In his nearly two-hour State of the Province Address last week, Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza declared that he has fulfilled his campaign promises, and even did more, for his constituents in Catanduanes.
Not skipping a beat despite a brief power outage, the chief executive recited his administration’s accomplishments in the past one year and three months that he claimed has exceeded his 5K platform of governance in his campaign comics during the run-up to his surprise but razor-thin victory in the 2025 gubernatorial election.
He reminded public officials and civil servants that the greatest hardship that the people faced was not the storms outside but those inside due to systemic neglect.
Azanza called for equity in governance and vowed to ensure that the resources of the provincial government go to those who really need it and where the need is greatest.
“Yan ang kagayonan kung ang gatukaw sa capitolyo bakong negosyante, bakong contractor, ang pigaisip sana pirmi kung ano ang marhay para sa tawo,” he said in a veiled reference to the former administration and the sitting congressman.
“Our mandate is simple: to make the neglected be seen and the forgotten be remembered,” the neophyte governor stressed. “Today, we declare that those who were pushed to the sidelines will now stand at the very center of our priorities.”
He stated that in his administration, the people’s struggles will dictate its budget, their voice will guide its policies and their dignity will be the measure of its success.
Citing the need to focus on the neglected, Gov. Azanza said he will stand on his 5K platform of good governance: Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, Kalikasan, Kababaihan/Kabataan, at Katarungan.
Among the accomplishments of his administration that he thoroughly discussed at the SOPA to vigorous applause were the following:
The Provincial Water, Ecology and Resilience Towards El Niño (PWERTE) Program with an initial budget of P15 million; the P10-million Abaca Buying Station and the P72-million Abakabuhayan TUPAD livelihood training program from DOLE for the processing of fiber finished products like slippers, rugs and school bags; tourism development including the bid to have the ammonite fossil site in San Andres declared a Geo Reserve Park by UNESCO; 15 micro gas stations worth P750,000 each for TODAs which will be given initial capital by DSWD under the Sustainable Livelihood Program; 77 mobile bakeries for poor families who will be trained by TESDA for six months on baking and CatSU on financial literacy; the P10-million egg-laying project; the BFAR-supported Asinsado salt making project in Carorian launched last week and slated for adoption in other towns; bee farming and honeybee production; soya and taho production in Caramoran; and distribution of 8,700 solar lights with charger to households without power connection.
The construction of the new EBMC complex with a total funding of P542 million and the existing hospital operation’s non-reliance on subsidies with P246 million now in its own bank account; repair of all district hospitals; deployment of 11 Automated Telemedicine Machines (ATMs) to the towns and free services from the Dental Van and Mobile X-Ray; the People’s Day Health Caravan; the conversion of the Governor’s Mansion into a Cancer Care Unit; and, Health Cards for zero-balance billing and the Salud Catanduanes HMO plans to be rolled out by the end of the year for permanent PLGU employees.
Firetrucks, ambulances, wing vans, brand-new buses and rescue vehicles for all 11 towns; a sea ambulance requested from PCSO; construction of a warehouse for 40,000 food packs inside the capitol compound; opening of the NBI district office; additional two college scholars from each barangay charged to the PLGU, preferably to enroll in medical technology, radiologic technology and social work; the NSA cadet program for prospective seamen; Edukain mobile kitchen and feeding program; youth empowerment support for artists, campus journalists, researchers and athletes;
P1.7 billion in additional infrastructure projects from DPWH, P500-M from OCD, P230-M in farm-to-market roads from DA and P50-M school building repair from DepEd; P57-M from PAGCOR for a socio-civic center at the capitol compound; P65-M from TIEZA for tourism projects in Virac and Pandan;
“We want to elevate the abaca industry,” he said, disclosing that soon a house made from abaca will be built here as a showcase.
He added that his administration wants to veer away from the “ayuda” system as poor families cannot be forever remain in the 4Ps program and must graduate from government assistance.
Azanza said he wants businesses to be owned by the people, not by monopolies, as he crowed about the entry of LCC and Puregold as well as 7-11 franchises in most of the towns.
Prices of goods will be reduced, he added, assuring that sari-sari stores will not close due to competition.
“We do not want to destroy our province,” the governor said. “We are strongly against mining in Caramoran or anywhere in Catanduanes. Catch them, jail them, they are violating the law.”
Noting the unequivocal stand of San Andres Mayor Aly Romano against mining, Azanza appealed to the other mayors to stridently oppose the same.
On the other hand, the municipal council of Panganiban has been asked to support the proposed ecozone in preparation for its implementation that would follow once a presidential declaration is signed.
On the P22 billion Friendship Bridge, Azanza stated that international financing institutions need to be convinced to fund the project with a counterpart from the national government.
Regarding criticism of his frequent travels to Metro Manila, the governor said his trips are not wasted and that he is not gallivanting in the metropolis, citing the projects and assistance that he has secured so far,
When he is attending barangay events, he said, he is not leaving cash like traditional politicians who then charge the same to government funds.
“What I do is talk to barangays to ask them what project they want, mostly jetmatic pumps, and return two weeks later with the assistance,” Azanza said. “We are training them to reform the system, for government funds to be spent for the people.”
He blamed patronage politics for the mess that the country and its people are in, later adding that the 0.3% growth in Catanduanes’ GDP last year is partly due to a moribund construction industry with DPWH projectd bid out at the regional office and the non-payment of quarry fees to the government in past years.
It is fortunate that businessman Vic Valledor has helped the provincial government in tapping KPMG to craft a development plan, the chief executive said, adding that a MOA has been signed with UP NOAH to align the development plan with disaster mitigation plans.
“We want science to guide us in decision making,” he emphasized.