Mayor Pablo C. Ortega underscored austerity as one principal contributing factor in his administration, as he reported to residents accomplishments in his second year in office through his State of the City Address (SOCA), Tuesday (Jan. 6), the first regular session of the City Council at the People’s Hall.
The Mayor explained that any local government unit can be measured by the quality of its financial and resource management system, reason why when he assumed as mayor in 2007, he tasked the Finance Committee to update him on the financial status of the city. Finding out that it was stable, he and the Council prepared the 2008 budget.
“At that time, our Internal Revenue Allotment was reduced by 23.3 million pesos or by 11.23 percent due to the conversion of 18 new cities,” he said. The situation then made him issue a memorandum calling for austerity measures.
“We will continue adopting austerity measures and this will be reflected on our leaner workforce and judiciously spend our resources and strictly follow our spending limits and capacity in accordance with our prepared budget,” he said.
He added that public service would not be affected by the measure “because immediate and responsive service will be granted to those who actually need them.”
The mayor added that to help the budget, the city government would have to increase its revenue by 15 percent target collection efficiency and decrease its expenditures by 10 percent annually.
The mayor’s administration identified its strategic concerns such as Governance and Development administration; Public Works, Infrastructures and Physical Health Support Systems; Finance and Resource Management; Health, Human and Frontline Services; Environmental Citizenship; Local Economic Development; Education and Youth Services; and Information Technology and E-Governance.
Last year, the city has been awarded as the Most Competitive Small City in the country for the second time in a row by the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center besting 45 other small cities. It topped in three of the six drivers, particularly in Human Resources and Training, Infrastructure and Responsiveness of the LGUs. It was second in Quality of Life, fourth in Dynamism of Local Economy.
The city was also adjudged by the Regional Productivity Council as the Most Advanced in Productivity and Quality Journey and was given an assessment of A or Star-plus Regional Productivity Performance, one –step lower than the highest rating given by the productivity and quality assurance agency.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce Inc. also warded San Fernando as the Most Business-Friendly City of the Philippines. According to Mayor Ortega, the award proved that the city is responsive to clientele and delivers efficient services to local business partners. The award also enables the city to receive a grant which covers the construction of a school building which will be located in Barangay Pao, its beneficiary.
The Mayor’s administration also focused on transparency and public accountability by preparing and posting of the city’s procurement for services, projects and goods as mandated by Rep. Act.9184.
Its tax revenue assessment and collection systems was also upgraded, one with the automated business permits and license operations system which is now being implemented that enables clients and taxpayers a quicker billing and collections. Present, there are 6,706 businesses operating in the city with a collective income of Php 40, 551, 477. 14 from the permits and business taxes.
In its recent Rimat Ti Amianan trade fair last December grossed a total sale of Php 8.4-million out of 109 business exhibitors.
As a commitment to small, informal and medium businesses, the city also launched a week-end night market at the plaza and city hall environment. One hundred thirty five participants were catered, with a collective sales ranging from Php500, 000 to Php 750,000 every weekend, the Mayor said.
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