Hoping for the best of 2007

Filipinos are still hoping for the best of 2007. This line has been repeatedly said in the Philippines every time the new year ushers in. I hope that we don't get tired changing the year number everytime we write something optimistic about NEW YEAR. The Filipino optimism which has been attributed to the Filipino religiousity as observed by a fellow liberal, Dr. Ronald Meinardus is very much in place. I believe that this makes the Filipino survive in the face of economic hardships and political uncertainties.

Here in the City of Vigan, we are also optimistic that there is so much in store for this heritage city with its ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE MILLION SIXTY THREE THOUSAND AND SEVENTY SEVEN PESOS (P183,063,077.00) Budget for 2007. The recently concluded cultural mapping project will boost the city's efforts in facing the endless challenges of heritage conservation. Since 2007 is an election year, it is expected that local officials including this representation will be very busy preparing for the May elections.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

LET'S HOPE FOR THE BEST OF 2007

INCREASE IN BARANGAY AID: A LEAP TOWARDS LOCAL AUTONOMY

The passage of Ordinance No. 04 Series of 2006 granting an Annual Development Budgetary Aid to all the Barangay Governments of Vigan to at least One Hundred Thousand Pesos ( P 100,000.00 ) per Barangay is a breakthrough for local autonomy. This paves the way for the institutionalization of a reasonable amount which can be used for the different programs and projects of the barangays. Under the Local Government Code, barangays are entitled to at least One Thousand Pesos ( P 1,000.00 ) as development aid coming from the City or Municipal Government.

The increase is indeed a welcome development for the thirty-nine (39) barangays of Vigan which heavily rely on the yearly IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) for their operations. To ensure that the increase in Barangay Aid be properly used to benefit the constituents of a barangay, the ordinance mandates that the aid shall be used only for development projects as identified and in accordance with the approved Barangay Development Plan.

Further, proposed projects shall be accompanied by a feasibility study and/or project proposal and the beneficiaries of said projects shall be residents of Vigan. A development project may nonetheless be allowed even in excess of One Hundred Thousand (P 100,000.00) Pesos provided that it can be justified that the same is laudable and necessary, and provided further that it has been reviewed and approved by the Local Chief Executive of the City.

I hope that this shall serve as inspiration to the barangays to work harder for development.

Market Economy Seminar

November 13, 2006(Monday)
Mr. Siegfried Herzog, the new resident representative of FNF Philippines welcomed the participants of the Second Liberal Leadership Training Seminar at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center in Makati by introducing the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the fundamentals of Liberalism and the place of the free market in it. The foundation’s advocacy on political and civic education has gone beyond the boundaries of Germany, reaching the Philippines and the rest of the world.
The Market-Price Mechanism was ably discussed by Mr. Herzog, an economist who gave a simplified and clear explanation of the principles of supply and demand. Applying the supply and demand curves, participants were able to learn and appreciate the use of a graph to analyze the free market. The active involvement of participants led to discussions of determinants of demand and supply such as increase in income or increase in the number of sellers. Issues on government interventions such as subsidies and price fixing particularly its adverse effects were also raised.
In the afternoon, the participants were divided into four working groups to identify concerns and issues with the free market. The plenary resolved that the Philippines must be ready for globalization.
Economic Systems and Principles of Market Economy were also presented. In here, the participants learned the different ways on how an economy can be organized.
A video presentation entitled “Globalization is Good” capped Day 1.

Children's Month

Vice Mayor Franz Ranches with the Vigan Child Legislators during the celebration of the children's month

Thanks Dr. Panching!

As a liberal, i'm glad to hear comments from an esteemed friend, Dr. Esperanza "Panching" Lahoz, the incumbent President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vigan Chapter. Panching called my attention regarding the typographical errors in this blog. Well, maybe this is a typical case for a neophyte blogger like me. Anyway, THANK YOU DR. PANCHING!

CARETAKER

Mayor Ferdi Medina's trip to Sweden to attend a conference on local government gave me a chance to become the acting mayor of Vigan from September 13 to 29, 2006. But, I would rather call myself the CARETAKER. To temporarily head the local government of World Heritage City is not an easy task. It's not only a question of signing documents such as licenses, permits, clearances, vouchers, checks, communications, legislative enactments, and the like but its an issue of effectively managing the city while the chief executive is on official travel.

