Chiong recalls long road to cityhood

CEBU, Philippines – City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong boasted the city's increasing revenue and infrastructure projects in his 40-minute State of the Naga Address yesterday at the Enan Chiong Activity Center.

Speaking before residents, City Hall employees, and public officials, Chiong first recalled the long journey and challenges his administration was facing before Naga finally attained its cityhood eight years ago.

"We have had quite a journey. Together, we faced the challenges of cityhood, lost the cityhood status twice, and regained it, undertook the birth pains of a very young city, celebrated victories, reaped successes and transitioned from being a first income class municipality into a third income class city," Chiong said as he began his 11-page report.

The conversion of Naga into a city was lobbied in Congress by former congressman Eduardo Gullas.

Chiong assumed as municipal mayor in 2006 by succession after his brother, former mayor Ferdinand Chiong, died. In 2007, Chiong ran and won.

Yesterday, he reported what he claimed were his accomplishments between 2006 and until the present. He trumpeted the gains made by his administration in various areas of public service, including the increasing revenue collection.

In terms of education, he said the city has constructed 57 school buildings and 142 classrooms and rehabilitated 21 school buildings and 57 classrooms. Overall, Chiong said, the city spent P118.8 million.

The city also spent P46 million for the purchase of school textbooks and supplementary reading materials and P7.5 million for the acquisition of armchairs.

The city has also allocated a total of P16 million since the city's scholarship program started in 2012.

From 2006 to 2015, he said, the Alternative Learning System facilitated 4,368 graduates, 1,664 of whom have been hired locally and 834 employed abroad.

In the field of health, Chiong said the rural health unit and maternity clinic of the city has three full-time doctors and 26 functional barangay health stations, which have a registered nurse or midwife assigned.

Chiong said there are 128,847 residents who have availed of the consultation services of RHU while P19,309,200 in funds were allocated for the PhilHealth enrollment of 14,015 individuals from 2012 to 2015.

The city government shelled out close to P1 billion in terms of infrastructure development.

"Ang atong road network sa city is something that I am proud of kay ang impact sa sementado nga karsada can be felt by everybody. Wala'y pili and can spur economic development in the 28 barangays," Chiong said.

The city funded the infrastructure projects, as follows: P222 million for paving, concreting and asphalting of 33.2 kilometers of roads; P23 million for drainage construction and rehabilitation; P44 million for foot bridges constructed in the barangays; P195.35 million to construct the Hall of Justice, police station, fire station, slaughterhouse, legislative building, Naga People's Market, Olympic-size pool, training center and track oval; P79 million for the proposed major infrastructure projects that include the road opening from Barangay Mayana to Barangay Uling; boardwalk and lighthouse.

Chiong also reported that they have shown care to senior citizens by increasing the allocation for their assistance from P73,000 in 2009 to P5 million this year, which includes hospitalization and burial assistance.

Chiong disclosed that a total of 1,197 business establishments have registered with the city. This resulted to the increase in business taxes from P22.357 million in 2006 to P301 million as of June 2015.

"By building this trust and confidence, we are encouraging the business sector to pay the right taxes because they can see that their contribution will translate into programs, projects and services that will redound to the benefit of the Nagahanons," Chiong said.

The city's projected income before the year ends, according to Chiong, is P650 million, compared to P104 million in 2006. The city's assets already reached to P1.541 billion, which was at P191.6 million in 2006.

"With the time that we had in our hands and resources at our disposal, it is my hope that we had made meaningful strides of development in the sectors that needed our attention the most," Chiong added.

Chiong acknowledged Vice Mayor Delfin Señor and the City Council's cooperation saying "the leaps of development we have made so far is only made possible because our vision and development agenda has garnered support of the vice mayor and council."

Chiong ended his speech by saying that in his 10 years as chief executive, he was able to deliver the needed basic services to his constituents.

"I hope that in my 10 years as your City Mayor, we have addressed the basic needs and delivered the most basic of services. And if I dare say, it is my hope that we have done even more, way beyond the call of duty. It is my hope, that indeed, we have steered Naga to greater heights," Chiong said.

Among those present during the SONA of Chiong were Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Provincial Board Member Julian Daan, Minglanilla Mayor Lani Peña, Cebu Representative Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas and former congressman Eduardo Gullas.

Incidentally, Chiong was celebrating his 55th birthday on the day he delivered his SONA.