The Vice Governor, Hon. Elvis A. dela Merced, the Honorable Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the great Mayors of the seven municipalities with their officials, the 100 barangay Captains in the province and their barangay officials who are also here with us today, Department Heads, Guests, friends from tri-media, my co-workers in the Province, our counterparts from the National Government, fellow DINAGATNONS:

A pleasant afternoon to all of us!

One year ago, I left Manila to humbly accept the mandate given to me by the people of Dinagat Islands to lead them to a better future. Today, I?m proud to share with you the story of the journey we took towards our shared vision.

Our story is about obstacles successfully hurdled, fears overcome, weaknesses converted into strengths, and confusion cleared by a common direction. It is a story of faith, courage, commitment, and partnership. A story of people helping each other to transform current adversities to windows of opportunities.

With the birth of the youngest province of the Philippines, the expectations of Dinagatnons were mountain high. But instead of cowering from fear of not able to deliver it, we dissected these expectations, set parameters, and placed the parts within a time frame. We built hopes and encourage community participation. We purposively placed key stakeholders on board, and created our vision.

Gipangutana ako sa makadaghang higayon kon asa nako makita ang akong kaugalingon duha ka tuig gikan karon. Ug ako mipahiyom. Mipahiyom tungod kay nasayod ako kon unsa ang tumong sa maong  pangutana. Ug mipahiyom ako tungod kay wala nako makita ang akong kaugalingon sa bisan asang dapit, kon dili dinhi sa Dinagat Islands, karon, duha ka tuig gikan karon, lima ka tuig gikan karon, o hangtud inyo pa akong gikinahanglan.

Daghan kaayo ang angayang buhaton dinhing dapita. Ug ang mga hagit, ang pagbati sa paglaum, ang atong yano nga garbo sa pagka-Dinagatnon, hilabihan ka kusog ug dili kapugngan. Ania ako magapabilin, dili tungod sa bahandi, dili tungod sa pagka-inila, dili tungod sa pagkahalangdon. Ania ako magpabilin aron paghatag sa akong tibook nga pag-alagad alang sa tanang mga Dinagatnon. . .

Wala kita mahadlok sa mga hagit kay kita nagtinabangay ug nagkahiusa paingon sa katumanan sa atong mga pangandoy.
 
We made our first step by setting our provincial direction. We envisioned our province as a progressive island-province with empowered communities living in the spirit of bayanihan geared towards agri-fishery, responsible mining and tourism, sustaining a balanced human ecology. It is therefore our mission to promote socio-economic growth through sound governance and sustainable development of all resources. With this strategic direction, we divided our provincial thrust into manageable sections.

These sections are infrastructure development, economic development, social services, environmental protection, administration, and governance. In each section, we set our targets. It is for these targets that we pooled our available scarce resources and talents based on its time frame. It is the interplay of these accomplishments that jumpstarted and pushed the infant province to early growth and development.

Kining tanan nga kalambuan nga atong nakab-ot sa pagkakaron maoy bunga sa atong mga paningkamot ug pakigbisog sa nanglabay nga mga adlaw. Kini ang malig-on nga pundasyon alang sa mahayag nga kaugmaon natong mga Dinagatnon! 

As the provincial governor of our province, allow me to share with you these milestones.

Infrastructure Development

In the area of infrastructure development, your Governor was able to secure an amount of Ten Million Pesos from the Department of Agriculture for farm-to-market roads. Another Ten Million Pesos was solicited from the President?s Social Fund for the initial construction of our Capitol building. The National Irrigation Administration, through our efforts, has also committed 1.63 Million Pesos for the construction of a communal irrigation system in the Province.

Since one of our priority programs is the development of our road network, the Provincial Engineering Office has already identified 64 kilometers of provincial road with complete inventory. In line with this, the Provincial Government is now in the process of procuring heavy equipment, such as road grader, pay loader, 10-wheeler dump trucks, and 4x4 flat bed truck.

During the visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Dinagat Islands this year to inaugurate the Tag-iho Bridge in Basilisa, your Governor was able to convince Her Excellency to prioritize the concreting of San Jose-Basilisa Road this year amounting to Two Hundred Million Pesos as part of Her SONA commitment of 2.4 Billion Pesos for the concreting of Dinagat-Loreto Road.

Another priority project is the construction of our temporary Capitol Building in which Phase I is already completed amounting to 5.2 Million Pesos. Phase II is now ongoing with a budget of 7.5 Million Pesos.

In the later part of 2007, the Provincial Government was able to release the total amount of 34.91 Million Pesos  in various projects to almost all barangays of the Province. This year, we were able to finance eleven (11) projects in the amount of 5.93 Million Pesos under the 20% Provincial Development Fund. Five (5) projects are now being evaluated for funding under the Calamity Fund with a total amount of 8.33 Million Pesos.

To date, a total of 641.78 Million Pesos was already invested in Dinagat Islands, even before we became a province, on infrastructure development from all sources. Of this amount, I am very grateful to the Department of Agrarian Reform for contributing the biggest share of almost 367 Million Pesos through its foreign-assisted projects like MinSSAD, IFAD-NMCIREMP, SPOTS and ARISP II. I am also thankful to the Department of Public Works and Highways for implementing various projects under regular fund and SONA;  the National Irrigation Administration for implementing various irrigation projects; and the Philippine Ports Authority for the work done in the expansion of San Jose Port costing a total of 20 Million Pesos.

Economic Development

The economic progress of the province, today, relies primarily on the development of agriculture and fishery industries. This is the very reason why I have focused my attention on the life of our marginal people who are the farmers and fisherfolks. The Provincial Government has extended more livelihood and infrastructure support projects like farm-to-market roads and irrigation projects to help our farmers and fishermen increase their productivity and income.

