Gov. Ebdane urges Zambales LGUs to sustain development momentum

By Henry Empeño | July 1, 2025

BOTOLAN, Zambales — Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. urged local government officials here on Monday, June 30, to take braver steps and seek broader horizons to sustain the development momentum in the province and serve the people better.

Harking back to lessons from his 15 years of experience as chief executive of the province, Ebdane said Zambales officials must build a lasting legacy in public service for the Zambaleños and spoke of a “deeper mission” they must assume.

The governor made the call after taking his oath for a fifth term at the Botolan People’s Plaza here, where he presided over the inauguration and mass-oathtaking of newly-elected government officials.

“Our three-year journey as public servants begins today. Our positions and titles are not a license to do less, nor a privilege to enjoy. They are a responsibility to do more for others, and to be more for others,” Ebdane told local officials.

“We have a deeper mission ahead of us: to be stewards of hope and guardians of trust, and together, forge a shared future for our province,” he added.

ACTION AND MOMENTUM

Pointing out the challenges his administration faced at the outset after being elected first in 2010, Ebdane told LGU officials of his plans for the next three years and stressed his vision of transforming Zambales into a province of opportunity, prosperity, and resilience.

“Let me be clear about our intent for Zambales: to secure long-term prosperity for our people,” the governor said.

“In our hand lies the future of Zambales, and as we lead tomorrow today, we need to be bolder in our actions and keep our momentum aligned with the pace of change,” he added.

To do this, Ebdane said that government programs must be anchored on health equity and inclusivity in healthcare delivery; self-sustaining economy and financial resilience; efficient asset management as economic driver of new industries; social development and self-reliant citizenry; and smart, modern infrastructure and institutional excellence.

“Fifteen years ago, we courageously broke through our comfort zone, pushed our boundaries and stepped into unchartered territory with conviction,” Ebdane recalled. “We began with limited means, but through disciplined stewardship, Zambales is now classified as a first-class province.”

BUIDING DREAMS

The governor shared that under his administration, significant inroads have been made over the years in health, education, agriculture and fisheries, infrastructure, social services, and governance.

These include continuous improvement of the healthcare system by employing more healthcare specialists, and upgrading hospitals and health facilities; expanding educational assistance while strengthening strategic partnership with educational institutions; implementation of the Zambales Green Mango Valley project, along with the creation of the Zambales Maritime Development Council.

Ebdane also said the provincial government is investing in infrastructure development and prioritizing accessible, high-impact projects like roads, schools, and government facilities; expanding social service programs, including livelihood support, agricultural grants, medical and health initiatives, and financial assistance, particularly for indigent constituents; and institutionalizing transparency, digitized property taxation, and positioning Zambales as a model of fiscal independence.

Today, Ebdane stressed, “What we once dreamed of, we now build… The plans we once wrote on paper now stand physically as roads, hospitals, school buildings, and thriving communities. Indeed, the destination is not just visible; it is within reach.”

GAME PLAN

To sustain inclusive development in the province, the governor emphasized to local government units to bank on agility, innovation, strategic foresight, and data-driven decision-making.

Ebdane also reminded local officials that he has learned over the years that effective governance rests on three pillars: resources, processes, and priorities.

“First, it’s what we have and what we know. We must constantly build our capital, whether it’s knowledge, finances, infrastructure, or human talent. We began with limited means, but through disciplined stewardship, Zambales is now classified as a first-class province,” he said.

“Second, it’s how we do what we do. This includes how we solve problems, how we learn, how we think.” He recalled that when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, his administration acted decisively, preparing quarantine facilities, mobilizing health workers, securing food supplies, and making hospitals centers of resilience.

Priorities, meanwhile, are what matters most and what we choose to value, Ebdane explained. “What we fund, what we focus on, and how we lead tells our people what matters,” he added.

“Our greatest work lies ahead, and it’s urging us to roll our sleeves up again,” Ebdane concluded. “We must finish what we have started. Let’s make it happen now!” 

PHOTO CREDITS: Botolan Municipal Information Office