State of the City Address

My beloved Cebuanos, my beloved guests,

I am here standing in front of you, not to talk in detail about the current situation of our city. But
instead to enumerate the following: 1.) the changes that we have seen; 2) the challenges that we
face; 3) the things and actions that we have done and will be doing; and 4) the _____ and the
meaning of these towards the people of our people.
My beloved Cebuanos, one year have passed, we are called in a not so ordinary leadership,
during the election and important occasion in the history of our city. We have seen that we are
surrounded with problems that we have not expected. As we speak of this problem, it does not
that we are here today to blame each other. But we know more than to ignore these lists of
problems, these will surely become a big problem to our beloved city.
Of all the things I have mentioned in my first speech I have delivered in front of you here in this
exact place and even during the time of my campaign, I have invited you all to join me in
straightening the crooked, arranging the mess, cleaning the dirt, eliminating the smell and
beautifying the ugly. And I followed it up by saying UKU Ta or in other words: We are one;
Join us; Come with us. Because as we go together, we make a lot of things: Together, We Can
Make Things Happen.
The platform that I presented is the SEE D BIG 3Ps gives us a fixed guide of our leadership.
This is what makes our administration strong and safe to sail to the seas of true service that
includes the fields of social services, environment, education and continue to progress in the
fields of business, infrastructure and government and the same as giving enough attention to the
needs of the people, to our places in the city and the movements concerning the people. The
government today is not just ME but We wherein we will increase the service and lessen
politics. Above all, to always follow the principle Public Office is A Public Trust may become
a guide so that our vehicle, which is the Authority of the City of Cebu, will continue to journey
towards its destined progress.
STATUS OF THE CITYS TREASURY
We are very thankful to our council who approved our Supplemental Budget proposal last year
that reached 1.5 billion pesos and again our budget this year reached 4.5 billion pesos. These
allotted funds are for our important projects and these are also distributed to all the departments
including the city council and to the different barangays as well as the firefighters and the police.
We have reached our budget for this year because we strengthened our tax collection. As of now,
our proceeds have reached 53& or 2.5 billion. Because of this, I am very thankful to our private
sectors who dutifully paid their taxes in its exact amount and on the exact date.

Also, our collection from the land sales in the South Road Properties is also one of the biggest
source of our funds. This said quantity that has been collected from our government, is not only
used to pay the salaries of the employees and to operate the city but also a huge portion of it is
also allotted to providing the services needed by the people.
The different divisions of our budget in theyear 2011 reached 4.5 billion pesos, will really tend to
our governments platform that we have discussed about before which is theSEE D BIG 3Ps.
On the side of the Social Services, we allotted 815.5 million or 18% of the total funds; for
education, 117.8 million or 3%; for the environment, 473.8 million or 11%; for drainage, 61.6
million or 1%; for business facility 336.7 million or 8%; for infrastructure, 335.6 million or 8%
and for governance, 1.694 billion or 38%, for human resource (people), 298.7 million or 7% and
the remaining two Ps represents the Place and Public Affairs, 324.5 million that comprises 8% of
the total funds.
Here today, with great humility and utter truth, I will tell you the services and progress that we
have made from the government funds and from the contribution from our friends in the private
sectors in the past year:
On the part of education and youth progress:
We continue to inculcate to our youth through allotting funds in order for out Citys Scholarship
Program to thrive that has already helped about 5,800 scholars. We also set aside 100 million
pesos for building additional school buildings. Aside from this, there are also additional funds
that reached 227.9 million that is allotted through our Special Education Fund through the Local
School Board wherein your own mayor is the Chairman. In the said funds of the SEF, under the
guidance of the Local School Board, we also gave a portion of 120 million pesos to build a new
school and to repair also the old buildings. Another 20 million pesos was also allotted to buy new
computers that we will be distributing to the schools. In the past year, we have built 8 school
buildings in different barangays that comprises 84 classrooms. Together with the help of the
private sectors, we built a free Japanese language training program for our nursing students in
CCMC. We also continue the program Know your Barangay and Search for Model Scouts
and as well as the programs from CCYDC that we have already started for the youth.
On peace and order in the city
Our city has become more peaceful this year compared to the last year all because of the united
efforts of our police officers. This year, the crime volume rate has decreased to 31%, lower
compared to the ones recorded last year. We are continuously fighting towards crime by
providing exact implementation towards the police force. Because of this, the city of Cebu
bought 44 motorcycles including electronic and radio gadgets that will be used by the chosen
group of policemen that will be called as MCRU or Motor Cop Response Unit. They will be
patrolling the streets to drive away criminals and those who have bad intentions.