Ang seguridad sa pagkaon mao?y una nakong tuyo; mao nga akong gitahasan ang atong Provincial Agriculturist ug Provincial Veterinarian aron dalion ang pagpatuman sa tanang programa sa pagpalambo sa pagpanguma ug pangisda aron mapasulong gayod nato ang atong probinsiya sa mas hayag nga kaugmaon.

At this time, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my distinct privilege to present to you our accomplishments in the Economic Sector:
          
In Agriculture, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, we intensified our rice production by providing certified palay seeds with fertilizer inputs to 140 rice farmers covering 180 hectares under the 50-50 scheme.  We initiated efforts to produce our own good quality rice seeds by establishing an initial total area of 10 hectares in Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, San Jose and Libjo.  We have also availed of the Fertilizer Subsidy Program of DA-LGU and allocated counterpart funds to further support the rice production program of the province. 

In the corn production program, through our efforts, 124 corn farmers received seed assistance from the Department of Agriculture thru the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program of the National Government. 

In support to environment-friendly agriculture, a techno-demo on Agri-Kalikasan was implemented in a 40-hectare area.  This is an organic-based farming guided by scientific principles.

With the above interventions, we have spent around Seven Million Pesos, in an effort to increase the yield of staple food crops in the next cropping seasons.

On vegetable production, we have distributed hybrid vegetable seeds for our Vegetable Commercialization Program benefiting 84 vegetable growers.  Under the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program of the Department of Agriculture, we have distributed assorted seeds to 6,070 identified malnourished households.  To date, the province has established 14 communal gardens in 14 barangays that will serve as sources of seeds to sustain the program.

In support to the High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) Program, we have already distributed a total of 31,997 pieces of planting materials of High Value Fruit trees for our expansion program. We will also establish a Provincial Plant Nursery amounting to 1.01 Million Pesos to ensure adequate supply of good quality planting materials.

Of course, production will have no significance if the marketing aspect will be left behind. Atong gipaninguha nga ang atong mga mag-uuma makatagamtam ug maayong presyo sa ilang mga produkto pinaagi sa mga ?Tabo sa Barangay ug Munisipyo.? Ang atong Mayor sa mga kalungsuran dako ug nahimong tabang alang ning maong kalihokan.?

Ang proyekto sa pagpananum ug kalibre o ang ?Cassava Production Management Project? maoy usa sa mga dagkong programa sa Probinsiya. We have exposed about 1.5 Million Pesos to three (3) conduit cooperatives as loan assistance to production for an initial area of 100 hectares. We have also tapped the assistance of the Department of Agriculture in the provision of cassava planting materials. Several trainings have been conducted to enhance the capacities of the farmers. 

I am also aware of the welfare of our coconut farmers. While we have no direct interventions for the development of our coconut industry, I am very much thankful to the Philippine Coconut Authority for establishing their office in our Province. I am also thankful for the implementation of their programs that benefited our coconut farmers.

In the livestock sector, the Provincial Government is presently concerned with increasing the population of carabaos.  The upgrading of carabao using artificial insemination has benefited 65 farmers. This is a joint effort of our partners, the  DAR-MinSSAD, the Philippine Carabao Center and the Provincial Veterinary Office.

Goat raising is one of the least developed segments of the livestock industry.  Hence, the provincial government is pushing to increase goat population as a source of meat and milk.  One hundred twenty-eight (128) heads of goats were distributed to farmer-beneficiaries under the Dept. of Agriculture- Hunger Mitigation Program, Caraga Integrated Development Program and the Provincial Government.

A one-hectare mother garden for forage and pasture was established at Brgy. Cuarenta, San Jose, to support livestock production. Poultry, like chicken and duck, being cheap sources of protein, were also dispersed to farmers.

Meanwhile, increasing fish catch to increase the income of our fishing constituents is one of the objectives of this Administration.  Hence, we have allocated 1.03 Million Pesos from the 20% Development Fund to support our inland and marine endeavour.  Ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources maoy nahimo natong kaabag sa atong mga programa sa pangisda.

Eighty thousand (80,000) pieces of bangus fingerlings were distributed in the municipalities of Libjo and Dinagat in support to livelihood undertakings of the constituents.   Another type of livelihood project is the culture of tilapia fingerlings through freshwater ponds. The 20,000 pieces of tilapia fingerlings were distributed in the municipalities of San Jose, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Basilisa and Libjo.

For our seaweed industry development, we have distributed 4,000 kilos of seaweed propagules to our seaweed farmers. Two (2) units of solar dryer for seaweeds were fabricated and distributed to the municipalities of Dinagat and Libjo.  Women groups were the recipient of the said equipment.

Ang atong tinguha mao nga mahimong ?Seaweed Capital? ang atong probinsiya dinhi sa Caraga. Right now, seaweed or "guso" farming is a very lucrative enterprise due to the huge demand of seaweeds in the world market. Daghan ang lugar dinhi sa Dinagat Islands diin puede ang guso, ug kini wala magkinahanglan ug dakong capital.

A roll-over scheme on the provision of 5 horsepower boat engines were granted to fifteen (15) fishermen who were previously using non-motorized banca. Ang "roll-over scheme" mao ang pag-uli sa kantidad sa makina sa pumpboat aron mapahimuslan sa uban pang nagkinahanglan nga mananagat. Uban ninii, kita naghatag usab ug napulo (10) kabook nga pukot sa panagat alang sa mga mananagat sa mga munisipyo sa Dinagat ug Cagdianao.

