Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez presented several groundbreaking achievements in a midterm report he presented during the session of the City Council at the City Sports and Amusement Center in Negros Occidental on Monday (March 18).
He outlined these accomplishments under his six-point agenda, which includes Dynamic Governance, Diversified Economy, Dignified Human Settlements, Disaster Resilient Community, Education for All, and Universal Healthcare.
Benitez highlighted the digitalization programs under the Sidlak City Digital Network Assets, which comprise digital-technology-related infrastructure and software development projects such as the distribution of office productivity tools, human resource information system, and online government payment and registration services.
He underscored the intensive efforts of the city in improving its tourism accommodation assets such as Victorias Aquatic Center, Gawahon Eco-Park, Mangrove Eco-Trail, among others.
Benitez also revealed that the City Tourism and Promotions Office recorded a total of 80,000 same-day tourists last year, and had recorded a 35.48 percent increase in overnight accommodations.
Under the Dignified Human Settlements, there are already 1,013 applicants for the soon-to-rise Sidlak Residential Complex that has 10 Sidlak Residence Towers.
The recent inauguration of the PHP55-million state-of-the-art Victorias City Command and Evacuation Center was also mentioned, exemplifying the city’s joint efforts in building disaster-resilient Victoriahanon communities.
Under this agenda, Benitez stressed the umbrella program, Project VECTOR, which covered the installation of early warning systems and disaster response management resources such as water tankers, patient transport vehicles, dinghy boats, ambulances, man lifts, tow trucks, and mini trucks.
He also emphasized the big-ticket project, Sidlak Learning Technologies worth P114,569,670, which includes the distribution of 924 laptops, 713 Smart TVs, 3,555 tablets, 589 teacher’s tables and chairs, 4,230 monobloc chairs, among others.
Several health programs of the City Health Office such as the Primary Eye Care Program, Renal Disease Control Program, Mental Health Program, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program were also mentioned.
Benitez also sealed a total of 36 memoranda of agreement and understanding for various relevant partnerships such as the Mingo MingGrow Protocol for Stunted Children and Nutrition Master Plan with Negrense Volunteers for Change, GCash Digital Service Payment Acceptance and Digital Funds Disbursement, and Carabao-based Business Improvement Network with the Provincial Veterinary Office and San Antonio Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Center.
The Victorias City government also received numerous awards, including the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance, Gawad Kalasag, and Tourism Champions Challenge.
Benitez announced that a lot more big projects and events are coming to Victorias for the second half of his term. ||
