CDO Government Highlights 3-year Accomplishments

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 16 (PIA) – The accomplishment of the city government’s eight-point agenda along with the outline key strategies and programs moving forward in the next three years was presented during the 66th City Charter Day celebration on June 15 at Kiosko Kagawasan, Cagayan de Oro City.

The agenda dubbed, “Peace and Order Poverty Alleviation, Revenue Generation, Infrastructure, Metropolization, Education and Environment, Health and Hospital Services, Agricultural Productivity, and Traffic, Transportation and Tourism (PRIMEHEAT),” was adopted by the city government to pursue its vision for the city—to be the strategic and prime development hub of the south.

Social services, peace and order

For poverty alleviation, and peace and order, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the private sector and civil society, continued to provide a range of assistance delivered through existing and new programs specifically designed to respond to various beneficiaries.

The city government has notably increased the honorarium of 182 Child Development Teachers from P2,400 to P5,000, created the Oro Youth Development Council that covered six sectoral groups, provided educational assistance to 113 poor tertiary students and 200 Indigenous People (IP) students, involved 2,956 out-of-school youths (OSYs) in community organizing, and registered 1,242 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and 31,936 senior citizens with identification cards (IDs).

For employment assistance, there were 28,800 applicants who were hired or employed in the 28 job fairs conducted from July 2013 to May 2016.

As for the peace and order, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) reported a decline of total crime volume by 30 percent from 15,960 in 2014 to 11,166 in 2015. The crime solving efficiency of the said office also improved from 12 percent to nearly 16 percent.

Revenue and infrastructure

The city government has recorded an annual average increase of 14 percent over the last three years and has remarkably heightened business activities that are translated to increased revenues from tolls, rentals or user fees by various enterprises run by the city government. The business issued with permits also grew from 17, 823 in 2011 to 21,359 in 2014.

When it comes to construction of roads, buildings and offices, there were a total of 33 kilometers of roads paved with concrete from 2013 to 2016.

In addition, total of 441 new classrooms in six public elementary and secondary schools were built turning the overall classroom to student ratio from 1:90 to 1:45.

Moreover, the JR Borja General Hospital experienced a complete transformation with the renovation of the existing third floor, south wing building and addition of 66 beds for various wards. With the new facilities and affordable service, the number of patients served in the hospital increased from 92.5 percent in 2013 to 160 percent in 2014 based on the bed occupancy rates.

The city government also focused on the creation of the Shelter and Housing Development Multisectoral Task Force, provision of water supply, electricity, road access and canal improvements to Piso-Piso areas, and completion of some 3,097 housing units in Barangays Pagatpat and Balubal in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Gawad Kalinga.

Agriculture and Tourism

An average of 2,187 farmers every year received technology transfer training and received 13,602 fruit tree seedlings. Aside from this, a total of 12 food terminals in 12 barangays were established by the city government.

Tilapia fingerlings dispersal was also implemented in 2014 (with an estimate of 150,000 fingerlings released) and 2015 (with half a million fingerlings) along the Cagayan de Oro and Iponan River.

Aside from agricultural productivity, the city government also focused on solving traffic problems in the city driving out illegal and undisciplined vendors occupying the streets and sidewalks, and creating the ‘Operation Hapsay Dalan.’

With the positive social media feedback and immediate response to key issues, tourism arrivals in 2015 reached 655,176 surpassing 2012 tourist arrival of 541,196 in the city. The change also indicates that tourist confidence has been restored after it slowed down in 2013 and 2014.

Taking note of the significant accomplishments of every program, the city government now gears up for intensified implementation of priority programs, strengthening leadership role, upholding good governance practices and building strong linkages.

Also, in moving towards development, City Mayor Oscar Moreno urged everyone to move together as one team, one group regardless of political color since the people deserve the best service possible and that people should always be guided by one flag, one government and one regime.(RTP/PIA10)