“My fellow Cebuanos, I am proud to say tonight that the state of the province is united,” Gov. Gwen Garcia said during her State of the Province Address last August 11.
“At perhaps no other time in Cebu’s history are we as politically united. And because we are united, the state of the province is strong, very strong!” she added.
The Governor’s SOPA, one of the highlights of the Capitol’s 454th Founding Anniversary, was attended by Sen. Francis Tolentino and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco headlined Cebuano officials who came to listen to the Governor’s report.
“We remain the richest province in the entire country, with total assets of P235.7 billion as of end of 2022, a marked increase from P215.27 billion in 2021. We raised our internally generated revenues by 45.01% (compared to 2022), despite a reduction in National Tax Allotment by 14.59%,” Gov. Garcia said.
She asserted that more than anything else, it is unity that really brought Cebu to where it is today, spelling the difference in the effective, comprehensive and coordinated implementation of projects and programs in times of peace and crises; in plenty and calamity.
“In Cebu, we take unity as our solemn duty. Unity is how we preserve and honor our 454-year past. And to remain united is how we secure the present and ensure the future for this one, undivided and indivisible Province of Cebu,” the governor said.