VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — Speaking before the crowd of government officials, business leaders and representatives from different sectors, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor Atty Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan (AJAM) highlighted the city’s accomplishments over the past year and cited future development plans during his 5th State of the City Address (SOCA) held Monday at the city hall annex building main lobby.
In his speech, Marasigan emphasizes the remarkable achievements the city has accomplished over the past 12-month period serving as local chief executive – aligned with the core development points his administration promised to achieve.
In providing high-quality healthcare services, the mayor mentions that in year 2025 the city has conducted 145,000 medical and dental consultations including those assisted thru the “Aksyon Bilis Caravan” and “Aksyon Bilis Mobile Clinic”, delivered 29,000 sanitation and food services, 56,000 preventive health services such immunization, deworming and newborn screening.
The city also offered free medicines to 85,000 beneficiaries, 20,000 laboratory services, 2,790 prenatal and 2,039 postnatal tests.
The mayor likewise cited that the DOH Level II Accredited Teen Health Clinic, Animal Bite Treatment Center, Social Hygiene Clinic and Mental Health Clinic that play a major role in addressing special medical needs had been expanded.
In partnership with SM Foundation, according to Marasigan, expansion and modernization of City Health Center II in Barangay Sta. Clara is underway.
The city, similarly plans to establish the DOH Juan Gamot Pharmacy, City-wide Yakap Mass Registration, transfer of 24/7 BEmONC facility to the City Health Center II, AJAM H.E.A.R. You and AJAM Eye Care in bid to provide comprehensive and inclusive healthcare services, said the mayor.
In Education, 10,000 senior high school and college students had been given scholarship grants in two semesters for School Year 2025-2026 amounting to P47 Million, a significant increase of 66.67 percent from the previous school year figure of 6,000.
Educational assistance for abused children, Children In Conflict with the Law (CICL), children of solo parents and out-of-school youth taking up technical-vocational training are also provided.
A total of 27,000 school uniforms, 10,000 school bags and learning supplies and 2,745 learning book sets are made available for Tomasino students.
The city employment program according to Marasigan has recorded 15,474 job placements through initiated school-based job fairs, local and overseas recruitment, barangay recruitment and location-based job fairs while the city’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) program helped 93 students earn while off school.
The SULONG program Marasigan initiated has now 200 qualified farmer-beneficiaries receiving P15,000 worth of farm inputs to augment deficient amounts to sustain crop production.
Strategically as the home of the open frontier that serves as gateway to the south, the promise of opportunity for trade and commerce to magnify is very evident.
Realization of our local government frameworks most beneficial to Tomasinos is a challenge that requires heart and hard work combined, Marasigan said.
To date, according to Marasigan, the city has 5,600 registered businesses which is 12% higher compared to 5,000 in 2025.
For locally sourced income, the city is expecting 7.3 percent increase in revenue collection for 2026 amounting to P968 Million.
Mayor Marasigan proudly announced that the city has maintained a 10.5 percent yearly average economic growth since he assumed office from the year 2022 to present date.
Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data this growth rate is almost double than the Calabarzon record of 5.6 percent and much higher than the Province of Batangas with 6.7 percent growth rate.
Subsequent to his strapline: “Aksyon Bilis na Serbisyo na may Ngiting Tomasino”, Marasigan’s style of governance is doing well over time, offering the kind of public service Tomasinos wish to enjoy.
“We stand on the promise we made the very day we assumed our mandates as elected officials and the undeniable economic growth of the City of Sto. Tomas is a manifestation that we are heading the path towards what we desire to reach for our people”, the mayor said.
The whole-of-government approach in bringing good governance and delivering the utmost quality public service to improve the lives of every Tomasino is a commitment for a better City Sto. Tomas, closer to the people – right on their doorsteps.
The mayor announced several priority projects for the coming year, including the construction of a child-minding station for solo parents, Wellness Hub to address mental health concern, expanding social hygiene clinic, digitalization of government services, and additional livelihood programs for small businesses.
Marasigan articulated that the State of City Address is not just a report of programs completed but a story every Tomasino conceived, narratives of dreams envisioned to achieve, visualized plans transformed into programs that bring to the realization of economic development which truly improved the lives of city residents.
“Our goal is to make the City of Sto. Tomas healthier, safer, progressive and vibrant community where comfort living and ease of doing business is not temporary but a way of life”, the mayor stressed.
