Oriental Negros Gov. George Arnaiz declared Thursday that the 11-point development agenda he pledged to accomplish in his 2005 or eighth State of the Province Address has been achieved "almost all in record time" and surpassed the targets set for that year.

Arnaiz declared this in his 45-minute SOPA before a jampacked Provincial Board Session Hall at the Capitol that was attended by his department heads, civic and business sectors, and heads of government line agencies.

"We have proven to our peers in local governance that, together, we can make a difference," he said.

His 2005 agenda included the construction of the 1,00-seater Provincial Convention Center which is ongoing; tourism development; and increased farm productivity and family income through the GPAK and BADC.

Also in the agenda were the continuing expansion of the provincial road network; renovating the provincial hospital; funds for the welfare of children, elderly, and physically-handicapped through the 6th Country Program for Children of UNICEF; a child-minding center and drug store for senior citizens; funds for the Third Elementary Education and Secondary Education Programs; additional high schools in San Jose and Pamplona; improved provincial water and sanitation project with the help of the German Development Service; skills training program through the creation of the Provincial Integrated Skills Training Center; and additional BADC sites.

Negros Oriental, he said, has become self-sufficient in rice and corn with rice yield soaring to 61,353 metric tons compared to 59,798 in 2004 last year and corn harvest rising to 73,062 metric tons compared to 70,252 metric tons in 2004.

"With this record, we are now more than self-sufficient in corn," Arnaiz said, adding that vegetable production increased by 10 percent from 7,184 in 2004 to 7,952 metric tons last year.

In three more areas of development, Oriental Negros signed an agreement with Negros Occidental to set up the NISARD, a project that aims at transforming Negros island into an export processing zone of organic produce and an organic food basket of Asia; successfully grew garlic in Vallehermoso that exceeded the national target; and introduced vermiculture in BADC areas.

For this year, Arnaiz pledged to do more.

Among his commitments this year are to continue and sustain the delivery of health services and the implementation of a P93 million European Union Grant to improve hospital and rural health unit facilities; improve the nutritional status of children; supplementation for Grade 1 pupils in 10 pilot municipalities; agricultural productivity; existing livelihood programs; and the Solar Home System province-wide.

He pledged the help of the province to provide a more efficient transport system in Dumaguete City by building a bus terminal for northbound buses; complete the provincial convention center in September in time for its hosting of the first International Convention of Tour Operators; speed up the mobility of products and people by extending Highway 2000 or the Provincial Trans-Central Highway linking Mabinay, Tayasan to Himamaylan road, La Libertad and Guihulngan; open more roads and bridges; push for the creation of a Negros Island Ports Authority; privatize the Bugalsan Festival; implement the Blood Donation Program; and continue to support the Gawad Kalinga Housing Project in the towns.

"The potential of our province and our people "is outstanding"," he said.*RG

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