SGB wants immediate Environment Rehabilitation

From the mountains to the sea, Escalante City is blessed with rich and vibrant natural resources. From the pristine beaches to inviting caves, it’s undoubtedly a haven for travelers.

Integrated in the framework of governance thru the HELPERS PLUS, the Environment Preservation, Protection and Development simply aimed to preserve and protect Escalante’s abundant natural resources. From the sea, there were approximately 2million pesos collected by Bantay Dagat fisherfolk volunteers as penalties for illegal fishing and building illegal structures, thus averting from acts of coral reef destructions. To ensure clean and healthy environment, we have used utilized a biodegradable waste composting area as a successful solid waste management model. These were just few of the resolute methods of the Barcelona Administration for the conservation of the environment and natural resources.

With utmost assistance from Escalantehanons, our covenant Governance for 2010-2013 wishes to establish a more effective Environmental Sanitation program. An immediate act shall be To rehabilitate and reinvigorate Environment protection specifically To mandate all 21 barangays to have environmental protection, preservation and development master plan in their corresponding barangays regarding their trees, parks, etc., and To strictly enforce the Solid Waste Management requirements under RA 9003. By doing such, a cleaner and greener Escalante shall be unveiled.

SUPPORT ENVIRONMENT REHABILITATION, ABANTE ESCALANTE! MASARANGAN NATO KINI!!

DONGDONG MIRASOL: Sa Serbisyo, Masaligan mo!

Sa serbisyo, masaligan mo. This is not a promise. Behind those words is a man outfitted with wit and experience to bear it out. He is Reynaldo “Dongdong” Alcos Mirasol, a service-oriented and trustworthy citizen of Escalante who has the will to serve the people. Let’s just get to know him better.

Dongdong Mirasol, 44, is a resident of Prk. Bagong Buhay, Brgy. Balintawak. Blessed with 3 children, he is the loving and ever-supportive husband of MCC’s Math Wizard then, Mrs. Mila Mahinay Mirasol (now Dean of CSA-B College of Arts and Sciences). If you happen to have a frequent hot coffee and a tasty bread routine to start your day, then you’ll surely never missed to drop by at Ng Dulang’s Bakery (his mother’s best). He happened to be the nephew of SPM Armando Alcos.

Dongdong graduated at Mount Carmel College with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Accounting. He worked as a Project Administration and Bookkeeper at Kabuguason Kauswagan Center in Old Poblacion for 5 years. Later on, he moved on and became an employee or Rural Bank of Escalante for 10 years. And with his adequate work background, he was hired as a Foreign Academic & Cultural Exchange Services Recipient in Columbia, South Carolina, USA for 3 years.

Being possessed with a positive outlook in life, Dongdong Mirasol assures every Escalantehanon of a trustworthy service for the growth of every community.

Ayaw hikalimti ang number 11 sa balota, Dongdong Mirasol sa umaabot May 10 elections para sa pagka Konsehal.

Support Reynaldo “Dongdong” Mirasol! Sa serbisyo, masaligan mo! Abante Escalante!

SGB calls for Apolitical Law Enforcers to uphold Peace and Order

To Serve and Protect. Acclaimed as the 1999 Region-wide Municipal Police Station of the Year and subsequently concluded as 2^nd Placer Municipal Police Station Nationwide of that same year, and hailed as the 2003 Best of the Best Police Station of the Year in the Philippines. Behind this is a force that assures every community of their safety, the Escalante City PNP. Proudly, our Law Enforcers had brought glory by having and improved crime solution efficiency from 2001 (92.68%) to 2004 (100%).

Also, being the recipient of the 2005- Most Citizen Friendly City Police Station in the Region, these humble servants were guided by Integrated Area/Community Public Safety Plan (IA/CPSP) year after year that intends of promoting and maintaining peace and Order within its territorial jurisdiction, and of providing safety and security among its people. It basically consists of 5 Pillars of Criminal Justice System to wit:

· 1. Law Enforcement, Prosecution, Courts, Rehab and Community

· 2. Enhance Community Involvement/Participation

· 3. Implementation of Poverty Reduction Programs and Projects

· 4. Improved Delivery of Basic Services

· 5. Disaster Management and Preparedness and Sound Environmental Management

These innovations and broad strategies were all implemented in 2005 which had brought home the 2005 Outstanding Peace and Order Council of the Philippines, but it was only awarded in Sept. 2007 at the Malacanang Palace.

