inaugural address of mayor darlene antonino-custodio

The Global JourneyInaugural Address of Hon. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio

28 June 2010 | General Santos City

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ISANG MAPAYAPANG HAPON AT MAALIWALAS NA PANIMULA SA ATING LAHAT.

MAGANDANG GENSAN GENERAL SANTOS CITY!

LIKE ALL OF YOU, I ALSO DREAM. I, TOO, AM A PARENT DREAMING OF GREAT THINGS

FOR MY CHILDREN. I AM ALSO A CHILD WHO DREAMS THAT MY PARENTS ENJOY A

LIFETIME OF PEACE AND SERENITY IN THEIR TWILIGHT YEARS. I, TOO, AM A YOUTH

WHO WANTS TO LIVE A ZESTFUL EXISTENCE IN THIS LAND. YES, LIKE YOU, I, TOO, AM A

FILIPINO CITIZEN, WHO WANTS TO LIVE A DIGNIFIED LIFE IN A PROSPEROUS COUNTRY.

LIKE YOU, I HAVE HOPE IN MY HEART. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF OPTIMISM INSIDE OF

ME THAT ALTHOUGH GREAT THINGS AND EVENTS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED, EVEN

GREATER THINGS AND EVENTS ARE JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.

IT IS THE SAME HOPE AND OPTIMISM THAT MUST HAVE FUELED THE EARLY

DREAMERS OF THIS LAND SOME SIXTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY DREAMED

THAT A BUSTLING CITY WOULD RISE FROM DUST AND THORNS.

IT IS IN HONOR OF THOSE TEARS AND SWEAT THAT I KEEP THE DREAM AND HOPE

BURNING; IT IS IN REVERENCE TO THE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO TOILED

AHEAD OF ME, BOTH LIVING AND DEAD, THAT I PRESENT MY SELFLESS SERVICE. IF

ONLY SO I CAN MEASURE UP TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR OUR US AND OUR

GENERATION, I AM TODAY EXTENDING MY WHOLE SELF IN EQUAL SACRIFICE.

I HAVE A DREAM. AND IT IS ALSO YOURS. I STAND HERE TODAY AS YOUR ELECTED

CITY MAYOR, EXTENDING MY HANDS SO THAT WE CAN DREAM TOGETHER.

TODAY, OUR CITY HAS WARMED UP. WE HAVE STARTED THE ENGINE TWENTY YEARS

AGO WITH THE INCEPTION OF THE SOCSKSARGEN DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK. FOR

THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DRAWING UP A

TRAJECTORY OF GLOBAL PROMINENCE. STARTING TONIGHT, WE WILL BE ON OUR

FIRST GEAR INTO A GLOBAL JOURNEY.

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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY, I AM TAKING YOU WITH ME TO A GLOBAL

DESTINATION.

JUST AHEAD, I SEE A CITY TEEMING WITH GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES.

I SEE A CITY BURSTING WITH ENERGY AND OPTIMISM.

I SEE A CITY WELCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL GROWTH.

I SEE A CITY COMPETING WITH THE OTHER GLOBAL CITIES IN ASIA.

YES, I SEE A GLOBAL CITY.

AND THAT CITY IS OUR BELOVED GENERAL SANTOS CITY.

THIS IS A VISION THAT WE CAN REALIZE. AND WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. WE CAN

REACH THAT GLOBAL DESTINATION.

YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME WHEN I SAY WE ARE A SELF-SUSTAINING CITY. WE CREATE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND WE CAN PRODUCE THE NECESSARY OIL FOR

THESE GROWTH MACHINERIES THAT MAKE THE GRIND.

OUR RESILIENCY OR OUR ABILITY TO EASILY RECOVER AND BOUNCE BACK FROM THE

ODDS HAS BEEN TESTED SO MANY A TIMES. IT IS A FEAT OF CHARACTER THAT WE

HAVE EXPLOITED TO OUR ADVANTAGE.

WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN POSITIONING THE CITY AS THE TRADE, SERVICE,

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTER IN THIS PART OF

SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES.

NOTWITHSTANDING THESE POTENCIES, WE SHOULD NOT STOP HERE. BECAUSE

WHERE WE ARE NOW IS NOT OUR DESTINATION. NOT YET.

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SO THE PRESSING CHALLENGE NOW IS, WHERE DO WE WANT TO LOCATE OUR CITY IN

THE WORLWIDE COMPETITIVENESS SPECTRUM?

