AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL KAPAMPANGANS

Payabut ku pu ing lugud na't bendisiunan ning Ginung Nuan.

Please have the following for your consideration, you who espouse good governance and responsible citizenship in Pampanga:

- Our administration convened the 14 Provincial Councils and Boards for collaborative consultation and action.
- We constructed more than 20 kilometers of roads throughout the province which are worth P50M.
- We provided more than P15M worth of medical supplies and equipment and upgraded our public hospitals to the tune of P20M.
- We provided more than P10M worth of construction materials, furniture and fixtures for public schools.
- We availed P8.75M for assistance for rice and corn seeds and trainings on high value crops and organic farming.
- We released P1.67M for 344 beneficiaries inmicro-enterprise projects(ABE Program) and P1.5M for 490 students in summer jobs. And we conducted several job fairs to help our cabalens have jobs.
- Our Pamisaupan caravan went to 15 municipalities so far, bringing to far flung barangays the different services of the Capitol.
- We co-sponsored with the non-government organizations like Kapampangan Development Foundation and Rotary Clubs services like provision of prosthesis, medical missions and harelip and cleft palette operations.
- We responded in terms of support and assistance with the different local government units during the calamities which visited our province.
- We collected more than P230M from quarry operation and gave P72M shares to 10 municipalities and 39 barangays. The rest was allocated for the delivery of basic services and the provision for the first time of the budgetary requirements of different marginalized sectors.

Amidst all these accomplishments, we have navigated the course carefully and surely resulting in the slow implementation of infrastructure projects.

However, we managed to sustain a leadership that has been widely acknowledged as transparent, accountable and ethical. We tried our best to rid the bidding and procurement process of corruption and our quarry collection of abuse. Think for a while, if 30 or 40% of these transactions were pocketed as "commissions" or riddled with corruption.

We have rid the quarry operation of illegally issued permits and operators and systematize the process of permit issuance.

We have brought hope to the barangays with the transfer of ownership to them of their service vehicles as well as the assistance provided ranging from construction and filling materials, medical missions and the like.

We have also proven that we are not afraid to address criminality in Pampanga that includes jueteng.

We have been maligned and attacked by our detractors. We have been projected as inefficient and ineffective.

But I believe our admisnistration can be compared to a sailing boat which is buffeted by strong winds and tossed over by huge waves. We have remained sturdy, determined and on course.

There are those of us who have been stuck in internal conflicts and squabbles. Others have channeled much of their energies questioning the prudence of why I keep certain staff in their present post. Please know that we your co-advocates at the capitol have decided to move on. We have been relentless in our pursuit for good governance and persistent in our fight against corruption and illegal gambling. Have not these two been our battlecry during the campaign? I entreat you then to forge ahead. Let us set our sight towards the direction we opted.

May I reiterate my commitment to do better in all humanity and generosity in the coming months. Let us continue supporting this crusade that is bigger than me. May the Good Lord whi has begun this crusade bring it to fruition and completion.

Sincerely,

Among Ed T. Panlilio
Governor
Province of Pampanga
Republic of the Philippines
July 09, 2008