“Whatever the big cities have ay mayroon din tayo sa San Pedro.”
This was the proud statement of San Pedro City Mayor Lourdes Cataquiz as the city celebrated its eighth cityhood anniversary last December 29.
In a simple ceremony at the San Pedro City Hall, under the shadow of the still-ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, officials, employees and residents alike had an opportunity to celebrate eight years of struggles and triumphs.
Certainly, Mayor Cataquiz’s statement was not a simple boast nor an exaggeration.
For although the city does lag behind its neighboring cities in Laguna province in terms of land area and revenue allotment – an issue the mayor repeatedly pointed out in her speech – the city government has continued to serve its greatest assets – the people who have come to regard San Pedro as their home.
In spite of the challenges brought by the almost two-year pandemic, the city government, Cataquiz stressed, has continued its efficient service to the people in the spirit of its mantra of a governance that is “Matino at Mahusay.”
Dormitory City
That mantra of “Matino at Mahusay” has served the city well in its struggle to lift up the standards of living for every San Pedronian since December 29, 2013.
On that date, residents in a plebiscite ratified Republic Act No. 10420, signed by the late President Benigno Aquino III on March 27, 2013.
That act converted the then-Municipality of San Pedro into a component city in the province of Laguna.
The city government under Mayor Lourdes Cataquiz had a cause for celebration on that day – not only does this mean increased revenue allotment to better serve its people, but also the prestige of being called a city.
And it was high time, residents said, given that San Pedro City proudly calls itself the “Gateway to Calabarzon” and the “Dormitory City,” where workers from Metro Manila and other cities in Laguna province settle down and make their homes.
It was, indeed, human resources that make San Pedro unique among its neighboring cities – from 294,310 residents reported during the 2015 census, the city's population has increased by 11 percent, or 326,001 residents in 2020.
Efficient governance
During her speech, Mayor Cataquiz recounted the struggles the city government has experienced in fulfilling its mandate of providing basic services for the people.
“Alam po ninyo, Senator [JV Ejercito, the keynote speaker for the occasion], kami po ay isang city, pero kami po ang may pinakamababang local taxes, sa lahat ng mga city sa Laguna,” she recalled.
However, the mayor said, that only encouraged her more to ensure that the city’s local funds will be used to the greatest advantage for the residents, in line with her mantra.
“Minsan, alam naman po ninyo na napagtitiisan ninyo yata ang aking masyadong ‘matipid’ na pamamahala,” she jested.
Fiscal management
Today, however, thanks to increased revenues and her no-nonsense approach to fiscal management, the local government not only succeeded in carrying out its duties of providing basic services, but is now also starting an ambitious program of massive infrastructure works for the city.
The city mayor also noted the recent awards received by the city government from various government agencies for its efficient governance.
These included the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); the LGU Compliance Assessment Award awarded by the DILG for its efforts in complying with laws to rehabilitate Manila Bay; and the and a Top Two among all cities in the country on Collection Efficiency of Locally Sourced Revenues for Fiscal Year 2020 recently awarded by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF); an attached agency of the Department of Finance (DOF).
Gratitude to employees
During the event, the city government also conferred awards to its employees who have faithfully served the local government for years.
In her speech, Cataquiz urged the staff of the various departments at the City Hall to continue being an inspiration to a new generation of employees through their hard work and dedication to their duties as public servants.
"Ang masasabi ko po ay ituloy lamang ang pagsisilbi nang tama. It's always a work in progress; hindi po natatapos ang ating paglilingkod," the mayor stressed.
Cataquiz also shared her vision for San Pedro City that she hopes her successor will follow: a “smart City of San Pedro; isang ‘Laging Handa’ na City of San Pedro; isang ‘Matino at Mahusay’ na pamamalakad sa City of San Pedro.”
The year 2022 will be a crucial year for the city, as not only it will elect a new set of leaders, but it will also elect for the first time its representative in Congress.
“Ang ‘Magandang San Pedro Po’ ay ginawa nating slogan sapagkat ang bawat mamamayan at kawani ng pamahalaan ay pinapaganda ang San Pedro… Maliit man ang ating Lungsod ay makakapuwing din. May bunga ang lahat ng ating pinagtitiisan, may bunga ang ating pinagsusumikapan,” the mayor stressed.
(With reports from Kyla Casacop and San Pedro City PAIO)