HOW PREPARED ARE WE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE IS SO MUCH CHANGE GOING

ON IN ALL FACETS OF MODERN CIVILIZATION? CHANGES THAT HAPPEN SO FAST.

CHANGES THAT SHAPE THE WORLD. CHANGES THAT AFFECT US, WHETHER WE LIKE IT

OR NOT.

WE ARE IN A TIME AND SPACE THAT COMPEL US TO RESPOND TO THE CHANGES THEY

BRING. THE ONLY CHOICE LEFT OF US IS TO RESPOND, AND RESPOND POSITIVELY,

PRODUCTIVELY, AND PRO-ACTIVELY.

COMPLACENCY IS NOT AN OPTION. WE SHOULD NOT SIT ON OUR LAURELS AND

WALLOW WITH PRIDE ON PREVIOUS ACCOLADES. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE

CHALLENGING OURSELVES AND BELIEVE IN OUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES.

OUR ONLY ENEMY IS OURSELVES. EVERY GREAT THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO

HUMANITY CAME FROM SOMEONE’S MIND. IF SOMEONE CAN DO SUCH A THING, THEN

ALL OF US CAN. AND WE CAN DO BETTER.

YES THERE ARE CHANGES ALL AROUND US. PERHAPS FOR MOST OF US, THE FEAR OF

THE UNKNOWN BLOCKS OUR DRIVE TO PUSH FORWARD. CHANGE IS REALITY.

CHANGE IS NOT TO BE FEARED. CHANGE IS BEAUTIFUL. CHANGE IS OPPORTUNITY. IN

THESE FAST-CHANGING TIMES, I MUST SAY IT IS AN EXCITING TIME.

“CHANGE HAS A CONSIDERABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON THE HUMAN MIND. TO

THE FEARFUL IT IS THREATENING BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT CHANGE MAY GET

WORSE. TO THE HOPEFUL IT IS ENCOURGING BECAUSE THINGS MAY GET BETTER.

TO THE CONFIDENT IT IS INSPIRING BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE EXISTS TO MAKE

THINGS BETTER.” (King Whitney Jr. American inventor)

SO, ARE YOU THE FEARFUL, THE HOPEFUL, OR THE CONFIDENT?

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THINK GLOBALLY. ACT LOCALLY. THIS WILL BE OUR MANTRA. IF WE WANT THE WORLD

TO BE HERE, BY ALL MEANS, WE MUST MAKE OUR FRONT AND BACKYARDS READY

FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. WE ARE GENERALS. WE ARE FEARFUL, WE ARE NOT MERELY

HOPEFUL. WE ARE CONFIDENT. WE WILL EMBRACE THE CHANGES THAT SURROUND

US AND WE WILL MAKE THINGS EVEN BETTER.

(SOCSKSARGEN DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK)

WE WILL RE-ENERGIZE THE SOCSKSARGEN DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK BY INFUSING

MORE AGGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS AND MAKE THE DISPERSED

CONCENTRIC APPROACH WORK TO EFFICIENT LEVELS.

SPECIFIC TO THAT, THIS ADMINISRATION WILL CONTINUE TO ENTICE INVESTMENT

CAPITALIZATION ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR MAJOR INFRA FACILITIES.

FIRST ON THE LIST IS TO MAKE OUR GSC FISHPORT COMPLEX COMPETITIVE WITH

THAT OF THE PORT OF THAILAND, SO THAT IT BECOMES THE CHOICE OF PORT OF

INTERNATIONAL FISHING FLEETS.

SO THE CHALENGE NOW IS WHY SHOULD WE SETTLE FOR THE TUNA CAPITAL OF THE

PHILIPPINES TITLE WHEN WE CAN BE CALLED ASIA’S TUNA CAPITAL?

SECOND, WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPGRADE OUR GENSAN CITY AIRPORT TERMINAL TO

BECOME A REALLY WORLD-CLASS FACILITY. RECENTLY, THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF

FACELIFTS FOR OUR AIRPORT IS UNDERWAY WITH A BUDGET OF 30M WHICH WE

WERE ABLE TO SOURCE OUT FROM THE NATIONAL FUNDS.

THIRD, WE WILL BE AGGRESSIVE IN PUSHING FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE GSC

ECONOMIC AUTHORITY, WHICH HAS LONG BEEN OVERDUE.

