State of the City AddressMy beloved Cebuanos, my beloved guests,I am here standing in front of you, not to talk in detail about the current situation of our city. But instead to enumerate the following: 1.) the changes that we have seen; 2) the challenges that we face; 3) the things and actions that we have done and will be doing; and 4) the _____ and the meaning of these towards the people of our people. My beloved Cebuanos, one year have passed, we are called in a not so ordinary leadership, during the election and important occasion in the history of our city. We have seen that we are surrounded with problems that we have not expected. As we speak of this problem, it does not that we are here today to blame each other. But we know more than to ignore these lists of problems, these will surely become a big problem to our beloved city. Of all the things I have mentioned in my first speech I have delivered in front of you here in this exact place and even during the time of my campaign, I have invited you all to join me in straightening the crooked, arranging the mess, cleaning the dirt, eliminating the smell and beautifying the ugly. And I followed it up by saying UKU Ta or in other words: We are one; Join us; Come with us. Because as we go together, we make a lot of things: Together, We Can Make Things Happen.The platform that I presented is the SEE D BIG 3Ps gives us a fixed guide of our leadership. This is what makes our administration strong and safe to sail to the seas of true service that includes the fields of social services, environment, education and continue to progress in the fields of business, infrastructure and government and the same as giving enough attention to the needs of the people, to our places in the city and the movements concerning the people. The government today is not just ME but We wherein we will increase the service and lessen politics. Above all, to always follow the principle Public Office is A Public Trust may become a guide so that our vehicle, which is the Authority of the City of Cebu, will continue to journey towards its destined progress. STATUS OF THE CITYS TREASURYWe are very thankful to our council who approved our Supplemental Budget proposal last year that reached 1.5 billion pesos and again our budget this year reached 4.5 billion pesos. These allotted funds are for our important projects and these are also distributed to all the departments including the city council and to the different barangays as well as the firefighters and the police. We have reached our budget for this year because we strengthened our tax collection. As of now, our proceeds have reached 53& or 2.5 billion. Because of this, I am very thankful to our private sectors who dutifully paid their taxes in its exact amount and on the exact date. Also, our collection from the land sales in the South Road Properties is also one of the biggest source of our funds. This said quantity that has been collected from our government, is not only used to pay the salaries of the employees and to operate the city but also a huge portion of it is also allotted to providing the services needed by the people.The different divisions of our budget in theyear 2011 reached 4.5 billion pesos, will really tend to our governments platform that we have discussed about before which is theSEE D BIG 3Ps. On the side of the Social Services, we allotted 815.5 million or 18% of the total funds; for education, 117.8 million or 3%; for the environment, 473.8 million or 11%; for drainage, 61.6 million or 1%; for business facility 336.7 million or 8%; for infrastructure, 335.6 million or 8% and for governance, 1.694 billion or 38%, for human resource (people), 298.7 million or 7% and the remaining two Ps represents the Place and Public Affairs, 324.5 million that comprises 8% of the total funds.Here today, with great humility and utter truth, I will tell you the services and progress that we have made from the government funds and from the contribution from our friends in the private sectors in the past year:On the part of education and youth progress:We continue to inculcate to our youth through allotting funds in order for out Citys Scholarship Program to thrive that has already helped about 5,800 scholars. We also set aside 100 million pesos for building additional school buildings. Aside from this, there are also additional funds that reached 227.9 million that is allotted through our Special Education Fund through the Local School Board wherein your own mayor is the Chairman. In the said funds of the SEF, under the guidance of the Local School Board, we also gave a portion of 120 million pesos to build a new school and to repair also the old buildings. Another 20 million pesos was also allotted to buy new computers that we will be distributing to the schools. In the past year, we have built 8 school buildings in different barangays that comprises 84 classrooms. Together with the help of the private sectors, we built a free Japanese language training program for our nursing students in CCMC. We also continue the program Know your Barangay and Search for Model