Speeding up progress 

The 12-point Aksyon Bilis roadmap

On the bright and early morning of Oct. 10, 2022, City of Sto. Tomas Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan delivered his first State of the Local Government Address to his fellow Tomasinos. 

Just four months after winning the elections in June, AJAM signed two of the most important orders that would govern his administration.

Memorandum Order 1 detailed the implementation of the Aksyon Bilis Public service, enjoining all City Hall employees to be fast, efficient, courteous, and pleasant in the delivery of service to their clients.

Memorandum Order 2 underscored the “Anti-Epal” concept of public service, banning the use of names and pictures of public officials on local government promotional materials of programs, projects, and all city government-owned assets.

The twin orders were part of AJAM’s grand vision: make the City of Sto. Tomas one of the premier cities of the South, within his first term as mayor.

COMPONENT CITY

In the industrial powerhouse known as the CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna- Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), the province of Batangas is regarded as one of the fastest growing provinces. 

In 2021, CALABARZON recorded the fastest economic growth among all 16 regions in the country, producing one-third of the nation’s industrial output. And of the five provinces that make up this industrial growth corridor, Batangas is the province with a strong economic performance. Its gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 12.5% in 2021, the fastest among the provinces in CALABARZON. Batangas is also home to a number of major industries, including manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture.

Of the five cities in Batangas, the first-class component city of Sto. Tomas serves as the gateway to the province, as well as to the southern provinces of Mindoro, Quezon, and Bicol.

Located in the northeastern portion of Batangas province, the City of Sto. Tomas has a distance of 60 kilometers from Manila and 45 kilometers from the provincial capital of Batangas City.

With its strategic location and a manageable population of 251,908, the City of Sto. Tomas has the potential for growth that can sustain its 30 barangays.

“I aim to provide my constituents with the basic services, focusing on health and investment programs that would increase the revenue of the city,” AJAM said, adding that, “the more revenue we realize, the more we can return with social and economic services that come from our taxes.”

12-POINT AGENDA

The mayor’s platform of action when he won in 2022 can be summarized by his 12-point agenda that covers the following—(1) high-quality health service, (2) improved  educational service, (3) additional employment and investment opportunities for all sectors of the city, (4) lively tourism, (5) stable agriculture and cooperatives, (6) investments, (7) recognized capabilities of the youth, (8) care for passengers and the transportation sector, (9) disaster resilience, (10) protection of the environment, (11) ease of bringing public service, and (12) bringing government services closer to the people of Sto. Tomas.

Guided by his Aksyon Bilis brand of public service, AJAM managed to jumpstart all the 12-points of his development agenda in his first 100 days in office.

1. HEALTH

For his primary agenda concerning health, there are two Mobile Clinics that serviced the 30 barangays, offering free check-ups, including OB and pediatrics.

In the first 100 days, the mobile clinics have rendered 13 medical missions in 18 barangays, providing medical and dental support to 2,364 constituents and 864 dental patients.

Also available are free diagnostic tests like ECG, CBC, Chest X-ray, Blood Chem, Glucose Test, Cholesterol, Triglyceride, and HDL. Aside from free medicines, dental checkups come with free tooth extraction.

The Rural Health Unit has served 6,918 patients in the past three months. Covid vaccinations have continued with a total of 20,207 doses of vaccines served during the Pinaslakas campaign. Mayor AJAM incentivized this campaign by giving five-kilo bags of rice to those who availed of booster doses.

A citywide Medical Mission was also conducted as part of the event that provided 655 individuals with free medical services.

Last Sept. 22, the Policy Planning Service (PPS) of the city’s Food and Drug Administration trained more than 100 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) on the value and importance of generic drugs. This is in celebration of Generics Month, consistent with the implementation of R.A. 6675 or the Generics Act of 1988.

During the training, the mayor emphasized the importance of looking after the health of each and every Tomasino in the journey of achieving development. “Informing our constituents with sufficient knowledge on reasonably priced and effective generic medicine will go a long way in safeguarding the health and welfare of Tomasinos at the community level.”