WHILE ALL THESE FACILITIES AND INITIATIVES ARE LOCATED IN THE CITY, ALL OF

SOCSKSARGEN BENEFIT FROM THE THESE. WE WILL STRENGTHEN COORDINATIVE

MECHANISMS AMONG OUR NEIGHBORING PROVINCES TO SYNERGIZE A COMMUNAL

VISION, POOL ENERGIES,

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MANAGE NATURAL RESOURCES AND HONE HUMAN SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES TO

MAKE THESE ALL HAPPEN. WE ARE AN INTEGRATED AREA AND INTEGRATION IS THE

KEY FACTOR FOR PRODUCTIVITY MAXIMIZATION.

(SOCIAL SERVICES)

THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE IN ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY IS STILL THE HUMAN

RESOURCE. THE HUMAN BEING WHOSE DIGNITY AND WORTH DESERVE NO LESS THAN

DECENT AND QUALITY LIFE, NO LESS THAN QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY.

AND SO, SIDE BY SIDE WITH THESE MACRO VENTURES, EQUAL DRIVE AND FOCUS WILL

BE GIVEN TO A STABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND RESPONSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES DELIVERY

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE CITY.

(JOBS & WORKING FORCE)

OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS THEREFORE WILL BE DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE

CAPABILITIES OF THE WORKING FORCE TO ADDRESS THE REQUIREMENTS OF

SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES.

IT IS IMPERATIVE TO FINETUNE AND REVITALIZE OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND

SERVICES OFFICE OR PESO. HAND IN HAND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND

EMPLOYMENT, WE WILL CONDUCT AN INVENTORY OF OUR LABOR CAPACITIES VIS-À-

VIS WHAT SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES NEED.

THIS WILL PROVIDE US THE PRESENT PROFILE OF CAPABILITIES AND SKILLS OF THE

WORKING FORCE. WE WOULD KNOW WHAT SKILLS NEED TO BE TRAINED, AND WHAT

NEEDS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED KNOW-HOW. WE WILL INTRODUCE A

LADDERIZED APPROACH IN SKILLS TRAINING SO THAT SPECIFIC GAPS ARE PLUGGED

IN WITH SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMS GIVEN ON CURRICULAR SCHEMES UNTIL

SKILLS ARE HONED TO MAXIMUM LEVEL OF COMPETENCE.

TO FURTHER FILL-IN LABOR GAPS, WE WILL PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP TRAINING

PROGRAMS SPECIALLY TAPPING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE CULTURAL

COMMUNITIES AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

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WE DO NOT ONLY EQUIP OUR WORKING FORCE WITH THESE COMPETENCIES. WE

PROVIDE THEM WITH GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR GROWING ECONOMY AND

DIVERSE INDUSTRIES NEED.

(EDUCATION & YOUTH)

ON TOP OF THESE, OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ACADEME SECTOR WILL CERTAINLY

HAVE A FAIR SHARE IN THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CONTINUUM. WE WILL CONTINUE

TO MOLD QUALITY AND COMPETITIVE GRADUATES THROUGH CONTINUED PROVISION

OF ADEQUATE FACILITIES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPGRADE TEACHING SKILLS AND

TEACHING TECHNOLOGIES OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATORS IN ALL LEVELS.

AFTER ALL, THE YOUTH SECTOR IS STILL THE FUTURE. THERE IS SO MUCH HOPE IN

THEM. THERE IS SO MUCH PROMISE THEY CAN DELIVER. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO

SQUANDER WHAT THEY DESERVE.

SO TOGETHER WITH UPGRADING OF QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE WILL

ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INVOLVING THE

YOUTH THEMSELVES AND ENSURE THEY HAVE DISTINCT OWNERSHIP OF THESE

ENDEAVORS.

(HEALTH)

OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS WILL ALSO HAVE A BOOST IN IMPROVEMENT

INJECTIONS. STARTING AT THE GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES, ACCESS TO PUBLIC

HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE EXPANDED.

WE WILL ESTABLISH THE MERGER OF LAY-IN AND BARANGAY HEALTH CENTERS IN THE

BARANGAYS WITH OUTPATIENT TREATMENT.

WHILE WE RE-ENGINEER OUR BARANGAY HEALTH SERVICES, A BIG RESTRUCTURING

IN OUR GSC DISTRICT HOSPITAL WILL ALSO BE PUT FORWARD IF ONLY TO ENSURE A

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MORE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF PROFESSIONAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO OUR

CONSTITUENTS.

