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H. E. A. R. T. S. HEARTS My warmest greetings to the online visitors of the Province of Batangas. Governance is not just a matter of an individual or group leading people. It is identifying the needs and wants of the constituency through regular interactions, and integrating public sentiments into principles molded into a collective vision and mission. In turn, the latter serves and guides how each government program is shaped and, ultimately, put into action. Such is the essence of having common values and vision. For at the heart of each administration, it is imperative that there is teamwork and cooperation as we all perform our parts founded on a shared responsibility. Through the years, the province of Batangas has grown into one of the thriving growth centers in the country today. Its economic infrastructure, strategic location, rich cultural and historical heritage, and bountiful diverse natural resources have made possible this transformation. We hope to facilitate these advancements and further raise the standard of living of our province mates by prudently investing government resources, and teaming up with private organizations, on identified areas as embodied in the H.E.A.R.T.S. program. As the first year of our term comes to pass, it is with great pride that I share the accomplishments and achievements of, as well as the continuing projects being undertaken, by our administration – the fruits of our joint efforts as a province, the result of our enduring belief in each others’ abilities, and the testament of what Batanguenos, working toward a common purpose, can achieve. HEALTH. Strengthening Batangueno Hearts Enabling adequate health care access to Batanguenos, particularly the economically-underprivileged, has always been foremost among Governor Vi’s priority undertakings. Needless to say, it is the endeavor closest to our hearts, as the administration firmly believes that a healthy and fit population engenders a dynamic and productive community. Among the projects, currently underway in this regard are the rehabilitation of district hospitals, the buildings, facilities and equipment in which are all being refurbished and upgraded to be able to meet the constituents’ medical requirements; the release, to the Districts Hospitals in Lipa City and San Jose and the Provincial Health Office, of 3 ambulances that form part of a fleet of 9 new fully-equipped ambulances for allocation to the all district hospitals in the province; and, the issuance and distribution of, to date, 67,185 PhilHealth cards to indigent Batanguenos, prudently identified and selected through the Provincial Social Welfare Office. Parallel to this, the Voluntary Service Responders (VSR), composed by, among others, Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars, were accorded honorariums in recognition of their invaluable involvement in the delivery of health services to intended beneficiaries. EDUCATION. Molding Minds, Touching Hearts Emboldened by the widely-recognized progress she established in the field of education during her celebrated tenure as Local Chief Executive of Lipa City, Governor Vi is now embarking on a mission of building on these gains, and expanding its yields throughout the whole Batangas province. Constructing 84 new classrooms and renovating 24 existing school buildings form part of her agenda, as declared in her HEARTS program of governance. Likewise, day care centers in the province are set to be elevated to Montessori level, the method characterized by an emphasis on self-directed activity on the part of the child. It stresses the importance of adapting the child's learning environment to his or her developmental level, and of the role of physical activity in absorbing academic concepts and practical skills. Through the OB Montessori Pagsasarili Preschools, in partnership with the OB Montessori Child & Community Foundation, Inc., day care centers in Batangas are envisioned to produce Filipino children, who are systematic, hard-working, self-confident, independent and responsible citizens€ of the country, trained to help people help themselves. Also allotted for in the 2008 budget is the provision of more textbooks and school equipment, in addition to increasing the number of teachers province-wide. ENVIRONMENT Our conservation and clean-up movement is geared towards the proper and vigilant management of our valuable natural resources. We intend to safeguard our celebrated beach and dive destinations in, among others, Mabini, Calatagan, Lian and Nasugbu, as well as the booming coastline of San Juan . A conscientious and sustainable development plan is also set to be put in place, highlighted by the fact that our very own Verde Island Passage was recently identified as the center of the world’s marine biodiversity by the American Smithsonian Institute. Amidst verdant and clean environments, the wonders of Batangas, including our various historical landmarks, would certainly be more popular, and shall remain as among the top visitor draws in the country.
