12/10/2023
2023 HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISMENTS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF PANDAN
By Roger Tamon, Jr.
On October 10, 2023, during his State of the Municipality Address delivered before the members of the Sangguniang Bayan, the Barangay Officials, Representatives from different National Government Agencies, NGO’s, CSO’s, PO’s, and the private sector, Mayor Tomas Estoperez, Jr. has highlighted the accomplishments of his administration for the past 365 days.
ON TOURISM
Mayor Tomas Estoperez, Jr. revealed that he is pushing for the possibility of developing Pandan as one of the prime diving destinations in Western Visayas.
In fact, he just arrived from a conference in Cebu City organized by the Department of Tourism that discussed the plan of launching a Diving Tourism.
He said that Pandan Bay is being eyed as one of the best diving sites in Western Visayas for it is home to amazing coral reefs and different species of sea inhabitants that include the Mantha Ray and Whale shark.
Mayor Estoperez, Jr. expressed optimism that in case the plan will push through, it will not only generate income for the local residents, but at the same time improve the local economy of the town.
Mayor Estoperez also mentioned the development of Malumpati Health Spring and Tourist Resort.
He said that the on-going construction of Sewerage Treatment Plant in Barangay Candari and Barangay Guia will answer the call of maintaining the cleanliness and water safety of Malumpati Health Spring and Tourist Resort including the Bugang river which was adjudged as the cleanest inland body of water in the country.
Mayor Estoperez also said that a budget request was already submitted to the office of Senator Loren Legarda, to the office of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and to the office of Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman for the proposed expansion of Malumpati pool area, the installation of water slides and the expansion of parking areas to cater the growing number of visitors.
ON ORGANIZED AGRICULTURE
His administration has already conducted several trainings and seminars for farmers, livestock growers and fisherfolks. The initiative aims at enhancing food production and ensuring enough supply of agricultural and fishery products in the market at affordable price.
Skills training was also provided to abaca farmers of hinterland barangays of Badiangan, Maadios, Napuid, Perfecta, Santa Ana and San Juaquin.
Part of their training was to process abaca fiber and turn it into bags, hats, banig, placemats as part of their livelihood initiative.
Mayor Estoperez said that they also coordinated with the DSWD Kalahi Ciddss for skills improvement training on weaving.
Gulayan sa barangay and Gulayan sa Paaralan were also established. The Public Employment Service Office or PESO has organized the TUPAD beneficiaries from the 32 barangays and 12 schools in the municipality for vegetable growing. Free vegetable seeds were given to them.
Hundreds of fruit trees seedlings like grafted mangoes were given to members of Small Water Irrigation System Association, to backyard farmers and to other private individuals who expressed interest in planting fruit trees.
The Local Government Unit through Municipal Agriculture Office has conducted trainings on Onion production in Barangay Fragante.
Information caravan about coconut farming was also initiated in partnership with Philippine Coconut Authority and the Agricultural Training Institute.
Farmers Field School in barangay Botbot was also conducted in partnership with TESDA and Payaw Diversified Crop Services.
Smart rice agriculture was also conducted at barangay Patria in collaboration with Agricultural Training Institute.
The LGU also supported 1 Out-of- School Youth for the young farmer’s challenge of the Department of Agriculture.
From July 2022 to July 2023, the LGU had facilitated eworming, castration, anti-rabies vaccination and vitamin supplementation to 1,422 animals owned by 456 livestock owners.
The LGU Pandan through the tireless efforts of the Municipal Agriculture Office has maintained the ASF free status of Pandan by setting up 24/7 checkpoints in all its borders.
ON MANPOWER
The Local Government of Pandan has welcomed the first Business Process Outsourcing or BPO in northern Antique. To date, the BPO in Pandan employs 25 workers on a single shift.
The LGU has likewise facilitated the granting of DOLE TUPAD to 763 beneficiaries coming from the different barangays of Pandan. Some 3.4 million pesos were allocated for the DOLE TUPAD workers.
The LGU has also allocated local funds to finance the Special Program for Employment of Students or SPES. This is a temporary employment opportunity given to financially challenged students to keep them in school and be able to finish their education.
The LGU Pandan also implements the GIP or Government Internship Program of the Department of Labor. The GIP program also provides internship opportunity for high school, technical or vocational students, including college graduates who want to pursue a career in public service.