NECESSARILY, IMPROVED HEALTH FACILITIES MUST BE MANNED BY EQUALLY

IMPROVED MEDICAL PERSONNEL. WE WILL AGAIN EMPLOY A LADDERIZED TRAINING

APPROACH WHEREBY HEALTH CARE WORKERS UNDERGO MODULAR, LADDERIZED

COURSE TRAININGS UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY EQUIPPED WITH MAXIMUM COMPETENCE

LEVELS.

WE WILL RE-ENGINEER, FINETUNE, AND EXPAND OUR INDIGENT FUNDS SO THAT

HEALTH CARE FUNDING IS ULITILIZED EFFICIENTLY WITH MAXIMUM IMPACT AND

BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LESS IN LIFE.

THE CITY HAS BEEN ON A STEADY AND FIRM GROWTH PATH, BUT SO ARE THE

GROWTH OF SOCIAL ILLS. THIS IS A NORMAL CASE OF CAUSE AND EFFECT IN THE

SOCIOLOGICAL CONTEXT. IT IS VERY ESSENTIAL THEREFORE THAT A RATIONAL AND

COMPREHENSIVE PANACEA FOR THESE SOCIAL PROBLEMS MUST HAVE A SUSTAINING

EFFECT.

(HOUSING & SHELTER)

FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE CONTINUOUS INFLUX OF MIGRANTS IN THE CITY, DEMAND

FOR HOUSING INCREASES. WE WILL THEN ENSURE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HOUSING

FOR ALL SECTORS.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE THE SYMBIOTIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE

HOUSING SECTOR AND STRENGTHEN POLICIES WITH THE END VIEW OF PROVIDING

DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR THE HOMELESS.

AS YOUR FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN, I AUTHORED R.A. 9649, AN ACT AMENDING R.A.

5412 OR THE CITY CHARTER, SO THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT NOW HAS THE FINAL

APPROVAL IN THE DISPOSITION OF OUR PUBLIC LANDS. THIS IS ONE SAFEGUARD IN

ENSURING PROPER LAND USE, HOUSING AND URBAN POOR PROGRAMS.

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(ENVIRONMENT & SANITATION)

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR HOMES ARE SITUATED IN A CLEAN AND

BALANCED ECOSYSTEM.

OUR ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION THEREFORE IS ANOTHER CRITICAL SOCIAL

CONCERN. AS A METROPOLIS, WE GENERATE SO MUCH WASTE. THE CITY

GOVERNMENT AND THE 26 BARANGAYS WILL DRAW UP A BARANGAY-BASED GARBAGE

COLLECTION SYSTEM PROJECT WITH THE GOAL OF INCULCATING HOUSEHOLD INNATE

RESPONSIBILITY IN MAKING THIS CITY CLEAN. THE YOUTH SECTOR WILL ALSO HAVE A

CRUCIAL ROLE IN SPEARHEADING THE CAMPAIGN AND INITIATION OF OUR

ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION PROGRAMS.

A MONTH AGO, WE ALREADY DID THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE SANITARY LANDFILL

PROJECT, AND ON THAT NOTE, I’D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO

CONGRATULATE CONGRESSMAN JUN ACHARON FOR THAT, ALONG WITH THE

SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD AND ALL THE EMLOYEES WHO MADE IT HAPPEN.

IT IS NOW ON MY SHOULDER AND ALL THE CONCERNED TO FAST-TRACK THE

COMPLETION OF THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

(PEACE AND ORDER)

THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL DO WHAT IT MUST TO CURB, IF NOT ERADICATE, THE ILL-

INTENTS OF LAWLESS ELEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF PEACE AND ORDER IN

THE CITY. WE WILL CREATE AN AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE

PNP IN ORDER TO ENSURE OUR CONTINUED PEACEFUL COEXCISTENCE. WE WILL

CREATE ANTI DRUG ABUSE TASK FORCE, ANTI-ILLEGAL ANTI-GAMBLING,ANTI-

SMUGGLING TASK FORCE. I KNOW THAT ...PNP, RD,PDEA,CUSTOMS WILL IMPLEMENT

OUR FERVENT DESIRE TI RID OUR CITY OF ALL THESE ILLS. WE WILL NOT ALLOW

LAWLESSNESS TO REIGN IN THIS SOON-TO-BE GLOBAL CITY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HAVE JUST ENUMERATED SPECIFICS OF THE SHEEP

AGENDA. THIS IS A REFINED, GOAL-ORIENTED BRIEFCASE FOR SOCIAL

TRANSFORMATION AND HUMAN EMPOWERMENT.

