Christmas Card 2008 from the Philippine Eagle Foundation

Beginning today, this blog site will not only focus on the Citihood of Mati, it will also cover the Philippine's 1st and only Philippine Eagle Sanctuary.

The Philippine Eagle Sanctuary in Mati covers 7,000 hectares of tropical forests within the barangays of Cabuaya and Luban in the City of Mati, Davao Oriental. This sanctuary is a joint initiative of the City Government of Mati, the Barangay Local Government (BLG) of Cabuaya, the Philippine Eagle Foundation, and the regional offices of the DENR, PNP, NCIP, DOT and DILG. They all made a pact to help local communities manage the sanctuary and its resources for the benefit of the present and future generations.

The sanctuary has eagles Cabu, Aya and Cabuaya. Very recently, Cabu & Aya gave birth to another sibling.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all the Mayors of the League of 16

Mayor Michelle N. Rabat - Mati, Davao Oriental

Mayor Camilo Lammawin, Jr. - Tabuk, Kalinga

Mayor Alexander T. Pimentel - Tandag, Surigao Del Sur

Mayor Ceofredo T. Uy - Catbalogan, Samar

Mayor Ernesto Reyes - Guihulngan, Negros Oriental

Mayor Michael L. Cari - Baybay, Leyte

Mayor Roderick H. Furigay - Lamitan, Basilan

Mayor Faustino A. Silang - Tayabas, Quezon

Mayor Valdemar M. Tiong - Naga, Cebu

Mayor Patrick Barcenas - Carcar, Cebu

Mayor Dale B. Corbera - Cabadbaran, Agusan Del Norte

Mayor Fidel V. Anacta, Jr. - Borongan, Eastern Samar
Mayor Jeffrey Jubal C. Nalupta - Batac, Ilocos Norte
Mayor Emerita Almirante - El Salvador, Misamis Oriental
Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr. - Bogo, Cebu
Mayor Magdalena A. Asis - Bayugan, Agusan Del Sur

Related Articles on Mati's Citihood

Sunstar:
Lim vows support for 'League of 16'
Chiz bats for Mati Cityhood

Business Mirror:
League of 16 Cities
Mayor's quandary : How do you undo a city?

Business World:
Former cities to appeal Supreme Court rule

Mindanao Times
Mati, 15 others to petition SC to reverse ruling on cityhoold

Mindanao Daily Mirror
The Significance of the Supreme Court Ruling

GMANews
Former cities to appeal Supreme Court rule

Balita.ph
Mati City's programs will be affected if cityhood nullification is finalized, mayor says
Residents of Mati, Davao Oriental hope for reversed SC decision on cityhood

Blogs:
Mati To Declare Bankruptcy If SC Upholds Decision Declaring City Laws Unconstitutional
Mati picks “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” song as anthem vs. cityhood junking
Mati City's programs will be affected if cityhood nullification is finalized, mayor says

This Is How Small Or How Big The 16 Cities Is To The Whole Country

Forty-Thousand Signatures Submitted To Support Mati's Citihood.

An open letter addressed to all parties concerned such as the Supreme Court, Department of Budget and Management, PGMA, Congress and Senate signed by more than 40,000 constituents was submitted to Mayor Michelle N. Rabat. The signature campaign was a spontaneous response of the Matinians who were shocked at the Supreme Court decision. They are now at a loss on the grim prospects should Mati be reverted back to a municipality.

Many of them feel shortchanged at how democratic institutions can be so unharmonious – a law was passed by Congress: a plebiscite (direct vote of the people) was conducted: and now, the Supreme Court thrashed it away. Lawyers and legal minds will probably find logic in the making and unmaking of a City but ordinary mortals (the people themselves) will readily understand especially when all the legal, moral and financial repercussions is to be regarded.

There is farther erosion of the people’s trust in government.

The loser, democracy and its institutions.

Be One With Us

The Fears of Failing LGUs

The fears of failing LGUs that have been accorded citihood status is not the failure of the citihood laws. It is both the failure of governance in the LGU level and lack of guidance and direction from the National Government Agencies concerned. The Local Government Code is very expansive and extensive in providing guidelines for effective governance. Failure of these cities created before 2001 in promoting fiscal responsibility and administrative maturity should not be a ground for opposing the citihood bills of the 16 new cities within the framework of the amended Local Government Code in accordance with the Constitution.

Mati City - What Will Happen If The City Is Converted Back To A Municipality?

The following are some of the areas where there will be tremendous negative impact in the process of unmaking a city:

Land Use Plan/Comprehensive Development Plan

In accordance to the spirit and intent of RA 9408 (the Mati cityhood law), the City Government is consciously treading the path of “orchestrating the effective transformation of the Municipality into a City”.

The land use plan of Mati and its comprehensive development plan therefore needed revision and updating because of the vast difference between and city and a municipality in terms of taxation, resource availability, development projections and obligations/mandates.

With assistance and collaboration of the UP-School for Urban & Regional Planning and the UP Planades, the City Government started the meticulous process of long-term planning with the aim of “providing a sound guide and direction for the growth of the City in the next 12 years”.

