DAY 4: Ligao City celebrates 13th Cityhood Anniversary at coastal area

Aside from showcasing local products and local talents, the 13th Cityhood Anniversary is also a celebration of potential world-class tourist destinations in Ligao City.

On its fourth day of celebration, March 23, Ligao City held activities at the coastal area where the beautiful and well-maintained white sand beach at Catburawan awaits. Lead by Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua and Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, the Coastal Caravan was participated by City Hall employees, local officials, and residents from Centro and Coastal area.

Residents in the coastal area joined the Kite-Flying Competition, Sibid Race, Volleyball Exhibition, Fun-at-Sea (Fish Show) Laro ng Lahi, and the Climate Change Film Showing. Little girls dressed as mermaids went to showcase their beauties at the Fun-at-Sea (Fish Show).

Participants also enjoyed resting in the colorfully-decorated balsa prepared by the different Puroks (districts) of Barangay Catburawan while some took a ride at the bancas (native fishing boats). Some also enjoyed swimming at the Catburawan white sand beach with their friends and families.

Environment and Natural Resources Officer Maria Soledad T. Preña headed the Mangrove and Coastal Clean-up at Catburawan.

The City Health Office (CHO) headed by Dr. Wynns Samar also conducted the Medical and Dental Mission at the Cabarian Barangay Hall and Covered Court. Medical services that were offered include dental and medical checkup, laboratory tests (i.e. RBS, Cholesterol, Uric Acide, and ECG). Senior citizens also availed the Anti-Pneumonia vaccination which is done only every five years. Medicines and Vitamins were also distributed to the residents.

A team of medical staff from CHO also visits the coastal area every month to conduct immunization among children.

A City Hall for the upland

To make government services available in the upland barangays, the local government of Ligao City, in partnership with Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, established the Ligao City Hall Annex at Paulba, Ligao City which opened on June 4, 2012.

With the establishment of the City Hall Annex, “people in the upland barangays don’t have to come down and do their businesses here in the City Hall,” said Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua. Frontline services are now available in the City Hall Annex. People can now apply for and get copies of birth certificates, inquire on the requirements for civil wedding, or request a National Statistics Office (NSO) copy of documents-through batch processing- without having to spend more time and money going to the City Hall or regional offices such as the NSO.

The City Hall Annex has representatives of offices that offer frontline services, according to Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua. These offices include the Local Civil Registrar (LCR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), City Assessor’s Office, City Treasurer’s Office, and the Agriculture Office. There are representatives also assigned for burial, medical, and financial assistance. The representative office of the City Health Office (CHO), on the other hand, is located at the Paulba Infirmary just three meters away from the City Hall Annex.

The representatives of these offices travel every day from the City Hall to the City Hall Annex to cater the needs of the people in the upland barangays. Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua stated the need for new employees that would take over in the service for the City Hall Annex. “We are now considering hiring people na taga-doon din sa Paulba. So we just have to train them at sila na magte-take over doon para hindi na tayo naghahatid-sundo ng mga employees doon. [We are now considering hiring people from Paulba. So we just have to train them so they can later take over and the representatives no longer have to travel back and forth.], ” said Mayor Alsua.

With the opportunities that came with the establishment of the City Hall Annex, the local government also looks forward to having Paulba as the business center for the upland barangays in Ligao City. 

Related Links:

DILG ROV Director Blandino M. Maceda graces the opening and blessing of the Ligao City Hall Annex: Upland Central Extension Services Office