No politics, just service, says gov of PH’s most competitive province
DIGOS CITY—Governance without politics helped make the province the country’s most competitive, according to Davao del Sur Gov. Claude Bautista on Friday.
Davao del Sur bested several other provinces, including Cebu, when it was declared by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) as the most competitive province for 2015.
The NCC is the former Public-Private Sector Task Force on Philippine Competitiveness created by Malacañang in October 2006. It aims to promote and develop national competitiveness “and instill a culture of excellence, through public-private sector collaboration as a means to reduce poverty through inclusive growth.”
In assessing the competitiveness of a province, city or town, the NCC examines performance assessments based on indicators such as economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure.
Bautista said politics has no role in the implementation of projects and programs under his administration, which helped the province satisfy the NCC’s requirements.
“We treat each one equal. No political color. We address the problems based on urgency and not political affiliations,” he said.
For example, Bautista said economic dynamism in the province was being fueled by the increase in the number of people able to spend. He said compared to previous years, many poor families now were able to make money because of the various livelihood programs his administration have implemented.
Bautista said since he became governor, the provincial government has already distributed several millions worth of livelihood packages, including those intended for housewives.
He said to create more investments, which would increase the number of working residents, infrastructure projects were also sped up.
For the second half of the year, he said some P95 million worth of projects were expected to be implemented.
Bautista said among those that benefited from the fund were towns that traditionally supported his archrival, former Gov. Douglas Cagas.
The town of Bansalan, for example, will get a share of P12 million for farm-to-market roads, a mini-hospital, rehabilitation of barangay halls and construction of a gymnasium and a river control structure.
Magsaysay town would also get a mini-hospital and a gymnasium, he said, while Matanao and Sta. Cruz towns would get a total of about P20 million for health centers, daycare centers and gymnasiums.
“These projects are not intended to get me reelected because I am not running again as Davao del Sur governor,” he said.
Bautista said the newly created province of Davao Occidental, where he would be running instead in 2016, got fresh infrastructure funds of only P46.6 million.
“There is no politics. Just service,” he said.
Bautista said the provincial government was also continuing with its livelihood program for Davao del Sur, which has so far benefited some 20,000 households.
“I am hoping that the new governor will continue with what we started and not abandon our programs based on political decision alone,” he added.
Despite his announcement that he wouldn’t be seeking reelection, Bautista’s supporters in Davao del Sur said they were hoping he would change his mind.
On July 7, even mayors identified with Cagas joined a rally held here, which was aimed at urging Bautista to run for reelection.
Bansalan town Mayor Edwin Reyes said Bautista did not consider political color in the delivery of projects and services.
Reyes, who openly said he had consistently supported Cagas against Bautista since 2007, manifested that his town had been a recipient of millions of pesos in such projects as roads, bridges, water systems, other infrastructures, and livelihood under the Bautista administration.
Magsaysay town Mayor Arthur Davin also said it was Bautista’s nondiscriminatory style of governance that made him join the rally.
Other former Cagas allies who manifested their support for another Bautista term were Hagonoy Mayor Franco Magno Calida, Sulop Mayor Jose Jimmy Sagarino and Sta. Cruz Mayor Joel Ray Lopez.
Also speaking before some 5,000 people who attended the rally, Digos City Mayor Joseph Peñas, an ally of the governor, said Bautista should now reconsider his decision not to run for reelection.
“The people saw changes in Davao del Sur under the Bautista administration. Please do not leave us,” Peñas said in his call for Bautista to run anew. Eldie Aguirre and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao
