Dipolog City’s first lady mayor also beamed with pride in reporting that the city is now one of the fastest growing component cities in the country today.
“When I entered public service in 2007 it was clear in my mind that I will be offering myself to make a difference in our beloved city,” she said, bearing in mind that she was making a pact with her constituents to bring the city to greater heights.
Business establishments are sprouting like mushrooms in the city with the coming of new investors in banking, hotel and restaurants, department stores and many more.
Mayor Uy said Dipologhas become a bustling city in the northwestern part of Mindanao.
Dipolog Sunset Boulevard
With the construction of Foreshore Development and Wellness Center, otherwise known as Dipolog Sunset Boulevard, the city has been put in the map of tourism industry as countless local and foreign tourists come to watch the dramatic sunset there.
To many it is not only a place to unwind and relax but to do their calisthenics like jogging and brisk walking, as well.
Other than the beachfront restaurants along the boulevard, hundreds of ambulant vendors also converge there toward sunset, selling snacks, drinks and other native foods.
Good governance
The city leadership pursues good governance through the Performance Governance System (PGS) as its main driving force and key ingredient for the success it has reaped in the past years.
With all the untiring efforts, the city received a special citation on “Quality Management Systems and Innovation” during the 2013 Search for the Most Business-Friendly LGU (local government unit) by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
Last year, the city obtained a “Very Satisfactory” rating in the Citizens’ Satisfaction Rating Survey conducted by the Center for Social Concerns and Development (CESCOD) and CODE-NGO.
“We will continue to push forward until we are able to achieve excellence especially in the aspect of public service delivery,” vowed Mayor Uy .
The lady mayor also said that there was a rapid transformation of the city’s operation resulting in sound public finance.
The city’s dependency on external income sources decreased last year by 9 percent with locally sourced revenues now reached 42 percent of the total income.
“Dipolog being a third class city is 39 percent higher than the average of its counterparts with respect local revenues,” Mayor Uy reported adding that “the debt service ratio of the city is only 7 percent, which implies that there are more resources available for the people.”
Economic growth
Mayor Uy also reported that last year some P122 million in capital was brought in by the new businessesin the city. In addition, 124 new commercial and industrial buildings amounting to P169.5 million were also constructed in the city.
“Dipolog as a business brand is fast becoming to be a very attractive one for investors,” Mayor Uy declared.
She also disclosed that the city government is now looking at ways to have this economic growth trickle down to small farmers, fishermen, laborers, drivers and ordinary folks.
Visions
Dipolog City strives to be one of the ten cities in the Philippines to be presented in the Islands of Good Governance program of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2015.
It aims that by the year 2020 the city will become a “sport events center of the south,” hosting national or international sport activities.
“There could be no better time than now to review and take stock of our city’s contribution to realization of our national vision: Achieving inclusive growth, creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty…. “This is what our vision asks us to do. This is how we will succeed. You and I have an important role to play for the future of a better Dipolog,” the first lady mayor emphatically said.
