreams a reality.

Thus the need to work together:  Our legislative with the executive department; our national agencies with our lgu’s; the private sector with government.

I am happy to note here that in the three years and a half of my incumbency I have enjoyed the trust and confidence and the support of all sectors of the Aklan community.

Sourcing The Funds

Aklanons may look forward with optimism because of our increasing revenues from tourism and the continued growth of our agriculture sector.

The collection performance of our office of the provincial treasurer in 2007 is indicative of this growth.

For the revenue generation program which covers real property tax, business and other taxes,  fees,  charges,  and receipts from the province’s economic enterprises,  Aklan has invariably ranked no. 1 in the ratings of the Bureau of Local Government Finance.

For the real property tax collection the province has posted a collection of 64.18% or P75.35 million of its 2007 target of P117.42 million,  the highest in Region VI,  thanks to our implementation of the 2006 general revision and the computerization of our real property tax administration.

For fees and other charges,  our provincial treasurer’s office topped collection efficiency with a 102.07% performance or P58,933,470.  Against the annual target of P57,737,470.

As to receipts from the economic enterprise facilities of the province,  the department had collected revenues amounting to P123,362,615.55 from january to december 2007,  against P81,207,037.08 in 2006 or an increase of P42,155,578.47 or 52% higher.

Our Caticlan and Cagban jetty ports registered a 35% increase in collections,  from P30,647,878.91 in 2006 to P41,451,205.24.  A jump of P10.8 million!

These revenues came in part from strong republic nautical highway or RORO rolling cargo fees (P11 million),  berthing and docking fees (P2.8 million),  cargo and other port collections.

Passengers and cargo traffic at the Caticlan port has steadily increased as follows:  for passengers;  in year 2004 = 200,000;  2005 = 216,000;  2006 = 677,000;  and 2007 = 884,000.

For cargoes (rolling vehicles):  in year 2004 = 19,000;  2005 = 22,000;  2006 = 73,000;  and 2007 = 88,000.

Thank you Mr. Evan Timtiman,  thank you provincial treasury staff.   Thank you Mr. Rex Consemino of the economic enterprise development department. thank you Mr. Niven Maquirang, port administrator,  and all the people working under these two departments. they have all performed outstandingly despite the pressures and the seemingly endless conflicts and controversies in Boracay Island.

Our P75.35 million real property tax collection is attributed to the revision of real property tax and the computerization of said operations.

For this performance, Aklan has ranked no. 1 in region VI for  revenue generation and for real property tax collection efficiency for three consecutive years:  2005,  2006,  and 2007.

Thanks to  Mr. Kokoy Soguilon, Provincial Assessor and his staff.

Our gratitude, too, to task force kalikasan who helped contribute to the smooth implementation of provincial ordinance 05-021 and other pertinent environmental laws.  Their exemplary conduct of performance resulted to exemplary accomplishments that collected for the province revenues amounting to P1,436,945.80,  an increase of P858,532.10 or 148% against 2006 collections of only P578,413.70.

Thank you Engr. Bernardo O. Rodriguez, Jr.,  Engr. Valentine R. Teodosio and Mines and Geo-sciences staff, SPO1 Nathaniel Tan and task force members,  a section under the construction management and quarrying services of the economic enterprise development department.

Other Growth Indications

In an economic slump government suffers from decreased tax collections.

Testimony,  therefore,  to the continued economic growth of our province is the 26.19% increase in BIR collections:  from P395,628,811 in 2006 to P499,245,849 in 2007 – a P103.6 million leap.

Another tangible proof of Aklan’s economic progress is the registration of 789 new taxpayers – individuals,  corporations,  and other business partnerships.

Thank you Ms. Nelia Demalata,  OIC-Revenue district officer and staff.

Our department of trade and industry-Aklan reports that Incremental employment for directly and indirectly impacted activities totaled to 5,722 or a positive growth of 40% vis-à-vis annual target of 4,073.  compared to 2006,  total incremental employment increased by 14%.  Of the four (4) industry sectors prioritized for assistance – loomweaving,  food processing,  furniture and gifts and houseware,  the sectors that generated the most employment is the loomweaving sector,  followed by the food processing and gifts and houseware.  The furniture sector again fell short of its target by 70%.

Total incremental investments for the period amounted to P1,424,279 million or an increased of 187% over the year’s target of p495.9 million,  and 49% over last year’s performance of p958.6 million.  The sector that generated the most investment is the food processing sector with an aggregate incremental investment of P7.29 million.

Export performers for cy 2007 were still the nitocraft producers and the loomweavers.  Both sectors posted positive growth over its target for the year despite the appreciation of peso.  Gifts and houseware posted 168% growth while loomweaving industry sector registered a growth of only 5%.  Total export sales performance for cy 2007 amounted to us$0.4054 million overshooting its target for the year by 91%,  and performance of cy 2006 (us$0.2357 million) by 72%.

Domestic sales of monitored firms in the four (4) priority industry sectors reached p183.544 million or 7% over the target for the year and 6% over last year’s performance.  Food processing sector generated the most sales of P97.271 million,  followed by the loomweaving sector with P66.2818 million.

