ISABELA CITY Mayor-elect Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman revealed her plans for her first one hundred days in office that revolves around her administration’s 9-point agenda.
At the turn-over ceremony held Sunday (June 30), her first order on the job is to clean up the bureaucracy in local government by weeding out and correcting non-performing assets, both in physical and human resources in order to create an environment that will accelerate the development of Isabela City and improve the lives of its people.
Mayor Hataman believed on shared cause and that this is what “must unite the people” more than personalities. Thus, she will engage the participation of more people and sectors in her vision for the city.
“Today, I accept this responsibility for and in behalf of the people of Isabela City whose individual interest must now take a back seat so a better Isabela may come forward. My personal story is now irrelevant. Today and the next three years is about Isabela City and her people. Today, as we always say, governance and public service must always be about the people,” Hataman said during her inaugural speech.
Hataman identified 9-point agenda upon which her administration shall base its priorities and programs in order to guide her administration in pursuing governance towards sustainable peace, progress, and development of the city:
1. Transparent, participatory, effective and efficient governance—Ensure that all govt transaction and public record are made available to the public and that government leaders engage the participation of all stakeholders in determining policies and programs. Moreover, this administration shall employ all means necessary to improve processes, human and non-human resources in order to provide quality service to the people;
2. Safe, secure, and resilient community—create an environment that implements the rule of law to deter lawless elements from disrupting public order and safety and the community that is able to respond to natural and man-made calamities;
3. Clean and environment-friendly—achieve a clean and green environmentally-sustainable city;
4. Health, Education, and Well-being—ensure that all Isabeleños will have access to quality health and education services as well as programs and projects that promotes holistic well-being;
5. Economically Progressive—increase the economic potential of the city by promoting business-friendly environment to encourage creation of jobs through small, medium and large enterprises across all industries. Financial literacy will also be advanced to maximize economic success;
6. Culturally Diverse and Proud—develop law in respect to culture and heritage as integral part in establishing the identity of Isabela City and its people;
7. Sustainable Tourism—maintain and support a sustainable tourism development;
8. Care for the Vulnerable Members of the Society—support and create safe spaces for the vulnerable members of society, including but not limited to children, youth, women, persons with disabilities, elderly and the members of the LGBT; and
9. Synergy—at the heart of this 9-point agenda is the policy of allowing centers of the community to work together in realizing the promise of this agenda without fear of being discriminated because of their present or past political affiliation, religion, ethno-linguistic group, age or gender identification.
Based on this agenda and part of its first 100 days promise, the establishment of a City Information Office, initiation of Quality Management System (QMS), and issuance of Executive Order on Freedom of Information, among others shall be instituted.
“Kami po ay naniniwala na ang pagbibigay ng tamang impormasyon sa publiko ay isang malaking hakbang laban sa kurapsyon. Ang mismong pagplano sa ating taunang pondo ay idadaan po natin sa proseso ng konsultasyon (We believe that in providing public with the right information is a big step in fighting corruption. The yearly budget planning process will be done through consultation),” Hataman stressed.
The clean-up of the bureaucracy also includes the literal clean-up drive launched Monday (July 1) with a city-wide cleanup drive activity on her first day as Mayor of the city. She encouraged all sectors to join to start the new era for Isabela City. With this, the city will issue an Executive Order banning the use of single-use plastics and the strict implementation of the Solid Waste Management Program.
The mayor also revealed the new tagline “HAPIsabela” which is still being studied and harnessed by her team but hoped to be launched soon, will be used not only for tourism promotion but hopefully be developed as a culture of the people of Isabela.
“Kahit gaano pa tayo kapayapa, kahit gaano pa tayo ka progresibo, kung hindi masaya ang mamamayan ng Isabela City, wala ring mangyayari sa ginagawa natin (No matter how peaceful, progressive, and well-developed we are as a city, all these are nothing if the people of Isabela are not happy),” the mayor said.
The formal turnover ceremony was attended by hundreds of spectators coming from government and non-government representatives, including her husband and Congressman-elect Mujiv Hataman and her children, relatives, friends and supporters.(By Emmanuel D. Taghoy)
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