Vol. 6, No. 2 | April - June 2014 A Quarterly Magazine of the City Government of Naga Bicol, Philippines ISSN 2094-9383 JOHN G. BONGAT City Mayor NELSON S. LEGACION City Vice Mayor SIEGLINDE BORROMEO-BULAONG Editor JASON B. NEOLA Senior Writer RAFAEL RACSO V. VITAN Layout and Design ANSELMO B. MAÑO Website Administrator JOSE V. COLLERA XERES RAMON A. GAGERO SYLRANJELVIC C. VILLAFLOR Photographers FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. REUEL M. OLIVER Editorial Consultants JOSE B. PEREZ ALLEN L. REONDANGA Technical Advisers ALDO NIÑO I. RUIVIVAR MAUREEN S. ROJO Staff Assistants CECILIA A. AMPARADO Circulation Manager This magazine is published by the City Government of Naga, thru the Ciy Publication Office and the City Events, Protocol and Public Information Office, with editorial office at City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City 4400 Philippines Tel: +63 54 472-2136 Email: [email protected] Web: www.naga.gov.ph THIS SEEDLING, planted by Naga City bikers and environmentalists, in a few years will form part of a forest of pili trees along Mt. Isarog Natural Park, a project of PiliMania under the city government’s GrEET Program that aims to help improve airshed quality and mitigate carbon emission while providing livelihood opportunities to local farmers and pilinut food processors. Pili tree planting is encouraged in the city’s residential zones, barangay roads, subdivisions, urban poor communities, vacant school lots and other viable places around the city under the program chaired by the city’s First Lady, Farah R. Bongat, herself a health buff and environmentalist. TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER STORY 3 NAGA: BICOL’S TIGER ECONOMY – STATE OF OUR CITY REPORT The “Naga SMILES to the World” logo is composed of the two 116TH INDEPENDENCE DAY baybayin characters, na and ga. 11 PRESIDENT AQUINO LEADS COMMEMORATION RITES IN NAGA CITY Na, shaped like a mountain, 13 BAYANI ANG BAWAT PILIPINO provides a strong foundation for the BY MAYOR JOHN G. BONGAT Narra tree which grew abundantly 14 BAYANI SA SARILING PARAAN BY REP. MARIA LEONOR GERONA-ROBREDO along the Naga River while a zigzag 15 P-NOY PAYS TRIBUTE TO line denotes the majestic Malabsay THE FIFTEEN BICOL MARTYRS Falls. 66TH NAGA CITY CHARTER Ga, shaped like a farmer’s plow, ANNIVERSARY is symbolic of the Nagueño’s agricultural roots and hardworking 19 MAYOR BONGAT CONFERS MAYORAL AWARDS TO 19 OUTSTANDING CITIZENS personality. 20 MAYORAL MESSAGE: 2014 MAYORAL AWARDS The baybayin Naga characters PHILIPPINE-SPANISH rest on a wave-like element which FRIENDSHIP DAY represents the Naga River and the serpent, which is read in Sanskrit 33 NAGA CELEBRATES FIRST PHILIPPINE-SPANISH as naga. FRIENDSHIP DAY This new branding for Naga, HON. JESSE M. ROBREDO’S 56TH launched in 2010 by the dynamic BIRTH ANNIVERSARY Bongat administration, envisions a more livable city that is world-class. 37 BORDADO PRESENTS PAPER ON JESSE ROBREDO’S LEGACY 38 PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE OF NAGA CITY: THE LEGACY OF JESSE MANALASTAS ROBREDO 43 LENI REMEMBERS JESSE 1 APRIL - JUNE 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS REGIONAL RELATIONS Education, youth and social welfare 45 MIGRATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN BICOL LAUNCHED 61 NAGA SANGGAWADAN: 48 MAYOR BONGAT SPOTLIGHTS PARTNER IN PROMOTING The “An Maogmang Lugar“ logo is an NAGA IN STOCKHOLM THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION CONFERENCE OF WORKING CHILDREN attempt to capture Naga as we want it 63 PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENT to be – a city that is progressive and yet DISABILITIES GO THROUGH LEGISLATION FREE ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT environment-friendly, where the people 65 NAGA HOSTS freely participate in the day-to-day affairs 49 SANGGUNIAN EXPANDS 1ST NATIONAL CONFAB OF STUDENT PARTICIPATION SOLO PARENTS of the government, and where culture and PROGRAM 67 RENTOY STIRS CITY YOUTH arts are flourishing. 50 IMPLEMENTING THE ENABL2E OFFICIALS PROGRAM 53 NAGA ENHANCES CAPABILITY The stylized design of “NAGA” represents OF LUPONG TAGAPAMAYAPA SPORTS the city’s aggressive march towards 68 NAGA TITANS: NATIONAL 3X3 modernization and progress. The sky-blue ENVIRONMENT CAGE CHAMP background, the Narra tree, and the Naga 69 CAALIM SISTERS WIN 3 SILVERS 54 JOEY AYALA HOLDS CONCERT IN ASEAN CHESS TOURNAMENT River represent our people’s desire for an FOR MOTHER EARTH ecologically-balanced community. 