The realization of Antique’s provincial government center and the upgrading of three major hospitals are among the priorities that were laid down before the legislative body during the presentation of the executive agenda, plans, and platform (EAPP) of the executive office.
Provincial government administrator Nery Duremdes, who presented the EAPP on behalf of Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao during the Provincial Board Inaugural Session on Thursday, said the provincial government has purchased a seven-hectare lot in Barangay Supa, San Jose de Buenavista for the construction of the government center.
“We shall erect therein buildings under the concept of green architecture where solar panels would provide energy,” Duremdes read from the EAPP on behalf of Cadiao who was on sick leave.
He said the governor wants the government center to be a one-stop shop so other government agencies would be easily accessible to the general transacting public.
The proposal to purchase a lot and construct a government center began in 2019 after Cadiao won her second term as governor. However, it did not push through because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Provincial Engineer Inocencio Dajao, in a separate interview, said the government center would be a three-story building with a floor plan of about 8,000 square meters.
“The building is estimated to cost around PHP900 million,” Dajao said.
The budget will be included in the Annual Investment Program of the provincial government for 2023.
The governor also plans to raise the standard of the three major hospitals in Antique – the provincial hospital Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH) in San Jose de Buenavista; the Culasi District Hospital in Culasi town; and Rep. Ramon Maza Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Sibalom – through the provision of more medical equipment and manpower.
“The plan is to make the hospitals really functional based on their classifications with ASMGH now as Level 2 and as a referral hospital, while both the Culasi District Hospital and the Rep. Ramon Maza Sr. Memorial District Hospital as Level 1 hospitals,” Julie Cepe, Provincial Planning and Development Officer, said in an interview.
Meanwhile, Cadiao said the People’s Day would continue so that provincial government officials would be able to personally listen and attend to the concerns of their constituents.
The People’s Day, which is being conducted every Thursday in northern Antique, will now be held every Wednesday so that the Provincial Board could join as the new schedule is no longer in conflict with its regular session.
The Provincial Board members, in the inaugural messages they delivered, pledged to work with the executive body or the governor for the best interest of the province.
“I will set my best foot forward and selflessly work,” reelectionist Board Member Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao said in her message.
Returning board member Egidio Elio said “the poor will never be served poorly” under their term.
“We (will) be leading the people to greater heights,” he said. (PNA)