Business name (bn) registrations processed for the period numbered to 1,205 or 195 bns less than last year’s registration of 1,400.  however,  investments generated by the bn registrants this year totaled P631,271,000.
  
Thank you provincial Director ermie pollentes and staff.

Ramdam ang asenso!

Allocating The Funds: The 2008 Provincial Annual Budget

A customary source of conflict and heated debates in the legislature,  on the local and national levels,  is the budget.  but testimony to the spirit of cooperation that now exists between the legislative and executive components of  our province is the prompt passage of the provincial annual budgets – general fund and economic enterprise development.  After review and some slight revisions,  the budgets were approved on December 13, 2007,  per schedule.

Again,  my heartfelt thanks to our Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

For year 2008 the province shall operate on a general fund budget of P438,844,290.  this means an P18.5 million or 4% increase over that of 2007.  A P25.9 million or 10.6% increase will also be noted on our economic enterprise development budget which for 2008 is P269, 935,436.

The two budgets,  adding up to P708,779,726 make our 2008 budget the highest in the history of Aklan.  It has maintained for Aklan Rank No. 3 among Region VI’s six provinces.  In 2007 our combined budgets were also the third highest in the region.

For the year 2008 our local finance committee projects a revenue collection of P438.8 million,  4% higher than 2007’s P420.2 million.  Of this, our internal revenue allotment is projected to account for P367.8 million while local revenues mainly from real property taxes are expected to contribute P70.9 million.

Thank you Mrs. Grace Macahilas and your PBO staff,  for their timely preparation of the budget after long consultations with this office,  the local finance committee,  and our department heads.

Of the many difficult decisions that a local government executive has to make,  budgetary allocation is the hardest.

Owa ka it kina-eain sa ama nga sangkiri it kita ag indi masayran kun siin igasto ro limitado nga kuarta:  sa bugas,  sa eskuylahan,  sa eambong,  sa gatueo ag gabuk nga baeay,  sa hospital,  ag kun siin pa.

Our provincial government college scholarship project has now 1,327 scholars and gets P7 million of our general fund budget.

We are happy to note here that tesda had complemented our efforts to provide educational opportunities for our poor students.

Also,  in response to the perennial inadequacy of teachers in our elementary and high schools we continued the hiring of provincial school board teachers.  We now have 136 such teachers whose wages run up to P8 million.

but like our previous governors who were faced with the same problem we have to make do with what there is and try harder to increase revenues, to source funds elsewhere,  maximize the use of limited funds,  and not only survive but attain a measure of development,  raise Aklan’s economic and social status a notch higher,  or several notches upwards.

The Accounting Office

A major accomplishment of the provincial accounting office was the implementation starting 2007 of the electronic New Government Accounting System (e-NGAS).

Under the new system,  the office processed and pre-audited 19,038 disbursement vouchers,  payrolls,  and liquidation reports representing claims from the general fund,  the special education fund,  and the trust fund.

Tasked to continuously assess the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls in all offices of the provincial government,  including all the devolved hospitals,  particularly on the revenue-generating areas of operations,  for the year 2007,  its internal audit team evaluated and liquidation of cash advances for salaries and wages submitted by the regular disbursing officers from the provincial treasurer’s office,  and reviewed and verified the collection records and subsequent deposits of the accountable officer from the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital.

The internal audit team facilitated the issuance of demand letters to all officials and employees of the province with unliquidated cash advance for them to liquidate the same thereby reducing the outstanding balance of the province for the due from officers and employees account.  Demand letters were issued twice to inform all concerned the intention of the provincial government to seriously implement the applicable coa regulations on cash advances for travel.

In addition,  on a regular basis,  the internal audit team also issued the report on the sand and gravel taxes due from permittees based on the allowed volume of extraction.  This paved the way for the strict monitoring of payment of taxes even before any application for renewal is approved.  Further,  in the pre-audit of transactions,  careful attention is given to transactions involving delivery of sand and gravel by government contractors who were also sand and gravel permittees.  Details of the project are being reconciled with the volume of extraction allowed and taxes already paid by the contractors.  Payment of any unpaid taxes is required and/or deducted from the proceeds of their claims before the vouchers are released for payment.

For the year 2007,  our province received from various government agencies funds for the implementation of specific programs and projects in the total amount of P109,803,480.

Most notable of this is from Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores’ pdaf in the amount of P16,750,000.

As a dependable financial consultant,  I must thank Ms. Ma. Victoria Salido and her staff.

Mavic has taken the role of the explainer to our sangguniang panlalawigan.

Agriculture

Together with tourism,  agriculture is one of our twin development thrusts.  Understandably so,  because 9% or 16,835 hectares of our province’s land area of 181,789 hectares is devoted to rice farming.  40,165 Aklanons are involved in rice production.

We are deep into the implementation of various agricultural programs such as the hybrid rice program,  the high-value commercial crops program,  the Integrated Pest Management or IPM/Kasalikasan Program,  the Palayamanan,  and the national farming system program.

