Caloocan City extends medium-term development plan

The Caloocan City government has extended its 2000-2005 Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) to 2007 to fully achieve the administration’s Reform Caloocan Program.

Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri explained that the MTDP extension would pave the way for achieving best the goals, objectives and targets of the city government.

He said that under the program, more roads and bridges will be constructed and hospital and health services will be improved. It will also pave the way for a cleaner and garbage-free city, better social and livelihood programs, housing projects, more employment opportunities, improved anti-crime campaign, better water system, eco-park, zoo and planetarium, more school buildings and day-care centers, streetlights, sports center and covered courts and improvements at the University of Caloocan.

The City Development Council approved the extension of MTDP during its recent general assembly, which was attended by city councilors, barangay officials, city hall department heads, and members of various non-government organizations.

Echiverri said the funding for the implementation of an extended MTDP would be sourced from the city’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) as provided for in a joint memorandum circular executed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management in September last year.

"For the past two years, we have consistently regained the trust and confidence of our people through concrete delivery of genuine public service," Echiverri said.

He added that "genuine reform" for Caloocan would remain on top of his administration’s priority.

Echiverri expressed his gratitude to the city councilors, barangay officials, department heads, and the NGOs for their support in the implementation of the city’s vital projects.

"Ang tunay na reporma ay magpapatuloy sa ating mahal na Caloocan (True reform will continue in our beloved Caloocan). My congratulations to all for providing the unity that will bring us to greater heights even in the face of seeming insurmountable odds. More importantly, we have succeeded in jointly treating the social and economic ills that have prevailed in the city for the past several years," Echiverri said.

In the past two years, Caloocan City has grown by leaps and bounds and it is this growth momentum that Echeverri wants to sustain.