Page 28 - OGA 2017

Outstanding Governorship Award 2017

Marcos redefined local governance from the 1960's "RRS" of rice, More than financial or material capital, Marcos has harnessed Ilocano
roads, and schools to a wider menu of public goods and services like social capital to transform the province. More than crisis management,
financing and development assistance for small and medium enterprises she believes that leadership is a question of trust between the citizenry
(SMEs); on-the-job training, market studies, overseas placement with and their leaders; within families and communities; and between migrants
licensure and passporting; government-supplied hospitals and clinics, an and those left at home. This is Marcos' strategy not only in promoting
emergency 911 hotline, gas stations, and evacuation and feeding centers. the welfare of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs)—
Alongside these, the Provincial Government holds tourism and balikbayan encouraging a compassionate citizenry and governance—but also in
events, gay shows and beauty pageants, triathlons, and street parties to attaining zero casualties in times of disaster. The entire Ilocano community
continue harnessing Ilocano creatives and giving tourists another reason is urged to look out for one another and extend assistance even before
to visit the province year-round. government resources are able to reach them. She also elicits the help of
Reorganizing the Provincial Government also meant establishing the Ilocano Diaspora worldwide, depending on their generosity to conduct
new provincial departments of education, tourism, media, migration, and skills training and medical missions or donate funds for educational
youth as anti-bureaucratic hubs of experimentation as the Capitol's start- facilities, clinics, food, and medicines for the needy.
ups to pilot-test new solutions. Old departments were also revamped, with Such efforts have collectively set Ilocos Norte as a prime destination
engineering, maintenance, and general services converging for speed and not only for tourism, but also for investment. 85% of the province's land
efficiency, and assessors, the treasury, budget offices and accounts joining area belongs to the government and awaits development, and provincial
for "whole-of-government financing." From a mere P600 million budget in infrastructure is ready for business with an international airport, a seaport,
2010, the Province of Ilocos Norte now earns almost P2 billion yearly from and a 1200-km road network. Energy is reliable and relatively inexpensive
self-generated revenue. with local generation of wind, solar, and hydro power, and the Provincial
Government continues to cultivate a motivated workforce. Marcos'
efforts have also unlocked more opportunities in high-value agriculture,
processing, and light manufacturing, among others.

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