SP Highlights: Annual Investment Program 2018

The Annual Investment Plan for 2018, approved yesterday (27 June 2017) by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Naga per Resolution No. 2017-330, is a key towards sustaining and boosting the progress that Naga is experiencing today. A P2.25 Billion plan, it lays down the priority projects of the city on the areas of social protection, economic growth, environmental conservation, infrastructure improvements, and development administration. On the social sector (with a budget of around P689 million), enhancing delivery of health services and improving access to education are at the top. Renovation of City Health Office and physical plant expansion of the Naga City Hospital will be undertaken in order to better serve the public’s need for quality health care. A new building for the City College of Naga will be constructed in order to provide a conducive learning environment to poor but deserving tertiary students. For the economic sector (with approximately P258 million budget), the focus are the physical improvements of the Naga City People’s Mall, the City Nursery, the Naga City Ecology Park, the Naga City Abattoir and the Bicol Central Station. Tourism will also be boosted via the Mt. Isarog Natural Park Project, the Cultural Heritage Preservation Project and the Naga City Museum Development Project. Funds will also be allocated to implement the strategies under the Naga City Agricultural Roadmap. On environment conservation, the biggest chunk of its more than P382 million budget will be used for the construction of the Sanitary Landfill cum Waste-to-Energy Facility in Barangay San Isidro. Equipment, tools and machinery of the Solid Waste Management Office will also be upgraded in order to respond more effectively to the city’s waste management concerns. For infrastructure (P480 million), construction of the New Naga City Public Cemetery and the Del Rosario High School are at the forefront. Repairs of the Metro Naga Sports Complex, the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum and other city buildings damaged by Typhoon Nina are also in the pipeline. In the area of development administration (P 446 million), investments will be made in modernizing the city’s information system in line with the new trends in information technology. Gathering and processing of geographic information system (GIS) data will be maximized in order to enhance reliability of necessary statistics and, consequently, hasten decision-making processes and delivery of a responsive public service. Indeed, through collaboration between the governors and the governed, Naga has already accomplished hundreds of seemingly impossible feats. However, as can be gleaned from the Annual Investment Plan for 2018, there are still more to be done for the betterment of our Maogmang Lugar. And, given the challenges of globalization and information revolution, we have to map out and consolidate our efforts in building a world-class, self-reliant and caring city. Together, let us make the best better.