To date, 25 students were admitted to the GIP program at LGU Pandan for 3- and 6-months period.
In the coming months, another 2 million pesos livelihood fund will be released to LGU Pandan. One million for DOLE TUPAD to cater another 300 beneficiaries, and the other 1 million is for the Sustainable Livelihood Program or SLP by the Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD.
To date, an on-going training on Free Shield Metal Craft Welding is undertaken by TESDA to 20 beneficiaries. The LGU plans to enroll them to NC ll after finishing NC l assessment to give the beneficiaries a better chance to be employed abroad.
LGU Pandan also facilitated the On-going Free face to face course on language training for Korean and English language. In partnership with TESDA National Language Skills Center, constituents who undergo training will soon find themselves getting a job easily.
ON SOCIAL SERVICES
Enhancing access to health care and maintaining efficient delivery of health services is the topmost priority of the administration of Mayor Tomas Estoperez, Jr.
Mayor Estoperez initiated the transfer of the Botika ng Bayan from the municipal building to the Rural Health Office. The idea is making it more convenient for patients to access the right medicines for their illness with direct supervision from the rural health officer.
Mayor Estoperez also increased the number of personnel at the RHU that includes midwives, nurses, and health aids thereby strengthening the services rendered at RHU and in Barangay Health Stations.
On top of the Municipal Health Officer, the LGU Pandan had likewise hired 3 additional Doctors on contract basis to render medical services to constituents from Monday to Friday, 8-5 pm.
The LGU Pandan also coordinated with Anakalusugan Partylist and the Office of Senator B**g Go for the conduct of medical missions in the hinterland barangays.
It also funded the construction of Isolation Facility, 2 lactating rooms for breastfeeding mothers at the municipal hall and another one at the transport terminal.
The LGU Pandan was also able to update the IDs of 2, 398 senior citizens, facilitates the issuance of their purchase booklets for medicines and groceries, and procured wheelchairs, single canes and quad canes for senior citizens amounting to 100,000 pesos.
The Estoperez administration had likewise initiated death assistance program. To date, the local government has already expended an amount to the tune of 462,000 pesos as cash assistance to the indigent families during their time of loss.
The LGU Pandan also initiated the construction of new senior citizens building amounting to 10 million pesos, courtesy of Pinuno Partylist.
To ensure safety and quicker response during emergencies, the local government has installed 14 additional units of CCTV cameras and 22 more to come soon to be installed in critical locations to include Malumpati, Fullon Rotonda, public market, terminal and the municipal hall.
All local emergency responders and other LGU employees have also undergone 3-day life basic support training coupled with standard first aid in collaboration with the provincial DRRMO.
The said LGU personnel had likewise undergone 5-day water search and rescue training with the Philippine Coast Guard.
A new emergency response transport vehicle was also procured to be utilized by emergency response teams during emergencies.
The LGU in collaboration with Kalahi Ciddss have extended substantial assistance to 167 PWDs in Pandan. A total of 751,500 pesos was provided through the Cash for Work Program for PWDs.
Computer literacy training was also provided to teachers, barangay secretaries and barangay treasurers.
Training for Canva Design Platform was also provided to the youths to assist them in their studies and schoolwork.
The LGU Pandan had likewise recorded a 48.13 percent or equivalent to 367, 574.72 pesos increase in the Real Property Tax collection in 2022 to 2023.
The business tax collection has also increased from 724, 574 pesos to 1.3 million pesos.
Enhancing the quality of life of children, the LGU Pandan has constructed a playground. The initiative aims to provide children a safe andf enjoyable space, thus nurturing their physical and social development.
Mayor Tomas Estoperez Jr. had likewise implemented various essential infrastructures. This includes the construction of retaining wall, residual collection area, construction of unified HDPE septic tank system at Malumpati, and the construction of Solar Street Lights project, improvement and construction of roads, farm to market roads, foot bridges, covered courts and box culverts in the barangays and in población proper and the improvement of fish section in the public market among others.
Mayor Tomas Estoperez Jr. also recognizes the support of Vice Mayor Jeremy Tan and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, other local officials and most of all the people of Pandan whom he called his “Boss.”
PHOTO: CTTO
