Cebu is stronger than ever - Gwen

Governor Gwen Garcia yesterday delivered her State of the Province Address boasting that Cebu under her helm for a year is stronger than ever.

"Cebu today - as it was when we assumed office a year ago - continues to be the number one province in the entire country," Gwen said reporting that Cebu has zero debt, compared to other local governments that have gone to mortgaging their internal revenue allotments to finance their projects.

Cebu government's total assets and equity grew by five percent and posted 15.74 percent growth in net income. It has surplus of P2.1-billion with P712-million in cash and short-term deposits and a record P1.4-billion in medium- and long-term investments, Gwen told the audience.

Gwen also reported that her programs in infrastructure, water, power, health, education, agriculture, food production, women, business, tourism and environment have also gathered better results. She made no mention of peace and order.

Gwen said her greatest achievement in office is the "dawning of a new age in politics," where the opposition joins hands with the administration.

Gwen said this new politics led to a stronger Cebu, a movement that rises beyond partisan interests, which could make for an effective delivery of service to the people, she said in deference to the support given her by Vice Governor Greg Sanchez, who was allied and won his post under the opposition ticket.

Gwen acknowledged Sanchez' cooperation with her administration saying the vice-governor has given invaluable help and selfless contribution to make Cebu stronger. "Mr. Vice Governor, as you have so graciously accepted my invitation to sit at the table of understanding, may I request you now to rise and accept the appreciation of our people."

Gwen said this development is difficult to quantify but politics in her time is no longer the end but the means to good governance.

"That government is an enterprise; an enterprise demands efficiency; efficiency equals quality service; and quality service redounds to the benefit of the people," Gwen told the crowd, which include some board members, foreign dignitaries, businessmen and representatives from other sectors.

Provincial board members Jose Mari Gastardo an Agnes Magpale, opposition members present, refused to comment on the governor's message. Juan Bolo and Ramon Martin Calderon attended but the others, said Sanchez were in the birthday bash of board member Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.

The foreign officials present were consuls John Domingo of the US, Moya Jackson of the British Consulate, Jaime Picornell of the Spanish Consulate, Antonio Chiu of the Slovak Republic, consul general Cui Lou Shen of China, and two from Japan -outgoing consul Makoto Kobayashe and incoming Shigekozu Sakuwaga.

However, the man who lost to Gwen in the gubernatorial race, Celestino Martinez III was critical as expected, saying Gwen merely described the progress near the Capitol and not the entire province.

He said he could not think of a single concrete achievement of Gwen who he further assailed as sounding funnier for advocating a united Cebu while pushing for a divided country.

"She doesn't know what she is talking about, she wants a united Cebu, supports the president and then pushes for a divided country," Martinez said taking potshots at the planned Visayas Republic.

Shortly after Gwen's SOPA, a fireworks display dazzled the Friday night sky, highlighting the banner, across the Capitol's dome, that has the message: "One Voice, One Cebu, For country, For Gloria."

More than a hundred feasted in the Gwen-organized pro-Arroyo street party where free food abound complete with the sounds of the two local bands.

But Martinez described the street party as a mere "kasipsipan" of Gwen and her allies. He said Arroyo wants concrete support that she could see and feel not the kind Gwen and her lot are doing.