Other than the mobile clinics, the city government also opened a new, modern building and facilities for the City Health Office (CHO), located on Sampalukan Road in Barangay San Miguel.

The new CHO is equipped with modern medical technology, providing services ranging from primary to secondary health care, pharmacy, laboratory, dental check-up, COVID-19 vaccination, and X-ray examination.

Dr. Roselle Sanchez, CHO head, said their office will not implement a cut-off and numbering system, as long as there are doctors on duty who can accommodate people until 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The building also has an outpatient department as well as specialized clinics for General Physicians, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.

It provides emergency services and ambulance services to the surrounding areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The “Sight for Kids Project” was launched in April. The project provided free eye check-ups for students in the City of Santo Tomas and provided free corrective eye glasses for some 145 elementary and high school students with impaired vision.

2. EDUCATION

In his first 100 days in office, Mayor AJAM strictly implemented a “No Collection Policy” in public schools. It became the task of the city government to identify and provide for the needs of public schools.

Last year, the City government provided armchairs and electric fans to public schools to prevent teachers from soliciting and collecting expenses for these school necessities from students.

Local School Board teachers were hired to address the lack of teaching personnel for daycare. 

This year, early childhood care development (ECCD) workers have been hired as City government employees through job orders to ensure that they are compensated well for the kind of service they provide to the young children of the city. This is the first time that an LGU subsidized for the compensation of ECCD workers. 

Education is a top priority under Mayor AJAM’s administration. Activity books were distributed to daycare centers to provide children with the knowledge of how to do basic things such as telling the time, tying their shoelaces, buttoning their shirts, counting numbers, learning the alphabet, and the like.

Some 100 laptops were donated by one of the companies in Sto Tomas to public schools, prioritizing daycare center teachers.

All of these plans to upgrade the status of education in Sto Tomas were realized through solid efforts to increase the budget allocation for education. 

“For the first time in the history of Sto Tomas, the budget for education was increased by 35%. It is usually increased by only 10%. From a budget of Php 125 million, the budget of the local school board is now at Php 170 million,” Mayor AJAM said.

From the increased budget, the City government was able to provide and distribute uniforms to all 25,000 elementary school students. They were also able to provide free school shoes to some 15,000 junior and senior public high school students.

Groundbreaking ceremony held in June for the construction of a Digital Classroom and Library for Sta. Teresita Elementary School. The project is a collaborative effort between the city government of Sto. Tomas and the private sector—Cargill, CJoy, and Habitat.

The First Industrial Science and Technology College or FIRST College was constructed inside the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP).

FIRST College supports appropriate education inside the classroom and in factories through its work-study program of learning while doing. Students can begin to earn after finishing the course.

This type of education is unique because it is located right at the center of big factories and businesses, providing actual experience and on-site learning of machinery inside the factory.

Through this approach, students acquire skills and learning that properly match the needs of industrial establishments in the area, and in the process, land jobs.

FIRST College is the first of its kind in the Philippines, paving the way for innovation, technology, and science in education.

3. JOBS & LIVELIHOOD

A Cityhood Job Fair was conducted where 1,010 applicants joined, and 135 of them were hired on the spot. In line with this, 56 local recruitments have been held for the past three months with 336 placed applicants through the regular recruitment program of PESO. Free legal services by the legal office of the City government of Sto. Tomas were also offered simultaneously.

Last June 25, a Labor Education for Graduating Students cum Job Fair was held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

In recognition of the government’s drive to provide jobs for persons with disability (PWDs), the City Government of Sto. Tomas gave jobs for 24 PWDs.

Mayor AJAM underscored the fact that PWDs should be referred to as “Persons with THIS ability” to drop the negative connotation of being disabled.

4. AGRICULTURE & COOPERATIVES

Sto. Tomas is known for raising quality corn, organic vegetables, cassava, sweet potato, lanzones, rambutan, bananas, pineapple, dragon fruit, and cacao that are all prime agricultural products distributed to various urban centers in the country.