Scouts and as well as the programs from CCYDC that we have already started for the youth. On peace and order in the cityOur city has become more peaceful this year compared to the last year all because of the united efforts of our police officers. This year, the crime volume rate has decreased to 31%, lower compared to the ones recorded last year. We are continuously fighting towards crime by providing exact implementation towards the police force. Because of this, the city of Cebu bought 44 motorcycles including electronic and radio gadgets that will be used by the chosen group of policemen that will be called as MCRU or Motor Cop Response Unit. They will be patrolling the streets to drive away criminals and those who have bad intentions. We also continued our program on Adopt a Police Station. Just recently, we have finished the new San Nicolas police station together with the contribution of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and the Vicsal group, Aboitiz Foundation and Asociation de Benevola. We have also arranged the agreement with the private donors so that we can follow the improvement of the Police Stations in Parian, Fuente, Mambaling and Pardo.In the domain of infrastructureWe are all aware that as we assume our role, the situation of our roads is something that we cannot be proud of. Because of this, we have decided to give it enough attention and funds so that we can conduct a broad management on our roads not only in the plains but also on the mountains. That is why, in passing the Supplemental Budget 5 last term of last years budget and the same goes to our annual budget this year, our government has set aside 200 million for the expenses in asphalting the roads and another 200 millio to cement the roads in the mountainous barangays. We have already started working on asphalting 14 kilometers that includes 36 roads in the different roads in the city by booking a private contractor. The asphalt maintenance project is still ongoing wherein we got the chance to maintain around 6.16 kilometers of road. The cementing of the streets in the mountainous barangays will follow shortly because we have conducted a bidding that reached 35 projects or roads in our mountains. But the biggest work that we have done regarding this is the cementing the roads in the North Reclamation Area, the roads in a long time that was not given attention that whoever was the former beholder can really question if there is a government that is overseeing our city. We have also renovated our executive building so that it wont be the contrary to the face of our legislative building wherein your servant has worked hard to beautify it. we placed walkways that connects the first floor of the legislative building to the Executive building and we also transferred the office of the Mayor because and for our people especially the Senior Citizen and PWDs so that when they visit our office, it will be easy and orderly.We have also made progress in Cebu City Medical Center, the hospital that was supposed to be intended for our poor brothers and sisters but was threatened to be sold and was filled with criticisms. Today, even if you just pass by the building, you can really see the changes in the said hospital. If you get inside CCMC, you can feel the orderly state of things because we got the chance to organize the services following the order of the Department of Health. We also did not neglect the Guba Emergency Hospital which we fixed through the assistance of DOH. If we can remember, the said hospital was supposed to be transferred to Vicente Sotto Medical Center. It is a big slap on our face and to the city if that happens. We have also built 8 multi-purpose buildings and 16 other buildings were renovated in the different barangays of the city. We also have a program called adopt-a-health-center that includes 80 health centers under the assistance of the Filipino-Chinese Community. We have not also forgotten our problems with floods that will surge on us on rainy days and will create hassle and worry to the residents and motorists along the streets. That is why in the past year, we have conducted the implantation of the 38 different kinds of drainage construction and improvement projects. We also conducted emptied the garbage and the dirts that can clog our sewage, canals and rivers. The planned dredging operations will approximately reach half a kilometer of the Mahiga Creek and 2.7 kilometer of the Mahiga River. Including this will be the continuation of the dredging of Tinago Creek together with the implementation of the concrete lined canals in the different sitios of our barangay. Anyhow, through our efforts to celan our rivers, we were threatened on the impending case in the court. I will not mind such issues because I firmly believe that I am only doing what is just and what is good for many. Our goal and intention is to avoid wretch and damage like what happened to our brothers and sisters in Luzon and just recently in Davao wherein more than 20 people were killed due to fllod. I will not allow that this will happen to our brothers and sisters.

