Where To Grace?
As a new governor, Grace Padaca said that her decisions will be guided only by what is right. “I’ll be different because I have not political interests to protect, no dynasty to maintain, no burden at all”.
She wants Isabelinos to take an active part in shaping their province and wants consultations to play a big part in her administration. “I want to go back to the people and listen to them, what they need, their hopes and aspirations and how they want it.”
On her first three months, she did some “house cleaning” as she inherited a house that badly needs to be put in order. She was left with a debt of almost 700M, files of missing properties, financial records, unaccounted properties like vehicles, high-powered guns and other government properties. Records also show ghost projects and deliveries amounting to millions, unliquidated cash advances from employees and officers of the province also running to millions, payables and disbursements exceeding the appropriations for the year, contracts were negotiated and not bidded as required by law nor covered with proper and legal documentation also amounting to millions.
On October 08, 2004, she delivered her “Ulat sa Bayan” to inform the public about the status and condition of the province and what she intends to do during her term. First she defined the principles by which her programs will be hinged. These are: Sustainability, Partnership with beneficiaries leading to self-reliance, Stewardship and Empowerment.
She has announced that her flagship program is agriculture for which priority is on agri-industrialized programs like feed mills to support livestock, fish, swine, ruminant and poultry industries, agri-processing centers for by-products of corn like oil, starch and alcohol, irrigation and small-water impounding system, focus on the education of farmers on organic farming, integrated pest management and multi-cropping, support programs on hybrid corn and rice and high value crops. She believes that focus on agriculture will ensure food security, improved technology, and better income for farmers, additional jobs and better infrastructure. Bottom-line: better economy for the province. Over the past few months she has intervened in the price stabilization of corn. With the recent typhoons that hit the province hard, together with the Department of Agriculture she has also initiated a rehabilitation program by distributing corn and palay seeds at subsidized price. She spearheaded the relief and rehabilitation program for those affected by the typhoons tapping the assistance of various line and international agencies.
She has also initiated the review and strengthening of the province’s health system. She has invited no less than the former Health Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan to plot a program to address the health concerns of the province.
To ensure the protection of the environment and natural resources which are close to her heart she has formed an Anti-Illegal Logging task force. She has ordered stricter enforcement of all existing laws on mines, geo-sciences, forest management.
Consistent with her promise to listen to the people, she initiated the Ugnayan Bayan. Every Wednesday of every week, she takes time to welcome people from all walks of life, listen to their problems and woes and offering assistance when and where necessary together with her Department Managers. She takes time to reeducate people emphasizing the need for them to help themselves and rely less on government or dole out system they have been used to. For her self-reliance is the key to economic progress and the alleviation of poverty.