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THESE PROGRAMS FOR SHELTER, HEALTH, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT AND PEACE

AND ORDER ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF CREATING A GLOBAL SETTING. IN ORDER TO

HAVE A GLOBAL MILIEU, WE HAVE TO DEVELOP A GLOBAL CITIZENRY AND A LOCALE

ENJOYING A STANDARD OF GLOBAL LIVING.

THESE ARE ALL DESIGNED TO MAKE EVERY GENERAL EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF

BECOMING A PRODUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE GENERAL IN HIS OR HER OWN WAY.

MAY MAGAGAWA KANG MAGANDA PARA SA IYONG SARILI AT PARA SA IYONG KAPWA.

ANG IYONG PAMAHALAAN AY NANDITO LAMANG UPANG SIGURUHING ANG KARAPATAN

MONG MAMUHAY NANG MAY DIGNIDAD SA MAPAYAPANG LUGAR NA MAY MGA

DISENTENG OPORTUNIDAD AY NAKATAGUYOD. KAILANMAN AY HINDI HADLANG ANG

KAHIRAPAN.

I WILL COMMIT TO FURTHER AND IMPROVE PROGRAMS ATTUNED TO REDUCTION OF

POVERTY INCIDENCE IN THE CITY, NOT BY AMELIORATION BUT BY EMPOWERMENT.

WE MUST REMEMBER THAT POVERTY IS NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR BEING

UNPRODUCTIVE. OUR ENDEAVORS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES THEREFORE WILL ENSURE

THAT GENERALS WILL DEVELOP THAT INTRINSIC MOTIVATION TO HARNESS HIS OR

HER INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND NOT DEPENDENT

ON TEMPORAL AID AND RELIEF. WE WILL SEE TO IT THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT

ONLY SERVING YOU BUT EMPOWERING YOU.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WILL BE TAKING OFF FROM THE SUCCESSES OF HON.

MAYOR NOW CONGRESSMAN PEDRO B. ACHARON JR, WHO HAS LEFT A LEGACY OF A

CLEAN AND HONEST GOVERNANCE. TODAY I VOW TO COMMIT TO THE SAME IDEALS

AND PRINCIPLES OF DECENCY AND CHARACTER THAT HE HAS LIVED UP IN HIS 3

TERMS AS MAYOR. HE HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR OUR CITY. WHILE WE WILL CONTINUE

THE GOOD PROGRAMS HE HAS INITIATED, I AM AS COMPELLED TO CONTINUE

REALIZING A COMMON VISION FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

THE PAST 9 YEARS HAVE BEEN A FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIP.

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WE WANT TO ASSURE YOU IT WILL REMAIN THAT WAY. NOTHING WILL AND CAN

CHANGE THAT. EXCEPT OF COURSE, WE JUST SWITCHED PLACES.

I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE MAGANDANG GENSAN – AS A VISION – AN EVEN MORE

MEANINGFUL ADVOCAY TO BE A SOURCE OF PRIDE OF EVERY GENERAL.

OUR MAGANDANG GENSAN WILL HAVE A MAGANDANG SERBISYO PUBLIKO. THE

ORGANIZATIOANL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OR THE OD PROGRAM WHICH HE

STARTED WILL BE FINETUNED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. OUR SERVICE DELIVERY

PROCESSESS WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO SIMPLE PROCEDURES FOR BETTER AND

EFFICIENT ACCESS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

ON THIS NOTE, I EXTEND MY HANDS OF PARTNERSHIP TO MY CO-EMPLOYEES OF THE

CIVIL SERVICE ENTERPRISE. WE WILL EMPOWER OURSELVES SO WE BECOME AGENTS

OF THIS GLOBAL CAMPAIGN. OUR COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES AND

CAPACITIES WILL NOT BE CONFINED TO THE METES AND BOUNDS OF STRINGENT

BUREAUCRACY, BUT WILL BE MAXIMIZED TO CREATIVITY AND PRODUCIVITY. LET US

MAKE OURSELVES GLOBAL PUBLIC SERVANTS.