In the fisheries sector we have on-going freshwater fisheries development programs,  and the integrated coastal zone management program.

For our upland farmers we continue to implement an integrated social forestry program designed to improve their socio-economic conditions,  to enhance ecological stability,  and maximize upland productivity.

For the year 2007 our hybrid rice program had suffered setbacks because of adverse weather,  pest infestation,  and water supply problems.

Our hybrid F1 commercialization program now covers 861 hectares,  from 2006’s only 618.  The 2007 production was 5,510 metric tons against the 3,810 metric tons of 2006.  yield also increased from only 6.2 in 2006 to 6.4 metric tons per hectare in 2007.

But for our AXR project,  certified seed production,  we had only planted two hectares in December, 2007.  in 2006,  area planted was 6.5 hectares.

But this is all temporary and the viability of the program as one that can increase rice production and,  consequently,  increase farmer income still remains.  I firmly believe that hybrid rice and our objective of becoming a major certified seed supplier for  Region VI and the rest of the country will immensely benefit our rice farmers.  Thus our target of 2000 hectares of commercial hybrid rice by 2010.

Let me cite a simple projection of the potentials of hybrid rice.  even a comparatively low production of 180 cavans per hectare per cropping multiplied by P300 per cavan,  multiplied again by 2 croppings per year and then by 2,000 hectares will give us the big figure of P216,000,000.

Think of the ramifications if our farmers have this kind of money and the buying power that goes with it:  construction of new houses will involve purchase of materials,  wages for labor, and higher demand for commodities heretofore not affordable to the low-income farmers.

On the other hand, our rice farmers continue to receive assistance from the gma rice program such as organic fertilizers,  farming equipment such as drum seeders,  rotary weeders and mechanical dryers,  and allocations of certified seeds.

Our farmer’s field schools and techno-demos are still on-going and have become institutions among our farmers.

For the year 2007,  rice production in our province had increased by 7.74%,  from only 136.155 in 2006 to this year’s 146.691 metric tons.

Aklan remains a rice supplier with a 63,459.19 consumption against a 146,691 metric ton production.   We still produce more than we can eat.

In our agricultural development efforts we must acknowledge the support and assistance of our Aklan State University,  The Philippine Rice Research Institute;  the Agricultural Training Institute,  our Department of Agriculture,  of course,  on the regional and national levels,  and our own local agriculture personnel. The Palayamanan Program,  for instance,  designed to assist poor,  marginal farmers,  especially upland farmers,  was implemented thru the help of the ASU and Philrice. 

In the initial implementation of the swine dispersal component of the program,  120 heads of swine have been distributed.  This will soon cover all our seventeen municipalities.

Under our HVCC or High Value Commercial Crops,  we have launched in 2005 a mango production program.  From only 17 hectares in 2006, in 2007 we had 85 hectares planted to mango  in nine of our western towns.

We also continue to give priority to our abaca production program considering that our woven fabrics industry has provided a stable source of livelihood for more than 9,000 Aklanons,  from the planters,  to the weavers,  to the exporters,  not including the middle men,  and the transport industry.

Increase in abaca production has been very encouraging.  From 617,638 kilograms in 2004,  to 802,216 in 2005,  1,220,400 in 2006 and 1,464,480 kilograms in 2007.

IN 2007 we had released P400,000 for the abaca tissue culture project of asu to further our goal of providing our farmers quality and disease-free abaca planting materials.

Also in 2007 we appropriated P2 million for loan assistance to abaca farmers in the targeted additional 100 hectares.  The year previous we had covered 113 hectares.  We allocated P2.9 million for another 150 hectares for 2008 but because of these very inspiring developments,  we propose to augment this to P7 million to cover 350 hectares for 2008 thus a grand total of 563 hectares.

In the corn industry,  production had a run-away increase from only 566 metric tons in 2006 to 924 in 2007.  A staggering 63.25 percent rise.

In the fisheries resource management area we have continued our massive information,  education,  and communication campaign.

Until 2007, We had implemented 500 artificial reefs in our eleven (11) coastal towns, established fish sanctuaries and reserves,  and an abalone stock enhancement program.

There are the jackstone type artificial reefs and “Payao” type projects benefiting 163 fishermen organized as cooperatives.

Towards income diversification we have also continued the establishment and expansion of tilapia and hito culture projects in various barangays of our province.  and in sea weeds farming.

Our seaweeds culture project is another way by which we can increase the income of our fisherfolks.

Having launched the seaweeds program in 2007 we now have 2,745 hectares planted using 9 metric tons of seaweed materials.

Initially,  our planting site are in New Washington,  Numancia,  Makato,  Malay and Buruanga and ultimately all our eleven coastal towns will be covered by the program.

Our farmers will always be a priority sector in our development pursuits.

Thank you Mr. Delano Tefora,  thank you Ms. Salam E. David,  thank you Mr. Edgar Mendoza and staff of the fishery section for sustaining the food security program of our province.

Other Agricultural Concerns

Although Aklan stands out as a major supplier of rice and fish,  we are a distance behind in meat production.

