---

COVID-19 Vaccines, Socio-economic Recovery Among Mayor EdSa’s Plans In 2021 [ Monday, 15th of March 2021 | 1 month ago ]

---

---

---

Thus, said City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago after being asked about his plans for the year 2021, the final year of his mayoral term. 

 

Santiago vowed to strengthen the city’s health response and push socio-economic recovery.

 

“Wala tayong babaguhin sa mission at vision natin pero following the rules because of the pandemic, ang direksyon natin for 2021 is response pa rin. Ang laban sa COVID-19 pa rin pero sinasamahan natin ng mga magagandang programa,” he said. 

 

The city government will allocate ten million in response to the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, including the possible purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.  

 

“Yung balak natin sa bakuna is in collaboration with the national government, provincial, and private sector. Pero ang siyudad naman nag allocate tayo ng fund na ten million, and meron din tayong mapagkukuhanan from our calamity fund and 20% annual investment fund just in case na talagang kailangan ng bakunahan natin ang ating mga kababayan,” the mayor said.

 

“Ang national lang ang makakapag go signal nyan kasi meron pang mga procedures from FDA [Food and Drug Authority at DOH [Department of Health] and we have to follow that,” he added.

 

Furthermore, the local chief executive stressed his strong will to reinvigorate the city’s economy after the pandemic thrown it into a tailspin.

 

“Ang recovery dalawa yan. Una, economic recovery, kasama natin ang private sector dito para patuloy ang kalakalan at pamumuhunan nila. We want to help them especially yung mga nano, micro o small entrepreneurs. Pangalawa, social recovery, ito yung pagtulong sa ating mahihirap na mamamayan para sagipin sila sa kahirapan. Sa mga programang sosyal tulad ng sustainable livelihood, employment, cash grants, local pension, at iba pa. May pandemya o wala, tuloy tuloy yan,” Santiago remarked.

 

The city government did not stop in its infrastructure projects to develop growth centers and economic zones around San Fernando. 

 

In the proposed 2021 plan, the local government is set to fund Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) which Santiago believed would generate economic activities and job opportunities for Fernandinos.

 

This includes the Rehabilitation of the City Market Plaza; the Smart City Program (Phase II, expanding/upgrading C3 facilities); the Construction of permanent isolation facilities; and the Construction of multi-purpose building (logistics and support services) at the Civic Center. 

 

Santiago underscored the role and contributions of different sectors, organizations, and even ordinary Fernandinos in the city’s success. 

 

“Ang siyudad ay nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kababayan, mga pribadong sektor, at iba’t-ibang organisasyon na sa gitna ng pandemya ay nakikipagtulungan pa rin sa gobyerno. Lalo ang ating mga frontliners, medical workers, working committee at yung mga tumutulong po sa atin. ‘wag po sana tayong magsawa dahil ang tinutulungan po natin ay ang bukas ng ating mga kabataan na siyang magtutuloy kung ano man ang naumpisahan natin ngayon. Kaya kung ano man ang nagyayari sa siyudad, kung ano man po ang tagumpay natin, ito po ay para sa ating lahat,” the mayor ended. 

 

Santiago further calls for cooperation and unity among the Fernandinos to carry out the city’s mission and vision towards becoming a safer, more resilient, vibrant, technologically driven, and more responsive and inclusive city.