Mayor Cortes delivers SOCA mission accomplished

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday said the city has now moved forward and has accomplished its mission to become the premier business destination in Central Visayas.

Cortes, in his 35-minute State of the City Address delivered at the Mandaue City session hall, said that under his administration, business continues to boom.

He said 353 new businesses have opened and the city is now home to more than 10,000 business establishments, which proves that investors continue to trust the city.

He said more businesses mean increased tax revenue.

Cortes said the city government is now in the process of creating a system in which each employee will be more efficient and effective.

He said the city government has taken more concrete steps in ensuring good governance and has thus started the implementation of the Performance Governance System (PGS).

“In finance, our goal is to become efficient in our revenue collections to fund our projects and programs. This year, we have brought that goal to fruition,” Cortes said.

The mayor applauded the work of his finance department because even if there was a decrease of P36.8 million of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), the department was still able to increase its funds through intensified tax collection efforts.

He even applauded city personnel who went down manholes to clean these up.

“Akong pasalamatan ang tanang mga taga Engineering, hilabina ang mga empleyado nga nisulod sa manhole aron makuot ug tarong ug mahabwa ang hugaw nga nakabara sa culverts” Cortes adds .

Aside from the cleaning of manholes, the city is also rehabilitating drainage systems and asphalting dilapidated roads to address the significant flooding problem of the city.

He also applauded the city’s Development Office for teaching constituents on how to fish.

The office has conducted countless livelihood trainings and has coordinated with the Mandaue City College Technical and Entrepreneurial Skills Training (MCCTEST) which pave way for the cooperative to be accredited as a training and development center by the Regional Development Authority of Region VII.

Cortes also said he has fulfilled his promise to the nine Homeowner’s Association residing at the 9.2-hectare property in barangay Subangdaku that stretches to adjacent barangays Tipolo, Guizo, and Mantuyong that the lot they are occupying will be donated to them.

In addition to the donation of the 9.2 hectare lot, the city was also able to purchase a 6.5-hectare lot intended for the relocation of the informal settlers that live at the city’s danger zone.

Some of them are now at the relocation site.

He also said the city government did not stop acquiring lots for the construction of more school buildings in the city.

He also said that because of the city’s relentless pursuit for transparency, accountability, and good governance, the city has also won the seal of good housekeeping award, proof that the city is on the right path of achieving its goal.

He said that just recently, the city launched the Mandaue City Citizen’s Charter Handbook to guide individuals and companies on the processes and procedures when conducting business in the city.

Cortes said it’s a way to cut bureaucratic red tape and prevent graft and corruption.   (FREEMAN)