This is the reason why we have focused on livestock production,  as one area where we can effectively raise the income of our farmers and develop food security in our province.

At the stock farm of the province located at Tina,  Makato we have on-going pasture and forage production,  large and small ruminant  production,  cattle fattening and production,  and goat upgrading programs.

Province-wide,  we continue our artificial insemination program for cattle and carabao and the implementation of our carabull dispersal program,  our swine breeding dispersal program.

In the area of artificial insemination,  Aklan’s performance is the highest in Region VI, 57% success for cattle compared to the national performance level of 65%,  and 43% in carabao against the national record of 45%.

We can look forward to the time when Aklan will not only be self-sufficient in meat but will have enough to supply other provinces.  Year 2010 is the target year for the economic enterprise to take over the marketing of meat.

Thank you Dr. Gervase Radislao and his staff.

Infrastructure

For year 2007 our provincial engineer’s office has completed infrastructure projects with a total cost of P78.1 million.

Spread out in our seventeen municipalities these are road construction and concreting projects,  water supply systems,  installation of signages and guard rails,  repair and rehabilitation work on provincial government buildings and hospitals,  slope protection projects,  drainage canals,  road-widening,  barangay electrification projects,  senior citizen centers,  construction of solar dryers,  improvement and expansion work of the arrival and departure areas of the kalibo airport,  and many other such projects.

A few of these were started in 2005 and 2006 with funding from our ira 20% development fund,  from supplemental budgets,  our capital outlay,  and national programs.

Also completed in 2007 with funding from the PDAF of Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores was the p1.7 million jugas-camaligan steel bridge at New Washington.

Still under construction or for implementation are a similar variety of infrastructures costing p22 million.

These include the proposed two-storey provincial capitol annex building which initial cost is p5.25 million.  It now houses the office of the provincial agriculturist in its finished first floor and when fully completed will be home to our sangguniang panlalawigan and other provincial departments.

Last January 9, 2008 we also had the ground-breaking ceremonies for the proposed college of nursing building at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital compound which has an initial appropriation of P35 million.

In our joint venture with Aklan State University for the curricular offering of the associate in health science education and bachelor of science in nursing program,  we now have a total of 424 students which ensures that for the next few years,  we will not encounter problems in the exodus of our health care professionals seeking employment abroad.

Congressman Joeben and I proposed a pooling of resources in the realization of a long-standing dream of madalagnons:  a bridge that shall connect Banga to Madalag.

Also in the blueprint is the p11 million improvement of the provincial capitol main building and the rehabilitation and improvement of the provincial sports complex project in Calangcang, Makato, Aklan.

The infrastructure cabinet committee chaired by her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently approved our long awaited project,  the expansion of Caticlan Airport to a tune of p2.4 billion under the build-operate transfer scheme.  This will pave the way to accommodate bigger planes such as airbus 319/320 or b737 that will cater to passengers from the other parts of the world.

Thank you Cong. Joeben,  NEDA Region VI staff and the members of the Aklan provincial development council for lobbying and strongly endorsing the project.
Thank you Engr. Victory Fernandez and the staff of the PEO.

Health

Health continues to be a high-priority concern of this provincial administration.  Thus our deep appreciation for the bold step taken by then governor Florencio t. miraflores to contract a P139 million loan with the logofind,  the local government finance and development, to expand the provincial hospital, the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, into a second-level referral hospital,  modernize its equipment, and increase its bed-capacity from 100 to the 186 now.

Government hospital management has always been a problem area for LGU’s,  even for our rich cities and provinces.

In the case of our eight hospitals,  the funding dilemma has been complicated by the nationwide crisis caused by the migration of medical graduates and personnel to the more advanced countries which pay immensely higher salaries.

Doctors,  particularly,  were hard to come by.  It was all we can do to find doctors and make them stay,  content with comparatively small compensation for truly back-breaking work.

This situation,  coupled with the province’s inherently limited resources,  continues to hamper our efforts to fully expand health care services delivery,  particularly to our poor.

But despite this,  in line with our health services expansion efforts,  we have created from 2006 to 2007 a total of 188 new health personnel positions which paved the way for the long-deserved promotion of 39 personnel and the hiring of 141 new ones including doctors and radio technologists.
We have continued to implement the indigency program – hospital bill discounts,  free medicines and medical supplies – which cost us p8.4 million in 2007.

To operate our CT Scan we have contracted the services of a specialist who will train our personnel in CT Scan operation.

In april, 2008 we hope to operate our CT Scan.

We are happy to note here that we never lacked for volunteer nurses and attendants.  We appreciate the work they perform,  gratis et amore,  and if we only have the funds we want to employ them all as casuals and even permanent personnel but we do not have that kind of money.  yet.

In recognition of our province’s sincere and effective efforts to improve and expand our health care services system,  the department of health awarded our Aklan provincial health board as the most outstanding in 2007.  in 2006,  we were also winner of the same award.