Ang akong Administrasyon naghatag usab ug dakong pagtagad sa pagpalambo sa kaalam ug kinaadman sa atong mga mag-uuma ug sa atong mga farm technicians pinaagi sa pagmugna ug mga techno-demo programs. Karong bag-o pa lang, kita nagpahigayon ug Participatory Rural Appraisal para sa pagsugod sa pagtoon, kon research,  sa mga lagutmon sama sa  kalibre, kamote, gabi, ug sa mga  gulayon o vegetables.

Other infrastructures, like farm-to-market roads and bridges, to be implemented with outside funding sources had been validated to support our agri-fishery endeavor. 

For Veterinary Services, we are extending our full-swing efforts to prevent the occurrence of animal diseases and promote public health and safety. A total of 24,600 heads of animals have been vaccinated, dewormed and supplemented, and 1,480 heads of animals have been treated benefiting 1,500 farmers in Dinagat Islands.

Atong gihimo ang pinakamaayong mga lakang, sa pagpatuman sa atong mga balaod ug mga programa sa gobyerno, sa pagpanalipod sa atong mga katawhan, ilabina batok sa gikahadlokang sakit nga rabies. As of today, we have vaccinated at least 1,428 dogs from 1,295 dog owners covering the seven towns.

I am also very particular in protecting our wildlife. My heart bleeds for the helpless creatures that were subjected to cruelty of men. In particular, we have launched our program that protects green sea turtles- our pawikan. It is tagged as the ?Save Our Pawikan Initiative Agenda? or SOPIA. I have witnessed and had been instrumental for the treatment and release of 3 wounded pawikan back to the sea. Gusto nako mahibaloan sa tanan nga ang pagpangdakop sa pawikan ginadili sa balaod, ug mahimong mapreso sa sulod sa 12 ka tuig ang mosupak niini.

I am appealing to everyone to be vigilant, ug magtinabangay kita sa pagpanalipod sa nagakawala natong mga mananap sa kadagatan ug sa kamad-an, sama sa pawikan, agila, kuyagsing o Philippine Tarsier, ug uban pa.  After all, these efforts are not for my personal advancement, but for the legacy of our children and the generations yet to come.

In the cooperative sector, the Provincial Government has released a total of Three Hundred Thousand pesos (Php300,000) to six (6) cooperatives to finance their various livelihood projects, sama sa Banagan Production, Copra Marketing, Vegetable Production ug Cassava Production.
Ang kantidad nga Singkwenta Mil (P50,000) iga-uli sulod sa tulo (3) ka tuig nga walay tubo.

That is why aside from the six cooperatives that have already availed of the assistance, we allocated additional P 1 Million Pesos from the 20% Development Fund intended for livelihood production projects of our cooperatives this year. Ingon niana ang akong dakong panglantaw alang sa atong mga kooperatiba".  
Visiting different  barangays around the province, I found that there are barangays which do not have cooperatives yet. Out of 100 barangays only 52 have cooperatives. "Tungod niini akong gitahasan ang atong hingtungdang opisina sa pagpahigayon sa pagpasabot sa kaayohan sa usa ka barangay nga adunay kooperatiba, tungod kay ang atong mga hinabang o programa atong ipaagi ngadto sa atong mga koop. Therefore our battle cry is: "One Barangay - One Coop" (OBOC).
Aron mapalig-on ang kalihokan sa kooperatiba sa probinsiya, akong gihangyo ang atong mga mayor sa pagpaluyo sa pagtukod sa Municipal Cooperative Development Council sa matag lungsod. Naghangyo usab ako sa tanan nga suportahan ang kalihukan sa kooperatiba diha sa atong kalungsoran kay ako nagatoo nga kini maoy yawe sa kalambuan.

On Tourism Development

Aron mabalanse ang atong kahimtang sa pang-ekonomiya, nagtoo ako nga dako ang ikatampo sa atong tourism sector. Busa nagplano kita ug mga lakang aron i-promote ang Dinagat Islands.

Living Asia Channel has provided us a beautiful exposure and opportunity to show the best of the Province to the world! Ang atong probinsiya adunay daghang maanindot nga mga lugar ug mga talan-awon. Ug alang sa atong mga bisita nga wala pa masayod niini, tugoti ako sa pagpakita kaninyo sa pipila sa atong mga tourist attractions nga atong gitinguha nga mahimong tourist destinations sa dili madugay nga panahon.

• Hinabyan Beach Resort, Cagdianao - Kini nga beach adunay puti ug pino nga balas. Usa sa pinakanindot sa atong probinsiya.

• Bitaug Beach, Basilisa - This powdery white sand beach with crystal clear water is a one-stop destination for you to see and feel what is like to be in Boracay and Palawan.

• Tagbirayan Beach, Cagdianao -  This offers a beautiful ambiance with its brown grains of sands. This has also a surfing potential.

• Puerto Princesa White Beach, Basilisa - This is also one of the tourist attractions in Basilisa.
• Cabilan White Beach, Dinagat - This is one of the attractions in the Municipality of Dinagat, located at the historic Cabilan Islands.
• Lake Bababu, Basilisa - This     is a majestic body of water surrounded by primeval forest. This beautiful place has earned awards as one of the cleanest and greenest inland bodies of water in the Philippines, twice. This gave Dinagat Islands a good impression on Environmental Protection and Management.

Other identified points of interests include:

• La Isla Aga, Basilisa -    This beautiful place is enjoying its growing popularity among celebrity guests and balikbayans.

• Magazine Waterfalls in  Basilisa  and Legaspi Waterfalls in Cagdianao     -are likewise potential crowd-drawers because the water is clean and pure and the ambiance is serene, calm and nurturing!

• Bangkaw Spring Resort, Tubajon - A nice, serene place to enjoy the beauty  of nature and to feel the cool, crystal-clear water flowing from the mountains.

• Basilisa Rock Formations, Basilisa - Find satisfaction in viewing the amazing Basilisa rock formations ideal for mountain trekking and climbing.

• Basilisa Islets, Basilisa - A place perfect for boating, swimming, or simply lying back to soak in the view.

• Bonsai Forest, Loreto - The bonsai forest in Mt. Redondo in Loreto offers the most enchanted experience- where more than a hundred hectares of mountainous land is covered by magnificent century old trees. Underneath these trees is the earth so rich with mineral deposits that naturally hinder growth of these. And making even more magical, when the miniature trees are in bloom, and a standing person becomes a towering giant among these bonsai-like trees, making the whole area a Bonsai Mountain!

• Punta Villa Cave, Libjo - This is one of the rare caves in Dinagat Islands.

• The famous PBMA Founder?s Shrine, San Jose - is the only Pilgrimage Shrine in CARAGA where about 10,000 PBMA members from all-over the Philippines and abroad pay their visit annually on the months of May and December.

• Bat Sanctuary, Tubajon - This a showcase of rich biodiversity, where tens of thousands of large fruit bats abode the mangrove area in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Tubajon.

In our effort to promote tourism in the province, we assisted various local tours and conducted tourism-related information drive and forums through our Provincial Tourism Office. We have organized also the Provincial Tourism Council and Barangay Tourism Council in every barangay of San Jose.

We have accounted tourist arrivals within the first and second quarter of 2008 which showed progressive tourism statistics trend. This will serve as the basis for future tourism development endeavors.

Our mining industry is at present, a major contributor to our local and national economy. Right now, we have fourteen (14) mining companies operating in the Province. While mining industry is generally a nature-destructive business if not done right, we will see to it that mining operations in the province will not destroy our other equally important resources, such as coastal, marine and potential tourist destinations.

Social Services

In the area of social welfare services, we consistently implemented several programs that address emergency situations, women and child 
welfare, elderly and persons with disability welfare, among others, through the Provincial Social Welfare Office.

Adunay 198 nga mga kabos ang nahatagan ug tabang sa tambal, lubong, pamasahe, ug pagkaon. Lima ka pamilya nga nadaot ang mga balay tungod sa bagyo ug sunog nahatagan ug tabang-financial. Sa panahon sa Bagyong Frank, adunay 568 katao ang naalagaran ug nahatagan ug relief goods sa mga evacuation centers. 

Niadtong Disyembre, 2007, ang ?Pamaskong Handog Project? sa inyong Gobernador nakahatag ug Christmas goodies sa mga grocery items ngadto sa  4,000 nga naglisod nga mga pamilya. Kapin sa 4,000 ka mga bata ang nakadawat usab ug mga regalo sa mga dulaan, mga biscuits ug chocolates, ug mga bags, gikan gihapon sa maong programa.

Our 132 Day Care Workers in the 128 Day Care Centers province-wide have served 3,278 day care preschoolers under the Child Welfare Program. We have institutionalized the Day Care workers of the province by organizing the Provincial Day Care Workers Association.  An amount of Php 237,600.00 was spent for the payment of honoraria of the 132 Day Care Workers.
We have provided 7,000 marginalized women with social services to enhance their self and social enhancement skills under the Women Welfare Program.
On livelihood assistance program, a total of 80 unemployed women in the different municipalities in the province have received capital assistance in the amount of 400 Thousand Pesos through the Self Employment Assistance sa Kaunlaran (SEA-K) to start their own businesses. This is a program of the DSWD implemented through the Provincial and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices. 
The elderly or the senior citizens were also given priority in my Administration. 130 selected Senior Citizens from the seven (7) municipalities participated in the 1st Provincial Senior Citizen?s week celebration.  Kinahanglan atong hatagan ug pagtagad ang atong mga lolo ug lola.

We have provided educational assistance to deserving students with disability (PWD) through a scholarship program. Presently, there were six (6) PWDs who benefited, where five (5) are enrolled at Don Jose Memorial Foundation College of Science and Technology and one (1) is enrolled at  R. Ecleo Polytechnic College.  This program is jointly implemented by PSWDO and by the Municipal Local Government Units.

In line with the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week Celebration, the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands in partnership with the Loving Presence Foundation, Inc. and the Local Government Units provided wheelchairs to six (6) persons with disability from Basilisa, Loreto, San Jose, Libjo and Cagdianao.  Another fifteen (15) wheelchairs will be arriving soon to be distributed to disabled persons within the Province.

We have equipped forty-five (45) service providers from the 7 municipalities with the Community Based Rehabilitation Training for Volunteers. Aside from capability building, funds for livelihood projects for the differently-abled persons from the Municipality of San Jose were also provided through their association in the amount of Php55,000.

Aron matabangan ang pinakakabus nga mga pamilya sa Basilisa, Cagdianao, Libjo ug Tubajon, ang inyong Gobernador nagpirma ug kasabotan kon Memorandum of Agreement tali sa Department of Social Welfare and Development para sa  ?Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.? Sa susamang paagi, kita nagpaluyo sa pagpatuman sa ?Tindahan Natin Program, ilabi na sa mga lagyong barangay. The 68 Tindahan Natin operators province-wide have provided access to low-priced goods to poor families.  

