Gov. Salceda vows to make Albay the most liveable province in RP

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda will launch a more aggressive and advanced socio-economic program that would make Albay the most liveable province across the country. He vowed to make the province known for having good schools, hospitals and environment. The new socio-economic platform under the program Albay Rising would firmly position the province in the map of the country economic road map for investment and tourism.

Albay Provincial Capitol | Photo by Dex Baldon

Salceda said Albay Rising has 5 Es which stand for Economy, Education, Environment, Equity and Health. This would place Albay in the map of the country as trade, investment and tourist center. “This should carry us into the next sequel of the Albay Saga to be called Albay Boom which should commence once the international airport is completed,” he said.

Salceda, in his inaugural speech during Monday’s oath taking ceremonies here, has committed to “attain development through low-carb, low-energy intensity, low-rise strategies compatible with the regeneration capacity of our environment so that future Albayanos will benefit not pay for the current entitlements.” He said in his first term, the provincial strategy was Albay Mabuhay, Maybuhay, May Hanapbuhay and this was designed as a recovery from the severe impacts of disasters.

After three years of unified effort, the province is now ready to launch a more advancing, forward-moving socioeconomic development strategy designed to build the foundations for its polevaulting into a California in 30 years -in terms of per capita incomes sustained by a modern agriculture, competitive services sector, advanced institutions of learning, green energy, adequate infrastructure and a modest industrial base.

“We are launching a new, more advanced and forward-moving socio-economic projects designed to catapult Albay into one of the country’s progressive provinces and to become a California in 30 years,” Salceda said. This strategy will make Albay grow under the 5 Es, a new program under his economic battle cry “Albay Rising”, an agenda that would place the province in the map of the country as trade, investment and tourist center.

5 Es notable projects include among others: the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA), Guicadale Business Platform, National Renewable Energy Program, Barangay Capacity enhancement, 4Pcs, Higher Education Contribution Scheme, Education Quality for Albayano (EQUAL), Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS), Bicol University and the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital modernization and the Universal PhilHealth coverage.

And the implementation of the Disaster Risk Reduction where in Albay was a UNDP Galing Pook and NDCC Gawad Kalasag Awardees for institutionalizing the Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO) and the pre-emptive evacuation scheme that attained a “Zero Casualty” target in times of calamities.

Under the EQUITY program the provincial government has three flagship programs and an institutional initiative to ensure that economic growth will be spread among the greater majority-this are: CSF Credit Surety Fund, 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program relocation and the establishment of the Albay Millenium Development Goals Office or AMDGO to manage the entire effort.

Salceda highlighting his major accomplishments during his first term as Governor outlined at least four projects: the Southern Luzon International Airport in Daraga town with a budget of P3.4 billion. Reming reconstruction and relocation program, with 10,076 lots and almost 5,000 shelter units built worth P1.25 billion, repair of 5,600 classrooms at P47 million, and repair of public infrastructure costing P776 million.

The implementation of the “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” (4Ps) for all three cities and 11 towns that would benefit some 70,000 poor families at P1,400 per month for five years with an annual expenditures of P977.3 million which is larger than the provincial budget and that would total P5 billion in five years.
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Click here for the complete transcript of Gov. Salceda’s oath-taking speech
Source: Philippine Information Agency