TAGUM CITY (28 March) -- Stay focus in serving the people, Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Gelacio P. Gementiza left this words to fellow local officials as he ended his recently delivered State of the Province Address (SOPA).

He called on fellow officials to draw a line between political drive and continued service to the people in the midst of heated political season

Circumstances pitting local government officials against each other may be unavoidable but Gementiza wanted such political match to be "one of the healthiest and most dynamic rivalries that the Davao del Norte political landscape has ever seen."

"Dili nato angay tugutan nga ang samad nga madangat sa eleksyon maoy makapukan sa atoong mga damgo ug pangandoy alang sa padayon nga kauswagan. Magpabilin unta ang panaghiusa ug kalinaw. (We should not let wounds of the elections to destroy our dreams and hopes for our continued progress. May unity and peace among us remains)," he said.

Gementiza was looking forward for political opponents to rise above differences after the political exercise and "bury the hatchet and begin to look past the election" to find peace and harmony for the province.

With this in mind, he appealed everyone "to do his or her fair share in the holding of clean, peaceful and honest election."

Meanwhile, Gementiza asked department heads and employees of the provincial government to stay focus on the plans and programs set this year " and not be distracted by partisan politics."

Infrastructure tops the line of Gementiza's 2007 development agenda with priority being given to the completion of on-going infrastructure projects and the repair, maintenance and improvement of farm-to- market roads, building and facilities.

Among the infra projects Gementiza deemed as important included the El Unido-Kauswagan-New Cortez Road phase III worth P 1. 750 million; El Unido-Kauswagan with bridge component phase 4, P 1.250 M; Sonlon-Longanapan Road in Asuncion, P1.262 M; Pandulian-Jct. New Loon Road, New Corella, P665,000; Pamacaon-Linao-Sawata Road,San Isidro, P 803,000; New Loon-Boholano-Florida Road, P1.191 M; Pamacaon-Sitio Lansang-Kapungagan Road phase 1, P1.5 M; Pamacaon-Sitio Lasang-Kapungagan Road phase 2, P 1.873 M.

Other than road improvements, Gementiza would also like the provincial government to go into road concreting to improve road networks connecting to Tagum City from the municipalities of San Isidro, Asuncion, Sto. Tomas and Braulio E. Dujali.