Naga is boom city in south says mayor

A BOOM city in the south.

That was how Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia described Naga City in her speech during the 5th Charter Day Celebration last Wednesday.

Garcia said she “looked back with amazement at the phenomenal growth” of the city.

City Mayor Valdemar Chiong who delivered his State of the Naga Address (SONA) proudly boasted of the city’s increase in its annual budget owing to the increase in revenues because of the industries and businesses that have come in the city.

From P108 million in 2011, the city’s budger has grown fivefold now P535 million, he said.

Of this P242 million comes from internal revenue allotment (IRA).

“We would like to believe that our thrust in participatory governance and strategic partnership with private sectors have encouraged investors to do business in our city and in turn, created jobs for our people. It is our hope that with the lines of communication already established, we will continue to work together for the furtherance of common objectives and shared interests,” he said in his state of the city address.

Chiong also said that the “taxpayer’s money has been put to good use” through the several projects implemented in the city.

He cited projects such as the construction and completion of Enan Chiong Activity Center worth P50 million, pavements and concreting of roads worth P80 million and expansion of its reclamation project worth P30 million.

The reclamation project is situated at the back of the activity center where tarpaulins of the new Naga Public Market worth P80 million will soon rise.

Chiong also made a report on developments in education and health programs.