A 14-week Farmer Field School (FFS) was launched in April at the Padre Pio Shrine, part of a series of trainings from land preparation to harvesting on natural farming. The training aims to strengthen community-based agriculture. Trainings in pineapple production was held in March.

The City government provides technical assistance for crop production to all farmers within the City of Sto. Tomas. Farm inputs such as seeds, organic pesticides, and organic fertilizers are subsidized among 135 farmer recipients.

An approved Floriculture Proposal started construction this October. Also done was the Agri-Business and Farm Management on Organic Free-Range Chicken Production for women farmers. Barangay beneficiaries were awarded gift cheques for the Livelihood Seeding Program-Negosyo Serbisyo.

Last March, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. launched the Kadiwa ng Pangulo in the City of Sto. Tomas.

5. DYNAMIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

With a lot of investors attracted to do business in Sto Tomas, Mayor AJAM believes that one factor is that they are a business-friendly local government unit (LGU) because they treat investors as partners. 

Business permits are processed and renewed through the Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) at the City Treasurer’s Office.

For taxpayers and business owners that renew their licenses, the City government Wellness Center offers free haircuts and massage. Present only the signed permit and receipt at the basement of the Annex Bldg. City Hall.

Some 25 real estate brokers and agents were provided training in bookkeeping (journalizing and posting transaction with taxation). The five-day training was conducted by Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the City Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Development Division (CLEDD), and the Sentrong Sanayang Teknikal ng Kabataan (SSTK).

In return for this kind of partnership, Mayor AJAM only asks for three things from investors: They must pay their taxes on time; They must prioritize and patronize Tomasinos in terms of employment and process and supply outsourcing; and they must give back to the community by way of their corporate social responsibility.

The Light Industry & Science Park (LISP III) is located in Brgy. San Rafael, site of industrial corporations and residences that include the Ponte Verde and Pueblo de Oro.

6. YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN SOCIETY

The city government held the Batang Pinoy 2022 that featured youth competitions in tennis and chess.

Around 30 barangays participated in the first Aksyon Bilis Inter-Barangay Basketball & Volleyball League. The champion barangay was awarded P1,000,000-worth of projects for 2024.

Last August, the City government held the Provincial Lingkod Bayan award during the Linggo ng Kabataan celebration.

Youth leaders of the Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT) took their pledge of office at the City of Sto. Tomas City Hall. 

7. TRANSPORTATION

Last January, the City government, in partnership with various drivers associations, launched the “TODAng suporta ng Aksyon Bilis na may Ngiting Tomasino” campaign for better relations with passengers and drivers.

N95 masks and multivitamins were provided to tricycle drivers in Barangay Sta. Cruz, consistent with the ongoing health education program of the city’s Health Education and Promotion Unit (HEPU).

“We believe that a healthy transport sector will enhance the safety of passengers that the drivers serve,” Mayor AJAM said.

8. MITIGATION & DISASTER RESPONSE

Organized in 2000 by the Office of Civil Defense–National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) is an annual awarding ceremony for significant initiatives in the promotion and advancement of DRRM in the country.

For the first time in 23 years, the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas won the Fully Compliant Award in this year’s Gawad KALASAG Awards. It is a testament to the AJAM administration’s high level of commitment to disaster preparedness, responsiveness, rehabilitation, and preparedness.

Mayor AJAM thanked the officials of all 30 barangays that comprised the city—from barangay captains and barangay kagawad officials; the Sangguniang Panlungsod members and their staff led by Vice Mayor Catherine J. Perez; LGU staff headed by Engr. Severino Medalla; and Councilor Atty. Raquel Maloles-Salazar, chairman of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resiliency.

In the realm of mitigation and response to disasters, the City government finalized the risk assessment in all 30 barangays. 

