“Now is the most exciting time to be a Pasigueño. Nagbubunga na ang mga pagbabago na ipinakilala natin (Now is the most exciting time to be a Pasigueño. The changes we introduced are now bearing fruit),” Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said.
Mayor Vico Sotto delivers his 6th State of the City Address (SOCA) on Monday, October 14.
Sotto stated this on Monday, October 14, during his 6th State of City Address (SOCA), where he featured the city's accomplishments under his administration.
He mentioned that back in 2019, he promised to introduce genuine and meaningful changes in Pasig City.
“Hindi po superficial ang gusto nating gawin. Hindi po pagpapa pogi lamang, hindi po mababaw lamang, kundi tunay, kundi makabuluhan na pagbabago (We don't want to do something superficial. It's not just about making us look good or being shallow; we want genuine and meaningful change),” the mayor said.
“Tunay na paglaban sa korapsyon. Tunay na magpapakilala ng mga institusyon para sa mabuting pamahalaan. Tunay na pagtataguyod ng transparent na pamamahala. Tunay na pagpapakilala at pagtataguyod ng pananagutan ng ating pamahalaan… (A real fight against corruption, to establish institutions for good governance, true advocacy for transparent governance, and a real introduction and promotion of accountability in our government),” he added.
Health
In his speech, Sotto mentioned that the Department of Health (DOH) recognized the city as one of the local government units (LGUs) designated as an implementation site for universal health care in May this year.
“Bakit po importante ito? Dahil hindi po tayo kasama doon sa mga unang napili noong naipasa po yung universal health law. Sa Metro Manila, dalawa lang po sila (LGU). Pero kahit na noong May 2024 pa lang po tayo nasama formally, kung matitignan po ninyo ang grado natin, ang iba't-ibang criteria tungo sa universal health care, makikita po ninyo na isa po tayo sa nangunguna sa buong Pilipinas (Why is this important? Because we were not among those initially selected when the universal health law was passed. In Metro Manila, only two LGUs were included. However, even though we were formally included only in May 2024, if you look at our grades and various criteria towards universal health care, you will see that we are among the leaders in the entire Philippines),” Sotto explained the importance of the recognition.
Sotto also acknowledged the city's hospital staff for doing their best despite how challenging it is to manage a hospital.
According to him, the city's hospitals were included among the best-performing locally run hospitals in the country, as he mentioned the “no balance billing” policy.
The policy is designed to ensure that low-income patients receive healthcare services without the burden of additional costs upon discharge from the city hospital’s ward.
“Walang binabayaran ang mga kapwa natin Pasigueño kapag galing sila sa ward ng ating mga hospitals, ibig sabihin zero yung bill nila (They do not have to pay anything when they are discharged from the wards of our hospitals, meaning their bill is zero),” he said.
Housing
The mayor also mentioned that the construction of infrastructure should not benefit only those with connections.
“May mga benepisyaryo tayo in the past [sa] socialize housing project, yung mga benepisyaryo, alam n'yo na po kung sinu-sino mga ‘yun. Hindi na tayo papayag sa ganoong sistema. Inayos po muna natin yung sistema, yung housing code po natin, nag-land acquisition tayo (We have beneficiaries from past socialized housing projects, and you already know who they are. We will not allow that kind of system anymore. First, we fixed the system, including our housing code, and conducted land acquisition),” Sotto said.
He stated that they have already banked around 12 hectares of land for their programs.
The mayor also expressed joy as he said that longstanding problems that had been present for a very long time and for decades had been addressed during his term.
Some of the problems he mentioned were the land for the landless in Palatiw, Pasig, which has been an issue for over four decades.
“Hindi tayo mag re-relocate lang na itatapon yung tao sa malayo tapos pagkatapos ng dalawang taon ay babalik lang po sila rito. Inaayos po natin. Sustainable [at] long-term na solusyon, ‘yan ang ginagawa natin dito (We will not just relocate people to other places, only for them to return here after two years. We are working on sustainable and long-term solutions),” he said.
Education
Sotto mentioned that the most important help from the local government to its students is the Pasig City Scholarship, as well as the Pag-Asa Scholarship of Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski.
According to him, this year's scholars are already around 28,000, and he added that they will add more in the following years.
The programs aim to provide assistance not only to honor students but also to all Pasigueños who want to study.
“Binibigay po natin sa mga deserving students na maaaring hindi ganoon kataasan yung grado, maaaring hindi sila honor students pero nangangailangan, gustong mag-aral ay binibigyan ng pamahalaan ng pagkakataon (We are providing opportunities to deserving students who may not have high grades or may not be honor students but are in need and eager to study),” Sotto explained.
In addition, Sotto said that when a school has a project, he wants it not to focus on the mayor or other officials.
“Hindi ko alam paano sabihin ng maayos eh, gusto natin lumiit ang mayor. Gusto natin na hindi tayo laging nakatingin sa mga taong nasa pwesto. Gusto natin kapag meron tayong mga programa, mga proyekto, may P1,000 galing sa LGU, o tulong… sige, mag event yung school pero hindi na kailangan maging tungkol sa mayor yung event natin (I'm not sure how to say this properly, but we want to reduce the focus on the mayor. We want to ensure that when we have programs or projects, like receiving P1,000 from the LGU or any assistance, the school can hold an event without it always being about the mayor),” he stated.
“Pera naman natin ‘to lahat eh. Atin po ito. ‘Pag may accomplishments ako, accomplishments n'yo rin po ‘yun (This is our money. This belongs to us. When I have accomplishments, those are also your accomplishments),” he added.
He also emphasized the beauty of going to school without seeing the faces of politicians prominently displayed.