Capitol promises P2 million infra projects

CEBU, Philippines — Over 40 mayors from Cebu’s seven districts are expected to get P2 million worth of infrastructure projects from the provincial government.

The local chief executives attended the launching of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter in Liloan town yesterday.

The aid was announced by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during the event, which was also graced by Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“Unya paman unta tos Pasko ba, may na lang naa moy handumanan nga nagkuyog ta karon...Musugot mo, kani lang mga present ron, kana’g di mo mureklamo, agi’g paghatag og pahinumdom niining pakigkuyog kanato kang Inday Sara ato ning himuong handumanan iniining atong panagtigom karon, gikan sa Probinsya sa Sugbo, muhatag ta og tag two million pesos para infra...Unya kinahanglan ang inyong infrastructure pahinumduman ninyo didto sa inyong kada lungsod, nga nahimo gyud ni kay dinha kuyog namo si mayor Inday (Sara),” said Garcia.

The governor said the province’s fight against COVID-19 will not be successful without the help and cooperation of the local government units.

Garcia also expressed her elation not only to seeing an impressive attendance during the event, but for all of the LGUs’ efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carpio also told Garcia in jest if Davao City is also included in the aid, but if not, had asked the LGU officials here to support her candidacy as mayor of Davao City since she said there are four of them gunning for such position in next year’s elections.

“Ayaw pud kog kalimti Gov kay mayor pud biya ko, unya anak pud biya ko nimo so mudawat ra pud mi’g P2 million gikan nimo,” Carpio said.

LMP-Cebu president and Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco said seeing fellow mayors showing up beyond political colors made her happy.

Both Christina and her husband, Congressman Duke Frasco, said showing unity beyond political colors is the way to bouncing back from the pandemic with the aid of the Cebu Forward Mobile Application.

Cebu Forward is said to be the first Smart Province App in the country.

It is a mobile application that provides an all in one go to guide each of the 44 municipalities in Cebu. Here, one can get online access to government services, local products, tourist spots, emergency numbers, critical updates and other information about Cebu’s towns.

Cebu Forward is also a unique and innovative mobile application initiated by LMP-Cebu Chapter.

Christina vowed to take the LMP to the digital age and provide Cebu’s 44 towns with innovative solutions to purveying government services, and providing resident and tourists alike easy access to services using digital technology.

Last year, Christina also launched the LiveLoveLiloan App, making Liloan the first Municipality in Cebu to have its own Smart City app.

The said app also features iReport, which allows citizens to collaborate and work together with their government officials to raise their concerns, ideas, and feedback, with the goal of providing faster and efficient government action.

Citizens can also report about peace and order issues, waste management, traffic issues, engineering concerns like roads, sewage and other relevant reports.

All reported incidents and activities can be viewable by the Mayor’s Office of the Local Government concerned, for immediate action and real-time monitoring.

The emergency numbers feature is a location-based component of the app wherein citizens can see and call emergency numbers wherever they are in Cebu without needing to search for the same online, which makes it convenient and safe for tourists and locals alike.

Through the Cebu Forward App, tourists and locals can view various tourist spots in Cebu’s 44 towns via virtual reality (VR) tours and 360° photos and videos, in partnership with Suroy Cebu by Mataverse.

Another flagship feature of Cebu Forward is its e-commerce Marketplace for souvenirs, delicacies and other local products and services of Cebu’s towns. This provides a digital storefront for local vendors and MSMEs to sell their specialized goods, and for users of the app to view or buy the same, thus, providing a much needed online avenue for local vendors and makers to sell their goods when they would otherwise be inaccessible to consumers because of their far locations.

A multipurpose QR is also incorporated, which can be used for Contact Tracing, QPass, Resident ID for Ayuda, Scholarship and other financial assistance. The user can also scan the QR Code of businesses, restaurants, resorts and establishments for health declaration forms and contact tracing with ease. Business QR is available for all businesses and establishments here for free (https://app.cebuforward.com/business/start).

Aside from that, the Cebu LET’S Go (Cebu Live Electronic Transport System Go) is an added feature for real time vehicle tracking app partnered with Cebu Province for users to navigate local public transportation with on-demand, real-time transport information system such as the nearest bus stops and best routes to explore and commute across Cebu.

 “Cebu Forward is a catalyst to spark innovation in governance through technology that provides convenience and connectivity. Through Cebu Forward, we hope to be able to greatly enhance the experience of living in, and visiting Cebu. Through the coming together of Cebu’s leaders, and the courage, cooperation, and resilience of the Cebuanos, we shall recover, we shall rise, and take Cebu Forward!” said Christina about the app in partnership with BPO and Overcode Inc.

For her part, Carpio sees the importance of the Cebu Forward app to fight against misinformation from social media and to help in improving the lives of one’s constituents by being proactive to the needs of all, from health to economic recovery.

Durterte also shared Davao City’s best practices that may be incorporated in the said app. — KQD (FREEMAN)