PowerPoint Presentation

Capacitating the Municipality of Agoo, La Union Towards CityhoodAllan Hil B. PajimolaRobina J. SansanoPhD in DA StudentsDMMMSU-MLUC, Collegeof Graduate Studies

WHERE IS AGOO?OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENTATIONSpecific Objectives: To situate Municipality of Agoo in its quest for Cityhood

To present the profile of Agoo in reference to the statutory requirements unde the Local Government Code

To present possible means to capacitate the LGU towards its development.

MergerComponent CityCITY OF AGOO: AN ELUSIVE DREAMINTRODUCTIONIn the global context,Urbanization is inevitable. Economic progress is the engine of cityhood. Cities are said to be the driving force in social and economic development.Cityhood is a sign of progress,

In the Philippines,Cities are local government units, classified as (a) component (b) independent (c) highly urbanized Requisites under the Local Government CodeTerritory: 100 square kilometer and any of these two:Locally Generated Income: Php200 millionPopulation: 100 thousand

INTRODUCTIONTowards the Cityhood of Agoo-AringayHB 4644 by Rep. Eufranio Eriguel. The bill seeks to constitute the contiguous municipalities of Agoo and Aringay, both in the Province of La Union, into a component city to be known as the City of Agoo-Aringay. Two Actions: Merger and Conversion to component cityPROFILE OF THE LGU

LAND AREAPROFILE OF THE LGUCOMPLIANCE TO THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTSINCOME

PROFILE OF THE LGUINCOME

PROFILE OF THE LGUPOPULATION

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILEIs it Viable for the Cityhood?PROPOSALS:PLAN A: Merger (As discussed earlier)

PLAN B: Purchase of lots from neighbouring municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Aringay, and Tubao.

PLAN C: Donation of lots from those aforementioned municipalitiesIs the Case of Agoo Unique?No.

There are Municipalities in the Philippines which are still pending for their cityhood because of land area requirements:

Daet, Camarines Norte 89 sq. kmMalay, Aklan 66 sq. kmLa Trinidad, Benguet 80 sq. km.

Solution: Pending Senate and House Bills amending the statutory requirements under the Local Government Code.AGOOS ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN TOWARDS ITS CITYHOODResolution No. 163-2014 of the SB of Agoo Indorses HB No. 4644, entitled An Act Constituting the Municipalities of Agoo and Aringay, Province of La Union, into a Component City to be Known as the City of Agoo-Aringay Authored by Honorable Eufranio Eriguel, Representative, Second District, Province of La Union

Resolution No. 98-2014 of the SB of Aringay. A Resolution Supporting HB No. 4644 or the Charter of the City of Aringay-AgooACTIONS UNDERTAKEN TOWARDS ITS CITYHOODResolution No. 163-2014 of the SB of Agoo Indorses HB No. 4644, entitled An Act Constituting the Municipalities of Agoo and Aringay, Province of La Union, into a Component City to be Known as the City of Agoo-Aringay Authored by Honorable Eufranio Eriguel, Representative, Second District, Province of La Union

Resolution No. 98-2014 of the SB of Aringay. A Resolution Supporting HB No. 4644 or the Charter of the City of Aringay-AgooConstitutionality of HB 4644Acceptability of the ConstituentsTwo Pending Bills in the Congress Fear of Losing Jobs of the Municipal Employees Clamor for Further StudyPolitical InterestsFear of Increase of TaxesCHALLENGES TOWARDS CITYHOODSocial Media BloggingPublic HearingProvisions of the Bill Beneficial to Both Municipalities

STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THE BARRIERSMeantime while the Cityhood Bill is pending, lets take a look on how to further improve their LGUHow to Capacitate Agoo?Promotion of Its Ecotourism (Beaches and Mountain Trek)Pursuing Agoo as Education Center of Southern La UnionIntensifying its Dineng-deng FestivalEncouraging Business Investors to Capitalize AgooManufacturing CompaniesBusiness Process OutsourcingChanging Agoo People Culture on NightlifeImproving Transportation System to Access the Tourist DestinationsDeveloping Agoo as the Pasalubong Center Because of its Strategic Location

PROMOTION OF AGOO ECOTOURISMAgoo is endowed with rich natural resources and tourist destinations such as the Aplaya Beach, Mt. Agoo and Angalakan River.

