INTO A RESILIENT CATBALOGAN: City Mayor Uy lays down sustainability plan, lauds key partners in SOCA ’23
Charlote Pornias 
Catbalogan City Mayor Dexter Uy delivered his first State of the City Address (SOCA) in his tenth month into office as the local chief executive on March 28, 2023 at Samar State University Gymnasium.
Mayor Uy said that this year’s SOCA will not only focus on the accomplishments but to acknowledge and give recognition to the key partners of the city in the previous years which gives light to the theme “OSCARS: Outstanding Stakeholders: Advocates of Resiliency and Sustainability.”
He added that the direction the city will take under his administration is “A sustainable and Resilient Global Metropolis Anchored on Transformative and Inclusive Governance by 2040.” To make this a reality, a detailed Road Map is divided into three phases which are: Pagtanum, Pag-ataman, ngan Pagtagamtam.
In Phase 1 (2023-2028) is the sowing the seeds for development wherein organizational works are being strengthened to foster sectoral enhancement and development towards sustainability.
Phase 2 (2023-2028) is the nurturing of the growth of communities, sectors, and industries in order to navigate urban and rural transformation underscoring resilient and sustainable growth.
Phase 3 (2035-2040) is the reaping of the fruits of development where being an efficient, adaptive, and progressive smart global metropolitan city will be realized.
The term starting this year until 2025 is now focused on the ten-point Kauswagan Katbalogan Agenda which are:
#KAHIMSOGKATBALOGAN – to achieve a healthy community and constituents by establishing health centers and facilities and facilities to address the health needs of Catbaloganon.
#KINAADMANKATBALOGAN – to contribute to knowledge building among young learners believing that knowledge and education are basic rights of our constituents.
#KAMAATAMANKATBALOGAN – to develop a nurturing governance especially to key populations such as our senior citizens, PWDs, children, cooperatives, juveniles, women, drug surrenderers.
#KAMURAYAWKATBALOGAN – to ensure peace and order among our community by establishing active and present security forces, well lighted streets and modern security features to deter crimes.
#KABATAANKATBALOGAN – development agenda that missions young people to be partners of the community
#KASIGURADUHANKATBALOGAN – to ensure food and resource security through establishment of facilities that integrate technology and livestock development.
#KAHUSAYKATBALOGAN – to develop new tourism areas, to improve and beautify certain areas of the city and strengthen local products for tourist and visitors.
#KARIBHONGKATBALOGAN – to ensure an active and lively economy by boosting and developing resilient investments, new economic enterprises and new facilities that will not only contribute greater income to the local government but to our communities and people’s organizations as well.
#KARIGONKATBALOGAN – an agenda focusing on instituting programs and initiatives in strengthening the city government operations and services.
#KAMAANDAMKATBALOGAN – to implement programs and projects necessary to protect the environment, promote community resilience against disasters and calamities; to ensure affordable decent housing units to all residents ; and to provide adequate, safe and sustainable relocation/dwelling sites to all bona fide and qualified residents.
The event further rose on the presentation of innovative short films and documentaries highlighting the accomplishments and improvement of the system geared towards his vision for the city to become a sustainable community.
“We have overcome many challenges and won many battles, but we still have many things left to do. An city government diri la igsu-sustain ini nga level han dedication kundi lalabwan pa naton kada tuig,” Mayor Uy said.
He then gave his utmost gratitude to the key partners and the whole city for they have made the process of reaching the goals more easier through their cooperation which made a greater impact in the city government.
“Pinaagi han paggiya han aton makagarahum nga Amay ngan ha bulig niyo nga tanan, diri imposible nga matuman an 2040 vision,” the mayor emphasized.