In our efforts to streamline the operations of Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital,  we have now fully implemented the electronic hospital management information system or e-hmis which resulted to improved efficiency of all service areas of our provincial hospital.  Expanding the computerized hospital operations is now in the planning stage to hook up Altavas and Ibajay district hospitals in the network.  The province of Aklan is one of the first local government units in the country which embarked on computerized hospital operations.

To further harness private sector support for our health development initiatives,  we had initiated the adopt-a-ward program where individuals and organizations may “adopt” a ward and provide it with its needs.

At the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital,  The Aklanon Association of Montreal (Canada) thru its president, Mr. Larry Panado,  adopted a ward in memory of Emily Fernandez Derequito while the Castillo clan took under its wing another ward in honor of Dr. Jones Castillo and his wife Agnes.

The Altavas district hospital had,  in fact,  led the way in the implementation of this scheme,  under the incumbency of then hospital chief, Dr. Kathryne Refol,  now mayor of Altavas.

Engr. Jimeno Belarmino adopted the female ward in memory of his beloved wife Margarita Belarmino and another hospital room in honor of his late parents,  mayor joself belarmino and his wife damiana.  Ms. Adelfa Pañer adopted the pedia ward in behalf of his late husband, Mr. Bernardo Pañer while Ms. Luisa de la Cruz,  a balikbayan took responsibility for the ob ward.

The Altavasnon Canada-U.S.A also donated 15 hospital beds.

Our sincere thanks to the Aklanons in Canada and theU.S.A the Castillos,  the Belarminos,  the Pañers,  and the dela Cruzes.
 
Our seven (7) other hospitals,  the Ibajay district hospital,  The Malay Municipal Hospital,  the Altavas district hospital,  the Boracay Island municipal hospital,  the Don Leovigildo N. Diapo, Sr. Memorial Hospital,  the Libacao Municipal Hospital,  and the Buruanga municipal hospital continue to deliver health care services to our constituents despite the usual problems in personnel and funding.

We thank their staff for staying with us,  for staying in the Philippines,  and - for comparatively low pay -  for continuing to serve our people.

Thank you Dr. emma cortes, provincial health officer ii,  and his provincial health officer i,Dr. victor santamaria and the staff of the provincial health office.

Thanks,  too, toDr. paul macahilas and the whole staff of theDr. rafael s. tumbokon Memorial Hospital.

Still in line with our health poverty alleviation programs,  in 2007 congressman Florencio t. miraflores through his congressional district office and the provincial government initiated the universal coverage program in coordination with the philhealth.

We each appropriated P5 million for a total of P10 million to provide philhealth benefits to all indigent Aklanons.  We recognize the fact that although there is the regular philhealth coverage through the counterparting scheme wherein the provincial government pays 30% of the premium and the municipal government underwrites the balance of 70%, for the year 2007 the province paid a total of p1.4 million as counterpart for premiums of philhealth beneficiaries recommended by the municipality. most municipalities do not have the financial capability to provide the urgently needed medical care to their poor constituents leaving them helpless when illness strikes.

Thus the congressional district office’s and the province’s universal coverage efforts.

Tourism

If agriculture is our bread,  tourism is the butter that has emerged as a reliable and effective complement to our two-pronged approach to economic development.

In the year 2007 we counted 596,748 tourists in Boracay Island alone.  Tourism receipts reached P10.9 billion.

As I have pointed out earlier,  our revenues from our Caticlan and Cagban jetty ports rose by P10.8 million,  from P30,647,878 in 2006 to P41,451,205 in 2007.

With the installation of the instrument landing system at our kalibo airport,  it can now accommodate bigger planes which can land even at night.

In May last year,  the incheon,  south korea-kalibo airport flight route was inaugurated and up to December almost 13,000 south Korean tourists visited boracay via the route.

Through the efforts of Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores,  President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has fasttracked the release of funds for the continued improvement and expansion of the kalibo airport to accommodate still bigger planes direct from more countries.

We can only imagine the big boost that this development has given to our tourism industry.

For Boracay Island, congressman joeben and I continue to closely coordinate with the department of environment and natural resources (denr) and the Philippine tourism authority (pta) in the solution of the island’s environmental problems and the improvement of facilities such as roads and the ferry services.

As with the one-entry-one-exit policy,  boracay stakeholders shall soon realize the need for the stricter and better management of the island.  There will be the usual resistance to change as when certain sectors had openly fought against the policy.  But now the system is generally accepted.  Tour operators and travel writers here and abroad are all praises for the political will that was behind it.

May I take this opportunity to thank task force  bantay boracay chaired by our pnp provincial director, police senior supt. Benigno “bong” durana.  My thanks,  too,  to the task force members who,  without any additional compensation,  continue to serve.

Without task force bantay boracay,  there would be no way to enforce provincial and municipal ordinances and even national laws and regulations and boracay will be in worse situation.

Thank you,  Task Force Bantay Boracay!

Thank you,  Ms. Karina Quimpo Ruiz and her staff at the Provincial Tourism Office.

