(1st of Four Parts)
Governor Carlito S. Marquez rendered his State of the Province Address (SOPA) on January 25, 2006 on the occasion of the 4th Regular Session of the Provincial Capitol, Kalibo, Aklan.
For the first time, it was standing room only. The guests overflowed to the offices and grounds of the Aklan SP. This is a highly positive reflection of public approval of the present governance at the capitol led by Governor Marquez and Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino.
Madyaas Pen rated the SOPA Excellent. It is frank, transparent and realistic. The accomplishments cited are responsive to the needs, problems and aspirations of Aklanons.
For the benefits of Madyaas Pen readers, the SOPA 2006 will be published in four series beginning this issue.
The SOPA compliance with the mandate of the Local Government Code of 1991 otherwise known as Republic Act 7160, The SOPA on January 25 was the third appearance before the honorable members of the Provincial Legislative Body of Aklan. Here is the address:
Allow me to express my profound gratitude to Vice Gov. Kel and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members and their staff for making the required preparations to facilitate my year end report to our people.
This August body deserves my lavish appreciation for providing the office of the Provincial Governor the much needed legislative infrastructure in order to effectively implement our programs, projects, and activities which redound to the greater welfare of Aklanons and the development of this province.
Indeed, year 2005 was a busy year for the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan having gone through 44 Regular Sessions, 4 Special Sessions, and one (1) Joint Session. From those working sessions, mostly extending beyond noontime, 484 Resolutions, 56 Provincial Ordinances and 5 Appropriation Ordinances were enacted. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan can be credited for passing enactments which can be considered the “First of their kind” or landmark pieces of legislation, mainly in support of my executive agenda.
Most significant of the enactments is the approval of Appropriation Ordinance No. 05-004 Enacting The Annual Budget of the General Fund For CY 2006 with Appropriations of P367,688,174 and another Appropriation Ordinance No. 05-045, Enacting The Economic Enterprise Development Department Budget For CY 2006 with Appropriations of P199,557,635, and the subsequent approval of an ordinance allocating P61,908,135 to finance the various programs and projects under the 20 percent internal allotment development fund as endorsed by the Provincial Development Council.
In effect, the entire operations of the Provincial Government this year will be supported by a budgetary outlay of some P629,153,943.
Equally significant are the landmark pieces of legislation which will have wide-ranging impact on the physical, economic, and environmental state of our province. These are:
An ordinance creating the Aklan River Development Council,
An ordinance on the rules and guidelines in prescribing the one-entry-one-exit policy in the resort island of Boracay,
An ordinance regulating the utilization of our natural resources, including small scale mining,
An ordinance creating the economic enterprise development department n the Provincial Government, to maximize revenue generating capacity. Thank you, my dear legislators. These historic legislations are our roadmap leading to the highway of our economic prosperity and stability.
Marked Improvement On The Province’s Financial Indicators
In 2004, our budget income projections was P377,976,310 but realized only P321,538,465 or a shortfall of P56.43 million. In 2005, our budget income projections was P393,416,576 but realized only P361,543,540 or a shortfall of P31.87 million translated to a budget deficit of only 8.10 percent, and therefore, a budget gap improvement of 43.52 percent compared to 2004.
Based on the reports of our Treasury and Accounting offices, total collections in 2005 from local taxes, permits and licenses, service income, business and other income was P361,543,540.73 compared to 2004 collections of only P326,387,950.54 or an increase of 10.77 percent while the income from special education fund in 2005 was P11,175,546.13 compared to only P9,414,252.24 in 2004 or an increase of 18.71 percent.
This increase is noticeable on the property tax transfer and the tax on delivery trucks and vans, on sand, gravel, and quarry products, clearance and certification fees, toll and terminal fees, landing and parking dues. Many thanks therefore, to our offices of the treasurer and the assessor and the jetty port administrator, and all other department heads responsible for the improvement of our revenue generation and good fiscal management…thank you department heads!
Because of improvement of income plus the economic measures implemented by our Budget Office, Accounting Office, Procurement Office, Office of the Agriculture, Veterinarian Office, Human Resource Management Office, Aklan Tourism Office, The Aklan Rehabilitation Center, PESO Management Office, Office of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and all other departments and its sub-offices, the local finance committee, supported with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution was able to pay extra cash gift of P5,000 each to all regular employees and P1,000 each to casuals and P2,500 to school board teachers or a total expenditure from savings of P4,943,500.
Likewise, the Provincial Government was able to pay its maturing loans and other bank obligations for CY 2005 at a total of P32,942,349, comprising of:
Sinking Fund of Provincial Bonds
To Mature July 1, 2006………………………………. P 11,315,000
Equipment Loan with LBP to
Mature December 2006……………………………..P6,831.168.05
Logofind Equity For The
Construction of the
Provincial Hospital …………………………………..P12,566.351.53
Logofind Interest Payment
On A Loan of P88,644,815.12 For
The Provincial hospital
Construction…………………………………………..P2,229,874.75
(to be continued next issue) mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
Past Asst. District Gov and Past Pres. of Rotary Club of 
Pres. Panski Rebuelta and Rtn. Megs Lunn during the 