As a caretaker, it is my responsibility to see to it that government is properly functioning. In some cases, acting mayors tend to rock the boat when the mayor is away. Not in this part of the world. As the humble Vice Mayor and careteker of the City of Vigan, I cannot afford this to happen. We are not only exercising governance but we are protecting a World Heritage Site!

Conservation is really the centerpiece of Vigan's public management. This maybe the much sought rallying point in unifying the Biguenos for a common cause. Through this, the significance of our city can be appreciated. The economics of conservation can give the people of Vigan the much needed opportunities to improve their lives.
It's not simply attracting tourists to come to this city but to dicover business undertakings related to Heritage Conservation.

Is there money in conservation? The answer is a resounding YES! Conserving the rich legacy of Vigan is improving the lives of the Filipinos. If there is such thing as Debt for the environment swap, how about Debt for culture swap? This can be Vigan's contribution to save the Philippine economy.

Solidarity Day

Every September 8 of the year, all heritage cities in the world celebrate Solidarity Day. Vigan as a heritage site and being a member of the organization of World Heritage Cities has always contributed its share in this celebration from the time of its inscription in December 4, 1999.
After 7 years, Vigan consistently protected its rich heritage. From enacting local ordinances to protect the Vigan Ancestral Houses to providing the necessary technical and infrastructure support, conservation has become the centerpiece of Vigan’s developmental thrust.

At present, the City has embarked a cultural mapping project to identify and have an inventory of all our cultural properties, be it

BUILT heritage- such as the ancestral houses of Vigan;

INTANGIBLE heritage – such as our songs, dances, cuisines, customs, traditions and practices;

MOVABLE Heritage – such as paintings, statues, religious icons, jewelries, relics, artifacts and other works of art;

NATURAL Heritage such as our centuries-old trees, rivers, natural parks, and the vista of the mountains and seas.

Here in Vigan, we are not only protecting our ancestral houses but all forms of cultural and historical properties. We are gathered here again to pledge our commitment to heritage conservation and to show the world that we are doing this for humanity’s sake so that the next generation will have something to appreciate and learn from. Protecting our heritage is preserving our civilization. Through Heritage conservation, we can tell the world that as Bigueños and Filipinos, we have an identity to be proud of.


This day, September 8, we are in solidarity with the rest of the world in protecting our heritage.

This day, September 8, we are also in solidarity with the Lord God in celebrating the Birthday of the Blessed Mother.

Let’s all celebrate Solidarity day!

EXPRESS IT!

I can't find words to express myself. This is my first taste of blog and its really fun. Thanks to Dr. Ronald Meinardus of Freidrich Naumann Foundation. Abe Olandres is a perfect blog teacher. Hi-technology runs in his genes. As organizer of theVigan Edition of Blogging and Podcasting, I feel so happy that people of Vigan --- students, sangguniang kabataan officers and young professionals were given the opportunity to blog. I wish to thank the University of Northern Philippines College of Law under Dean Elena Cardinez and University President Dr. Lauro Tacbas for allowing us to use the facilities of UNP. My appreciation also goes to Mayor Ferdi Medina of Vigan for gracing the opening ceremonies of the two-day workshop. Of course, blogging and podcasting in Vigan would not be possible without the help of My Team composed of lady lawyer Gigi Tesoro, researcher Ema Tugade, Liza Purugganan, Ryan Artates, Jong Rongcales, Joel Albille, and the ever kind Liza May Aquino. Thanks also to Jonathan Pugrad and SK federation president Chris Dan Fieldad

HERITAGE CITY OF VIGAN: A MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION

Vigan City is one of the oldest cities of the Philippines. It was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999 because of its significance and universal value due to its uniqueness and rich cultural heritage. About 240 ancestral houses have been declared as protected cultural properties. The finest Ilocano cuisine can be found in this very interesting city. This is the birth place of Padre Jose Burgos, a martyr priest who inspired Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero.