by John Bello July 6, 2019 Quezon Gov. Danilo ‘Danny’ Suarez speaks during the Sangguniang Panglalawigan inaugural session. (JOHN BELLO)...
by John Bello July 6, 2019  |
| Quezon Gov. Danilo ‘Danny’ Suarez speaks during the Sangguniang Panglalawigan inaugural session. (JOHN BELLO) |
LUCENA CITY – Poverty reduction thru employment, health, education and infrastructure are the priority thrusts of development efforts for the newly assumed Quezon Gov. Danilo ‘Danny’ Suarez.
During the inaugural session of the Sangguniang Panglalawigan (SP) on Monday, July 1, also the first day in office of the new provincial chief executive, Suarez said he wanted to find ways to expand the employment opportunities in Quezon province to reduce the level of poverty of his constituents.
“Una sa aking prayoridad bilang ama ng lalawigan ay ang pagpapababa ng poverty rate sa probinsiya sa pamamagitan ng karagdagang trabaho para sa mga Quezonians,” the 75 yrs. old former 3rd district congressman and House Minority floor leader told SP members led by vice governor and presiding officer Samuel Nantes at the session hall attended by jampacked audience in the gallery.
Suarez mentioned the establishment of steel facility of Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp. in Bgy. Malabanban Sur, Candelaria which would provide 1,000 jobs for the people of Quezon. It had its groundbreaking ceremony last May led by then outgoing Gov. David ‘Jayjay’ Suarez, son of the elder Suarez and Steel Asia chairman and chief executive officer Benjamin Yao. The young Suarez has been elected 2nd district congressman.
Gov. Danny also cited in his speech the South Luzon Toll Road Expressway project which had its groundbreaking earlier in Tiaong and his proposed law for the establishment of Quezon-Bicol Expressway stretching from Pagbilao to Naga city which both could ease up the transportation of people, goods and services that could mean business and job opportunities and eventually reduce the poverty level in the province.
Stressing that he wanted Quezon to be ‘a bastion of opportunity’ the governor said he hoped to generate 50,000 jobs from project proponents in the province and plans to improve tax collection especially from real property taxes due the province.
Gov. Danny also said he plans to call a meeting with power plants in the province as he cited the need for them to convert to super critical technology to prevent health hazards to the community.
“Grabe na ang hika ng taumbayan coz of environment waste from power plants,” he said without mentioning the names of the existing coal-fired power plants in Pagbilao, Mauban and the ongoing construction of another one in Atimonan.
To put the inaugural session at ease and provide easy familiarity with all the SP members, the new governor called some SP members by first name or nicknames beginning with vice governor Sam, ‘Little Raffy’ – Jerry, Alona, Yna, Romano, Jet, Reynan, Sonny, Dhoray – referring to Claro Talaga Jr., Yna Liwanag, Romano Talaga, Donaldo Suarez, Reynan Arrogancia, Sonny Ubana and Rhodora Tan -before proceeding in his easy, lighthearted speech laced with humorous anecdotes.
He mentioned the 6.6 hectares of the provincial capitol grounds which cover the Perez park up to the provincial jail building and donated by Perez family saying he will ask the provincial engineering office to come up with a ‘master plan’ as he envisions to put up a new provincial government complex for the provincial government.
He said he is contemplating the need for additional congressional districts in the province and, manifesting his former self as the wily House Minority floor leader, cited one of the enduring political principles of Italian diplomat and thinker Niccolo Machiavelli about the need to be feared than to be loved.
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| Gov. Danny Suarez mixes it up and talks with student scholars of Quezon Science High School in Bgy. Isabang, Lucena city. (JOHN BELLO) |
“It is better that they will have fear for Quezon than love”.
He also mentioned the need to expand the beneficiaries for Serbisyong Suarez Health coupon program started by his predecessor. He said he plans to include the barangay kagawads for distribution of health coupons to beneficiaries and to stretch further the program to cover even private hospitals and drug stores.
As what he has been harping during the last election campaign, the governor said he will just follow and continue the development programs of former Gov. Jayjay as he sees them to be good enough for the province.
“Tayo’y magtulungan para sa ating lalawigan,” he exhorted the SP members who all spoke individually and expressed their desire to support and work to fulfil the legislative agenda of the new governor.
On his second day, Gov. Suarez visited Quezon Science High School to connect with some 400 scholars and the faculty staff of Quezon Science High School led by Ms. Carla Marie Carandang to know their actual needs before he headed to Quezon Medical Center.
Learning firsthand about the situation at QMC, Gov. Suarez was quoted as saying:
“Tapos na ako sa Quezon Science. I considered these structures to be very close to my heart and I know, paramount ito sa isang lalawigan, ang paaralan at hospital. I received some complaints not once, not twice, but on several occasions. I listen carefully, my first question is, anong capacity ng hospital. Sabi ay 250 beds. Now you are averaging 700 admittance everyday. I can understand your problem. Ang isa diyan is expand the hospital, improve our district hospital and come up with newer.”
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