We also continued our program on Adopt a Police Station. Just recently, we have finished the
new San Nicolas police station together with the contribution of the Cebu Chamber of
Commerce and the Vicsal group, Aboitiz Foundation and Asociation de Benevola. We have also
arranged the agreement with the private donors so that we can follow the improvement of the
Police Stations in Parian, Fuente, Mambaling and Pardo.
In the domain of infrastructure
We are all aware that as we assume our role, the situation of our roads is something that we
cannot be proud of. Because of this, we have decided to give it enough attention and funds so
that we can conduct a broad management on our roads not only in the plains but also on the
mountains. That is why, in passing the Supplemental Budget 5 last term of last years budget and
the same goes to our annual budget this year, our government has set aside 200 million for the
expenses in asphalting the roads and another 200 millio to cement the roads in the mountainous
barangays. We have already started working on asphalting 14 kilometers that includes 36 roads
in the different roads in the city by booking a private contractor. The asphalt maintenance project
is still ongoing wherein we got the chance to maintain around 6.16 kilometers of road. The
cementing of the streets in the mountainous barangays will follow shortly because we have
conducted a bidding that reached 35 projects or roads in our mountains.
But the biggest work that we have done regarding this is the cementing the roads in the North
Reclamation Area, the roads in a long time that was not given attention that whoever was the
former beholder can really question if there is a government that is overseeing our city.
We have also renovated our executive building so that it wont be the contrary to the face of our
legislative building wherein your servant has worked hard to beautify it. we placed walkways
that connects the first floor of the legislative building to the Executive building and we also
transferred the office of the Mayor because and for our people especially the Senior Citizen and
PWDs so that when they visit our office, it will be easy and orderly.
We have also made progress in Cebu City Medical Center, the hospital that was supposed to be
intended for our poor brothers and sisters but was threatened to be sold and was filled with
criticisms. Today, even if you just pass by the building, you can really see the changes in the said
hospital. If you get inside CCMC, you can feel the orderly state of things because we got the
chance to organize the services following the order of the Department of Health. We also did not
neglect the Guba Emergency Hospital which we fixed through the assistance of DOH. If we can
remember, the said hospital was supposed to be transferred to Vicente Sotto Medical Center. It is
a big slap on our face and to the city if that happens. We have also built 8 multi-purpose
buildings and 16 other buildings were renovated in the different barangays of the city. We also
have a program called adopt-a-health-center that includes 80 health centers under the assistance
of the Filipino-Chinese Community.

We have not also forgotten our problems with floods that will surge on us on rainy days and will
create hassle and worry to the residents and motorists along the streets. That is why in the past
year, we have conducted the implantation of the 38 different kinds of drainage construction and
improvement projects. We also conducted emptied the garbage and the dirts that can clog our
sewage, canals and rivers. The planned dredging operations will approximately reach half a
kilometer of the Mahiga Creek and 2.7 kilometer of the Mahiga River. Including this will be the
continuation of the dredging of Tinago Creek together with the implementation of the concrete
lined canals in the different sitios of our barangay. Anyhow, through our efforts to celan our
rivers, we were threatened on the impending case in the court. I will not mind such issues
because I firmly believe that I am only doing what is just and what is good for many. Our goal
and intention is to avoid wretch and damage like what happened to our brothers and sisters in
Luzon and just recently in Davao wherein more than 20 people were killed due to fllod. I will not
allow that this will happen to our brothers and sisters.

We have started changing the gloomy sodium lamps on our streets in this modern kind of light
thatis called the metal halide wherein it is an energy saving light.
You have also noticed that we have lightened up the traffic lights and signages by buying new
LED traffic lights.
We have also built not less than 25 artesian wells in our barangays. We already have water
reservoirs in the mountainous barangays of Tabuan, Buot-Tauo, Pamutan, Lusaran ug Tagbao.
We have installed more than 70 street lights on barangay roads including those in the mountains.
We have also installed tram lines in Tabunan and Sudlon.
All these adds to our aim before to make a communal toilet, city jail in Kalunasan, Ramos public
market and seawall In Duljo
On the domain of environmental development
One of the significant achievements that our administration has done is the closing of the
Inayawan Landfill. The decisions was reached after an intricate discussion together with all the
shareholders. The closing of the landfill gave the city additional savings of more than 40 million.
The program on Gubat sa Basura, together with the private sector, Barangay Officials, BEO,
CESET, DPS, and all others, the strict implementation of no segregation, no collection policy
reduced our garbage to 35%. We have also strengthened the constant cleaning of the streets and
the regular collection of our garbage. Because of this, we can see and even the tourists can notice
that our city is free from garbage especially in the streets.
We have also made 107 compost beds for vermin culture and composting in Inayawan Landfill.

