Rendering a report on his accomplishment for the first 100 days of his term, Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza has called on ordinary citizens to change their ways and be co-creators of good governance.

“Good governance is not about changing systems or implementing reforms but more about the character of leaders and public servants,” the chief executive stressed in last Saturday’s event at the Capitol dome as he urged constituents to abandon their previous roles as fence sitters and actively call for accountability.

“This is not going to be business as usual,” the former university president emphasized. “We will have to change our ways for the good of the people.”

Azanza’s appeal for transparency and accountability came in the midst of his nearly two-hour address before a packed crowd at the dome last Oct. 24, 2025 as he justified the need to look into transactions of the past administration.

Among them were the P150 million loan for the acquisition of 14 units of heavy equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, for which the provincial government is paying about P2 million in amortizations until 2033; a P10 million loan for the construction of a garage for the equipment; another P10 million loan for a mini-warehouse; a P19.9-million drone purchased with cash; and a P3.5 million genset for the Eastern Bicol Medical Center that has not been used for lack of electrical connections.

The chief executive earlier bared that P30 million of the confidential funds allocated for his office will be spent for the purchase of maintenance medicines for senior citizens in the 315 barangays.

Considerable savings were also generated from the renegotiation of the Capitol’s internet service, which cost about P200,000 monthly for 450 Mbps aside from the P200,000 monthly internet subscriptions of various offices, with the 450 Mbps connection shared with private entities.

After renegotiation with the service provider, the Capitol now enjoys 1,100 Mbps of internet at just P177,500 per month, the governor stated.

From 1,932 job order employees that cost the past administration P90 million a month, the number of casual workers has been reduced to 837 with the monthly payroll now just P23 million, Azanza pointed out.

About 300 of the former JOs have yet to claim their wages, he disclosed, adding that the condition for setting aside funds for their compensation was that they have to claim it personally so that the government could determine if they are not baggers or waiters.

Gov. Azanza bared the modus operandi in the quarry operations in the province, with 80 percent of operators without permits or Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECCs) while those who are accredited fork over P70 as bribes.

“I do not ask for bribes from permittees,” he declared, reporting that every transaction now is properly receipted, with revenues from quarry operations increasing by 252 percent from the previous P2.1 million from January to October 2024 to P5.3 million in the same period of 2025.

The governor likewise cited partial findings of the P107 million assistance received by the provincial government in 2024 for typhoon Kristine and super typhoon Pepito.

The amount of P60 million was allocated for the purchase of 27,250 GI sheets, some of which were delivered on Dec. 3, 2024, a day before the bidding for its procurement was held and two days before the contract was awarded, he said.

Based on liquidation documents, P38 million was supposedly used to buy NFA rice but some of the bags of rice delivered to typhoon victims were of the commercial variety.

Azanza also sought the active participation of consumers in the effort to find long-term solutions to ensure a steady and stable supply of electricity.

Citing a PhilFIDA announcement that the buying price of abaca fiber has increased by P5 to P6 per kilo, he said that he provincial government has allocated P10 million for the direct purchase of 100,000 kilos of abaca fiber at P90 to P100 per kilo.

The fiber will be processed into new products by unemployed spouses and children of abaca farmers, fisherfolks and tricycle drivers, who will be trained through the DOLE’s TUPAD program by TESDA and DTI.

The products like slippers and rugs will then be sold in local markets, with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to be asked to pass a measure on the mandatory use of abaca boxes by restaurants and groceries and abaca slippers by hotels and other accommodation establishments.

Sisterhood agreements will be signed with several Metro Manila cities to ensure that Catanduanes abaca products will have a sure market, he said.

Ambassadors of foreign countries and their spouses will visit Catanduanes sometime soon to look for possible investment opportunities and provide marketing links to local entrepreneurs.

With the economy now open in Catanduanes, the governor said Bicol mall operator LCC will open its Virac store this November, with the Virac LGU in negotiations for Xentro Mall management for its branch here.

