SAN ISIDRO, Northern, Samar—“My program for the next three years is HEART or “kasingkasing” which stands for health, education, agriculture, revenue generation and tourism,” says newly-elected Mayor Ferdinand Avila. Mayor “Nanding”, as he is fondly called by his town mates, took the post from his father, Conrado Avila who is now a councilor, said that the delivery of basic health services like free medicines will continue. A mobile clinic, which could be the first of its kind in Northern Samar, will be made available to the people in the barangays. The mobile clinic is equipped with medical facilities and to be man with medical personnel providing free checkup and treatment for their primary medical needs. “This will bring health service at your doorsteps,” the mayor said, addressing his constituents. On education, aside of their continuing educational assistance program funded under educational special fund (ESF) which were apportioned to different school levels, the mayor will also introduced a concept that is new to the province: providing free school buses for all the students. Mayor Avila also disclosed of an amount for cost-share for the purchase of four-wheel (big) tractor sthat to help the agriculture sector of the town. “Kay dede sa San Isidro, may halo nga bato an tuna so they are hard up for the soil preparation”, he said. He will also provide assistance to the farmers like providing them free seeds and technical assistance, among others. On the revenue generation aspect, one of his plans is to construct a bus terminal, wet and dry public markets and hotel and restaurant run by the municipal government. “Kay dede sa amon bungto problema an accommodation”, he said adding that promoting the local tourism industry is also a priority of his administration. Likewise, Avila also announced of their town’s being chosen by the Department of Energy as one of the four towns in the country being considered of its wind mass project. The installation of wind turbine, to be constructed in Barangay Seven Hills, will not only generate employment to the local people but could become a tourist attraction of their town like that in Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte and Pelilia, Rizal.(PETER D. PAREDES)
