LEGAZPI CITY – Running unopposed in his reelection bid for a third term, Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda noted that his only enemies seem to be “climate change-induced disasters and poverty.”
On both fronts, Albay posted impressive gains since Salceda assumed its governorship in 2007. This gives him the confidence to predict that “by 2016, Albay will be more progressive, competitive, with an egalitarian society where economic development will be faster and more meaningful for everyone; where no one is left behind and where the potentials and dreams of every child can find fulfillment."
Gov. Salceda articulated this vision after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) seeking his third term re-election, together with his running mate Vice Gov. Harold Ong Imperial who seeks his second term, under the Liberal Party of President Noynoy Aquino.
Poverty and natural disasters thus dictate what his development priorities are. Among them are the completion of the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) by 2015 and its arterial roads that link it with the towns of Guinobatan, Camalig and Legazpi City; as well as the Guicadale Roads. The projects are designed to spur development in the Bicol Region and the country’s Southern areas.
Salceda’s first two terms as governor from 2007 to 2013 has registered impressive gains -- 252,000 Philhealth enrolled members among the poorest of the poor; 64,000 recipients of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps; 34,000 scholars; and increased tourists arrivals that hit 178,000.
Under Salceda’s stewardship, Albay’s name was installed in the Hall of Fame of the Gawad Kalasag, the government’s highest honor for best local government units, as a consistent awardee. It won Best in Local Governance honors. It also bagged the Palarong Bicol championship in 2011 and 2012; and scored high in the accountancy, electrical and mechanical engineering board examinations.
For his innovations and pioneering works, the United Nations (UN) declared Salceda as its senior global champion and spokesman on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The UN has likewise proclaimed Albay as its CCA-DRR global model.
Among his 2016 goals for Albay in education are the establishment of the Bicol University Medical School, sustained implementation of the Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS) scholarships and the Education Quality for Albayanos or EQUAL programs, conversion of the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital into a university, and a college graduate for every Albayano family.
In health, he envisions the modernization of the Salalima Memorial Hospital in Polangui town and the Pantao and Pioduran hospitals, the alleviation of malnutrition though school-based feeding programs, effective monitoring and implementation of the 4Ps program, financial viability of the Ziga and Duran hospitals in the province.
In tourism development, Salceda sees significant gains through the Albay-Masbate–Sorsogon Tourism Alliance (ALMASOR) which he spearheaded, the early completion of the Agro-ethnic Village in Cabangan, Camalig town, the Cabicerra de Camalig, preservation of old houses and the Japanese tunnels also in Camalig town, and the rehabilitation of the Skyline Hotel.
For his CCA-DRR programs, Salceda likewise sees the early completion of P440-million evacuation centers in the towns of Polangui, Libon, Oas, Gogon, Manito and Sto. Domingo funded by the Japan International Coordinating Agency; the expansion of the Climate Change Academy at the Bicol University.
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