Procurement

For the year 2007,  our provincial general services office has fully implemented R.A. 9184 or the government procurement reform act designed to promote more transparency in the bidding and awarding of government projects and broader participation among suppliers and contractors.

The new procedures also assured fasttracking of the implementation of projects normally slowed down by delayed purchases.

Major transactions facilitated by our PGSO in 2007 were for hospital equipment and supplies.

Thank you,  Ms. Medelia Solanoy and staff.

Human Resource Management

With the province’s a little over 1,000 plantilla personnel,  excluding casuals,  contractuals,   and consultants,  2007 was a busy year for our human resource management office.

Aside from facilitating the conduct of personnel trainings and services,  the HRMO processed appointments,  leaves,  retirement,  and other personnel actions.  This office is also busy with the conduct of personnel trainings/seminars/workshops, to keep abreast with the new development in the civil service.

Thank you Mrs. Ellen Tolentino and her staff.

Thank you Ms. Evelyn Ejar of the CSC-Aklan.

Sports

The pambansang palaro with its provincial and regional level competition has been the main training ground for Filipino athletes and also a major component of the totally of our youth and sports development programs. For the year 2007 we appropriated from our special education fund a total of p4.7 million for both the provincial and the WVRAA meets. This would be another significant utilization of the 1% from the real property tax that goes to the sef.

We had also extended financial assistance to the Aklan private schools athletic association when it conducted provincial level competitions for the West Visayan Prisaa.

For the year 2007 our sports and games development office continued its implementation of its age group tournament in chess,  boxing,  taekwondo,  lawn tennis,  and athletics.

In January,  2007 it conducted the elimination for the West Visayan Regional Athletic meet boxing event where Macky Delfin, 16 yrs. old of Ibajay got the gold and went on to win the silver medal in the Palarong Pambansa.

In the February,  2007 WVRAA meet Susan Grace Neri, 16 yrs. old of Kalibo and Adrian Jude Macahilas, 12 yrs. old of Numancia and Genesis PavilLar, 16 yrs. old of Kalibo won the gold medal in chess and lawn tennis,  respectively.

Macahilas and PavilLar also won the gold medal in the april, 2007 Palarong Pambansa.

A young chess player,  Mira Mirano, 10 yrs. old of Banga won the gold medal in the National Age Group Chess Tournament in Manila and together with Susan Grace Neri participated in the 8th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships in Pattaya, Thailand where the former get the silver medal while the latter earned three bronze medals.

Mirano further honored Aklan,  when she was adjudged the best Filipino performer who participated in the World Age Group Chess Championships in Turkey.

In the July 26-29, 2007 asean track and field championship at Kinabalu, Malaysia,  Merily Teodosio, 17 yrs. Old of Batan won a gold medal and was adjudged as the best female athlete.
 
As in previous years,  the office also conducted the governor’s cup where 16  of our 17 municipalities participated.

In line with our sports development program we also dream of a new sports complex thru the rehabilitation and improvement of the provincial sports complex project in Calangcang, Makato, Aklan.
 
Thank you Mr. Fred Neri and staff.

Integrated population and development programs

Although newly organized,  the Aklan provincial population office has made inroads in its mandated function of building partnershipS with LGU’s, GO’s/NGO’s,  the academe,  the media,  the religious sector, and civil society towards the institulinazation of an integrated population and development programs.

It is our pride that our province has been unanimously chosen as replication area for best practice in population management in Region VI for the year 2008.

For 2007 the AKPPO has conducted 19 barangay level classes for 369 couples exceeding,  its target of 290 couples.

The AKPPO has also,  by mandate and by necessity,  involved the youth in our population concerns.

For the year 2007,  they have trained 19 youth/student leaders in adolescent health and youth development program,  organized two youth groups,  the AHYDP young helpers’ hub in the Aklan state university of rural resource development at Ibajay and the Aklan PDO core group of peer counselors in the ASU-Banga.  One youth trainee,  Kristine Kim Tocol Vergara became a recipient of the American Field Service Scholarship program and was sent to Hillsboro, U.S.A.

Thank you Mr. Art Teodosio and his staff at the AKPPO.

Planning and development

As the planning and development arm of the province,  the provincial planning and development office for the year 2007 had developed the master development plan of the Aklan river watershed in line with our objective of maximizing the utilization of our natural resources and protecting our environment.

Ongoing is the profiling and characterization of the Tangalan River and Soonn of Jal-o River at Balete,  the Gibon River at Nabas,  the Naba-oy River at Malay,  and the Buruanga watershed.

Taking the lead in these undertakings is the Aklan rivers development council headed by Atty. Allen Salas Quimpo as executive director and Engr. Roger Esto as head of secretariat.

The PPDO was also tasked to conceptualize our abaca development program whose status has been discussed earlier in this report.

The implementation of the province’s GAD (Gender and Development) program was also assigned to the PPDO under which it has continued to conduct advocacy projects and trainings and orientation on the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (R.A. 9244),  Violence Against Women and Children (R.A. 9262),  Women in Development and Nation-Building (R.A. 7197),  Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (R.A. 9208) and other current gender issues and concerns.

