Bago City Mayor Marina “Mayette” Javellana-Yao delivered her first State of the City Address Wednesday, July 15, highlighting a major ₱44.51 million agricultural subsidy program, a 300 percent expansion of the local senior pension, and a series of key healthcare and education initiatives under her administration’s “Asenso Bago” program.
Speaking to local officials and constituents at the Bago City Coliseum, Javellana stressed that her office prioritized direct community services over traditional administrative bureaucracy.
Among the major programs detailed in her address was the distribution of 34,200 bags of certified and hybrid palay seeds, which directly aided 10,263 local farmers across 23 barangays.
The city also launched the permanent One Town One Product (OTOP) Hub at Bantayan Park to establish a dedicated trading center for local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
In education and human resource development, Javellana reported that Bago City College (BCC) logged a historic peak enrollment of 6,162 students for Academic Year 2026–2027.
To support this growth, the local government has allocated a portion of its 20 percent Development Fund for the construction of a four-story building featuring classrooms, laboratories, and a student dormitory, she said.
The administration also introduced the Bago City EduGrant, providing annual financial assistance of ₱5,000 to an initial batch of 850 scholars, with plans to add 850 new recipients annually, Javellana added.
For public employees and educators, the administration authorized the release of the long-overdue Economic Compensatory Allowance (ECOLA) for local teachers and upgraded long-serving job-order workers of over three decades to permanent status, she said.
The mayor also reported significant expansions in municipal healthcare, which included:
The establishment of a new Dialysis Center.
The execution of 163,000 medical tests through the “LaBAGO” initiative.
The “Smile Bright Bago” program, which provided free dental services and dentures to indigent residents.
She also cited mobile service delivery through the “Serbisyo sa Barangay Caravan” and “On Wheels” partnerships with national agencies, including the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Social Security System (SSS), and Land Transportation Office (LTO).*
On legislative accomplishments, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, led by Vice Mayor Andrew Martin Torres, passed 23 ordinances and 413 resolutions to support municipal developments.
Javellana attributed the city’s progress and high governance ratings to the combined efforts of municipal employees and the support of the public.*
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