Albay Pio Provincial Information Office Press Release Gov. Salceda Welcomes DILG Sec. Roxas, Reports on Albay’s Accomplishments Governor Joey Sarte Salceda personally welcomed Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on his visit to Albay as he checks on projects that his department has spearheaded in the province, which was awarded the best province in local governance in 2010-2013. Salceda delivered his welcome speech and message at the Penaranda Park here at Legazpi City in front of the Provincial Capitol where the Provincial Government of Albay stages their flag-raising ceremony and where the DILG Secretary first headed after landing at the Legazpi Airport. In his speech, Gov. Salceda not only gave a warm welcome to Sec. Roxas, but also thanked him for his fervor defense of the Daraga International Airport when the latter was still Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication, wherein Salceda provided salient points for the development such as wealth creation and spatial integration. He also thanked Roxas for his 3rd consecutive appointment as RDC Chairman. Salceda also reported the successful completion of the 8 prerequisites for the operationalization of the $100bn Green Climate Fund wherein the Albay Governor sits as co-chair. He also cited that despite the many challenges where many deemed the goal to be impossible, the board pulled a miracle and pulled through, thanking President Aquino for his strong moral leadership for lifting their efforts. “The board looks forward to the participation of the President in chairing developing country in the forthcoming Leaders Summit (or pledging session) on Sept. 23 in NY, coinciding with the UNGA,” Salceda said. Gov. Joey Salceda further expanded his report by pointing out salient growth in the Province of Albay since his term first started stating facts and figures in multiple essential sectors which greatly affects the Albay population. “In the health sector, we compare the Philhealth enrolments of 2006, which was 18,510 to 173,262 in 2013, infant mortality rate went down from 9.43% to 7.49%, Facility-Based Deliveries went up from 14% to a staggering 90%, Prevalence of Malnutrition went down from 21% to 17%, and as of 2008, Albay was declared Malaria-free and in 2012, Filaria-free,” Salceda stated. The Albay Governor also reported that in the Environment Sector, the province has experienced an increase in Forest Cover Change, citing that forest cover was only at 10.25% in 2003, while in 2010 it has grown to 17.49% or a total of 44,891.16 hectares. In the Agriculture forefront, Albay is now the largest producer of pili from 1,200 hectares planted to 2,972, and Albay is the 2nd biggest producer of camote and possibly the largest exporter. “In education, from 177 out of 193, beating only the provinces, Albay leapt to Rank 19 in 2012 although it is now at 35 as of 2014, from only 34,000 college graduates in 2000, we are now 184,000 principally due to the aggressive funding assistance programs of the PGA, and based on a PIDS UNICEF study, participation rate in Elementary has jumped from 72% to 98% and there is only a 0.3% dropout rate versus national average of 1.3%,” Salceda said. The Governor also reported that in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, Albay has achieved remarkable accomplishments, such as; Zero casualty achieved in 17 out of 20 years since 1994, OCD NDRRMC has designated Albay as training institute as mandated in RA 10121 Sec. 10 h, and Albay has provided skills training to hundreds of barangays, hundreds of municipalities, 24 cities, 26 provinces and in partnerships with NGOs like CNDR provided training to firms and communities. Gov. Salceda further stated that “Albay is the center of tourism boom in the Philippines from only 8,765 foreign tourists in 2006 (36,608 in 2007), Albay foreign arrivals are now at 383,000 of which 300,000 were added from 2010-2013.” As proof of these Achievemtns, the Province of Albay became the recipient of multiple awards through the years including; the GALING POOK for early achievement of health MDGs, the GALING POOK for DRR institutionalization, and 3 consecutive KALASAG awards as best province in DRR and in 2013 as a Hall of Famer.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 21:22:04 +0000