Thank you Engr. Roger Esto and the staff of the PPDO.

Employment Services and Generation

Through the years,  the public employment services office (PESO) has remained the frontline partner of the province in sourcing jobs for Aklanons.

For this year a total of 5,281 clients has sought the various services of the office applying for jobs either local or abroad,  applying for a new passport,  seeking assistance regarding employment related matters,  overseas Filipino workers (OFW) benefits, special program for the employment for students (SPES) payments,  visa and immigration inquires,  national bureau of investigation (NBI) clearances and others.

Through a jobs fair and provincial recruitment activities of 18 licensed agencies both from Manila,  Iloilo and kalibo branches a total of 166 Aklanons were deployed broken down as follows:  48 to hongkong,  2 to Malaysia,  2 to Singapore,  5 to Dubai and 1 to Cyprus all as domestic helpers,  13 to Kuwait 38 to Taiwan,  46 to Caribbean, 2 to Saipan,  1 to Nsew Zealand,  8 to Jeddah remitting substantial amount in dollars to their families which has apparently improve their economic and financial status.

For local employment,  PESO has facilitated the hiring of 1,072 Aklanons by local business establishments in Aklan and elsewhere in the country,  resort and restaurant personnel,  construction workers,  and other office personnel.
400 Aklanons students were employed by the local government unit of the province under the special program for the employment of students (SPES) otherwise known as summer job of the department of labor and employment (DOLE) last April 11 to May 25, 2007 not only to help these students earn some amount of money for their expenses during the opening of classes but also to teach them the dignity of labor by working for 30 days.  They were paid P864,000 at P2,160 each as the 60% counterpart pay of the province.  The DOLE paid the remaining 40% of the 200 students in the total amount of P530,136 at P2,664 each.

In support to the income-generating activity of the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD),  the NBI has issued a total of 3,733 local clearances and a total 4,383 travel clearances for a grand total of 8,116 clearances at P50 each service fee amounting to P405,800 as of December 15, 2007.

For the passport service fee,  the total amount collected by the provincial treasure’s office (PTO) was P62,300 for the 623 passport applicants last October 25-26,  2007 at the Aklan Cultural Center.  619 new passports were approved and released by the regional consular office (RCO) of the department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Iloilo city.  These Aklanons were able to save some P1 million in expenses for the necessary trips to Iloilo city.

Thank you,  Ms.Vivian Solano and her staff.

Cooperativism

In recognition of cooperativism as one potent means of alleviating poverty,  attaining economic self-sufficiency for all our sectors,  thereby empowering them,  we had created the provincial cooperative office in 2006. For the year 2007 the PCO,  in line with its promotion and development program has conducted eight (8) membership education seminars,  three (3) basic cooperative management trainings,  organized the provincial government employees development cooperative,  and provided continuing bookkeeping assistance to seven (7) cooperatives in various municipalities.

Through its networking and capability program the PCO facilitated the release of a p500,000 loan to the Numancia Vermicast Producers Multi-purpose Cooperative,  and P100,000 to the Aklan Muslim Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Our PCO has continued to assist the BATRADECO (Banga, Aklan transportation development cooperative),  a transport cooperative,  by facilitating with the LTFRB  the release of franchise for its five (5) multicab units.

Thank you,  Ms. Lilian Rey and the staff of the PCO.

Social Welfare and Development

Our provincial social welfare and development office,  in close coordination with DSWD personnel stationed in the province,  implemented or continued its implementation in 2007 of a package of social welfare programs.

Under its family and community welfare concerns,  the Tindahan Natin (TN) program was launched in our province.  It is designed to provide our poor access to affordable food – mainly nfa rice and instant noodles.  We now have 80 tn operators with a p1.5 million funding from the DSWD.

In the sea-k (self-employment assistance-kaunlaran) program,  we now have 3,045 beneficiaries from 119 associations who  received a total of P14,113,500 assistance for which the 79% repayment is the highest in Region VI.

Our aid to individuals in crisis situation as a component of our proverty alleviation program had extended financial assistance to 627 indigents in 2007 at a cost of P868,450.

On-going is the P23.57 million early childhood care and development program 70% of which comes from the council for the welfare of children and 30% from lgu – Provincial and Municipal - Equities.  Initial implementation is in six municipalities.  This involves improvement of day care centers,  barangay health stations,  purchase of learning materials and equipment,  new-born screening test equipment,  supplemental feeding,  micro-nutrient supplementation, and advocacy campaigns.

Our province was also the recipient of P968,352 for the accelerated hunger mitigation program involving supplemental feeding of milk and hot meals to 3-5 year olds in day care centers in several municipalities.

Under our women welfare program the Daeangpan It Kababayen-an Sa Akean (Aklan comprehensive center for women) continues to operate a crisis intervention unit with two social workers,  two house parents,  and other personnel.

For 2007,  it took care of 58 wards or clients.

On-going are our programs for the elderly and persons with disabilities and the Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (cidss).

For the victims of typhoon Seniang the regional disaster coordinating council released p80,000 or p10,000 each to the families of the fatalities.