The proposed CDP and the new Land Use Plan, prepared for more than a year of consultation and documentation, is now in 2nd reading in the Sanggunian.

Taxation

Citihood confers to a municipality the responsibility to pursue efforts aimed at fiscal responsibility. Pursuant to RA 9408 and with guidance from the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the City Government passed SP Resolution No.269 which adopted portions of the Provincial Revenue Code specifically: real property taxation. After months of legislative proceedings, the Sanggunian passed the New Real Property Tax Code for the City of Mati.
When fully implemented beginning 2009, the Code will enable the City government to consolidate and maximize its revenue stream from real property taxation to an increase of 9 to 11 million annually.

LGU Loan Agreement

On August 30, 2007, the City Government into a loan agreement with the Land Bank of Philippines in the amount of Php36,500,000.00 payable in 10 years time. The assumptions in the loan are based on the City budget.

Contracts & Obligations to Contracts

The following are contacts and obligations entered into by the city government of Mati since July 1, 2007 up to November 5, 2008, viz:

Conditional Land Purchase Agreement entered into :
- With Sorbito Delos Santos for the acquisition of a 1.4 - hectare lot for the Culian Housing Project. Payment schedule: Php700,000.00 upon signing of a contract (paid already); balance of Php 700,000.00 representing full payment to be paid in 2009
- With Victor O. Rabat Jr., Luis O. Rabat and City for the acquisition of a 40,000 square meters, more or less, lot for Sudlon III Resettlement Area. Payment Schedule: Php500,000.00 upon signing of agreement (2008); balance of Php2,770,000.00 representing full payment to be paid in 2009.
- With Mindanao Pioneer Realty & Development Corporation for the acquisition of a 3.6-hectare lot for the Sambuokan Resettlement Project. Payment schedule: Php1,000,000.00 upon signing of contract (2008); balance of Php5,000,000.00 to be paid until 2011 at 1M per annum

Contract based on an ongoing project
- Between Hubport Interactive, Inc. and City for the Website Development of the City. Payment schedule: Php71,380.00 upon signing of contract (paid already); balance of Php71,380.00 representing full payment to be paid in 2009

Obligations subject of MOA/MOU with other Agencies for Projects/ Programmes with multi-year timeline:

• MOA between DA-XI and the City for the project of Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) with an LGU funding counterpart of Php625,000.00
• MOA between DA-XI and the City for the project of Mindanao Rural Development Program (RDP) with and LGU funding counterpart of Php1,391,145.16
• MOA between DOLE RO XI, DTI- Davao Or., Davao Or. Eastern Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. and the City for the “Unlad Kabuhayan Program Laban sa Kahirapan” program requiring the LGU to fund Php150,000.00 during the 1st year and Php100,000 for the succeeding two years
• MOA between the Provincial Government, DepEd, BHPBilitton and the Alternative Learning System of the City of Mati South District for the Literacy Cum-Livelihood Project with a yearly funding of Php200,000.00 for a period of five years.
• MOA between the Provincial Government and the City to provide quarterly assistance of Php250,000 to the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital
• Processing of Registration of the Baywalk Reclamation Project with the Philippine Estates Authority. Due for 2009, Php135,000.00
• Compliance to NSWMC-EMB regarding the Closure of Tagbobolo Controlled Dumpsite and Establishment of the Tagbobolo Sanitary Landfill. Due for 2009, Php561,372.00 for the closure and Php3,000,000.00 estimated initial cost of 1st phase of Sanitary Landfill Development.
• MOA between the DPWH and the City regarding the Maintenance of the Islands along the National Roads and street lights within the City of Mati. Estimated expenditures for 2008=Php 2.8 M and Php2.0 M per annum in the succeeding years.
• MOA with DENR for the Implementation of a World-bank supported Integrated Coastal Resource Management Program (2008 is plan formulation phase; 2009 and 2010 requires an estimated local counterpart of approx. 3,000,000 per annum to fund an intensive coastal resource intervention program for Pujaday Bay and Balete Bay
• MOA with the Provincial Government and the DOH for the implementation of Inter-Local Health System Cooperation of Davao Oriental: it necessitates the formulation & implementation of P/P/A based on the new City Health Plan. Approx. funding per year beginning in 2008 = Php3.2 M.
• MOA with DepEd and the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao-PMU: a tripartite programme with assistance from the AusAid which targets the opening of more daycare centers and integrating Mandaya customs into mainstream education curriculum: approx. fund requirement per annum for salaries of extension teachers: Php 210 thousand.
• MOA with the Philippine Eagle Foundation for the operationalization of the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary Management Plan. This environment protection initiative which is basically LGU-led is the only one in the country. Funding Component per annum is estimated at 2.5 million.
• MOU with BFAR, SEAFDEC and the Provincial Government for the Establishment of a Mariculture Zone and Multi-Species Hatchery Project. With funding assistance of 10 M from the national government, the LGU is required to spend local funds for counterpart estimated at Php2.0 M.
• MOA with COA for the implementation of the E-NGAs System. LGU Expenditure of the Project as of to date: Php2.3 M. Estimated amount to complete the project for 2009: Php1.6 M.