Mayor Marasigan Presents Key Gains, Development Plans in 5th SOCA

STO. TOMAS CITY, BATANGAS — Mayor Atty. Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan underscored the significant strides made by the City of Sto. Tomas over the past year as he delivered his 5th State of the City Address (SOCA) at the City Hall Annex Building.

Speaking before government officials, business leaders, and representatives from various sectors, Marasigan highlighted the administration’s accomplishments in healthcare, education, employment, agriculture, business, and economic development while laying out priority projects for the coming year.

Photo courtesy: Lungsod ng Sto. Tomas, Batangas / fb page

Healthcare remained among the city government’s major priorities. In 2025, the city recorded around 145,000 medical and dental consultations through its regular services, Aksyon Bilis Caravan, and Aksyon Bilis Mobile Clinic. It also provided 29,000 sanitation and food services, 56,000 preventive health services, free medicines to 85,000 beneficiaries, and 20,000 laboratory services. Thousands of prenatal and postnatal tests were likewise conducted.

Several specialized facilities, including the Teen Health Clinic, Animal Bite Treatment Center, Social Hygiene Clinic, and Mental Health Clinic, were expanded to respond to the needs of Tomasinos. The city is also working with SM Foundation on the expansion and modernization of City Health Center II in Barangay Sta. Clara.

Photo courtesy: Lungsod ng Sto. Tomas, Batangas / fb page

Among the proposed healthcare initiatives are the DOH Juan Gamot Pharmacy, citywide Yakap Mass Registration, the transfer of the 24/7 BEmONC facility to City Health Center II, AJAM H.E.A.R. You, and AJAM Eye Care.

In education, the city provided scholarship grants to 10,000 senior high school and college students for School Year 2025–2026, with a total allocation of P47 million. This represents a 66.67-percent increase from the 6,000 scholars recorded in the previous school year.

The city also distributed 27,000 school uniforms, 10,000 school bags and learning supplies, and 2,745 learning book sets. Additional educational assistance was extended to abused children, Children in Conflict with the Law, children of solo parents, and out-of-school youth pursuing technical-vocational training.

Employment opportunities also expanded, with 15,474 job placements recorded through school-based job fairs, local and overseas recruitment activities, barangay recruitment, and location-based job fairs. Meanwhile, the Special Program for Employment of Students helped 93 students gain work experience and income during their school break.

Photo courtesy: Lungsod ng Sto. Tomas, Batangas / fb page

For the agriculture sector, the SULONG program now benefits 200 qualified farmers who receive P15,000 worth of farm inputs intended to support and sustain crop production.

Marasigan also pointed to the city’s growing business environment. Sto. Tomas now has 5,600 registered businesses, up 12 percent from 5,000 in 2025. Locally sourced revenues are projected to reach P968 million in 2026, representing a 7.3-percent increase.

The mayor further reported that Sto. Tomas has sustained an average annual economic growth rate of 10.5 percent from 2022 to the present. Citing Philippine Statistics Authority data, he noted that the figure is significantly higher than the 5.6-percent growth recorded in Calabarzon and the 6.7-percent growth rate of Batangas province.

Anchored on his administration’s slogan, “Aksyon Bilis na Serbisyo na may Ngiting Tomasino,” Marasigan said the city’s progress reflects its commitment to delivering responsive and people-centered governance.

Photo courtesy: Lungsod ng Sto. Tomas, Batangas / fb page

He emphasized that the city’s continued growth is the result of a whole-of-government approach focused on bringing public services closer to residents and creating more opportunities for every Tomasino.

Looking ahead, the mayor announced several priority projects, including the construction of a child-minding station for solo parents, the establishment of a Wellness Hub for mental health concerns, expansion of the social hygiene clinic, digitalization of government services, and additional livelihood programs for small businesses.

Marasigan said the administration remains committed to turning its promises into concrete programs and projects that will further strengthen Sto. Tomas as a progressive, economically vibrant, and people-centered city.