Our food assistance project has served 245 families with 255 below normal very low malnourished children. They were provided with nutritious food items to help these children in their health recovery. In line with this project, six (6) nutritional monitoring equipments were distributed to 6 municipalities. This project is designed to help the service providers gather accurate data on the nutritional status of children ages 0-71 months old.

In line with the National Population Program, ang atong probinsiya nagapaluyo sa Responsible Parenting Movement ? Natural Family Planning Program. As a result 2,300 Married Couples at Reproductive Age (MACRA) are now adopting the natural family planning method in the Province.

The youth, being our future leaders, are given priority in my Administration.  Thus, the Adolescents? Health and Youth Development (AHYD) Program is being implemented to educate the youth on reproductive health.   1,255 young teens from the Sanguniang Kabataan, out-of-school youth and POPDEV club members are already enrolled in this program.

The Dinagat Islands Youth Club was established in order to give more importance to the youth both in-school and out-of-school aged 15 ? 24 years old. Ang tumong mao ang pag-andam kanila alang sa maayong kaugmaon aron mahimo silang mapuslanong katawhan sa katilingban.

On health services, we successfully maintain and sustain the schistosomiasis-free, malaria-free, and rabies-free status of the province. Usa kini ka kahimoan nga wala pa matupngi dinhi sa Caraga Region.

We have installed functional corners for Continuing Health Assurance in Related Institutions (CHARI?s Corner) in strategic provincial offices. This is to mitigate occupational hazards in the workplace, making it more humane and employee-friendly. This is a first in Caraga, and which we will roll down to the 7 municipalities.

We have implemented the Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) Thrust in Dinagat Islands through a purposive, synergistic and convergent movement of local partners in linking population, health and environment in sustainable development efforts. We have paid Barangay San Juan and Barangay Carmen of Loreto, in the form of health services, for their initiative in the establishment of San Juan Fish Sanctuary. This form of Payment for Ecological Services has placed our province in the green map of our country.  

We have implemented our Dinagat Islands Reproductive Health Program which includes Pap smear screening, Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections, provision of Family Planning logistics, and performance of Bilateral Tubal Ligation.

And to get community support, we conducted the Rabies Summit, and implemented our Anti-Rabies Action Plan which goal is to totally eliminate rabies from Dinagat Islands. We made our 3 district hospitals as Animal Bite Treatment Centers. This is to make sure that rabies can not pose a come back in the near future.

To highlight the relationship of environmental and human well-being, we conducted Alay sa Puso, Alay sa Kalikasan which drew a thousand participants from the government offices and civil society. This activity involved Mass Hataw Exercise, REDCOP Caravan, Life March, and Coastal clean-up.

We invested on the future of Dinagatnons by signing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. This involves cost-sharing in the implementation of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Program with a total budget of 20.6 Million Pesos.

Aron mahibalik ang kahayag ngadto sa mga nawad-an niini, kita naghimo sa ?1st Governor Jade Cataract Operation? ngadto sa 77 ka mga beneficiaries.  This project is in partnership with the Saint Luke Medical Center. 

We conducted Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) Caravans in all municipalities targeting the school graders, women, government employees, persons with disability, and senior citizens. We?re able to screen 2,950 clients and treated 20% of them with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection, renal stones, and/or acute glumerolunephritis.

Atong gipaayo ug gipahiuli ang Albor District Hospital sa kantidad nga P500,000.00. Gikan sa pagka halos-dili magamit nga Albor District Hospital usa ka tuig kanhi, kini nahimo na nga usa ka mapuslanon nga health facility nga diin adunay katakos alang sa paghimo ug mga major surgical operations.
   
Namalit kita ug 1 Million Pesos nga kantidad sa mga tambal alang sa mga nanginahanglan nga barangay ug ang uban niini para sa atong tulo ka mga district hospitals.

We have developed our local health systems. We established 3 Area Health Zones, namely: Dinagat North Area Health Zone, Dinagat Central Area Health Zone, and Dinagat South Area Health Zone. Each has its own Core Referral Hospital. We primed these Area Health Zones for an eventual implementation of a Formula One project that we hope Department of Health will facilitate. Furthermore, we have established cost-sharing scheme between and among the member municipalities of these Area Health Zones.

Labing mahinungdanon, atong gipalig-on ang atong Provincial Barangay Health Worker?s Federation pinaagi sa paghatag ug P2.4 million pesos nga kantidad sa honoraria alang sa 922 accredited Barangay Health Workers.

To mitigate the impact of disasters in our islands, we have also organized our Barangay Health and Emergency Response Teams (BHERT) in all barangays which relay early information regarding health emergencies and disasters in their respective localities.

In collaboration with the national agencies, we had enthusiastically installed Botika ng Barangays, conducted Garantisadong Pambata, conducted trainings on Infant and Young Child Feeding, pursued accreditation of our hospitals, enrolled indigents in PHIC, and conducted tuli and dental outreaches in barangays. And we have organized the Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) Coalition of Dinagat Islands to establish an effective network all over the province that champions social causes such as population management, reproductive health program, contraceptive self-reliance, and environmental protection.

Aron sa pagtubag sa nagkalain-laing umaabot nga kalamidad ug emerhensiya nga lagmit mo-igo sa atong probinsiya, atong giorganisa ug gipalig-on ang atong PROVINCIAL DISASTER COORDINATING COUNCIL diin ang atong kagamhanang probinsiyal, nagasubay sa Comprehensive Disaster Management Framework of the National Disaster Coordinating Council nga nagasentro sa PAGPANGANDAM, PAGKUNHOD, PAGPUGONG sa KADAOT ug PAGRESPONDE sa mga MAAPEKTUHAN kon ugaling MO-IGO kanato ang  KALAMIDAD.

