BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led provincial government officials in marking the 124th Cinco de Noviembre, also known as the Negros Day, on November 5 at the Provincial Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City, with the signing of the implementation management agreement with the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project and distribution of Barangay insurance programs.
After securing victory and freedom than 120 years ago, in the most ingenious and courageous manner, Lacson said the province remains proud and resolutely grateful for what the heroes of Negros Day accomplished, notwithstanding the impossibility of circumstances.
“It is my ardent hope that as we celebrate the victories of our past, we will find renewed meaning, resolve, and inspiration to unite and work together to achieve our common goal as a people and as a nation,” he added.
The Cinco de Noviembre is marked annually by the provincial government, and in the cities of Silay and Bago, in honor of the bravery and heroism of Negrense forefathers that led to independence.
The program started with a flag-raising ceremony and a short program commemorating the historic bloodless revolution.
In behalf of the provincial government, Lacson also signed the Implementation Management Agreement of the approved Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) subprojects for additional financing.
The P82.7 million projects will benefit beneficiaries of the Celestino Villacin Vegetable Farmers Association of Cadiz City, Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Cauayan, Camindangan Planters and Farm Workers Association of Sipalay City, Federation of Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Development – Negros, Victor U. Lopez Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Pontevedra, Cabagnaan Active Producers for Social Enterprise Association (CAPSEA) in Brgy. Cabagnaan, La Castellana.
The agreement sets out the commitments of the parties in implementing the subprojects for the benefit of the groups, which will also facilitate local development in their respective LGUs.
PRDP is a value-chain-based agriculture and fisheries development program of DA that aims to increase rural incomes and enhance farm and fishery productivity in the targeted areas in the country.
Lacson also distributed P700,000 worth of insurance benefits Barangay Insurance Program for barangay officials and tanods, as well as Barangay Health Workers.
Witnessing the Cinco de Noviembre celebrations were Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Board Members Rita Gatuslao, Juvy Pepello, Valentino Miguel Alonso, Jeffrey Tubola and Sixto Pal Guanzon, among others.*
