The municipal hall of Palapag, Northern Samar.(Contributed photo)
PALAPAG, Northern Samar -- The local government unit of this third-class town laid down its development agenda for its 32 villages in the next three years.
Mayor Manuel Aoyang said on Wednesday among the priorities of his administration are activities related to social, economic, environmental, infrastructure and institutional development.
Social development includes the implementation of all national health programs, provisions of counterpart fund for the interlocal health zone (ILHZ) including food and micro-nutrients supplementation.
Aoyang added that he will also focus on addressing the gaps and concerns on the lack of institutional facilities, classrooms, and buildings that will support the school-based sports programs.
“The local government will fully support the implementation of early childhood care and development program, population management, and assistance to daycare learners,” the mayor told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Under the economic development sector, Aoyang said they will give more attention to agriculture, commerce, industry, tourism, and cooperative development.
“In the agriculture sector, since the town is identified in the provincial development physical framework plan as the key development production areas on livestock production and fisheries and marine products, we will set up a mariculture (marine agriculture) park and fish cages,” Aoyang said.
“We will also increase our grain production and support high-value crop production with the use of farm mechanization and providing irrigation support to our farmers,” he added.
The local government is keen on helping entrepreneurs avail micro-financing programs from the Department of Trade and Industry to enhance their business, support the improvement of local industry by encouraging them to utilize local materials, and identify and provide assistance to promote ecotourism activities.
In infrastructure development, priority programs include the construction of road opening to connect villages to the town center, support the on-going construction of Palapag-Simora Road, construction of multipurpose evacuation center, construction of multipurpose covered court at the public plaza, and repair and improvement of local roads, including footbridge construction.
Another focus of his administration is to solve the problem on the source of potable drinking water supply for the town residents. Currently, their source of potable water is deep well, using fuel and electricity which is very costly.
“A feasibility study on the spring at the Ibaliw River must be realized since the river is a potential primary source of municipal water,” he said.
Under environmental management, activities will focus on the management of coastal marine, freshwater, forest, and urban ecosystems. The local government will continue its solid waste management program and build a drainage system to prevent flooding.
Palapag is a third-class town in Northern Samar with a population of 34,286 people.
The Spaniards established Palapag as a town in 1585 and named it Palpag. Later on, it was renamed as Palapag, the present name of the town. (PNA)