As to disaster preparedness, we had initiated Orientation Seminar on Disaster Risk Management for Local   Government Units, including contingency planning on landslides. We also conducted information dissemination through mass media and enhancement on people?s awareness through the conduct of Disaster Management fora, among others.

For disaster mitigation, we conducted  hazard / risk identification and assessment to vulnerable areas considering that Dinagat Islands is a disaster prone area. We also prioritized for the inclusion of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) framework in the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan, and the development of early warning systems to hazard prone areas.

As to disaster response and relief, we have organized the Dinagat Islands Search and Rescue (DISAR) composing 32 members and 38 rescue volunteers. Ug mismo kining inyong Gobernador miapil sa Rescue Training ug nanguna sa pag-ambak sa helicopter ug milangoy sa kapin usa ka milya... We are the lone province in Caraga Region having our DISAR recognized as the Philippine Air Force 505th Search and Rescue Group Auxiliary Team. The DISAR is equipped with skills on land and water search and rescue, with some basic rescue equipment for surface and underwater.

Sukad mamugna ang  DISAR, kini nakaresponde na sa mga nanglabay nga bagyo, baha,  aksidente sa kadalanan ug mga emerhensya medical. Usab ang DISAR nakapahigayon sa OPLAN BANTAY KARAGATAN nga nakatabang para sa kasigurohan sa mga delegado nga nagtambong sa tinuig nga tigom sa PBMA- kalihukan nga nakahatag ug maayong impresyon sa atong mga turista.

On job generation and employment promotion, several skills training were conducted in the province by the Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) through the Provincial Employment and Manpower Office (PEMO). Among these trainings were the ?Galing Mekaniko Ako? (Motorcyle Repair and Maintenance Training Program), and the ?Galing Masahista Ako? (Health and Wellness Training Program). A total of one hundred (100) beneficiaries graduated from these training programs and successfully passed the National Competency Assessment. They were given starter kits so that they can start their own businesses immediately. 

Another 42 trainees recently completed the Building Wiring Electrician?s Course cum Training. Ngani karon adunay 22 nga nagpadayon pag-training sa Mason o Carpentry.

To promote overseas employment, the Provincial Government in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment, facilitated the first Special Recruitment Activity (SRA) by inviting to the province two recruitment agencies accredited by POEA aron malikayan ang mga illegal recruiters. More than 50 applicants for different jobs abroad have been accepted and ready for training as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

On local employment, the PEMO facilitated a one-day seminar-orientation on Entrepreneurship on Work and Productivity Improvement of different establishment in Dinagat Province in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the Technical Advisory Visit (TAV) through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO).

In order to help our less privileged but deserving students who want to pursue their studies, the Provincial Government through the Provincial Employment and Manpower Office, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment, launched a program entitled ?Special Program for the Employment of Students? (SPES). There were seventy (70) deserving students who availed the program as beneficiaries aging from 15 to 25 years old. The program started last March 27 until April 29, 2008.

Atong damgo nga mahatagan ug igong edukasyon ang mga Dinagatnon.?

Environmental Protection

My administration recognizes the importance of the environment. Akong gitahasan ang atong  Provincial Cooperative Development Office alang sa espesyal nga programa sa pagpananum sa mga bakhaw, o Mangrove Rehabilitation, nga kabahin sa tulubagong sosyal sa atong mga kooperatiba ngadto sa katilingban. With this, a Mangrove Planting activity was done at Barangay R. E. Ecleo, Cagdianao last  April 15, 2008 and planted 8,000 propagules in the southern portion of this province.  Another mangrove planting activity will be done this year at the Gaas Inlet area.
On our continued drive to protect our forest against illegal logging, we have confiscated 3,606 board feet of lumber and 333 pieces of round timber in Barangay Bua, Municipality of Cagdianao last January 27, 2008. We conduct regular patrolling to 3,815 hectares untenured forestland. We also reactivated the existing Municipal Forest Protection Councils (MFPC) in the Municipality of Tubajon, Loreto, Albor and Cagdianao in collaboration with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office.

In forest development through the PENRO, we have produced 3,000 seedlings of Agoho and 4,000 Mangium seedlings in support to the Green Forestry Master Plan.

Administration

In our quest for the realization of our dreams and aspirations, the Executive and Legislative branches of the Provincial Government formulated the Executive and Legislative Agenda (ELA). It aims to portray the situations that we are currently in and depict the future conditions that we desire for our constituents. This document embodies the programs and projects that we prioritized to accomplish during my term.

In the field of establishing information database, I am proud to say that the Provincial Government has already embarked on the Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Project assisted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). This project is in partnership with the seven municipalities of the province that covers 100 barangays or a total of 20,189 subject households.  

The project aims to establish a province-wide information database which is vital to planning and program formulation. Labing importante niini, mao nga magpakita kini sa hulagway sa socio-economic condition sa atong mga barangay ug magatug-an kanato kon kinsa ang mga kabus, hain sila magpuyo, ug nganong kabus sila. Pinaagi niini, masayon na lamang ang pagtabang kanila.
 
The total project cost is estimated at Php5.75 million, of which 69% will be shouldered by the seven municipalities and the remaining 31% will be funded by the Provincial Government. At present, the municipalities of Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo and Tubajon are almost complete in their CBMS household surveys.

 With the assistance of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and the DILG, we are now in the process of crafting the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan. The Technical Working Group (TWG) for this purpose was already formed through the issuance of a Provincial Administrative Order.

