By Saul E. Pa-a
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna - In reverence to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal's legacy of faith, patriotism and service, Calamba City Mayor Joaquin Chipeco Jr. led city officials, employees and residents here to the austere yet meaningful activities beginning Friday at the Mercado de Calamba on the eve of its 11th Cityhood Anniversary on Saturday.
The city celebration kicked off with a thanksgiving mass officiated by the Reverend Father Reine Eriga at the city public market assembly hall. Sans the fanfare and extravaganza, the city brass band played the city hymn to start the simple program.
Rallying with the celebratory theme "In the midst of progress…at the start of the New Decade", Mayor Chipeco reminisced the day he authored the cityhood bill in 2001 when he was Laguna's 2nd District Representative. Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada signed Republic Act 9027 that elevated Calamba into a city.
This birthplace of the national hero was founded as a "pueblo" (town) 270 years ago as largely Spanish friar lands on August 28, 1742 from the town of Cabuyao.
President Benigno Aquino III issued Presidential Proclamation 357 on March 27 this year declaring Saturday, April 21 as a special non-working day as the city marks its 11th anniversary.
By authority of the President, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. signed the presidential proclamation for the city holiday stating "it is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Calamba be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies."
In his State of the City Address, Mayor Chipeco relished at the city's accomplishments citing its Seal of Good Housekeeping Award by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as proof of Calamba's good governance, sound fiscal management and adherence to the principles of accountability and transparency.
He said the city's strict compliance with the Anti-Red Tape Act also got the nod from the Civil Service Commission earning a report card survey grade of "Outstanding."
The mayor said "buo ang tiwala na nasa tamang daan tayo ng pamamahala dahil sa mga pagkilalang ating natanggap, patuloy ang ating mga programang pang-kaunlaran."
He took pride for the City College of Calamba which produced 868 graduates in seven courses under the free college education program for Calambeño students. Since, its establishment in 2006, the City College has accomplished eight certified public accountants (CPAs) and 43 professional teachers, with a 100% passing rate for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).
The Mayor also reported the construction of the Calamba City Science High School Building in Barangay Tres to eventually house some 214 students who shared learning venues at the Real Elementary School for the science and technology classes. He also batted to expand the city's Alternative Learning Program, a non-formal education project that has gained the Department of Education (DepEd) Hall of Fame Award.
In cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Calamba Manpower and Development Center through its 14 free training course and skills development has already produced 11,084 graduates.
Mayor Chipeco also reported the city's agricultural and fisheries development through the support and partnerships with the Food and Agriculture Organization and Oxfam. The high-yielding varieties of rice, corn and vegetables and various livelihood support and assistance to fisherfolks in the lakeshore communities earned the city as Best LGU Implementor in Laguna in the past years.
Chipeco disclosed that the onslaught of typhoons Ondoy and Santi and communities at risk and in danger zones led city Local Housing Board with the support of the National Housing Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Gawad Kalinga to formalize the relocation areas to safer grounds known as Calambeño Villes 1 to 3 and Community Mortgage Programs for scores of informal settlers.
The Mayor's report also said Philhealth beneficiaries have been expanded to the city's poor now reaching 6,600. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries covered 3,291 families while some 6,250 trike drivers benefited from the Pantawid Pasada Program.
Chipeco received the Most Outstanding Mayor Award for Nutrition in 2009 and vowed to strengthen the city's basic health care services and nutrition and feeding program for children.
He also reported that the 100 special children, 75 women victims of abuse and domestic violence, 12 street children and the disadvantaged families and poor children are under the city's care and custody through the social services and youth development units and day care centers.
The city mayor also disclosed that the local government's sports development program was given the singular distinction as Asia's first city recipient in the grassroots football program under the Asian Football Federation and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) with the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan to city in February.
Eleven years hence, Calamba City reaped as Most Business Friendly City finalist in the countrywide search among businesses, investors and locators, and coveted the Hall of Fame Award and Top Regional Performance Award for its employment program record of more than 30,000 jobs.
In his anniversary message, Congressman Justin Marc Chipeco reminisced that Calamba used to be a tranquil town until 11 years ago when it transformed into a bustling metropolis and soars high among Southern Tagalog's premier cities.
The Laguna solon paid homage to Rizal who inspired the youths and urged "this new generation is bequeathed the ardent task and great responsibility to do something for our country." He also thanked national government assistance to the city's educational and health projects.
As the city developed, he said, "we also witnessed how our roads and bridges like in Barangays Mayapa and Makiling have expanded, the rise of the pedestrian footbridge in Calamba Crossing and another soon-to-be constructed footbridge in the commercial row in Parian to decongest and ease out perennial traffic snarls in the area."
The Chipecos also led the distribution of stall awards for vendors and shop owners at the Mercado de Calamba. They also launched the opening of the "bagsakan" center or trading post for market goods, vegetables, fish, meat and other farm produce for the consumers, retailers and wholesalers.
DepEd also hosted the drum and lyre festival at the Rizal Plaza in the morning while the City Government hosts the Testimonial Dinner for Business Partners at the Manila Hotel at 6 p.m. Friday.
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