The live FB coverage of BAC biddings has generated savings, Azanza stated, which will be used for the purchase of 11 airconditioned buses for the Arangkada Eskwela in the towns plus another P5 million in 2026 for free school bags and school supplies.

A P15 million mega warehouse will be constructed that could accommodate between 20,000 to 40,000 relief food boxes to be prepositioned by DSWD.

As to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center, the provincial government is awaiting approval of the Department of Health of the plans for its renovation, with the P100 million first phase now ready for implementation to be followed by the P100 million second phase and P240 million final phase.

The provincial hospital, which recently opened its private rooms to overflow patients from other wards, recently received donations of 28 new hospital beds and two aircon units for the Ob-Gyne ward, with a small ward room renovated courtesy of the Valeza family.

A number queueing system will be implemented soon at the recently renovated Out-Patient Department.

Recently approved by the Catanduanes Development Counwil was a proposal to allocate P87 million for the renovation and improvement of the district hospitals while 11 Automated Telemedicine Machines (ATM) will be distributed to the municipalities.

Emphasizing that “health is everything,” Gov. Azanza said that 265,000 Catandunganons will be enrolled in the PhilHealth’s YAKAP (Yamang Kalusugan para sa Mag-anak Pilipino) program.

The Governor’s Mansion at the back of the Capitol compound will be repurposed by DPWH into a BUCAS Center to serve as another outpatient department, he added.

The weekly People’s Day every Tuesday, which has assisted more than 600 citizens with various assistance worth P3 million, has been expanded to the other towns, the governor said, bringing along the Mobile X-Ray and Mobile Dental Clinic provided by Malacanang.

Over 10,000 boxes of DSWD food boxes have been distributed to fisherfolks and farmers affected by calamities while P10 million in TUPAD livelihood assistance has benefitted nearly 1,800 people including those who lost their jobs by the ban on “bote-bote” gasoline sale.

A total of 660 people have received free maintenance medicines donated by pharmaceutical companies while the distribution of free wheelchairs continued with the arrival of 100 more units from a donor.

On the provincial scholarship program. Gov. Azanza said the rules will be changed to allow students from poor families to avail of the benefit without having to achieve the 2.5 GPA requirement as long as they pass.

A Norwegian seamanship training center is offering 400 slots for senior high school students and college graduates next month, he disclosed, with those who pass guaranteed of all-expense paid scholarship and jobs with Norwegian shipping companies.

On the Friendship bridge, the chief executive asked constituents to temper their expectations as he has already coordinated with the two Camarines provinces to work as one in seeking approval of the P40-billion project at the Regional Development Council using the 3-C Corridor of Development concept.

He likewise thanked businessman Vic Valledor for bankrolling the UP PLANADES proposal to produce a long-term development plan for Catanduanes dubbed “Road Map to 2043 Catanduanes.”

“We have to make sure our development program is sustainable and consistent with the need to protect the environment,” Azanza stressed, as he thanked provincial officials, employees and his constituents for their support.

Among the other accomplishments cited by the chief executive were: the GSIS Adopt-A-School project for the construction of 10-classrooms at Bagamanoc Central Elementary School in 2026; the DA’s promise to provide 11 portable abaca stripping machines and 11 tractors, one for each town; revival of the provincial crab center with the Catanduanes State University as partner; 12 ambulances for the province and 11 towns; P27.55 million worth of rescue vehicles for the 11 towns funded by the PLGU; 37 Starlink units from DICT to be deployed at 3 each municipality; the TIEZA’s P10 million tourist rest area building beside the Old Capitol; support for arts and sports; marching orders to the local police against all illegal activities, including the provision of 18 mobile phones and two-way radios and the use of the idle speed boats for Bantay Dagat activities; release of E-CLIP benefits to a former rebel; representation of employees’

Associations in selection boards; and maximization of command center for zero casualties.