The Provincial Government also conducted the 1st Peoples Day Celebration last May 5-6, 2008 attended by Regional Heads of National Line Agencies. Kini mao ang usa sa atong mga paningkamot nga mahidool ang atong gobyerno ngadto sa atong mga katawhan aron matubag dayon ang ilang mga problema ug mga panginahanglan.

On our human resource development, the Civil Service Commission conducted a Comprehensive Personnel Management Assessment in the province spearheaded by no less than the CSC Caraga Regional Director together with three Field Directors. With positive assessment, this is one of the major steps to achieve our administration?s thrust to make Dinagat Islands a conducive place for aspiring and goal-driven people and a workplace with an efficient management climate. ?Mao kini ang pinaka unang lakang aron matagaan kita ug katungod pag aksyon ilabina sa mga appointments sa bag-ong empleyado.?

To provide equal opportunity for employment, the provincial government adopted the principle of merit and fitness.   Hiring of personnel for first and second level positions was done during the first quarter of this year. Some 117 applicants signified their intention of joining the government service. However, only 98 of whom took the qualifying exams.

Seventy-four (74) exam-passers undergone oral interview. To date, the Provincial Government is on the process of issuing appointments. ?Kini nagpamatuod nga ang atong Administrasyon walay gipili bisan kinsa basta qualified and committed to render public service.?

A total of 125 trainings were conducted by the different national line agencies which benefitted 496 personnel gikan sa mga nag kalain laing opisina sa atong probinsiya to widen their horizon and maximize their potentials.

We have 5 personnel from the Human Resource Management and Development Office who became the first in the province to be accredited as members of the Professionalized Corps of Test Administrators or PROCTAD. Usa kini ka dako natong garbo nga aduna kitay mga empleyado which the Civil Service Commission has entrusted to safeguard the integrity and sanctity of the Civil Service Examinations.

For Personnel Management Systems and Programs, the provincial government has submitted for approval to the Civil Service Commission its Personnel Mechanisms to assess the Agency?s competence and evaluate the progress and difficulties in policy implementations. We have:
a.    Program on Rewards, Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence  or PRAISE
b.    Merit Selection & Promotion Plan
c.    System of Ranking Positions
d.    Performance Evaluation System
e.    Grievance Machinery
On employee discipline, because of our HR Development interventions, no employee was subjected to any disciplinary action or administrative formal complaint. Nagpakita lamang nga ang atong mga empleyado sa probinsiya nagbaton ug hiyas isip mga maayong sulugoon sa haring lungsod.

On employee-management relations, we have organized the Dinagat Islands Capitol Employees Association to hasten program implementation thru our collaborative efforts. 

The province recognizes the welfare, efficiency and dedication of its personnel thru the reward system. The agency practices the grant of step increment, wage increase, leave privileges to qualified employees and other extrinsic and intrinsic rewards.

On our financial side, as of July, 2008, our total local income was already P141.8 Million Pesos, which is 57.5% of our target income of P246.73 Million Pesos, including the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). Our records showed that we have already exceeded most of our local revenue collection targets on real property and business taxes. Daghang salamat sa atong mga makugihon nga mga Tax Revenue Collectors. Thank you Lenlen and company. . . I also acknowledge and thank the individual and corporate taxpayers, especially the mining companies, who are religious and consistent in paying their taxes.
The aggressive Tax Revenue Campaign conducted by the Provincial Composite team made the Provincial Government especially on realty, sand and gravel, quarry and other environment taxes earned for the Provincial Treasurer and Assessor high marks and commendation from the Bureau of Local Government Finance-Caraga last June 2008, for attaining 100.90 % collection efficiency on 2007. Again, thank you Lenlen and company. .
The increase of real property tax revenue was the result of the parcellary tax mapping conducted by the Provincial Assessor?s Office and the expansion of the operations of mining companies. These companies were appraised and assessed by both the Provincial and Municipal Assessors in a total of 1,241 real property units with an assessed value of P 15.23 Million Pesos.

Governance

I am truly grateful to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by the Hon. Vice Governor for the legislative support to the Administration?s priority programs and projects. To date, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has already passed more than 240 resolutions and ordinances for all sectors.

Ingon niana kakugi ug ka-madasigon ang atong Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa pagpaluyo sa atong mga programa.?

Let me mention some of the significant accomplishments and resolutions passed by our Sangguniang Panlalawigan in support for our programs:

Sa akong tinguha nga matabangan ang mga kabus apan adunay katakos nga mga tinun-an, mapasalamaton ako sa atong  Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa pagpasa sa Resolution No. 460 nga suporta sa  ESKOLARAN Program alang sa maong katuyoan.

In order to answer our health problems on a focused program, three Area Health Zones were established through Resolution No. 28 enhancing the services of the 3 district hospitals.

On electric power generation, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan supported me with my plan to negotiate PHILNICO for the probability of developing Del Pilar Dam into a Hydro-Electric Power Plant to provide the people with lower rates of electric service through Resolution No. 588.

With our dream of adding local government units, our Legislative chamber favorably and strongly endorsed to the House of Representatives through our Hon. Glenda B. Ecleo the petition of 12 barangays namely: Benglen, Bayanihan, Boa, Diegas, Llamera, Legazpi, Rita Glenda, Rosita, Sombrado, Valencia, Villa Ecleo, and Pantenople of the three municipalities of Libjo, Cagdianao and Basilisa, to form a new municipality as embodied in Resolution No. 599. 