55 VIETNAM WORKSHOP: MEMORIES OF DA NANG BUSINESS & TRADE 57 NAGA, ADB START TALKS The ring of people surrounding the entire ON LAND USE DEVELOPMENT 70 BICOL BUSINESS WEEK TO KICK OFF IN AUGUST design shows the Nagueños’ participatory 58 PILIMANIA MOUNTS 1ST MT. ISAROG ECOTOURISM 72 WEIGHING SCALES mechanism which is part and parcel of ENDURANCE CHALLENGE DISTRIBUTED, PRICE WATCH CONDUCTED the city’s way of doing things. It also 73 TAXICLES: MODERNIZING shows the people’s concern and unity in AGRICULTURE TRANSPORTATION FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE everything that is good for the city. TOURISM Today, the city, as Maogmang Lugar, aims to portray more than a happy place but a 75 NAGA TOPS TOURIST ARRIVALS happy people who are the true beneficiaries 79 NAGA CITY TOUR AT DAWN of everything good that is happening in the 81 FOOD TRIP: NAGA CITY city. 87 CANAMAN HOLDS FIRST DRAGON BOAT RACE 59 NAGA CELEBRATES FARMER’S 88 GROUNDBREAKING FOR DAY CAMALIGAN WHARF APRIL - JUNE 2014 2 AYOR John G. Bongat on April 15, 2014 hailed Naga City as Bicol’s roaring STATE OF Tiger Economy as he delivered his State of Our City Report which, our CITY among others, highlighted the city’s triumphs in economic development and socio-cultural REPORT Menhancement that he said continue to sustain and improve on the city’s famous title as a “Maogmang Lugar,” or a happy place. Bongat hails Naga as Quoting Wikipedia’s definition of Tiger Bicol’s tiger economy Economy as an “Economy which undergoes rapid economic growth, usually accompanied by an increase in the standard of living,” Bongat By Jason B. Neola presented data from independent sources which include Naga’s being named as one of the Top Ten Most Competitive Cities in the country in 2013 and the Ateneo de Naga 2014 First Quarter Poll on Naga City Poverty 3 APRIL - JUNE 2014 Bicolwide, Naga has been lording it over as the No. 1 most competitive city in terms of infrastructure, economic dynamism, and government efficiency. The competitiveness index is an annual ranking of Philippine cities developed by the National Competitiveness Council, together with the Regional Competitiveness Committees and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Mayor Bongat disclosed that the city’s investment and marketing campaign during the past three years (2010-2013) focused on Naga as a 1) commercial center and distribution hub, 2) an IT-BPO center, 3) a financial center, and 4) a tourism transit point and destination. He said that during the 3-year period, Naga and Governance which showed the city mayor generated P4.97B in new investments which enjoying a high satisfaction rating of 59.5% among translated to 19,840 new jobs. Naga constituents, 49.3% for Vice Mayor Nelson He said that when he first took over Legacion, and 42.67% for city councilors. city hall, there were only 34 accommodation Bongat said this is the first time that Naga establishments in the city which now have landed in the Top Ten Most Competitive Cities grown to 59. No wonder that the city registered ranking (from 19th in 2012) which is normally 859,743 tourist arrivals in 2013 alone, the dominated by bigger cities. highest for any city and province in Bicol. APRIL - JUNE 2014 4 He said that such strong organization has been characterized by a motivated workforce and inclusive and responsive decision-making that Attended by stakeholders and brought about higher productivity, representatives from various sectors of the higher trust level, and higher efficiency. city and the newly-sworn city youth officials, Better service delivery, which is the the State of Our City Report was the main true essence of efficient and responsive agenda of the 39th Sangguniang Panlungsod governance, translates to the resulting regular session which was presided over economic and socio-cultural impacts, by Vice Mayor Nelson Legacion. It was the mayor explained. held at the People’s Hall inside the City Economic impact furthermore Hall compound to accommodate the large brings improved business confidence audience that came to listen to the city that roars like a tiger economy, he said. mayor’s address. Socio-cultural impact, on the other The mayor said that the city’s “strong hand, produces a happier Nagueño who organization” from both within and outside breathes and raises his family within the city hall was instrumental in turning the city confines of a livable city that others call into a tiger economy. a “Maogmang Lugar.” 5 APRIL - JUNE 2014 APRIL - JUNE 2014 6 7 APRIL - JUNE 2014 APRIL - JUNE 2014 8 9 APRIL - JUNE 2014 APRIL - JUNE 2014 10 By Jason B. Neola OR the first time and with so much pride among Nagueños and Bicolanos, Plaza Quince Martires in downtown Naga became the center of national attention as President Benigno S. Aquino III led the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites on June 12 here to commemorate the 116th Philippine Independence Day. Plaza Quince Martires was chosen by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), with the President’s approval, Fas the venue for this year’s Independence Day celebration to honor the 15 Martyrs of Bicol whose travails helped ignite the revolution in 1896. Taking off from the Independence Day theme of “Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino, Tungo sa Malawakan at Permanenteng Pagbabago,” President Aquino paid tribute to the country’s martyred heroes, who sacrificed their lives to free the Filipinos from the oppression of Spanish conquerors, leading to the proclamation of the country’s independence and the declaration of the First Philippine Republic.