We have started changing the gloomy sodium lamps on our streets in this modern kind of light thatis called the metal halide wherein it is an energy saving light. You have also noticed that we have lightened up the traffic lights and signages by buying new LED traffic lights.We have also built not less than 25 artesian wells in our barangays. We already have water reservoirs in the mountainous barangays of Tabuan, Buot-Tauo, Pamutan, Lusaran ug Tagbao. We have installed more than 70 street lights on barangay roads including those in the mountains. We have also installed tram lines in Tabunan and Sudlon.All these adds to our aim before to make a communal toilet, city jail in Kalunasan, Ramos public market and seawall In DuljoOn the domain of environmental developmentOne of the significant achievements that our administration has done is the closing of the Inayawan Landfill. The decisions was reached after an intricate discussion together with all the shareholders. The closing of the landfill gave the city additional savings of more than 40 million. The program on Gubat sa Basura, together with the private sector, Barangay Officials, BEO, CESET, DPS, and all others, the strict implementation of no segregation, no collection policy reduced our garbage to 35%. We have also strengthened the constant cleaning of the streets and the regular collection of our garbage. Because of this, we can see and even the tourists can notice that our city is free from garbage especially in the streets. We have also made 107 compost beds for vermin culture and composting in Inayawan Landfill. There are 361 hectares of land that includes 9 barangays wherein we implemented our program on agro-reforestation.We also continue to develop and nurture our Cebu Zoo for recreation and the parks for our youth through claiming additional insects and adding more employees that will take good care of the park. The private sectors have also helped provide additional facilities to the zoo. We are greatly thankful to Governor Gwen Garcia for her permission to continue managing the zoo in the same place in the province. This only shows the cooperation of the city and the province for the good of the people. Because of this good cooperation of the two authorities, the Larsian Road is now open, and was given the chance to be decided upon managing fuente osmena and to solve the problem on 98-1.The irrigation projects on the 12 upland barangays were also finished together with the assistance of the National Irrigation Administration. The said irrigation project is the reason why there is irrigation for plants and flowers which aside from being the source of livelihood for our brothers and sisters in the barangay, it has also created greener surrounding and added beauty to our government. We have also continued our program on conducting a quarterly coastal and river clean-up as well as the barangay clean-up.On tourism, culture and sportsBecause of the programs that were initiated by the government including CHAC, the city has received recognition as Asias City of Culture. There will be an event that will hold here in the city within this month because of this. As our duty, we have given enough attention to the historic Fort San Pedro by allotting funds and conducting modifications to modify it. Today, we have opened a new and beautiful Plaza Independencia as the renovations have just been finished. Through our hardwork, all those who will visit the plaza will not feel afraid anymore instead they will feel complete happiness and pleasure as they stroll around with the love of their lives. We have also just inaggurated the Rizal Public Library and Museum which we have set aside funds for to show that we love our culture enough to preserve it. And most of all, our pride, Sinulog, wherein your servant has struggled and worked hard to make the annual celebration a success, is still fresh from our memories. The celebrations success was highly commended that even our President Pnoy and the new Cardinal, Jose Plama have personally commented that it is the grandest and the nicest Sinulog among all the past celebrations. The Balik Cebu, See Cebu in Carousel, Paseo sa Kabilin, Buhing Kalbaryo 2011 and the expanded Pasko sa Sugbo that will already include all streets of the city, are only few of the colorful fields that your humble servant has initiated when it comes to tourism and culture. We foresee in the near future the beautification of the streets starting from Sanciangko to Capitol through the program called Beautify Cebu Movement that is headed by Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung whose efforts are now starting to prosper with the help of the private sectors and individuals who showed their concern. Akin to the same movement, we have also done the same to the streets of Colon headed by Jonie Chan and in North Reclamation Area together with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce headed by Samuel CHIOSON, IN Legaspi Extension with the help of Ricky Dakay and Danny Aboitiz. Attached with this is also the streamlining and the decorating of the surroundings in Carbon Market together with the contribution of the Filipino-Chinese Community headed by Filomeno Lim and all those who aided the group of vendors in that area. We have also tended the road on N. Bacalso Avenue together with the private sector headed by Pax Pacana. In the aspect of athletics and health, wherein we pointed out its importance to the youth, we continued our program on sports in grassroots level through the work of our Sports Commission headed by Ed Hayco. We are also supporting this in all means especially in making sports facilities and complex as well as renovating the other facilities in the different barangays.On social servicesWe are all aware of the significance of nutrition to the youth because it is related to their mental health. If a child goes to school and lacks nutrition, he will most likely not learn the lessons because his brain lacks the motivation to study. That is why we will conduct an activity to answer these problems. And I am happy to inform you that our city received a Nutrition award from our hardwork.We are still going to continue giving help to those in need especially in times of accidents like fire. At this moment, our government is not lacking in providing the needs for the victims like food, household materials, construction supplies and other things. Aside from the government, the private sector is also helping these programs. Our government is aware of what is needed by the people especially the senior citizens and help them in any kind of way. Your humble servant believes that the senior citizens need recognition because of what they have done to the society while they are still well and able. Because of this, we continue to allot funds for their benefits of our senior citizens. I also gave an order that financial assistance will be given to senior citizens who voted last election. For me, it is a great offense towards our elders. That is why I am happy to inform you that I have amended the move of the workplace to City Hall to give benefits that are intended for the qualified senior citizens in the coming week of July 2011 however because of their great number the project will not be finished right away.Together with the senior citizens, I have not forgotten the disabled or the people with disabilities and those whom we call solo parents.Most of all, our brothers have continuously enjoyed the hospitalization and medicine programs under CHAMP. As of now, we have helped by giving medicines to over 14,914 of our brothers who have illness and we have also helped pay hospitalization feels to over 5,908 people who were admitted to the hospital. On the other hand, we have also enrolled around 37,000 Cebuano families to the Phil Health program so that they can enjoy its benefits. Aside from this, the improving Cebu City Medical center is still open as well as the health centers and our barangay health workers. The urban poor today or what we call the aspiring sector, has already found a clear direction for their own good while the low-cost and medium rise housing programs are outlined using the funds from the National Housing Authority together with the livelihood capital programs that are backed by the Department of Labor and Employment. The condition of the community of the aspiring sector will be given enough and fast attention. Since 2004, the NHA has allotted 100 million pesos for the resettlement of those who lived in danger areas. Aside from this, there is an additional budget of 20% taken from the balance development requirement from the developers and there is also a 0.05% socialized housing fee under the UDHA Law from the foreign and local cooperation. But our administration believes that charity begins at home that is why we also have the same housing program for the employees in city hall that even until now has still not owned a home. Meanwhile, I certainly have not deprived the city employees of the benefits that they should receive from the time that the law was outlined.