With our desire to promote different businesses and tourism in the Province, my administration strives to have an airport to entice businessmen and tourists, both local and foreign to visit our Islands. In this aspect, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed Resolution No. 448 requesting Sec. Leandro Mendoza of the Dept. of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) through the Office of Cong. Glenda B. Ecleo for the construction and operation of an airport in our province. The Regional Development Council has already furnished us a copy of RDC resolution endorsing the conduct of a study on the project.

On the protection and development of our environment, Resolution No. 590 was passed requesting all coastal barangays in the entire province to identify, allocate, and develop areas to be planted with mangroves.

In order to promote transparency in governance, we maintain a daily radio broadcast in the local radio stations in Surigao City. We have also a weekly radio program aired simulcast in three radio stations, with program format on developmental issues for the Dinagatnons to know and to be aware of the undertakings of the Provincial Government entitled ?Ang Probinsiya sa DINAGAT: Karon Ug Ugma.?

We also included print media as one of our major Information, Education and Communication  campaign materials. The official monthly tabloid was conceptualized and named  ?Ang DINAGATNON?.

I would like also to inform our people that our Provincial Official Website is already online. This initiative seeks to revolutionize our way to interact with the Dinagatnons. You can visit us at www.dinagatislands.gov.ph.

To address the needs of the job seekers, we have established a job portal, www.pditrabajocentral.dinagatislands.gov.ph. This site is envisioned to bring different institutions and organizations online that need applicants to fill in their job vacancies. The PDI Trabajo Central is now open for employers to post their job openings, and job seekers can submit their comprehensive resumè through this portal.

Other Accomplishments

As to other accomplishments, your Governor have granted a total of five (5) computers to two schools in Basilisa, two barangays in Libjo and the Internal Affairs Services Office. We have also released Php100,000 for our Eskolaran Program benefiting sixty (60) students.

Just recently, a ground-breaking ceremony of ?Jade?s Bridge? located at Plaridel, Libjo was conducted.  Other projects granted to this barangay were the repair of Plaridel wharf which is now on-going, and the construction of Plaridel Elementary School stage. We have also completed the improvement of the Barangay Hall of Carmen, Loreto.

In the Municipality of San Jose, an amount of Php100,000 was released for the construction of water reservoir for Barangay Mahayahay. We have also completed the construction Barangay Matingbe gym steel roofing funded by the provincial government.

In Barangay Cortes, Basilisa, a potable water supply system was recently completed. This project was also funded by the provincial government.

To help our indigent school children in the province, 9,000 Grade II and Grade III pupils in various elementary schools in the province were provided with notebooks.

To foster sports development, the 2nd Governor Jade?s Cup was launched on September 5, 2008 participated in by six municipalities. A total of Php172,100 was also granted to the 100 barangays of the province to help them in their sports activities.

To support their development projects, an amount of Php1,000,000 was given each to the municipalities of Cagdianao, Basilisa, Tubajon, Libjo and Loreto.

To fast tract the establishment of the NFA warehouse and office in Dinagat Islands, the Provincial Government assisted the agency in acquiring the land for the building.

The Provincial Government likewise assisted the Commission on Audit and the Internal Affairs Services (IAS) Office in putting up their offices in the province. Sa opisina sa IAS, diri nato isumbong ang mga abusadong pulis.

Though I proudly declare our provincial outputs and outcomes of the year that passed, I would like to thank everyone who made these possible. Without them, things could have been different. I know each one made great sacrifices, in one way or another, to make our story successful despite some limitations.

Going outside comfort zones and setting new directions for the good of the majority are not for the frail heart, but only for those who have an honest and inner desire to make positive societal changes. My heart bleeds, realizing this. And I salute each one of you.

I would like to sincerely thank my mom, Hon. Glenda Buray Ecleo, nga pinaagi sa iyang paningkamot nahimugso ang usa ka probinsiya nga dugay na gipangandoy sa mga Dinagatnon isip katumanan sa mga damgo sa akong amahan, atong amahan, nga si Divine Master Ruben Edera Ecleo, Sr.;  to my ever supportive brother, our Supreme President Ruben Buray Ecleo, Jr. together with the officials and members of the PBMA; Hon. Vice Governor Elvis dela Merced and the Honorable members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for developing policies and passing legislations supporting our provincial thrust; the Local Chief Executives of the seven (7) municipalities and their Sangguniang Bayan members for their indispensable cooperation and support; all the 100 Punong Barangays and their respective kagawads nga nagsilbing mga kaabag sa kalambuan ug kalinaw sa atong komunidad; national line agencies and our partners from the civil society for their continuing assistance in building our new province; Heads of the Provincial and Municipal Offices for their technical expertise, dedication and perseverance; all national, provincial, and municipal employees for their support; our doctors who unselfishly render services to Dinagatnons; and those faceless and nameless supporters in the barangays who backed me up and from whom I drew my strengths to go on. Kamong tanan ang akong inspirasyon. I thank you not only for the mandate but for the trust you have given me.

While the task to lead Dinagatnons to a better future falls on my shoulder, it is the partnership of key stakeholders and community participation that allow us to reach where we are now today. 

We are not yet in the zenith of our vision; in fact we have just started our journey. But by sharing the responsibility and accountability between and among us, we made our story deeply meaningful and our journey blissful despite of difficulties.

To quote Ecclesiastes 3:1, ?Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.? I truly believe that our time has now come to shine outside the shadow of mother Surigao del Norte, and for Dinagatnons to march purposively towards our shared vision. Looking forward and not turning back. After all, our sacrifice is for the good of our future generations.

Gikan sa akong kasing-kasing ngadto kaninyo akong minahal, maayong Dinagat Islands kanatong tanan!

Wassalam.

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