Radaza highlights tourism, solid econ growth in Lapu

Saying that Lapu-Lapu City is already brimming with tourism, Mayor Paz Radaza is setting her sights on Olango Island as the frontier of the city in her State of the City Address yesterday.

Radaza said tourism in the Mactan Island city is already filled with world-class resorts and the infrastructure. “We need to develop new attractions to stay ahead of the highly competitive tourism market,” she said.

Olango Island, according to Radaza. will be a recipient of a sustainable tourism program. She said natural resources and cultural resources management, will be the centerpiece of this tourism program.

Olango Island and its neighboring islets have a total land area of approximately 10.3 square kilometers. A  reef lagoon surrounding the island of Olango is considered one of the most extensive reef areas in the Central Visayas.

It is located about five kilometers east of Mactan Island.

Aside from tourism, Radaza reported solid economic growth for the city. Real property tax collection more than doubled in 2011 compared to 2010.

She said local revenue sources increased and showed aggregate growth from 23.4 percent in 2010 to 26.2 percent in 2011.

Radaza said the P10 billion Megaworld investment as shown by the Mactan Newtown development speaks of the robust economy of the city.

She also commended the police for responding well to her challenge to bring down crime rate in the city. This year, she said crime volume decreased by 11 percent.

Police also increased the crime clearance efficiency by 10 percent. Radaza said “this means suspects were positively identified and cases were filed in court.”

On solid waste management, she said more than half of the 19 mainland barangays have their own material recovery facility (MRF), while those that don’t have yet, will soon have one as their budget is already available.

Road concreting and asphalting such as in Basak-Kagudoy, Sangi-Seawage, Gun-ob-Carajay, Buaya-Bankal and Marigondon roads, Radaza were also addressed and in fact, have been allocated P12 million.

“I know there are complaints about the state of some of our city’s roads and I am aware of your concerns, that is why I have created a 24/7 road maintenance task force. They are responsible to provide patching works,” Radaza said.