A Short Summary of the Past

You all know that even before I was elected as the Mayor of our City, I have already served the city for the past 18 years; 9 years as a city councilor and another 9 years as Cebu City Vice-Mayor.

Within that 18 years, where my mandate only encompasses legislative duties, I still have done works which encompasses executive duties. That which is done for you to know the kind of service that your humble servant wishes to achieve, allow me consisely narrate the things that I have done when I was still a city councilor and vice mayor of our City.

In the field of economic growth, your humble servant initiated local and international job fairs as well as the night markets in the downtown and Carbon Market area.

In the field of education, in incultating and developing our youth, I initiated a movement which I named, Know your Barangay where our youth were given a chance to encounter and learn about the activities of the officials in their baranggay. Search for Model Scouts and activities of CCYDC then and now where I took time to give by donating laboratory equipments to 11 public schools.

On the Citys peace and order, I took time, through my my Barangayan, Bayanihan and Voluntarism advocacy, to build new Police and Fire Stations in Mabolo, Pardo, ug Waterfront Area with the help of the private sector.

On infrastructures, your humble servant became an instrument in putting up: Communal toilets in barrangays, a big and clean building in Kalunasan which serves as a City Jail for the prisoners from the crowded and dirty BBRC. Also, through the efforts of your humble servant, I have helped in building the new Ramos Public Market strong Seawall in Duljo. And above all, I have returned to the City Halls structure its dignity after renovating it, and I have also established Plaza Sugbo which is one of the many places which Cebu proudly offers to tourists, both foreign and local.

You also know that the citys order and cleanliness is close to my heart. With that, I initiated even then that the seashores and rivers should be regularly cleaned. When a fire ignited in Cebus Inayawan Land, your humble servant was the first to take care of the dilemma so that we will not be exposed to the revolting and harmful smoke coming from the said fire from the landfill.

Your humble servant is devoted to culture and history. I also initiated the Pasko sa Barangay and Buhing Kalbryo and supported similar activities which were organized by other institutions.

Now, I hope that I have pictured out to you my kind of service which is related to the principle: Increase ones service, decrease politics.With your support and cooperation, I have already done many things amidst criticisms. However, we should bear in mind that there are still a lot of things which needs to be done.