We thank Major Kit Saratiosa,  the tireless and ageless action officer of our provincial disaster coordinating council now known as the Provincial Public Safety and Emergency Management Office,  for facilitating this assistance.

On January 19, 2008,  however,  DSWD Regional Director teresita Rosales came to the office of the governor to turn over checks for p1.4 million each to Malay and Nabas.  Released by the calamity assistance rehabilitation efforts (care) of the DSWD it was for the construction of typhoon-resistant shelters to typhoon Seniang victims – 20 units each for the two municipalities.

My thanks to our PSWDO,  Mrs. Elma Malbas and her staff for sharing our care and concern for the poor and the destitute.

Rehabilitation of Prisoners

For the 2007,  with 207 inmates in its custody,  our Aklan Rehabilitation Center or Provincial Jail,  has undergone improvement with the construction of an annex to the administration building.

A rooftop guardhouse was also constructed at the main building.

Two jetmatic pumps were also installed while the old well was rehabilitated to insure potable water for the inmates.

A medical-dental team from the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital also conducted a mission for our prisoners while the Philippine pharmacists association also held the same activity. 

We would like to thank the association and other civic and professional organizations for their concern for our inmates.

Thank you, P/Supt. Cristito Angob and staff.

Peace and Order

Our province continues to enjoy a very stable peace and order environment due largely to a dedicated and proactive approach by our police to law enforcement and public service.  For the year 2007 our police have recorded a total crime volume of 7,234 incidents,  6,203 of which were considered solved for a crime solution efficiency of 83.30% and an average monthly crime rate of 115.88 incidents per 100,000 population.

Our police were the first in the region to implement compstat or the new york city crime control model,  a best practice in policing and crime management which,  together with the current political will and the vibrant partnership that exist among stakeholders in the community,  enabled us to effectively control crime and other peace and order problems in our province.

And the prospects for peace and order in 2008 and beyond look very bright with the recent declaration by the Philippine national police of Aklan police provincial as the pilot site of the model police provincial office project in line with the pnp’s integrated transformation program.  The provincial government of Aklan joins our police in their quest for reforms.  Over an above what we regularly support our local police,  we are also assisting the construction of their new provincial headquarters building in camp pastor martelino worth 10 million pesos.

Even the us government is convinced that we can lead in police reforms.  This summer they will be co-sponsoring 8 training courses for our police on basic police supervision,  community policing,  human rights and ethics to further hone their competencies in the discharge of their core police functions.  All this and more aims not only to help transform the Aklan police provincial office into a more capable,  effective and credible police service but also to further improve our overall competitiveness to attract business and investments that will generate jobs and livelihood for our province.

Lt. Col. Nicolas V. pasion, Jr.,  commanding officer,  47th Infantry (Katapatan) Battalion,  3rd infantry (spearhead) division,  Philippine Army,  stationed at Camp Jizmundo,  Libas, Banga,  that the activities of leftist groups in the province has been limited to mass action on issues against the national administration and these had been non-confrontational.

In Lt. Col. Pasion’s words this can be attributed to the fact that “generally,  the province of Aklan is peaceful and the development of the province in terms of the economy and its status of living is soaring to greater heights”.

Our thanks to Lt. Col. Pasion and his men at Camp Jizmundo.

Other Concerns:  Energy Sources

In line with our objective of discovering sources of energy the Timbaban hydropower project whose feasibility study had already been completed is now waiting for an exemption from the nipas (National Integrated protected area systems) law.  Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores has already filed such a bill in congress duly endorsed by the regional development council.

Soon Califonia Energy which has proposed to install a hydropower plant at Libacao shall complete its feasibility study.  This year 2008,  the U.S based firm will conduct a marketing study.      

The Province of Aklan initiated the Aklan Revenue Generation Computerization Project (ARGCP) in June 2006.  The project involves the computerization of the Real Property Tax Administration in the Province and 3 pilot municipalities, specifically the Municipalities of Kalibo, Malay and New Washington.  It also involves the computerization of the Business Permits and Licensing operations for the Municipalities of Kalibo and New Washington. 

The RPTA System computerizes all appraisals, assessment transactions, payment and other transactions of real property taxes, while the BPLS system computerizes the business taxes, fees and other related miscellaneous charges and transactions such as inspection of businesses establishments, revenue examination of the Licensing Division, and application and issuance of business permits.

We are currently finalizing the arrangements with PANTELCO to enable the online connectivity between the Province and the three pilot municipalities.  And we are pleased to announce the official launching and online implementation of the RPTA system by February 2008.  And later, we plan to expand this project to all municipalities of Aklan to ensure that the whole province becomes computerized and thus offer better services to the public.
These are our accomplishments for the year 2007,  in our continuing effort to attain the socio-economic development of our beloved province.

On their own and in constant coordination with the provincial government,  our national agencies have been busy with their mandated functions and continues to contribute to the betterment of Aklan.  It will take too long to enumerate them.  Suffice it is to say,  that Aklanons truly appreciate the national government’s help thru its various agencies here in Aklan.