Our major transformational covenant of governance in Peace and Order for 2010-2013 is To strengthen and empower the CITY PEACE AND ORDER COUNCIL to address the peace and order concerns of the City immediately. First line of action is to see to it that the local police shall be apolitical.

Years back, we had an improving Crime Solution efficiency considering that political motivation never hindered the operation. Achieving this means to serve and protect all the Escalantehanons and not the unjust personal interests of who’s in the position, and to stop the crime not the source of it. Let us support Escalante by transforming it back to a sanctuary of Peace and Order by implementing back these 5 pillars of the Criminal Justice System of the City.

SUPPORT THE EFFICIENT PEACE AND ORDER COUNCIL. SUPPORT SOLIDARITY. SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNANCE. ALL THESE FOR A BRIGHTER ESCALANTE.

ABANTE ESCALANTE. MASARANGAN NATO KINI

SGB strongly supports Livelihood Restoration for Sustainability

FAITH or Food Always In The Home, which is the pioneering project of Barcelona Administration's Livelihood Programs, does not only aimed to cultivate sustainable source sufficiency by bringing the food production into the household level and maximizing the city's rich resources, but also providing livelihood opportunities for the people. Implementation of Poverty reduction programs had empowered communities by providing them income generating projects. Organizations such as Women's, Youth and the Physically-challenged were given administrative and financial support for their identified projects. On the other hand, the program JOBS or Job Opportunities to Business Sustainability had continually hoped the produced entrepreneurs in every household.

With these established career options and business resource center intervention, SGB believed that Escalantehanon shall be uplifted from poverty and no Escalantehanon shall be engaged on transient and sometimes illicit sources of livelihood such as cockfighting, gambling and stealing.

One of Santiago G. Barcelona's (SGB's) top covenant of governance for its Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Program for the year 2010-2013 is To set up and revive the Training Center at Sitio Bug-as for skill, trade and business promotion and development. This is to tie up with TESDA, DTI, DOST, TLDC and other agencies or institutions or organizations. The training center bldg is the one now being occupied by City Agriculture Office near the new VGDH. That building was built thru Hon. Barcelona's P1Million cash reward when he was adjudged as Outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines in 2002. Another P1Million came from Senate President Franklin Drilon then and with only P1Million came from City fund of 2003. It was proposed to be a TESDA training Center simultaneously with sleeping quarters. The lot alloted for this center is 5000 sqm. At the back, a Dutch chef had proposed to set up a Demo kitchen for the proposed culinary school to be fully financed by the Dutch NGO and government and at least 6 European chefs as trainors on an alternate basis. Unfortunately, the 2007 elections result aborted the proposed approved project. With this proposed restoration, SGB hoped to have a more productive and highly competent people in ESCALANTE.

SUPPORT SOLIDARITY. SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNANCE. ALLTHESE FOR A BRIGHTER ESCALANTE. ABANTE ESCALANTE! MASARANGAN NATO KINI!

More Iskolar ng Bayan, More Hopes for Escalante

Youth is said to be the hope of the nation. Everyone, even the less fortunate children, deserve a bow of a Quality Education and every LGU has a role in the creation of community’s intellectual landscape. Under his administration, Hon. Barcelona, thousands of preschoolers were enrolled in 52 day care centers in 21 barangays. At one stroke, massive construction of 68 school buildings, libraries, HE buildings in 36 public school sites in the 21 Barangays thru acquisition of 95 million assistance from LOGOFIND (Local Government Finance and Development), being said to be the biggest project accessed by an LGU. With these at reach, it had solved the perennial shortage of classrooms in Public schools. Another advocacy was the establishment of 10 Extension High Schools and 1 Night School that benefited more than 2000 students who may not have gone to schools. Also, there were more Literacy workers hired for the augmentation of teaching force thru the Local School Board, Academic Scholarships for deserving students, assistance on Public School Teachers thru the Literacy Advancement Program in Graduate Studies, LGU counterpart on thousands of school materials. Initiation of sport development program for the enhancement of youth in every sports disciplines were also established.

