OLONGAPO PROFILE
The year has passed was a year of success and recovery
to the City of Olongapo because of the continued success of the Subic Bay
Freeport where Olongapo City's economy is anchored. It will continue to
be the city's main industry with about 32,000 jobs created by December 1995.
From 112 locators/investors in 1994, the Subic Bay Freeport has now 182
locators/investors with approved contracts. Not only Olongapo but even
the nearby towns are positively affected by the spill over and multiplier
effects created on other sectors especially retail, services and transportation.
There is also a rise in new businesses engaged in general services, construction
and supplies all targeting doing business at the Freeport.
The Subic Bay Freeport and the City have become tourist
destination not only nationwide but also worldwide. Local tourist who come
to see the rapid developments in the freeport normally visit Olongapo to
learn about innovative projects of the City which are becoming models for
other cities and municipalities. The programs that attract government officials
from many cities and municipalities are the Integrated Garbage Collection
System, Color Coded Transport System, Volunteerism, Peace and Order Situation,
Market Administration and the Urban Basic Service Program. They come to
Olongapo to find out how this projects can be replicated in their own areas.
The city government provided moral and logistic to the
police force. We challenged them to become the best police force in the
region next year and nationwide afterwards. They did not fail us because
they garnered the Best City Police Command, Best-Non Commissioned Officer
and the Best Non-Uniformed Personnel. Even the undersigned was a recipient
of the Best Local Government Unit Mayor's Category with no less than Former
President Fidel V. Ramos handling the plaque. Olongapo City Fire Department
was chosen the Best Fire Department in Region III. Olongapo's DILG office
was also chosen Best DILG team and Subic Bay Resort and Tourism Association
(SUBRETA) as the Best Non-Government Organization.
Aside from these awards the city also garnered 1st Runner
Up for the second time in the Annual Clean and Green Program of the DILG
and First Lady Amelita Ramos and 1st Runner Up in the Lupon Tagapamayapa
Award on the National Level for Barangay Barretto.
The Urban Basic Services Program and the program for the
children in especially difficult circumstances which are under the Office
of the City Mayor continue organizing communities to improve delivery of
basic services such as health, sanitation, education, empowerment and other
related activities.
Health and sanitation concerns will always be primordial
importance so that service oriented establishment are closely monitored
for compliance with the sanitation code. Clean up drives which started in
July with the city government employees taking the lead together with the
barangays, have been instituted and is now a regular activity.
The World Bank is pursuing studies on the city's landfill
for joint use with SBMA. On November 24, 1995, the joint venture agreement
for the privatization of the water system of Olongapo and the SBF was signed.
For school building programs, the city concentrated on
classroom construction to solve the deficiency instead of funding fence,
toilets, repair works, etc. Donation are sought to fund the provision of
computer facilities in all public schools with priority to secondary level.
The City Employment Center (CEC) was establish to widen
the dissemination of job opportunities at the Freeport. Applicants can go
the CEC for referral to the SBMA Labor Center. The city even conducted a
Skills Inventory in the barangays to have a data bank of individuals needing
jobs or qualified for jobs. Livelihood is also priority in Iram resettlement
Site so the 516 settler families are given priority in referrals for labor
intensive requirements. Everyone is enjoined to avail themselves of existing
city and barangay skills training programs to be competitive when applying
for jobs.
The economy generated positive indicators with BIR tax
collections increasing by P4.92 Million or 2.14% form P229.7 Million in
1994 to P234.62 Million in 1995. Duties and taxes collected by Bureau of
Custom exceeded their target by 46.87%. Collection in 1994 of P1.760 Billion
increased to P1.783 Billion posting a 1.34% or P23.5% Million.
City revenue increased form P363.90 Million in 1994 to
P399.02 Million in 1995 with a P26.17 Million or P1.19% increased.
Total expenditures increased by 35.42% from P310.42 Million
in 1994 to P420.38 Million in 1995. Likewise, budgetary reserve decreased
form P3.03 Million in 1994 to P1.53 Million in 1995. The decreased in budgetary
reserved is attributable to the increase in expenditures due to calamities
especially that of super typhoon "Rosing".
Total savings amounted to P54.85 Million, a decreased of
P 30.36 Million against the 1994 figure of P85.22 Million due to the implementation
of a lot of infrastructure projects during the year.
By the end of 1995, total infrastructure completed amounted
to P149.74 Million with P46.78 Million worth of projects under construction
and about P9.94 Million remaining for implementation or a total of P206.46
Million. Completed projects cover 11,405 L.M. of road, 15, 114 L.M. of drainage
system and desalting works. Seven (7) school buildings with 37 classrooms
and one (1) H.E. Building. Day Care Centers, Basketball courts and other
government buildings with 37 classrooms and one (1) H.E. Building. Day Care
Centers, basketball courts and other government buildings were also constructed.
The additional word for the new hospital are also under way in compliance
withe the DOH guidelines.The rehabilitation of the only gymnasium has been
started also but for completion in 1996.
The Annual Vehicle Inspection for public utility vehicles
which is being done every year realized a total income of P254,140.00 and
a compliance rate of 83% or 9% higher than 1994.
Beautification projects have been started consisting of
lighting of National highway from New Cabalan to Barretto, improvement of
sidewalks along Magsaysay Drive, and landscaping of parks.
Finally, in support of the Technical Assistance Program
with the Asian Development Bank the city has revived its coordination with
the DENR and the Office of the President concerning our land problems in
the areas of titling of lots utilized for government programs, settlement
of boundary disputes and conduct of cadastral survey for new alienable and
disposable areas.
There are other city accomplishment which will be discussed
at length in the agency reports.
| 