The local government likewise finished the preparation of the following materials—Orientation of Safety Marshals of the different offices of the city government; Reorientation of the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis Team (RDANA); Orientation on Disaster Preparedness in big corporations such as Pepsi Cola Philippines; Formulation of the BDRRMC (for barangays) Contingency Plan; and Updating of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan for 2023-2025 (LRRDMP).

The AJAM administration held the “Fun Run for a Cause,” the proceeds of which were added to the donation made by the City government to earthquake victims in the province of Abra. This was followed by another  Fun run intended for cerebral palsy patients in the city. Both efforts were supported by government employees, NGOs and private companies within the city.

The City government likewise entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for the formulation of the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) as part of accountabilities and promotion of responsible and sustainable forest resource management. Philippine Arbor Day, World Bamboo Day, and International Coastal Clean-up were observed, among many others.

Stressing the need to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster like typhoons and earthquakes, generator sets were provided to every barangay in the City of Sto. Tomas.

Trainings were also conducted on how to properly use the generator. Barangay officials became key participants of the generators training.

During the year, the City government held the first AJAM Marksmanship & Proficiency Training, an Aksyon Bilis service in support of the city’s police force. The training enhanced their skills and attitude in maintaining peace and order.

For the 12 families affected by the construction of the Malvar-Sto. Tomas Diversion Road, the LGU has presented them with the “Tahanang Tomasino Housing Project,” located in Brgy. San Francisco.

On the whole, the entire housing project will distribute a total of 76 housing units. The distribution process will involve the City’s Sangguniang Panlungsod, headed by Vice-Mayor Catherine Jaurigue-Perez.

9. FAST & EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Roads were constructed to facilitate ease of traffic and movement going to the Poblacion of Sto. Tomas and to Sitio Corpuz.

The Mayor AJAM administration conducted family profiling involving some 36,483 families, through the ALISTO AKO program.

Some 143 Information and Education Materials were produced and distributed in line with the City government’s Health Education activities.

The City of Sto. Tomas government declared Nov. 18 as Senior Citizen’s Month, with the theme, “Katatagan ng Nakatatanda, Magtataguyod ng Kaunlaran (A strong elderly supports development).”

It recognized and gave cash, as well as rice, to three 101-year-old centenarians and a 104-year-old senior citizen— Rufina Velasco Navarez of Brgy. San Agustin, Rosalinda Malabuyoc of Brgy. San Joaquin, Maria Barcenilla Avila of Barangay San Felix and Miguela Linatoc Gevaña of Brgy. Sta. Anastacia.

Providing social pension to all 18,000 senior citizens in the city is a focus program of Mayor AJAM. Prior to his mayoralty, only 2,000 senior citizens received their social pension from the national government. Mayor AJAM allocated local funds with the approval of the Sanggunian to provide local social pension to all the registered senior citizens of the city.

Quarterly, senior citizens aged 60 to 70-years-old received Php 300; senior citizens, aged 71 to 75 years old, were entitled to Php 400; and senior citizens who were older than 76 years received P500. The financial support was rendered regardless of the social status of the senior citizen.

It is the first time that the City of Sto. Tomas was able to give social pension to the city’s senior citizens. The pension is personally distributed by the local government officials.

Another program for the senior citizens is the monthly provision of maintenance medicines that are delivered by the Health Education and Promotion Unit (HEPU) and Aksyon Lingkod Sto. Tomas (ALISTO) personnel.

Sto. Tomas was the first in the entire province of Batangas to institutionalize HEPU through an ordinance to show how they value health.

The HEPU staff go around the city to deliver medical services to the sick constituents and senior citizens. They also hired ALISTO advocate knowledge officers (AKO), paid through an honorarium, who are trained on healthcare provision. They visit barangays to impart knowledge on proper hygiene, and what to do when they are sick.

The LGU also provides wheelchairs, walkers, and walking canes to senior citizens, as well as those who need them.

Nebulizers and BP monitors are provided to senior citizens that require regular monitoring of their breathing and their blood pressure. Furthermore, they regularly provide 5 kilograms of rice as well as a Php500 birthday gift, given every December.

