Klarex shows Oro’s strong growth, family-centered recovery

CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy in his 2nd State of the City Address (SOCA) today, at the Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center, highlighted the city’s exceptional growth and resilience across various sectors, including education, health, social services, and many more.

Sound fiscal policy and efforts to deliver government services to the public are yielding significant results. Cagayan de Oro City earned its first-ever Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) in 2023.

Uy addressed the public and the City Council in a special session, emphasizing family-centered economic development under his administration’s RISE framework of governance.

This address marked the City of Golden Friendship’s 74th Charter Day celebration.

Mayor Uy emphasized that the SGLG reflects the sincere and transparent nature of his administration at City Hall.

“We started our journey with the challenge of recovering from the effects of the pandemic,” said Uy, adding, “We challenged ourselves to stand.”

“We challenged CDO to RISE,” he declared at the convention center, with officers, employees, and key local stakeholders in full attendance.

“At that time, amid the many awards received by the city government, the truth was that the economy was weak and many families were suffering from abject poverty,” Mayor Uy recalled, drawing loud applause from the audience.

His address was streamed live on Facebook and at public viewing centers around the city.

The accolades the city is receiving, such as its ranking as the second richest city outside Metro Manila in terms of per capita Gross Domestic Product and the third biggest urban economy in the country, are not just statistics but have started to positively impact every family in the city.

Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) revealed that 3,000 of 15,000 families under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have been lifted out of poverty.

Investments are flowing into the city due to the high spending capacity of Kagayanons, estimated at around P28,000 per month.

Cagayan de Oro’s average family size is 3.8, while Northern Mindanao’s is 4.2.

As a regional leader and the center of the emerging fourth metropolitan city in the country, Cagayan de Oro contributes 28% to the GDP of Northern Mindanao.

“This means that the increased income due to economic progress has boosted the spending capacity per family,” Mayor Uy explained.

Programs like Klarex nga Serbisyo sa Barangay (KSB) and Suroy Suroy sa Barangay (SSB), along with People’s Day, have increased public confidence in the local government.

Mayor Uy personally attended to 9,301 persons from July to December 2023, and another 9,053 from January to April 2024.

In 2023, the 36 KSB events served 149,587 people, while 13,124 people benefited from health services under the SSB program.

SOUND FISCAL STATUS

In 2023, the City Finance Department’s revenue collection reached a record high of P5.6 billion.

Tourist arrivals hit 775,024, a 12.72% increase from the previous year.

Local businesses are expanding, and new ones are emerging. Supermarkets like Ororama and Gaisano are growing to keep up with larger competitors such as SM, Ayala, and Robinsons.

Luxury hotels, condominiums, and shopping centers are also under construction.

In 2023, 5,414 new business permits were issued out of the 30,962 registrations.

The city’s budget prioritizes economic programs at 44.36%, followed by social services at 30.44%, and general services at 22.3%.

The Barangay Empowerment Program approved 78 projects worth P256 million to be implemented in 50 barangays.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Good management at the city-owned JR Borja General Hospital (JRBGH) led to its accreditation as a Level II hospital. 

The 175-bed facility serves around 150,000 people, with 15,240 admissions and 100,572 outpatient consultations.

To address the high patient volume, the outpatient department now operates until 10 pm. The hospital also faces a 215% bed occupancy rate.

Major upgrades are underway at JRBGH to better serve the poor. 

The JRBGH-Lumbia branch has started operations, serving 8,573 OPD consultations, 43 newborn deliveries, and 320 admissions. The JRBGH-Tablon is 85% complete.

In 2023, JRBGH generated P255,800,172, which supports its zero-billing policy.

The City Health Office is implementing the Universal Health Care (UHC) system and has completed the preparatory phase.

EDUCATION

For the upcoming school year 2024 to 2025, there will be 15,194 university and technical-vocational institute scholars. 

In 2023, the city built six school buildings with 48 classrooms. This year, work has started for another six school buildings with 36 classrooms and two four-story buildings to house TLE Laboratories.

The City Scholarship Program has expanded to include Law and Medicine with 19 scholars taking up Bachelor of Laws and 12 scholars taking up Medicine.

Additionally, in the coming school year, Mayor Uy’s promise to have 10,000 scholars will be fulfilled. This school year, the city has over 8,000 scholars.

EMPLOYMENT

Mayor Uy noted the positive impact of education programs on employment. 

“Our successful education program can be seen in the increase in employment,” Uy stressed adding that the capacity of our graduates and employees attracts new investments in the city.”

The city government’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) has been active with 30 Barangay Employment Assistance Desks. The job placement rate is 90.82%. 

In 2023, PESO organized 12 job fairs, resulting in the hiring of 14,653 job seekers.

HOUSING

The city government is partnering with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development in the housing program.

Mayor Uy led the groundbreaking of two housing projects under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program in Pagatpat and San Simon, which will provide 3,200 housing units in mid-rise buildings. 

The Uy administration aims to address the housing needs of around 30,000 city residents.

SECURITY

To safeguard economic progress, Mayor Uy underscored the importance of security and safety. 

He lauded the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) for their efforts and appealed for their continued vigilance.

The mayor acknowledged COCPO for the 3.5% crime rate reduction in 2023, with a crime solution efficiency of 85.81% and a crime clearance efficiency of 97.83%.

RISE CDO

To sustain the gains achieved so far in his administration, Mayor Uy rallied the people and city hall bureaucracy to unite and work harder.

“We need to provide more services to the people. Service that is fair. Service that favors no one,” Uy emphasized. 

Uy added that service to all, because he believe that government should be within reach of the people.

“The people should be near the government,” he said.

“Through our unity and teamwork, I am hopeful that all Kagayanons can claim equal opportunity: Opportunity to work and livelihood; opportunity to improved well-being; and opportunity to have a bright future.”

The RISE framework of governance stands for Regional leadership, metropolization, and connectivity; Institutional development and participatory governance; Safety, security, and human development; and Economic recovery (with a report from CMO/CIO)