SPEAKING OUT
In last week’s article, we started to report on the gains achieved by Muntinlupa City Mayor Rufino Rozzano Biazon on the K Agenda: Kalusugan, Karunungan and Kabuhayan.
We resume the report to cover the other programs, namely, Katarungan, Kapayapaan/Kaayusan, Kalikasan, Kaunlaran and Moving Towards a Smart Future.
Katarungan (Social Justice)
- Established the Kalingang Munti Action Center (KMAC) in order to facilitate fast and efficient provision of financial, medical, burial and other forms of assistance to Muntinlupeños in need. During the last six months, 5,400 needy individuals received a total of almost P20 million.
- Regularly conducted Oplan Bisita to provide medical checkup and physical therapy to PWDs who, according to the recently updated Muntinlupa registry of persons with disabilities, totaled 20,020 in 2022.
- Provided subsidy or allowance to foster families who take in young children into their homes; took care of 30 children in conflict with the law (CICL). Took care of an average every month of 25-month children in need of special protection.
- The Gender and Development Office (GAD) maintained on a 100 percent operational status the Barangay VAWC desks which assisted 1,393 women and children who have been victims of violence.
- 5,400 elderly persons received a quarterly stipend under the Social Pension Program of DSWD. Seniors aged 80 to 89, and 90 and above received special pensions.
- On Cityhood Day, the city government inaugurated the Bahay Kanlungan Elderly Home Care in Victoria Homes, Barangay Tunasan which will look after the abandoned elderly.
Kapayapaan/Kaayusan
- Strictly enforced Peace and Order ordinances. Task Force Discipline reported 1,802 unauthorized counterflow apprehensions, 2,983 road clearing apprehensions, 15,403 apprehensions for other traffic violations.
- Conducted regular petty crime response operations, Oplan Sagip for children in street situations, 24/7 patrol operations, and roving operations around public schools.
- The local police conducted 4,369 checkpoint operations, 7,887 Oplan Sita, 19,149 Oplan Galugad or Bulabog operations, 25,391 mobile patrol operations, 315 anti-illegal gambling operations, 515 drug enforcement operations. The police also apprehended 83 most wanted persons.
- The local police effectively used modern technological systems such as E-blotter, E-rogues, E-warrant, E-subpoena, Quantum GIS system and crime mapping.
- Turned over to the local police 29 patrol cars with Battenburg or high visibility markings.
- Installed more street lights and road studs along major thoroughfares.
- Upgraded 200 of the 391 CCTVs for more effective 24/7 CCTV coverage.
- Assisted another 67 drug dependents. 125 have been reintegrated in their respective communities under the MAPALAD community-based drug rehabilitation program.
- Following recent publicized discovery of a drug laboratory inside a subdivision, which involved foreign nationals, the city council will be passing legislation, requiring foreign nationals renting residences within the city to register, and also requiring lessors to apply for a business permit.
- Regularly tested disaster early warning and public address systems to ensure that they are fully functional in the event of emergencies.
- Proposed construction of a disaster warehouse in Barangay Tunasan for the storage of relief goods and emergency equipment.
Kalikasan
- Establishment of an Air Quality Monitoring Station at NBP.
- Launching of new Urban Green Space and Recreational Parks at the Alabang Viaduct, Bayanan Baywalk and Barangay Tunasan. At Bayanan Baywalk, the proposed recreational park, to be named Muntinlupa Water park, will host activities such as parasailing, jet ski, kite and wake boarding. The Buli Baywalk, on the other hand, will provide a playground, an outdoor gym and a picnic ground.
- Two bioreactors, one in Pacwood and another at the ESC Material Recovery Facility, have converted 112,169 kilograms of biodegradable waste into raw compost or soil enhancer. A biogas digester – provided by the DOST – successfully converted 21,542 kilograms of garbage into methane.
- Launching of Basura, Kapalit ng Bigas program – where plastic wrappers, sachets and packaging may be exchanged for rice.
- The city council passed the Local Energy Code and Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan.
Kaunlaran
- The city government received the prestigious 2022 Seal of Good Local Governance Award.
- The city government remains 100 percent compliant with relevant governance measures such as the Ease of Doing Business Act and Full Disclosure Policy.
- The city is a leading implementor of e-governance initiatives such as Business E-payment system and Electronic Business One-Stop Shop or eBoss.
- Full completion of world class sports facilities such as the Aquatic Center, Track and Field and Baseball Field.
Moving towards a smart future
In closing, Biazon expressed his hope and dream of making Muntinlupa a “Smart City” which “uses information and communication technology to improve operational efficiency, shares information with the public and provides a better quality of government service and citizen welfare… where decision-making is based on data that enables us to use our resources efficiently….where internet connectivity is available anywhere within the city….where any student, even while riding on an electric powered public utility vehicle, may apply online to become a scholar of the Muntinlupa Scholarship Division.”