YES, TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO RE-ENGINEER PUBLIC SERVICE AND INCREASE

OUR CAPABILITIES TO BE MORE ATTUNED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR GLOBAL CITIZENRY.

AS FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IT WILL BE MORE DYNAMIC

THAN EVER. MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE, IT IS THE BUSINESS SECTOR WHO WILL BE

CHALLENGED MORE IN THIS DRIVE FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS. YOU MUST BE AT

PAR WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN TERMS OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

TO GUARANTEE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP DOES NOT WAIVER, WE WILL STILL BE

AGGRESSIVE IN EMPLOYING CONSULTATIVE PARTICIPATION AS HAS BEEN PROVEN TO

BE AN EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH.

(COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN THE GOVERNANCE)

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TO DO THAT, WE WILL ESTABLISH A SIMPLE YET WORKING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM,

THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION THAT TRANSCENDS LANGUAGE.

SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL REVIEW AND REVISIT OUR LOCAL GOVERNING POLICIES AND

IF NEED BE, REVISE OR REVOKE THOSE WHICH ARE NO LONGER RESPONSIVE TO THE

PRESENT NEEDS.

WE ARE ALREADY LIVING IN TOUGH TIMES. IT DEMANDS THAT WE MUST SIMPLIFY OUR

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES SO THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE ATTUNED

TO THE GOALS. IF WE DO NOT ATTUNE OUR POLICIES WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE

CHANGING TIMES, WE WILL SEE OUR CITY LAGGING BEHIND. WE WILL NOT REACH THE

DESTINATION.

(CONCLUSON: A GLOBAL MINDSET)

FROM OUR PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR RESOURCES;

FROM OUR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TO ESTABLISHING VARIED

PARTNERSHIPS; FROM OUR SIMPLIFIED PROCESSESS TO OUR MAJOR POLICIES;

FROM THE WAY WE CREATE IDEAS TO THE WAY WE ACTUALIZE THINGS; FROM OUR

INDIVIDUAL WAYS TO OUR COMMUNAL MINDSET – ALL OF THESE MUST BE ATTUNED

TO OUR GLOBAL DREAM.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MGA KABABAYAN AT KAPWA KO GENERALS, OUR

PREPARATIONS TODAY MUST EXCEED BEYOND THE PRESENT TIMES. WE HAVE TO

THINK AHEAD AND WE HAVE TO ACT NOW. WE WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES HERE AS

COMPETITIVE WITH THOSE FOUND ABROAD.

I CALL UPON YOU NOW. LET US DO OUR SHARE IN THIS GLOBAL JOURNEY

INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. WE NEED TO SET THE TONE, A RESOUNDING TONE

THAT WE ARE COMPETING WITH THE GLOBAL CITIES. LET US MAKE GENERAL SANTOS

CITY AN IMPORTANT PLAYER IN THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE.

YES, I AM A DREAMER. I AM ALSO A DOER. I HAVE A BIG HOPE IN MY HEART AS WELL

AS THE ENERGY AND WILL TO BUILD THE DREAM.

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BUT I SHOULD NOT BE ALONE. IT IS NOT MY SINGLE VOYAGE. YOU, GENERALS,

SHOULD BE IN EVERY TURNS AND BENDS. I WILL NEED EVERY HAND, EVERY HEAD,

AND EVERY HEART THAT YOU CAN SPARE FOR THIS JOURNEY.

WE WILL NOT FAIL IF YOU AND I, AND ALL OF US FIRMLY HOLD HANDS TOGETHER. THIS

DREAM BELONGS TO US. THE SUCCESSES WILL NOT BE MINE TO RELISH BUT FOR ALL

OF US TO SAVOR.

LET US DREAM. LET US DO. LET US CONTINUE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMN, WE WILL BE ON OUR FIRST GEAR INTO THIS GLOBAL

JOURNEY. LET US ALL BUCKLE UP AND BE READY FOR THE RIDE.

ISA ITONG PANIMULA PARA SA ATING LAHAT. ISANG BAGONG PAGLALAKBAY PARA SA

MATINGKAD NA KINABUKASAN. ISANG PANIBAGONG YUGTO PARA SA MAGANDANG

GENSAN.

MARAMING SALAMAT AT ISANG MAPAYAPANG HAPON SA ATING LAHAT!

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inaugural address of mayor darlene antonino-custodio

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