Today, we are still facing a lot of challenges. With that, allow me to enumerate the things that we have to do: I will increase the benefits of the Baranggay Captains and Councillors by giving them monthly additional allowance. I will also make sure to it that our SK assistance will not only rest on the chairmen but will also include the SK councilors. I did not break free from my aims and goals to revive Carbon Market and Taboan for the majority of our market vendors. I also did not forget my goal to develop our rural economy. Because of this, I have allotted P70 million in our annual budget and I will still add an additional P100 million in our proposed supplemental budget so that the reconstruction of the burned Carbon Market will be completed. I will focus on the appropriate development measures on the so called north corridor which includes the roads starting from Banilad to Talamban. Also, the developments in the citys South Road Properties which I have already conducted can attract businesses which can offer numerous job opportunities for our people. I will certainly make sure that an elementary school will be built in Barangay Ermita. I will also build a 4-storey public library in SRP so that our youth will know the importance of research. I will also ontinue the planned Coastal Boulevard from Pasil to Inayawan which would improve the situation of the residents of the area. It is also my dream to install CCTV cameras on the big streets of the city within my term. These would be a great help to the Cebu City Police and CITOM in monitoring road activities. I also forsee developments in infrastructure. These projects constitutes the big and wide construction and rehabilitation of our drainage system; cementing and widening our roads; creating bicycle lanes, promenades beside creeks, and tram lines in hillyland. I will also build a public service complex and a large Coliseum in SRP which would be the site of events and activities. I will also revive the citys abattoir so that it will become a modern and beautiful facility which is certainly fit for a city like Cebu. I will also repair the sewage treatment facility and establish more Materials Recovery Facility in every baranggay. I will also transform Inayawan Landfill into a Peoples Park. I will convert Pasil Fish Market into a Childrens Park. I will conduct the establishment of rain water catchments and checkdams for saving rain water which gives life to plans and man. I have outlined activities related to ecotourism development. I will bring back the mountain festivals which were celebrated in the Agsungot Highlands, the Tartanilla Festival, Inter-Barangay Festival, and many more. I will set up welcome signages in every baranggay. I will make sure that the city will have public toilets. I will set in motion a program which will take goodcare of our OFWs. I will see to it that a Cebu City College will be built and established.

In the field of my supervision and governance:

I will continue my kind of supervision which exemplifies stewardship, shepherding, and serving and avoidance because after all, I do not have the right to own the government. I will enforce the City Hall at your doorstep policy by bringing the services of the different government agencies closer to the people. I will encourage our baranggay captains and councilors to think that they are little mayors and city councilors in their baranggay so that they will immediately make decisions and activities for the good of their place; I will hasten the process of giving out business permits. I will continue to closely guide and inspect employees so that we will know those who are suitable to work in the city by giving only three to six months of casual contract. This and the other activities I have mentioned are but parts of the plans which I have laid out for the progress of our city and people. With this, I bear no doubts nor fear to say that the situation of Cebu City to day is good, flourishing, and strong.

Advocacies on Barangayan, Bayanihan and Voluntarism:Inspite of these, I will still comprehensively enforce my advocacies on Barangayan, Bayanihan and Voluntarism. There will be a group that will be know as the Biggest Voluntarism Movement which will support Environment, Emergency Response, Traffic, and Peace and Order activities. Through these plans we can certainly develop our city through the support of institutions corporate responsibility. Of these plans, voluntarism is the most significant. We cannot just disregard voluntarism because there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer. And most all, we can see the support and sense of awareness of the Cebu Province officials, headed by Gov. Gwen Garcia, as a great contribution for our prosperity. And because of that I am always grateful.

5.) CONCLUSION:

You chose me as your mayor. Mayor of the people; Mayor of our beloved city. I will affirm with all honesty, vigour, and strength that I will amplify my effort to develop Cebu City so that this will become a good place to live in. I have already said that I have served and will continue to serve in the name of the people and of God. If God is always with us, we will not be afraid to face all the challenges and undertakings which comes together with the activities we have planned for the betterment of our city and people. I will make sure, as Regional Development Council chairman, to further expand the citys economic and infrastructure development.

All of us know, and this I want all of us to engrave in our minds and plant in our memories, that seriousness not only among the government officials but also among the majority of our people is needed in order to reach our goals of improving ourselves and our city. We can only achieve our goals of improvement through the support and efforts of majority of our people especially those people who profoundly understands the governments aims and efforts.

Our government will do its job of drafting and implementing the right policies and laws which will ignite the fire of true development and strength. However, the people must also be ready to do what he/she has to do especially now that we are still starting to implement our plans and we must also be ready to sacrifice by setting our personal ambitions aside for the good of the majority.

Many know John F. Kennedy. On a Friday, January 21, 1961, he encouraged the Americans by saying, Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country. Now, also the first Friday of the month of July 2011, a day of exultation for our beloved Santo Nio, I will say: Let us also ask ourselves: What can we do for our city and fellow citizens?

Reaching our goal of improvement will surely be impossible if we do not posses self-discipline and if we do not know and live up to our responsibilities as citizens of our city. We will attain the improvement and comfort of our living. We will certainly attain it if the people, together with the government, will earnestly conduct activities that will be helpful to reach that goal. If the government works alone, failure is evident.

However, if you join and cooperate with us, you prudent citizens, our success is certain. For together, we can make things happen!!!

Thank you very much! I hope that Santo Nio will always be with us to continually grant us blessings and forgiveness!!!--oOo--