by Sentinel Times Staff March 10, 2019 Quezon Gov. David Suarez speaks at the gathering of Quezon Pastors Association at Queen Mar...
March 10, 2019
Quezon Gov. David Suarez speaks at the gathering of Quezon Pastors Association at Queen Margarette Hotel in Bgy. Domoit, Lucena city. (JOHN A. BELLO)
LUCENA CITY – Quezon Gov. David ‘Jayjay’ Suarez has enlisted the moral and spiritual support and guidance of various Christian groups to push forward the province’ development agenda.
“You have strong faith, you are faith healers and leaders and we need our moral compass for the development direction of our province,” Suarez said in his message as he shared his narrative about the foundation of faith underlying the development thrusts of the provincial government under his watch designed for the welfare of his constituents.
The 41-year old governor, who is in his 3rd and final term as the province’ chief executive, stressed the 4 aspects of his development programs which has been the focus of his administration: agriculture, environment, health and education and infrastructure development.
He started with his centerpiece program called the Quezon’s First 1,000 Days of Life or Q1K program which he described as the foundation of a brighter future for the next generations of Quezonians. This landmark program about health and nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life of both mother and child is touted to have blazed the trail for the enactment of a national bill which has been signed into law by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte last December called Kalusugan at Nutrition ng Mag-Nanay Act or Republic Act 11148.
Suarez said the Q1K program, now being implemented province-wide, is just one of the many development acts of the provincial government to let the people feel that their lives are being cared for and valued under his administration.
“Ganito natin pinahahalagahan ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan sa Quezon. Hindi tayo para sa madaliang mga programa, imprastrakturang malalaki, gusaling magaganda, kasi kung gusto nating pag-usapan ang kaunlaran, ang kauna-unahan na batayan at sukatan ay yun mismong indibidwal, yung tao mismo. And you have to believe that we are implementing this program that will last farther than my term. We are investing for the future and our future looks bright,” said Suarez to the gathering of Christian leaders which included Pastors Romy Tena, Abner Pampolina, Ben Hugo, Wilfredo Zoleta, among others.
Suarez talked about the 57 kms. South Luzon Toll Road 4 Project which would connect Lucena city in Quezon province from the South Expressway in Sto. Tomas town in Batangas and its groundbreaking is expected to take place in April. He said the project would pave the way for many development opportunities and investments such as the impending establishment of a huge steel factory in Candelaria that will provide more than a thousand jobs for Quezonians.
He cited a new research data issued by National Economic Development Authority-Calabarzon which shows Quezon province to be the fastest growing economy in the entire region at present.
In the education sector, the governor reported that the Serbisyong Suarez scholars have now grown from 8,000 to 20,000 and the establishment of vocational-technical courses for job matching opportunities of students in the province. He disclosed about the ongoing construction of the Southern Luzon State University Full Campus and the Coconut Research and Development Center both located in Catanauan in the province’ 3rd district; the Northern Quezon Complex in Real which would pave the way for tourism development in REINA (Real, Infanta and Gen. Nakar) areas and Polillo island towns; the 10-hectare Quezon Sports Complex in Tayabas city; and the establishment of convention centers in Tiaong and Gumaca which would generate jobs and tourism investment opportunities in both 2nd and 4th districts.
A physical framework plan in Quezon envisions the 1st District to be a tourism destination, the 2nd district to be a business and commercial hub; 3rd and 4th districts to be agro-industrial development centers and Suarez said, at present, the emerging markets are Infanta, Catanauan and Gumaca.
Suarez seeks to enlist the support of QPA in the establishment of values formation programs in various hospitals and provincial government offices to have moral and spiritual reawakening in the delivery of public service.
He also proposes to have inter-faith dialogue for development and to integrate faith-based organizations in various development councils to inject moral and spiritual ideals for Quezon development.
The governor, who has filed his candidacy for the 2nd congressional district in the May 13, 2019 elections, went on the following day to visit the families whose houses were razed by fire in Bgy. Market View and provided them with P10,000 financial assistance each family “to tide you over and start to rebuild your lives.
Gov. Suarez along with former Quezon 2nd District board member Romano Talaga talk with leaders of Quezon Pastors Association.
Gov. Suarez sits with Quezon pastors at the event for a photo session.
