The 13-Point Agenda

According to Peter Drucker, American management consultant and educator:  "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

Many people considered 13 as an unlucky number and the fear of number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.  But I always consider 13 as a lucky number.  

The apparitions of the Virgin of Fatima is said to happen every 13th for six consecutive months.  The feast of Saint Anthony of Padua is celebrated evrery June 13.

Coincidentally, the number of letters in my name is 13.  So I coined the 13-Point Agenda with the starting letters that correspond with those of my first name and family name.  And it would be easier to remember them that way.

Launching 

When I took my oath of office for the first time as City Mayor on June 12, 2007, I launched my 13-Point Agenda.  At the City Gym, where it was also the Department of Education Maasin City Schools Division 5th Anniversary, a thousand teachers and city employees witnessed the debut of the 13-Point Agenda.

Tarpaulins showing my 13-Point Agenda were displayed at the City Gym near the City Hall.  It was my own way of telling the people the framework of my administration.  It was reflective of the aspirations of a growing city like Maasin City because it encompassed basically all the services needed by the constituents.  

The 13-Point Agenda are as follows:

Market and Business Improvement
Agricultural Productivity 
Livelihood Assistance
Orderliness and Peace Promotion
Nutrition and Health Services
Education for the Masses
Youth Empowerment
Sports Excellence
Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign
Mangrove and Forest Protection
Advertisements for Tourism
Concreting and Maintenance of Roads
Overall Barangay Development

Market and Business Improvement

This program involves promoting business-friendly atmosphere in the city.  We were able to get rid of the difficulty in securing business licenses.  We established the one-stop shop in the processing of business permits.  

I issued an order to exclude clearances from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Social Security System to shorten the process and minimize the signatories.  We encouraged Build Operate Transfer Schemes (Long-Term Contract of Leases) for big business and establishments like Metro Hi-per Maasin, Brodeth One Stop Shop and Manaya Land Holdings invested in the city.

Agricultural Productivity

My administration established agriculture-based livelihood projects such as egg-layers, tilapia fingerlings, horticulture and animal dispersal. We continued promoting vegetable and crop production as initiated by the past administration.  We also conducted rice and corn production trainings.  

Farmers' and fishermen's associations and cooperatives were empowered.  We continued protecting our marine resources by apprehending illegal fishers and those fishing without permits through our Bantay Dagat Task Force.

Livelihood Assistance

The Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) projects and the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino (4P's) through the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development were implemented to the different non-government organizations.  Individual recipients accepted the Nego-Kart, Starter Kits, and other livelihood programs in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).  

We trained carpenters and plumbers and gave them equipments in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority  (TESDA).  The city government gave counterpart for these programs. The Rural Improvement Club City Federation became a regional awardee.  Through the Bottoms up Budgeting (BuB) we provided spare parts to motorcab drivers and other livelihood projects to civil society organizations (CSO's).

Orderliness and Peace Promotion

The city administration hired and trained traffic enforcers to support the implementation of traffic rules and regulations.  We gave support to city jail facilities of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, support to fire prevention of the Bureau of Fire Protection and support to fight against criminality of the Philippine National Police.  

We also hired civilian volunteers to augment our peace and order implementors called Volunteers Initiatives Guarding Illegal and Lawless Acts Narcotics Tobacco and Evils of Society (VIGILANTES).  We imposed curfew for minors to prevent theft and robbery.

Nutrition and Health Services

We concentrated on the reduction of the percentage of malnourished children through supplemental feeding and mothers’ classes.  Our programs encouraged and promoted breastfeeding and established breastfeeding stations at the city hall, bus terminal, public market, malls, and other public places.  

Anti-smoking advocacy is spread out to all barangays throughout the city.  Selling of cigarettes is prohibited all throughout the city.  Vaccines were given free to children against diseases.  We promoted vegetable gardening in schools and in homes and made it into contests.

Education for the Masses

The establishment of Maasin City College enables disadvantaged families to send their children to tertiary level education.  Ibarra National High School was also completed with the first batch of graduates marched on 2011.  Likewise, integrated secondary schools and national high schools in Matin-ao, Lunas, and Hinapu Daku had their first batch of high school graduates in 2015.  

Asuncion and Batuan integrated schools were also opened.  Year-round Brigada Eskwela were conducted to repair and beautify school buildings and campuses and distribute free school supplies.  

Youth Empowerment

We put emphasis on Scouting on all levels, including Kid, Kab, Boy, Senior and Rover Scouts.  Maasin City hosted several scout jamborees, scout Olympics and trainings, national and regional in scopes.  

We also organized the task force SKY for the SK and youth and the Maasin City Youth Federation (MCYF) to federate the different youth organizations of the city.  We organize and activate our 4H Clubs to arouse the youth's interest in agriculture.

Sports Excellence

My administration made the Maasin City Sports Council more active.  We conducted trainings of coaches, officiating officials, and athletes.  Athletes were sent to international, national, regional and provincial competitions.  The city hosted regional and provincial athletic meets and tournaments.  We have also produced several national and regional champions.  

Different types of sports were promoted like boxing, taekwondo, archery, swimming, athletics, marathon, triathlon, sepak takraw, volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis, table tennis, badminton, chess, football/futsal, gymnastics, dancesports among others.  We conducted summer sports clinics to students during the long vacation.

Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign

The city government have conducted massive education against the perils of drug abuse especially among high school students and out-of-school youth.  We activated the Citizens Anti-Narcotics Organization (CANO) and the New Guardians, Inc. (NGI). 

We campaigned the other socio-civic clubs to participate in the anti-illegal drug crusade.  Random drug tests were conducted on city employees and those found positive were suspended. I gave a quota to the PNP to apprehend at least one drug pusher a week.

Mangrove and Forest Protection

We continued developing the City Forest Park as the watershed for the water supply of the poblacion of Maasin at Canlitid.  The City Nursery was also improved with the addition of the organic fertilizer production.  We planted forest trees and fruit trees through Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and Community-Based Forest Resource Management (CBFRM) programs using people's organizations.

Establishment of an Eco-Park becomes a priority.  This sanitary landfill was built in Libhu based on the guidelines if the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).  Materials recovery facility and solid waste management was established too. Mangrove areas along the coastal barangays were also rehabilitated.

Advertisements for Tourism

We promote tourist spots through advertising and hosting of events.  We supported religious tourism and pilgrimage.  We regulated hotels, beach resorts, restaurants, and transportation for tourists and visitors.  Tourist guides were trained.

We hosted several national and regional sports competitions, conventions and trainings as part of our tourism activities. The roads leading to tourist spots like City Forest Park, Guinsohotan Caves, and Hanginan San Francisco Javier Shrine were developed and concreted.

Concreting and Maintenance of Roads

As a delivery of basic service, we give priority of concreting and rehabilitation of national, provincial, city and barangay roads with the assistance of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Provincial Engineer’s Office. 

We built bridges, canals, drainage systems, and river controls and tetrapods or jackstones to protect our roads.  A traffic light system was established at corner Rafols and Tomas Oppus Streets.

Overall Barangay Development

The city government conducted training on capability building of elected and appointed barangay officials. Awards were given to outstanding barangay councils, tanods, peace and order council, lupon tagapamayapa, nutrition committee, and clean and green.  

We built barangay infrastructure projects like evacuation centers and multi-purpose centers, barangay hall improvements, water systems, and rural electrification.    

American actor Zac Efron had this to say about luck:  "I know I've been lucky. But it's what you do with that luck afterwards that really defines whether you stick around."