Apura highlights success, Carcar’s 30-month plan

CEBU, Philippines — To cap off the week-long celebration of the 11th founding anniversary of Carcar City, Mayor Nicepuro Apura highlighted the "moments of truth" during his stint as chief executive for eight years, as he also laid the foundation of where the city would be in the next 30 months.

In his State of the City Address (SOCA) last Saturday night, which lasted for over an hour, Apura showed a video of what the people of Carcar can look forward to in the next 30 months.

This includes big ticket projects namely the construction of a new city center with an oval, a new public market, a bus terminal, and a police station. All of which surrounding the newly inaugurated City Hall.

He also announced the conversion of the old market into a "mini IT Park".

The said projects are yet to break ground but are in the project bidding phase already.

Furthermore, he shared that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7) informed him last week that the widening of the Carcar River to 50-meters is now on its bidding stage and is allocated with a P98.5 million budget.

The mayor also highlighted the success of decongesting traffic with the realization of the Carcar by-pass road, so vehicles can use an alternative route aside from passing through the rotunda area.

Twenty seven more classrooms are also expected to rise by the end of this year, in partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). This is in addition to the 92 classrooms which have been finished in his three terms with the help of multiple organizations.

Apura also shared that almost all barangays now have multi-purpose buildings and/or covered courts which are about 75 percent city-funded. The remaining balances were shouldered by the barangay.

Aside from infrastructure, the city mayor enumerated numerous accomplishments in different fields such as in social services, education, peace and order, environment, health, and among others.

To add a few,  Apura also demonstrated live the 24/7 services of the city's emergency response team, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the city police by calling the emergency hotline numbers on-stage in the middle of his SOCA.

Moreover, he encouraged the constituents of Carcar City to get their Purok ID so they can avail of some free government services and incentives. The ID is a proof that a Carcaranon also participates in the activities which can promote the welfare of their purok in different focus areas.

With the help of the Purok ID as one proof, the use of final resting places at the city's public cemetery will be free for qualified indigent citizens starting yesterday.

Apura also announced that starting this semester, the Carcar City College (CCC) will be offering BS in Criminology and have established a shooting range in an upland area which can be used by both the students and police force.

The mayor announced with pride that the CCC is one of the only two colleges in the province which is qualified to offer free tuition.

He is also targeting that the city abattoir to become an A or AA meat accredited by the National Meat Inspection Service.

The city government also eyes to start training the women in terms of housekeeping, wellness massage, and beauty care so they can have their own means of livelihood.

Director Giles Villamor from the Office of the Cabinet Secretary remarked that Apura's SOCA was very comprehensive and clearly shows what the city government has been working on.

This is Apura's last term.

He said he is considering to run for vice mayor or city councilor. All of these, he said, are not yet final as he is still waiting for the line-up which will be approved by his party, PDP-Laban. (FREEMAN)