Gov Lito to deliver his State of the Province Address BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan - Governor Carlito Marquez will deliver his State of the Province Address (SOPA) on January 28 to report his administration's achievements and plans at the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall.
Marquez, who happens to deliver his sixth SOPA since he assumed the leadership of the province in 2004, will focus on agriculture, tourism, health, infrastructures, peace and order, environment, fishery, social services and welfare, employment generation, investments, education and sports development.
Among the breakthroughs of his administration are the passage and approval of the P949-million 2010 budget of the provincial government and the all-time high tourist arrivals of 649,559 last year in Boracay Island, of which foreigners accounted 192,873 and domestic tourists posted 432,271 arrivals.
Marquez partnered with Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores to build a greater Aklan and worked in solidarity and harmonious relationship with the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo to deliver the services and much-needed investments for the province.
In collaboration with the legislative council, the province enacted the Aklan Tourism Code, Aklan Environment Code and the Aklan Children's Code last year, showing the high regard of the local officials to the protection of environment, growth and welfare of children and tourism as the anchor industry that will propel Aklan's development and progress.
The governor also linked arms with Miraflores on vital projects for the province, among others, the farm-to-market roads, aiport development of Kalibo, irrigation projects and primary health care services.
Last year, Marquez envisioned the progressive province to implement high-impact projects to generate P1-billion revenues to the government coffers from 2009 to 2013. A P500-milllion Aklan Marina project is being eyed for the construction of a resort and spa, an ocean adventure park and cable car transport system facilities and the building of a 100-room hotel health and wellness center in the next five years.
Marquez, in the last SOPA of his second term in office, also pursued the vision for Aklan to become an investment-friendly province by supporting the mega project P2.507-billion Caticlan airport development, opening of new roll-on roll-off route in New Washington, Aklan and the biomass-fueled plant of Asea One Power Corporation in Banga, Aklan.
To fully implement health reforms and programs, Marquez also implemented the P1.014-billion five-year Province-wide Investment Plan for Health (PIPH) backed by international support agencies and partners of the Department of Health (DoH).
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