There are 361 hectares of land that includes 9 barangays wherein we implemented our program
on agro-reforestation.
We also continue to develop and nurture our Cebu Zoo for recreation and the parks for our youth
through claiming additional insects and adding more employees that will take good care of the
park. The private sectors have also helped provide additional facilities to the zoo. We are greatly
thankful to Governor Gwen Garcia for her permission to continue managing the zoo in the same
place in the province. This only shows the cooperation of the city and the province for the good
of the people. Because of this good cooperation of the two authorities, the Larsian Road is now
open, and was given the chance to be decided upon managing fuente osmena and to solve the
problem on 98-1.
The irrigation projects on the 12 upland barangays were also finished together with the assistance
of the National Irrigation Administration. The said irrigation project is the reason why there is
irrigation for plants and flowers which aside from being the source of livelihood for our brothers
and sisters in the barangay, it has also created greener surrounding and added beauty to our
government.
We have also continued our program on conducting a quarterly coastal and river clean-up as well
as the barangay clean-up.
On tourism, culture and sports
Because of the programs that were initiated by the government including CHAC, the city has
received recognition as Asias City of Culture. There will be an event that will hold here in the
city within this month because of this. As our duty, we have given enough attention to the
historic Fort San Pedro by allotting funds and conducting modifications to modify it.
Today, we have opened a new and beautiful Plaza Independencia as the renovations have just
been finished. Through our hardwork, all those who will visit the plaza will not feel afraid
anymore instead they will feel complete happiness and pleasure as they stroll around with the
love of their lives.
We have also just inaggurated the Rizal Public Library and Museum which we have set aside
funds for to show that we love our culture enough to preserve it.
And most of all, our pride, Sinulog, wherein your servant has struggled and worked hard to make
the annual celebration a success, is still fresh from our memories. The celebrations success was
highly commended that even our President Pnoy and the new Cardinal, Jose Plama have
personally commented that it is the grandest and the nicest Sinulog among all the past
celebrations.
The Balik Cebu, See Cebu in Carousel, Paseo sa Kabilin, Buhing Kalbaryo 2011 and the
expanded Pasko sa Sugbo that will already include all streets of the city, are only few of the

colorful fields that your humble servant has initiated when it comes to tourism and culture. We
foresee in the near future the beautification of the streets starting from Sanciangko to Capitol
through the program called Beautify Cebu Movement that is headed by Mariquita SalimbangonYeung whose efforts are now starting to prosper with the help of the private sectors and
individuals who showed their concern. Akin to the same movement, we have also done the same
to the streets of Colon headed by Jonie Chan and in North Reclamation Area together with the
Cebu Chamber of Commerce headed by Samuel CHIOSON, IN Legaspi Extension with the help
of Ricky Dakay and Danny Aboitiz. Attached with this is also the streamlining and the
decorating of the surroundings in Carbon Market together with the contribution of the FilipinoChinese Community headed by Filomeno Lim and all those who aided the group of vendors in
that area. We have also tended the road on N. Bacalso Avenue together with the private sector
headed by Pax Pacana.
In the aspect of athletics and health, wherein we pointed out its importance to the youth, we
continued our program on sports in grassroots level through the work of our Sports Commission
headed by Ed Hayco. We are also supporting this in all means especially in making sports
facilities and complex as well as renovating the other facilities in the different barangays.
On social services
We are all aware of the significance of nutrition to the youth because it is related to their mental
health. If a child goes to school and lacks nutrition, he will most likely not learn the lessons
because his brain lacks the motivation to study. That is why we will conduct an activity to
answer these problems. And I am happy to inform you that our city received a Nutrition award
from our hardwork.
We are still going to continue giving help to those in need especially in times of accidents like
fire. At this moment, our government is not lacking in providing the needs for the victims like
food, household materials, construction supplies and other things. Aside from the government,
the private sector is also helping these programs.
Our government is aware of what is needed by the people especially the senior citizens and help
them in any kind of way. Your humble servant believes that the senior citizens need recognition
because of what they have done to the society while they are still well and able. Because of this,
we continue to allot funds for their benefits of our senior citizens. I also gave an order that
financial assistance will be given to senior citizens who voted last election. For me, it is a great
offense towards our elders. That is why I am happy to inform you that I have amended the move
of the workplace to City Hall to give benefits that are intended for the qualified senior citizens in
the coming week of July 2011 however because of their great number the project will not be
finished right away.
Together with the senior citizens, I have not forgotten the disabled or the people with disabilities
and those whom we call solo parents.