Through promotional activities like print and broadcast advertisements, Agoo will be in the endorsed as an alternative eco-tourist destination in the Region and in Luzon Area

DEVELOPING THE BEACHES INTO RESORTS

Beach resorts are the forefront tourist hub because of its inviting serenity and deep blue sea, fronting the West Philippine Sea.

Although there are development already in beach tourism, the LGU should strengthen the activity until it becomes a by-word among the people in the PhilippinesINTESIFYING DINENGDENG FESTIVAL

Dinengdeng Festival is the banner festivity of the local government unit. The LGU promotes vegetarianism and importance of vegetables in the physical body. Moreover, it is a festivity of thanksgiving for the abundance of vegetables in the locality.

It is our proposal that the LGU should intensify the promotion so that when we say AGOO, it would mean DINENGDENG. They may feature 101 families eating dinengdeng, trade fair, fluvial parade, beauty contest, street dancing, mayflower festival, amazing race, kite festival, bloodletting, pabingo and concerts.

ENCOURAGING BUSINESS INVESTORS TO CAPITALIZE AGOO

In order for Agoo to sustain the labor market, LGU should entice business tycoons or investors to try the market place of Agoo. The Agoo should create an environment that is business friendly such as institutionalizing a ONE-STOP-SHOP in the processing of business permits and licenses.

Moreover, the LGU should also initiate mechanisms that will create a long-term business deal by making taxation equally advantageous to them. Possible inverstment would be BPO, manufacturing, retail, etc.

CHANGING AGOO PEOPLE CULTURE ON NIGHTLIFESo that revenue shall continue to generate even at night time, Agoo may adapt success stories on NIGHT MARKET that will make the LGU livelier even at wee hours.

As a regulation to this night life, the Sanggunian may enact ordinance that will regulate the activities and those prohibited acts. The changing concept of urbanization must conform with what is in the global cities.

PURSUING AGOO AS EDUCATION CENTER OF SOUTHERN LA UNIONThe town is now an educational center in this part of La Union province but there should be further boost by establishing learning centers, review centers, institutions to promote wellness and healthy lifestyle that will cater the needs of the people and tourists e.g Wellness Program(gymn, zumba), ballroom dancing and sumba.

The presence of DMMMSU-SLUC boosts the Agoos capacity to provide accessible higher education in the municipality and nearby towns.

IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO ACCESS THE TOURIST DESTINATIONS

Agoo is strategically located because it is the crossroads going to different provinces. In the north, it is the gateway to Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte; in the south, it is the road going to Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac; in the east, It is where Baguio, Benguet and Mountain Provice are located.

Accessible local transportation utilities should be improved to bring the tourists in their destinations.DEVELOPING AGOO AS THE PASALUBONG CENTER BECAUSE OF ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION

Since it is strategically located, it must establish a pasalubong center where the big buses may park and serve as terminal station.

Products of Agoo such as bagoong, dried fish, fruits like guava and santol, patupat, chicacorn and rice-based products can be displayed for sale. Agoo should still consider a product that is exclusively of their own.

CONCLUSIONSThe proposed merger of Agoo and Aringay, La Union as a component city is compliant in terms of land area, income and population as mandated under the LGC. The filing of HB 4644 creating the Charter of City of Agoo-Aringay is in order since creation of a component city is a principally legislative act from Congress. The bill at present has been referred to the Committee on Local Government of the House of Representative. The resolutions passed by the SB of Agoo and Aringay imply support and reinforcement from both municipalities.

CONCLUSIONSThere are challenges and barriers towards cityhood since effecting any change to the system would dismantle their conventional way. Information dissemination through public hearing and social media is effective means to educate the pros and cons of the cityhood. There is a provision in the HB that would redound to the benefit of the two municipalities for equal representation. Capacitating the LGU requires concerted efforts from all the stakeholders for their growth and development.Agyamanak!