NAGA CITY (PIA) — – Underscoring the significance of a responsive government in fulfilling its obligations and ensuring tangible outcomes, Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion emphasized the incorporation of an additional element to the four (4) pillars of good governance, as defined by the Asian Development Bank.
Legacion said that there is a broader scope encompassing the elements of transparency, accountability, predictability, and participation that serve as a foundation of how sound governance should be.
“Sa laog kan halawig na panahon, ini ang naging sukulan asin pigbabasehan nyato sa pag padalagan nin gobyerno sa Naga, asin nin huli kaini nabisto kita bilang sentro nin good governance dahil isinasagibo asin isinasabuhay nyato an mga prinsipyong ini ( “For a long time, this has been the measure and foundation of Naga in governing the local government. Because of this, we are recognized as a center of good governance because we uphold and live out this principle),” the mayor added.
Speaking before Naguenos and other stakeholders during his State of the City Report held Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Balatas New Development site, he mentioned that two crucial aspects should be incorporated into these elements, referring to it as an enhanced form of good governance or governance plus.
City Mayor Nelson Legacion with the Sanggunian Panglunsod members during his State of the City Report held Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Balatas New Development site. (Photo: JRMadrid-PIA 5/Camarines Sur)
Firstly, Legacion asserts that there should be a positive outcome, and the impact of good governance should be tangible and should be felt by the residents.
“Panduwa, an nagpapangyari kan resulta o outcomes iyo an performance asin responsiveness. Kaipuhan na an gobyerno, sa tabang kan iba pang stakeholders, aktibong minasimbag sa mga angat na inaatubang kan satong sosyedad, na piggigiyahan kan sarong malinaw na planong pigpanday kaiba kan mga namamanwaan. Inaapod ining “collaborative governance” asin “people-centered development” sa lindong kan “Maogmang Lugar” long-term vision (LTV) sa irarom kan satuyang Comprehensive Development Plan,” the chief executive said in vernacular.
(“Secondly, the result should be performance and responsiveness. A local government, with the assistance of other stakeholders, needs to actively respond to the challenges faced by society. This should be in accordance with the plan crafted by the citizens themselves. This is known as “collaborative governance” and “people-centered development” under the Maogmang Luhag (Happy Place) Long-term Vision (LTV). This is also under our Comprehensive Development Plan.”)
Transparency, accountability, predictability, participation, results and outcomes, performance and responsiveness– these are the new elements that comprise what good governance should be, according to Legacion.
Legacion attributed the achievements of his administration to this guiding philosophy.
Mayor Nelson Legacion leads the blessing and turn-over ceremony of the 2- storey, 4 classroom building of Naga City Central School II held November 29. (JRMadrid, PIA 5/Camarines Sur)
EDUCATION
Within four years, Legacion successfully erected five (5) school buildings, comprising one for elementary education and four (4) for high school. This initiative now caters to the educational needs of 3,280 students, offering the convenience of 82 newly constructed classrooms.
The establishment of Sta. Cruz High School has particularly benefited the residents of Barangays Sta. Cruz, Abella, Bagumbayan Sur, and Bagumbayan Norte, eliminating the need to travel approximately 1.1 km to Camarines Sur National High School (CSNHS). The newly erected school has attracted 745 enrollees.
Similarly, students from Brgy. San Isidro now has the convenience of attending San Isidro National High School without the burden of traveling 6.0 km to CSNHS, resulting in a total enrollment of 317 students.
Other noteworthy additions include Balatas High School, boasting a total enrollment of 355 students; Mabolo National High School, with 67 enrollees; and Carolina Elementary School, serving a student population of 174.
Legacion’s emphasis lies in ensuring that the government’s initiatives translate into a tangible improvement in the lives of ordinary people, fostering a sense of ease and comfort.
CSNHS stands as the oldest public high school in Naga City and, during its inception, served as the sole high school meeting the educational needs of thousands of students.
Photo credits: Naga City Government FB page
Health
On Tuesday, December 13, Naga City unveiled its latest 1st level hospital located at the Balatas New Development site. Soon, a dialysis center will also be inaugurated to address the growing number of patients requiring immediate care.
Mayor Legacion also disclosed that AKO Bikol Partylist generously contributed P110M to the city government, earmarked for the provision of medical assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients. This substantial donation has empowered Naga City to expand its outreach programs, offering free medical consultations, medicines, and laboratory tests to the constituents of various barangays.
Through AKO Bikol’s Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) program, an indigent patient can avail a maximum of 50,000 intended for hospitalization expenses.
When it comes to nutrition, Legacion joyfully announced that the number of children with normal weight continues to increase, especially among those aged five years and below. It has achieved an overall 99.6 percent accomplishment, surpassing the previous 98.4 percent recorded in 2021.
He attributed this to the city’s nutrition programs like Nutri-Nanay, Nutri- Ataman (Nutri-Care), complementary and hot lunch feeding, dietary counselling and nutrition education under the Naga City Population and Nutrition Office.
HOUSING
Legacion also made mention of President Ferdinand Marcos’ Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH) where condominium-style units will rise at the Balatas Development Center (BDC).
The Housing and Settlements Development Office (HSDO) reported that they already have 3,705 applicants. Among this number, 495 have undergone verification, 165 have been allocated housing units, and 51 require further processing through Pag-ibig. The remaining 2,994 are still in need of processing.
ECONOMY
Soon to commence is the operation of Naga City’s industrial ecozone, where the manufacturing of high-value export goods will be carried out. This development comes after a 7-year waiting and thorough evaluation by authorities, culminating in its approval by Malacañang.
Legacion extended his gratitude to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), under the leadership of Director General Tereso Panga. Once fully operational, it is expected to generate no less than 10,000 new jobs, in addition to indirect downstream economic opportunities that will emerge, primarily in the Pacol-Carolina area, and among the suppliers who will become locators in our industrial park.
The mayor summed up his State of the City address by going back to the three messages:
“Enot, good governance matters, but it matters more kun igwa nin malinaw na bisyon, kun igwa nin resultang namamati kan mga namamanwaan, huling igwa nin naheheling na performance asin pagmamaigot na simbagan an mga problema asin angat na inaatubang kan satong ciudad (“Firstly, good governance matters, but it matters more when there is a clear vision, tangible results felt by the constituents, and a demonstrated performance in addressing and overcoming the challenges faced by our city).”
Mayor Nelson Legacion with his constituents Photo credits: Naga City Government Fb Page
Secondly, Legacion cited Naga City’s concept of good governance has yielded swift and tangible outcomes, which he said s what is meant byl “people-centered development,” and a cornerstone of the city’s “Maogmang Lugar” (Happy Place) vision statement.
Lasty, the mayor said that their approach to good governance has achieved even more through “collaborative governance,” where all stakeholders collaborate—from the barangays to the national government, as well as our partners in civil society, academia, and the general public. (PIA 5/Camarines Sur)