Last May, the HEPU received a new ambulance that will service persons with disability. This is still part of Mayor AJAM’s agenda to provide a high standard of health services to Tomasinos.

The city also launched the campaign against red tape to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of social services to all 30 barangays in the city.

A campaign entitled, “Retooled Barangay Drug Clearing Program” was launched in June, made possible through the combined intiatives of the Philippine National Police and the City government of Sto. Tomas.

Tomasinos actively supported the program, since it helped ensure a safe and drug-free Sto. Tomas.

On the first day of 2023, the City government launched the Aksyon Bilis na Oplan Kaayusan, under the aegis of the City Environment & Natural Resources Office. The campaign enjoined residents of the city to be responsible in maintaining cleanliness and orderliness. Residents are expected to keep their frontages clean by observing proper waste disposal.

The LGU hired eco aides to render half-day services of cleaning the public roads and ensuring that garbage is properly segregated. There are sweep trucks that roam around to clean highways and vacuum trucks to declog drainages as well. In terms of peace and order, the police force is strengthened through training.

10. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Under the Mayor AJAM administration, the City of Sto. Tomas devised a masterplan for the city’s former dumpsite to be converted into an Eco-park.

The seven-hectare land will showcase a floral garden, where flowers for the dearly departed may be gathered.

Organic farming will likewise be implemented in the area. Harvests will be used for the weekly community pantry that benefits mainly the LGU employees. Part of the plan for the Eco-park is to introduce a trail for off-roaders and camping sites. 

In celebration of the Environment Month, the City Environment and Natural Resources

held a TALAKalikasan seminar on Pollutant Plant Absorbent Species for Vertical or Floating Gardens.

The seminar aimed to reduce the city’s pollution levels and to offset the effects of heavy metals that polluted the air and water.

Discussions included hazardous waste management to enlighten Tomasinos on Republic Act 6969 or the proper handling and processing of hazardous waste.

Last June, the City Environment and Natural Resources—with the support of barangay residents and eco aides— held the Bayanihan para sa Kalikasan-Clean & Green Program in Brgy. San Antonio. 

The program is geared to further strengthen the clean and green drive of the city, with components that included “Operasyon Linis Ilog,” involving 11 barangays and nine private companies; and “Tree Planting” in time for Arbor Day.

11. TOURISM

The City of Sto. Tomas LGU conceptualized and implemented a Tourism Development Plan workshop (TDP), as mandated by Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.

The plan, under the Office of the Mayor and the City Tourism & Cultural Heritage Development Division, aims to detail a strategic roadmap for maximizing tourist attractions in the city.

“Our Tourism Development Plan will serve as the most comprehensive and consolidated roadmap that will focus on tourism as a vector for economic growth, job creation, and investment generation,” Mayor AJAM explained.

Among the officers/units involved in the fine-tuning of the TDP were Committee Chairman on Tourism Councilor Adrian Caprio, City Administrator Engr. Severino Medalla, City Planning, City Engineering, City ENRO, CDRRMO, City Agriculture,
PNP, DILG, mga barangay representatives, DoT IV-A: Lester Uriarte, Training Officer at Keneth De Gracia, Head of Training Unit.

Also providing substantial input were private companies and organizations led by Gunita, Microtel, NDN, Get Set Go Travel, Adventures Travel, Mando & Elvie’s, Nas Cafe, STAMP and Calabarzon Transport.

Given that the City of Sto. Tomas has a limited number of natural tourist attraction sites, Mayor AJAM moved that the plan maintain the city’s reputation of having the highest number of tourist arrivals—approximately three million tourists per annum.