More support to Education and Sports Development means more hopes for Escalantehanons. SGB hoped that let there be an establishment of a yearly fund of P10M as a “SKOLAR NG BAYAN”. Funds will be taken from the City, Provincial & National Government or NGAs, NGOs and/or Corporate sponsors. This is envisioned to give opportunity to indigent but deserving Students to pursue their tertiary education with a P10,000 per scholar subsidy per annum of 200 students per year level. The remaining P2m shall be allotted for the DepEd teaching personnel for their masteral course under the EXCELLENCE AND COMPETENCE ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM.

SUPPORT ISKOLAR LNG BAYAN. SUPPORT SOLIDARITY. SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNANCE. ALL THESE FOR A BRIGHTER ESCALANTE

SGB urges 100% Philhealth Accreditation for Escalantehanons

One of the major thrusts of the Barcelona Administration is to provide the less privileged segment of the population with an improved and efficient basic social and health services. Part of which is the Philhealth coverage of indigent families based on strict Department of Health Standards and accreditation. Proud to say, we have enrolled as much as 8,000 deeply impoverished Escalantehanon for the Philhealth ng Masa accreditation.

SGB's scheme on enrolling more indigents were strongly criticized by the present administration because of allegedly obliging our beneficiaries to have there 50% share on its annual renewal, that is Php300. A blatant truth, every enrollee should have Php600 premium share from our Local Government Unit. But since our LGU has only limited resources for the indigent enrollment, Hon. Barcelona thru the LGU's Technical working group designed the PISO-PISO ADLAW-ADLAW scheme for the objective of reaching out more indigents. In fact, the said scheme was chosen as one of the DOH Best Practices 2005-2009 (see attached images above). Proudly, it was Escalante City's innovative strategy that served as a DOH model and could be replicated by other LGUs.

With your stand, we can help more and more of indigent Escalantehanon relatives and friends by allowing Hon. Santiago G. Barcelona (SGB) to have 100% Philhealth accreditation. His administration aims to attain an almost 100% coverage of PHILHEALTH by all households in Escalante.

We target to enroll 10,000 households under the PHILHEALTH SA MAHIRAP PROGRAM within his term of office; The remaining households shall be covered by their existing employment in the private and public sectors.

We have done it before, and with God's Divine Guidance, we can help more Escalantehanon's in the future!

Support Solidarity. Support Good Governance. All these for a Brighter Escalante!

What does SGB - Escalante stands for?

Central to the realization of its 9 years of visionary leadership, we continually adopted a humble yet multi-awarded governance. With so much pride, it had totally brought a direct impact by promoting sustainable development in community and nation building as helper in attaining such end in improving the quality of life brought in each Escalantehanons thru its transformation, empowerment, development and progress!

With its fundamental framework of governance thru HELPERS PLUS (H – ealth & social services; E- ducation, culture, sports & the youth; L – ivelihood and Entrepreneurship; P- eace and Order, Public Safety; E – nviroment protection, preservation and development; R – evenue generation and resource development; S – helter; the plus includes all developmental infrastructures i.e. farms to markets road networks, agriculture, power, water, tourism and investment promotion and development, JOBS, FAITH, SIPAG and other priority projects). Certainly that will a transparent implication to a better Escalante City!

SGB-Escalante stands for Solidarity and Good Governance for a Brighter Escalante. It aims to expose in fragment details the expansion and continuation of Santiago G. Barcelona (SGB) and the TEAM ABANTE ESCALANTE's platform of governance for the next 3 years.

With this account, we humbly present our HELPERS PLUS PART 2, to continue, restore, improve and expand our quest to accord each ESCALANTEHANON a better quality of life, where freedom from fear and respect of individual human rights are totally guaranteed! The freedom of each Escalantehanon to express his/her sentiments without being monitored and intimidated by the power that be and its agents be respected! True and real democracy shall be the primodial concern of everybody!

Together, we can endure a better life for Escalantehanons. Let SGB, TEAM ABANTE ESCALANTE accept the challenges to be icons of REAL DEMOCRACY by allowing them to be. The future of Escalante lies on this incoming elections. Stand up and be counted. Start speaking up and be heard!

Support Solidarity. Support Good Governance. All these for a brighter ESCALANTE!