Most of all, our brothers have continuously enjoyed the hospitalization and medicine programs
under CHAMP. As of now, we have helped by giving medicines to over 14,914 of our brothers
who have illness and we have also helped pay hospitalization feels to over 5,908 people who
were admitted to the hospital.
On the other hand, we have also enrolled around 37,000 Cebuano families to the Phil Health
program so that they can enjoy its benefits.
Aside from this, the improving Cebu City Medical center is still open as well as the health
centers and our barangay health workers. The urban poor today or what we call the aspiring
sector, has already found a clear direction for their own good while the low-cost and medium rise
housing programs are outlined using the funds from the National Housing Authority together
with the livelihood capital programs that are backed by the Department of Labor and
Employment. The condition of the community of the aspiring sector will be given enough and
fast attention. Since 2004, the NHA has allotted 100 million pesos for the resettlement of those
who lived in danger areas. Aside from this, there is an additional budget of 20% taken from the
balance development requirement from the developers and there is also a 0.05% socialized
housing fee under the UDHA Law from the foreign and local cooperation.
But our administration believes that charity begins at home that is why we also have the same
housing program for the employees in city hall that even until now has still not owned a home.
Meanwhile, I certainly have not deprived the city employees of the benefits that they should
receive from the time that the law was outlined.
A Short Summary of the Past
You all know that even before I was elected as the Mayor of our City, I have already served the
city for the past 18 years; 9 years as a city councilor and another 9 years as Cebu City ViceMayor.
Within that 18 years, where my mandate only encompasses legislative duties, I still have done
works which encompasses executive duties. That which is done for you to know the kind of
service that your humble servant wishes to achieve, allow me consisely narrate the things that I
have done when I was still a city councilor and vice mayor of our City.
In the field of economic growth, your humble servant initiated
local and international job fairs
as well as the night markets in the downtown and Carbon Market area.
In the field of education, in incultating and developing our youth, I initiated a movement which I
named,

Know your Barangay where our youth were given a chance to encounter and learn
about the activities of the officials in their baranggay.
Search for Model Scouts and activities of CCYDC then and now where I took time to
give by donating laboratory equipments to 11 public schools.

On the Citys peace and order, I took time, through my my Barangayan, Bayanihan and
Voluntarism advocacy, to build new Police and Fire Stations in Mabolo, Pardo, ug Waterfront
Area with the help of the private sector.
On infrastructures, your humble servant became an instrument in putting up:
Communal toilets in barrangays,
a big and clean building in Kalunasan which serves as a City Jail for the prisoners from
the crowded and dirty BBRC.
Also, through the efforts of your humble servant, I have helped in building the new
Ramos Public Market
strong Seawall in Duljo. And above all, I have returned to the City Halls structure its
dignity after renovating it, and I have also established Plaza Sugbo which is one of the
many places which Cebu proudly offers to tourists, both foreign and local.
You also know that the citys order and cleanliness is close to my heart.
With that, I initiated even then that the seashores and rivers should be regularly cleaned.
When a fire ignited in Cebus Inayawan Land, your humble servant was the first to take
care of the dilemma so that we will not be exposed to the revolting and harmful smoke
coming from the said fire from the landfill.
Your humble servant is devoted to culture and history.
I also initiated the Pasko sa Barangay and Buhing Kalbryo and supported similar
activities which were organized by other institutions.
Now, I hope that I have pictured out to you my kind of service which is related to the principle:
Increase ones service, decrease politics.
With your support and cooperation, I have already done many things amidst criticisms. However,
we should bear in mind that there are still a lot of things which needs to be done.
Today, we are still facing a lot of challenges. With that, allow me to enumerate the things that we
have to do:
I will increase the benefits of the Baranggay Captains and Councillors by giving them
monthly additional allowance. I will also make sure to it that our SK assistance will not
only rest on the chairmen but will also include the SK councilors.

I did not break free from my aims and goals to revive Carbon Market and Taboan for the
majority of our market vendors. I also did not forget my goal to develop our rural
economy. Because of this, I have allotted P70 million in our annual budget and I will still
add an additional P100 million in our proposed supplemental budget so that the
reconstruction of the burned Carbon Market will be completed.
I will focus on the appropriate development measures on the so called north corridor
which includes the roads starting from Banilad to Talamban. Also, the developments in
the citys South Road Properties which I have already conducted can attract businesses
which can offer numerous job opportunities for our people.
I will certainly make sure that an elementary school will be built in Barangay Ermita. I
will also build a 4-storey public library in SRP so that our youth will know the
importance of research.
I will also ontinue the planned Coastal Boulevard from Pasil to Inayawan which would
improve the situation of the residents of the area.
It is also my dream to install CCTV cameras on the big streets of the city within my term.
These would be a great help to the Cebu City Police and CITOM in monitoring road
activities.
I also forsee developments in infrastructure. These projects constitutes the big and wide
construction and rehabilitation of our drainage system; cementing and widening our
roads; creating bicycle lanes, promenades beside creeks, and tram lines in hillyland.
I will also build a public service complex and a large Coliseum in SRP which would be
the site of events and activities.
I will also revive the citys abattoir so that it will become a modern and beautiful facility
which is certainly fit for a city like Cebu.
I will also repair the sewage treatment facility and establish more Materials Recovery
Facility in every baranggay. I will also transform Inayawan Landfill into a Peoples Park.
I will convert Pasil Fish Market into a Childrens Park.
I will conduct the establishment of rain water catchments and checkdams for saving rain
water which gives life to plans and man.
I have outlined activities related to ecotourism development. I will bring back the
mountain festivals which were celebrated in the Agsungot Highlands, the Tartanilla
Festival, Inter-Barangay Festival, and many more.
I will set up welcome signages in every baranggay.
I will make sure that the city will have public toilets.
I will set in motion a program which will take goodcare of our OFWs.
I will see to it that a Cebu City College will be built and established.
In the field of my supervision and governance:

I will continue my kind of supervision which exemplifies stewardship, shepherding,

and serving and avoidance because after all, I do not have the right to own the
government.
I will enforce the City Hall at your doorstep policy by bringing the services of the
different government agencies closer to the people.
I will encourage our baranggay captains and councilors to think that they are little
mayors and city councilors in their baranggay so that they will immediately make
decisions and activities for the good of their place;
I will hasten the process of giving out business permits.
I will continue to closely guide and inspect employees so that we will know those who
are suitable to work in the city by giving only three to six months of casual contract.
This and the other activities I have mentioned are but parts of the plans which I have laid out for
the progress of our city and people. With this, I bear no doubts nor fear to say that the situation of
Cebu City to day is good, flourishing, and strong.
Advocacies on Barangayan, Bayanihan and Voluntarism:
Inspite of these, I will still comprehensively enforce my advocacies on Barangayan, Bayanihan
and Voluntarism. There will be a group that will be know as the Biggest Voluntarism
Movement which will support Environment, Emergency Response, Traffic, and Peace and
Order activities.
Through these plans we can certainly develop our city through the support of institutions
corporate responsibility. Of these plans, voluntarism is the most significant. We cannot just
disregard voluntarism because there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer. And most
all, we can see the support and sense of awareness of the Cebu Province officials, headed by
Gov. Gwen Garcia, as a great contribution for our prosperity. And because of that I am always
grateful.
5.) CONCLUSION:
You chose me as your mayor. Mayor of the people; Mayor of our beloved city. I will affirm with
all honesty, vigour, and strength that I will amplify my effort to develop Cebu City so that this
will become a good place to live in. I have already said that I have served and will continue to
serve in the name of the people and of God. If God is always with us, we will not be afraid to
face all the challenges and undertakings which comes together with the activities we have
planned for the betterment of our city and people. I will make sure, as Regional Development
Council chairman, to further expand the citys economic and infrastructure development.
All of us know, and this I want all of us to engrave in our minds and plant in our memories, that
seriousness not only among the government officials but also among the majority of our people
is needed in order to reach our goals of improving ourselves and our city. We can only achieve

our goals of improvement through the support and efforts of majority of our people especially
those people who profoundly understands the governments aims and efforts.
Our government will do its job of drafting and implementing the right policies and laws which
will ignite the fire of true development and strength. However, the people must also be ready to
do what he/she has to do especially now that we are still starting to implement our plans and we
must also be ready to sacrifice by setting our personal ambitions aside for the good of the
majority.
Many know John F. Kennedy. On a Friday, January 21, 1961, he encouraged the Americans by
saying, Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.
Now, also the first Friday of the month of July 2011, a day of exultation for our beloved Santo
Nio, I will say: Let us also ask ourselves: What can we do for our city and fellow citizens?
Reaching our goal of improvement will surely be impossible if we do not posses self-discipline
and if we do not know and live up to our responsibilities as citizens of our city. We will attain the
improvement and comfort of our living. We will certainly attain it if the people, together with the
government, will earnestly conduct activities that will be helpful to reach that goal. If the
government works alone, failure is evident.
However, if you join and cooperate with us, you prudent citizens, our success is certain. For
together, we can make things happen!!!
Thank you very much! I hope that Santo Nio will always be with us to continually grant us
blessings and forgiveness!!!
--oOo--