Identified as key tourist attractions were the Museo Ni Miguel Malvar, a museum dedicated to General Miguel Malvar; the Citrus District, specializing in the production of the “sintunis,” a local citrus fruit; Padre Pio National Shrine, the national shrine of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the first parish in the Philippines under the patronage of the Capuchin saint Dale Anthony Q. Barretto, popular among Catholic devotees locally and internationally; and the Mt. Makiling Recreational Center, noted for its Sipit Trail, which is the easiest way to reach Peak 3, the highest point of Mount Makiling, located in San Bartolome, Sto. Tomas.

Visitors can likewise enjoy the many instagrammable restaurants found only in Sto. Tomas, with great food and excellent service.

12. BRINGING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO BARANGAYS

The AJAM administration shall have two major projects in 2024. Both are designed to optimize the capacity of the City government of Sto. Tomas to render important social services all the way to the barangay level.

The first project concerns the construction of a new City Hall, which will be the new center facility of the city to better serve Tomasinos and investors.

The new City Hall will allow for the integration of all public services and national offices such as, but not limited to, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). 

Taken as one functioning hub, the new City Hall will help facilitate the ease of doing business, not only for Tomasinos, but also for local and foreign business investors. 

Currently, the administration is now in the phase of closing the purchase of approximately two hectares of land in one of the central business districts of Sto.Tomas, proximate to the newly constructed SM Sto. Tomas.

Funding for the new City Hall shall be sourced from the local budget approved by the Sangguniang Bayan, including pledges accruing from the national government.

The second major project is the new City Health Office (CHO) Building. Located on Sampalukan Road in Brgy. San Miguel (right behind the Sto. Tomas Senior High School), it was opened last January.

Headed by Dr. Arnielyn Marasigan-Aguirre, the CHO’s medical team also includes Dra. Roselle Sanchez and Dr. Fernan Macrin Ramos.

Mayor AJAM prioritizes the health sector in his 12-point agenda, and Dr. Aguirre, his sister, talks about this in detail. 

She explained that health plays a major role in the overall development program of the city because Mayor AJAM began his political career during the COVID-19 pandemic—a time that saw a lack of preparedness among LGUs when it came to addressing a critical situation such as the corona virus outbreak, which paralyzed the world for two years.

“During these times, the capabilities of LGU leaders were put to test as they faced the challenges of health management during a pandemic. During his first month as mayor, Mayor AJAM immediately mobilized his Aksyon Bilis Mobile Clinic, which went to all the barangays every Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Aguirre said.

She added that at the start of 2023, they expanded the mobile clinic reach to faraway sitios and areas of the city that were really deprived of medical services. 

Since the constituents from these areas have no means of going to the city to seek medical attention, the mobile clinic will reach out to them and provide them with their medical needs. 

Aside from reaching out to far-flung areas of the city, Dr. Aguirre and her staff went to low-cost housing areas with their mobile clinic. 

As long as the mobile clinic can reach these places, they will continue to deliver medical services to Tomasinos who need them. To facilitate ease of attending to drivers and other members of the transport sector, crews of Aksyon Bilis TODA who are exposed to many types of diseases due to their exposure to different elements of the environment were provided with face masks and multivitamins three times a year to help them prevent catching these diseases. 

Volunteers of the mobile clinic are chosen through the barangay captains who have the willingness to serve their constituents and are fully trained by the HEPU staff to deliver these medical services to the people. 

Moreover, the Aksyon Bilis Mobile Clinic are also brought near to the terminal stations of the TODA so that they may avail of free checkups and laboratory services to monitor their health status and provide them with recommendations on how to maintain their health. Also available are optometrist and dental services in the mobile clinic. In 2024, an ultrasound will be launched as an added service to the people.

Last December 6 of this year, the Blue Card of Sto. Tomas was distributed to its constituents in combination with the simulation of the launching of the Aksyon Bilis Center. This Blue Card is inspired by the Yellow Card of Makati City. The card will initially cover the health and social services of the city, with plans to include all the other services that may be availed by a Tomasino from the LGU.

The two major 2024 projects of the AJAM administration has already allocated P120 million sourced from local funds and another P130 million from outside sources.—Maria Luisa Jalandoni