Chan touts first-year gains

CEBU, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan highlighted her administration’s accomplishments during its first year in office on Wednesday, citing expanded healthcare, education, social services, infrastructure, disaster preparedness, tourism and governance programs while promising to further broaden services for Oponganons.

Delivering her first State of the City Address (SOCA) before city officials, employees, barangay leaders and guests at the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob, Chan said her administration remained focused on public service despite inflation, natural disasters, global uncertainties and the challenges of a rapidly growing urban population.

“Today, I return before you to report on what has been accomplished and to account for that promise,” she said.

The mayor stressed that the success of a government should be measured by the quality of life of its people rather than by infrastructure alone.

“Real progress is not measured by the height of our buildings. It is measured by the dignity of our people. Not by how much the government has accomplished—but by how much our people have gained,” she said.

Her nearly one-hour-and-45-minute address was accompanied by beneficiaries of various city programs, who testified to the impact of the administration’s initiatives.

Expanded healthcare

Chan identified healthcare as one of her administration’s top priorities, reporting that more than 100,000 Oponganons received free medicines through the city’s public health system, while nearly 60,000 patients availed themselves of free medical consultations over the past year.

She said the city’s emergency medical teams also responded to more than 40,000 emergencies.

The mayor highlighted the expansion of specialized services at the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital.

“For the first time, our city now has a fully operational Eye Center,” she said.

According to her, the facility has already served more than 2,300 patients and performed over 300 free cataract and pterygium surgeries.

She added that the city hired in-house specialists, including a cardiovascular specialist, nephrologist, orthopedic surgeons and an interventional radiologist, reducing the need for residents to seek treatment outside Lapu-Lapu City.

The Sta. Rosa Community Hospital in Olango has also been fully renovated and will soon operate on solar power to ensure uninterrupted medical services, she said.

Chan reported that nearly 20,000 women received prenatal and maternal healthcare services, while more than 12,000 infants and children benefited from pediatric care and newborn screening programs.

She also cited expanded cancer screening, HIV testing, mental health services, immunization drives, blood donation campaigns, dental missions and anti-rabies programs.

More schools, scholarships

The mayor said the city continued investing heavily in education.

According to her, 105,820 learners from kindergarten to senior high school received school bags and learning supplies funded through the Special Education Fund, while another 6,783 daycare pupils received early childhood learning packages.

She also announced that 126 new classrooms in 12 school buildings will be constructed through a partnership with the Department of Education under the National School Building Program.

Chan disclosed that an additional school building is also set to rise following the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Education on Wednesday, bringing the total to 13 new school buildings aimed at addressing classroom shortages.

The city also turned over new school buildings in Calawisan, Babag and Sabang and completed repairs on 377 classrooms in 21 public schools.

At the tertiary level, the mayor said the City Council approved the revised charter of Lapu-Lapu City College to align with Commission on Higher Education standards while maintaining free tuition through the UniFAST program.

She said the college now serves more than 3,700 students and is planning to introduce night classes for working students.

The city likewise institutionalized an educational assistance program providing qualified college students with P5,000 per semester.

Chan noted that 10 Oponganons ranked among the country’s board examination topnotchers last year, while 874 newly licensed professionals each received P5,000 incentives from the city government.

Sports and social welfare

The mayor also cited the city’s achievements in sports, saying Lapu-Lapu recorded its best performance in the Palarong Pambansa after winning 10 medals, including six golds, while athletes also collected 225 medals during the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet.

The city distributed more than P1.5 million in incentives to athletes and academic achievers and extended P14 million in financial assistance to athletes and sports teams.

On social services, King-Chan reported that more than 20,000 residents received medical, burial and crisis assistance totaling over P60 million.

She added that the office of her husband, Congressman Junard “Ahong” Chan, provided more than P127 million in medical assistance for patients in private hospitals and dialysis beneficiaries.

More than 38,000 senior citizens, 10,000 persons with disabilities and 1,200 solo parents also received over P414 million in cash assistance.

The city also distributed 280 wheelchairs, launched free denture and rehabilitation programs, and continued operating its Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center for children with disabilities.

The mayor likewise highlighted the establishment of what she described as Cebu’s first Senior Citizens Community Center among highly urbanized cities.

Jobs, tourism, economy

The mayor said the city’s Public Employment Service Office facilitated the hiring of more than 6,300 job seekers through 19 job fairs, while nearly 9,000 students benefited from summer employment opportunities.

She said livelihood and entrepreneurship training reached 4,500 beneficiaries, while fisherfolk received boats, fuel subsidies, insurance and other assistance through programs implemented with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

She also underscored tourism’s continued role as one of Lapu-Lapu City’s economic drivers. The mayor cited the city’s hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Forum and meetings related to the 48th ASEAN Summit, saying these generated economic activity for hotels, restaurants, transport operators and small businesses.

Chan also pointed to the opening of the Mactan Expo Center, the upcoming Mactan World Museum and the expansion of direct international flights at Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

She added that the city continued streamlining business registration through its electronic Business One-Stop Shop (e-BOSS), while the Bureau of Local Government Finance recognized Lapu-Lapu City as the country’s top-performing local government unit in locally sourced revenue growth.

Infrastructure, disaster readiness

King-Chan said the city completed 44 locally funded infrastructure projects and is implementing 14 more involving roads, drainage systems, classrooms, health facilities and barangay buildings.

She also cited the nearing completion of the Lapu-Lapu City College Sports Oval, ongoing socialized housing projects, and desalination facilities in Punta Engaño and Olango.

On disaster preparedness, the mayor said more than 3,000 residents underwent disaster preparedness training while over 1,200 disaster volunteers were organized across barangays.

She also highlighted the city’s response to the Northern Cebu earthquake and Typhoon Tino, noting that Lapu-Lapu City recorded zero casualties during the typhoon.

As she concluded her address, Chan said her administration would continue prioritizing public services and infrastructure projects while laying the groundwork for the future Lapu-Lapu City Hall Complex.

“We have accomplished much—but I know our greatest achievements are still ahead of us,” she said.

“The future of Lapu-Lapu City will not be built by one Mayor, one Congressman, or one administration alone. It will be built by every Oponganon who chooses to care, to serve, and to believe that together, we can become even better than we are today,” Chan added. — /FPL (FREEMAN)