By Ruben A. Veloria
IBA, Zambales- Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., on Monday shared the strategic vision of the province to newly elected and reelected officials of the local government, whom he described as leaders and builders of Zambales’ future.
In his speech during the Inaugural Session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Gov. Ebdane said, “Today, we look forward to the future of Zambales as leaders and builders of its own destiny with a clear vision for the province.”
The governor was addressing the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice-Governor Jacqueline Rose Khonghun as presiding officer, municipal mayors, and other executive officials of the local government units, and senior officers of the province.
Gov. Ebdane explained the vision will ignite the resolve, the conviction, and the commitment of the officials in forging a more progressive and a more socially conscious community for Zambaleños.
The chief executive further explained the strategic vision, “drawn from three powerful perspectives: hindsight, insight, foresight.”
Hindsight, according to Gov. Ebdane, is recognizing the past challenges when the province endured hardships, people suffered series of setbacks and adversities. However, they never faltered, never floundered, never broken.
“We became resilient because of conviction. Indeed, it was those tough times that tested our capacity to survive and excel,” Gov. Ebdane said.
Insight, Gov. Ebdane continued, is facing the present. “We stopped waiting for change to happen. We became the change we have been wanting to see in our province, we set in motion these strategic directions.”
Among motions the governor mentioned were: revitalized revenue generation and mechanisms for economic recovery; established engines of sustainable economic growth; elevated social services and expanded healthcare systems; prioritized infrastructure development and modernization; and cultivated community engagement and broadened public participation.
Meanwhile, the Foresight was defined as the future-proof Zambales, where true leadership demands foresight, not reaction, ensuring that the province does not lag behind, but lead ahead.
Thus, the governor implored the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on five transformative pillars, each demanding legislative alignment, innovative policy-making, and collaborative governance, to drive local economic development.
These pillars include health equity policies and timely appropriations for healthcare delivery services; revenue enhancing measures while protecting and encouraging investment; asset utilization frameworks that encourage local enterprise and industrial growth; inclusive education and livelihood opportunities to protect marginalized sector, and infrastructure modernization and capacity building for civil servants.
“Today, the road ahead is not without its challenges, but it is rich in promise. Through unity, we shall deliver on those promises,” said Gov. Ebdane.
