Being in public service is more of a vocation than a job, serving others sans any hesitation and some semblance of apathy. As the saying goes, “Public service is a public trust.”
Public officials and government employees alike make a living by what they do, but they make life by giving service to the public.
For public officials, public service is to solve problems, build development projects, introduce plans and strategies, and to carry-out the tasks and duties reposed upon them.
In the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Governor Roberto Y. Uy, a former three-termer mayor of Dipolog City, vowed to work and serve the public irrespective of political affiliations and aspirations.
Component cities and towns
Zamboanga del Norte is situated in the western border of Mindanao and lies in the northwestern edge of the Zamboanga Peninsula with a land area of 6,618 square kilometers. It has two cities and 25 municipalities with three congressional districts and 691 barangays.
Its two component cities are distinct and unique. Dipolog City, which is the provincial capital, is the province’s commercial center while Dapitan City is known as historical city where the relics of Dr. Jose Rizal, who was banished by the Spaniards there in 1892-1896, are being preserved.
Vast natural and marine resources
The province is endowed with vast natural resources ranging from minerals like gold, manganese, white clay, copper, silica and asbestos to fertile lands suitable for agricultural and commercial crops such as coconut, mango, banana, corn and rice and others.
Many provinces also envy its richness in marine resources with at least seven fishing grounds, namely: Dipolog Bay, Dapitan Bay, East Sulu Sea, Murciellagos Bay, Sindangan Bay, Coronado Bay, Sibuco Bay and Siocon Bay. Yellow fin tuna, anchovies, mackerels, snappers, round scads, marlins and other marine species abound in the area.
Work hard for the development of the province
Governor Roberto Y. Uy, who is now on his first term of office, vowed that he would work hard together with the provincial officials and employees to promote and develop the province until the end of his term in 2016.
“My administration will strive hard in working and serving our people without taking into consideration the color of politics,” Governor Uy said during the recent validation of workshop outputs on the proposed programs and projects for funding by national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs) at the Top Plaza Hotel in Dipolog City.
“This validation of workshop outputs on proposed programs and projects will address our long standing problems of poverty and unemployment through a funding from the national government,” the governor added.
Governor Uy belongs to the Liberal Party (LP) and presently serves as the provincial chairman of the said party in Zamboanga del Norte.
Poorest province
During the past administration, the province was declared the poorest province in the country based on the study conducted by National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).
Governor Uy hopes to address the problem by implementing various projects involving infrastructure, livelihood, health, education and other social services.
In the same gathering, the governor also bared that an investor of a canning factory in Zamboanga City was looking for 800 workers in the province.
Health services
The provincial government never stops looking for ways and creating policies and projects that would redound to the benefit the people in Zamboanga del Norte.
In providing health services to the people especially the poorest of the poor, the governor has asked all local chief executives to disseminate to their constituents the conduct of free medical mission come January 26 to 31 at the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City. This medical mission is being spearheaded by the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod-Manila (UNPM) of the Philippine General Hospital in partnership with the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Medical Foundation and the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte.
Ninety five foreign and local doctors and nurses will render free operations on patients suffering from goiters, breast tumors, gallbladders, hernias, cleft lip, hysterectomy and cataract.
Good governance
On the wings of good governance, Governor Uy has expressed confidence that the present provincial leadership can make a difference in the lives of the people in the province. He wants all units/departments to walk an extra mile in bringing their services to the public.
For Governor Uy, there is no greater calling than to serve the people; there is no greater achievement than to help those who are in need; and there is no greater fulfillment than to have done it well without fear and favor. (PIA9)