A concrete step in this direction is our environmental campaign to save the whole Taal Lake ecosystem, anchored on the creation of the multi-agency (both local and national government offices and our partners in the private sector) Task Force Taal Lake . In our crusade to fully revive it as a bio-diverse habitat, we have cleared all fish pens from the Pansipit River , the lake’s lone 8.2-km. outlet to the South China Sea . Ongoing presently is the dismantling of artificial fish structures in Taal Lake , where “no fish cage” zones have been determined and being enforced to control fish pens’ number within a level that would not threaten to spoil Batangas’ most prominent tourism destination. Add to this, mangrove planting is being undertaken to increase and regenerate mangrove ecosystems along the province’s coastal areas, where it serve as ideal habitats for sea creatures and protection from erosion, storms and tidal waves. AGRICULTURE. Propagating Agriculture… Consistent with the HEARTS flagship program, agricultural development plays a central role as Governor Vi seeks to steer the province towards a more robust fiscal position at par with, or even better than, the country’s established economic centers. En route to such, this administration strives to further increase and regularize the yield and efficiency of the almost 160,000-hectare expanse in the province devoted to agriculture. It is also determined to boost the cooperative movement in the whole province, through the strengthening of existing ones and encouraging the creation of new associations directly involved in agriculture or offshoots of and for its produce. Livestock development was given a boost with the PhP12 Million–worth of cattle for fattening distributed to 140 deserving farmers, together with the strengthening of the local poultry industry, which is responsible for almost 70% of the fresh egg supply in Metro Manila. In response to the rice crisis, the Rice Production Loan Assistance is set to high gear with the release of PhP2.8 Million financial aid to 169 farmer-beneficiaries. This goes hand in hand with the Land Preparation and Corn Shelling/Rice Threshing Assistance of the Provincial Agriculture Office – programs which underscore the support being undertaken for the Batangueno farmers from their pre-planting to post-harvest works. Focus is, likewise, set to fortify our Farmer Field School for Rice, Corn and Vegetables, which provides technical and hands-on training to farmers; and the Provincial Demo Farm Development, showcasing organic/botanical-based agricultural practices and produce. Consolidated efforts are similarly being employed to ensure the success of the pilot Seaweed Production project in Balayan, and the release of tilapia fingerlings in rivers and creeks, underscoring the cleanliness of most of the province’s natural waterways. ROADS On the Path to Economic Vitality The importance of an adequate and all-weather road network cannot be overemphasized. Increasing agriculture produce or intensifying campaigns for tourism and investments would all go for naught without the proper access throughout the province. With the proliferation of industrial estates, catering to multi-national firms, and the completion and operation of the Batangas International Container Terminal, this administration is well aware of the magnitude of having and maintaining the good condition of highways, bridges and roads within the province. Hence, projects anent to this include the concreting and maintenance of all roads spanning the four districts of the province, particularly the farm-to-market thoroughfares. TOURISM Experience Batangas… The province has always prided itself in its abundant blessings of nature – great beaches, amazing dive sites, pleasant weather, and, of course, Taal Volcano, finely enmeshed with a naturally hospitable and fine people. Through the years, support infrastructures – first-class resorts, world-class golf courses, hotels, among others - have been developed around these, forging tourism as one of Batangas’ top income earners and marking the province among the premiere tourist destinations in the country. Aware of this fact, this administration has been working vigorously to strengthen our position in the industry through continuous marketing schemes, and the improvement of roads, transportation and communications, among others. SECURITY Where law-abiding citizens are safe and sound... The Province of Batangas, owing to the naturally positive and jovial nature of its people, has always been generally peaceful and orderly. Proof of this is the steady influx of visitors, who flock its world-class tourist destinations, and investors, who put in multi-billion peso ventures in the province. With this in mind, we seek to strengthen still the peace and public safety measures that we have in place through regular and explicit interactions with the Philippine National Police and other related agencies. Plainly, our goal is to have a safe community for Batanguenos, and foster an ideal haven for tourists and business people alike. |
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Copyright © 2010 Provincial Government of Batangas
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