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| Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto (Image Source: Batangas Provincial Public Information Office/Francis Milla) |
Governor Vilma Santos-Recto's administration immediately began implementing programs that will focus on strengthening and expanding the education and health services delivered by the Provincial Government of Batangas for the Batangueños. This was the assurance of the provincial chief in her weekly accomplishments report during the Capitol's Weekly Salute to the Philippine Flag held last July 14, 2025 at the DREAM Zone inside the Provincial Capitol Compound in Batangas City. A week after the symbolic signing of the first four Executive Orders, Gov. Santos-Recto, with the help of Provincial Administrator Atty. Joel Montealto, immediately took action by calling a department heads meeting to formulate an action plan.
Equal value of scholarship assistance to all scholars
Gov. Santos-Recto personally announced some of the changes and innovations that will be made in the scholarship program and services that the Capitol delivers to Batangueño students. First of all is the equal or similar amount of scholarship assistance that scholars in the province will receive. According to the governor, from the previous ₱5,000 for those in private schools and ₱3,000 for those in public schools, it will now be ₱5,000 regardless of whether it is private or public. She pointed out, "That's why our children are in public schools because they need financial assistance. Even though their tuition is free, they still need to get additional financial assistance. From private to public schools, all of them, the scholars will get the same amount of ₱5,000 cash assistance." Apart from this, Gov. Santos-Recto also emphasized that the application, screening, and evaluation of scholarship applicants will now be done in their respective towns and cities or where they are studying and there is no need to go to the Capitol. The distribution of cash assistance will also be done in their respective areas. In her message, she said that “…in the coming days, we will work with schools in the 34 towns [and cities] of our province to convey information to our students on when, what time, where the screening or evaluation of applicants will be held, and what requirements will be required for this.” As for the maintainers, she said that those overseeing the scholarship program will issue guidelines for a clearer implementation of the program. The governor also assured that a team will go to each town and city to help with what needs to be done, stating, “We have a team that will go to you and they will help you with what needs to be done, and we will also get back to you on how you will get your cash distribution. Our team will go to you…now that you need to apply and until the cash is distributed…our team will go to your town.” She also clarified that misinformation mainly caused a recent influx of students where students went to the Capitol thinking that it was the last day to apply. Gov. Santos-Recto reiterated that the aforementioned changes in the distribution of educational assistance in the province are an assurance through her leadership that students in the province will have a comfortable and smooth access to educational assistance without having to go to the Capitol.
Continuous and more robust healthcare services
In the field of health services, Gov. Santos-Recto pointed out that part of her immediate implementation of the signed executive order is the promotion of the comprehensive healthcare program whose main objective is the renovation and construction of new district hospitals which will further strengthen the health services provided by the province. According to her, “…in fact, there are already those willing to donate their lots, where a district hospital can be built in their area.” She also said that based on the recently conducted series of studies and consultations, there are district hospitals that have already been decommissioned or even if they undergo rehabilitation or renovation, they will still incur higher costs, which is why the province's health comprehensive plan includes how to abolish them and build others that will be more profitable. The Mother of the province further stated that the provincial government, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, has sufficient funds for the continuous provision of various financial assistance to patients, such as medical assistance, hospitalization assistance, and other health-related expenses, such as special procedures. In addition, the provincial chief shared that the provincial government has an existing agreement with the Department of Health for the provision of medical assistance in partnership with private hospitals.
New modern technology solutions for better and more efficient delivery of government services and implementation of government-funded projects
Meanwhile, Gov. Santos-Recto shared that a software company recently visited the Capitol to give a presentation on digitalization and software applications. Some of the issues that it can address are the financial assistance system, scholarship application and disbursement system, hospital management system, real property tax assessment and collection system, and medical assistance for indigent patients program system. The governor assured that the Capitol will thoroughly study the benefits that modern technology can bring in the effective implementation of projects and the speedy provision of services to the Batangueños. This is in line with what Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. emphasized during the opening of the 2025 Newly Elected Officials Performing Leadership for Uplifting Service (NEO PLUS) Program, led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which the governor attended last July 9, 2025 in Pasay City. According to the President, digitalization will play a major role in building strong relationships between national and local governments to provide quality services to the people. She said, "That's modern technology, let's use it and benefit from it for a more efficient and effective delivery of services to our countrymen."
For the development of a prosperous and stable Batangas
Gov. Santos-Recto concluded her message by recognizing each and every employee of the provincial government. Here, she informed and assured of the benefits that should and must be given to those whom she considers partners in delivering public services. Some of the things she shared were the provision of medical allowance, second tranche of salary increase, and Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) to qualified Capitol employees. In the end, Gov. Santos-Recto asked for continued support from the provincial government staff, as well as those who make up the Provincial Council, which she said is for the Batangueños who need support and also for the fulfillment of his aspirations in building a prosperous and stable Batangas Province.
(With words by Mark Jonathan M. Macaraig/Gian Marco, Batangas Provincial Public Information Office)
