Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the Executive Briefing on the State of Governance and Development Situation of the province with local government officials on July 30, at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City.
According to a press release, the briefing was attended by provincial board members, city and municipal mayors, and department heads of the Provincial Government. Also present were 303rd Brigade Provincial Commander BGen Ted Dumosmog, Office of the Civil Defense – Negros Island Region Representative Ma. Aletha Nogra, Department of Education Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Gladys Amylaine Sales, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) representatives Bambi Michelle Flores of the Negros Economic Development Foundation and Sybel Nobleza of the Association of Negros Producers, and representatives from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development-NIR.
The activity, initiated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in coordination with the Office of the Provincial Administrator and the Provincial Planning and Development Office, is in compliance with DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2025-016 that calls for the formal turnover ceremony for incoming local officials to include comprehensive briefings on Governance Assessment Report, duties and responsibilities, operational protocols, key challenges, and ongoing programs, projects and activities.
In addressing the provincial officials, Lacson said, “Let us strive for a province that is safer, more inclusive, and progressive. It is time that in Negros Occidental, progress will be felt by those who have the least—because if it is not felt, then we have fallen short of building a just and inclusive society for our constituents.”
Inclusive growth must bring about a real difference in the quality of life for each and every Negrense. This is the kind of development we should aim for, because as elected officials, this is the kind of future we owe to our fellow Negrenses, the governor said, in a statement issued by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO).
Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso, in his welcome message, said “New term, new mandate from our electorate: to serve our Negrosanons the best we can. Today’s Executive Briefing will set the tone on the priority programs of Negros Occidental for the next three years, what services will be prioritized, how and when these services will be offered, and who may avail of these services.
With our commitment to unite, cooperate, and serve the people towards the same common goals, plus open communication lines between different departments and offices, I am certain that we will be able to take Negros Occidental to new heights, the vice governor said.
Provincial Director Teodora Sumagaysay of the DILG who is also the concurrent DILG acting regional director for the Negros Island Region (NIR) said the executive briefing is a platform for discussion and knowledge sharing that helps decision and policy makers to identify sound solutions to issues at hand.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II presented the Provincial Development Agenda that are anchored on the Abanse Negrense development framework that include flagship programs that resonate with the rest of the LGUs, including the P4 Bulk Water and Septage Project, ZERO Open Defecation Program, Community-Based Nutrition Program, and Land Banking, Resettlement, Housing and Construction of Evacuation Center.
A workshop followed where the board members, mayors and the rest of the attendees grouped together by districts, identified the most common issues and concerns in their communities, and draw out recommendations to address such issues.
Among the major issues identified were access to safe drinking water, sanitation, malnutrition, prevalence of poverty, flooding, and the hazards and risks of Mt. Kanlaon. The groups held a sharing of the situations in their respective communities, identified commonalities and their recommendations to address such issues.
The board members and the local chief executives also enumerated their proposed plans and programs in support of the provincial government.
Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Antonio Pena who is also president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Negros Occidental Chapter, in a statement of support, said “the executive briefing is a way for us to create a comprehensive and inclusive roadmap that addresses the core needs of our province and our respective LGUs”.
This would improve social services, strengthen disaster preparedness and management, expand access to quality education, promote peace and order, secure our food systems, protect the environment, enhance infrastructure, and stimulate economic growth, Pena said.
These are the very priorities that resonate with every local government unit. Thus, as president of the LMP in Negros Occidental, I express support to the Provincial Development Agenda. Together, with unity of purpose, collaborative governance, and a deep sense of duty to our people, we can build a progressive, resilient and future-ready Negros Occidental.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., president of the Association of Chief Executives of Negros Occidental, who gave the closing remarks, said the briefing was not merely a presentation of plans or performance indicators, but “a bold and necessary reflection on where we are as local government units, where we need to be, and what we must do to get there.”
“We have seen the governor’s clear and forward-thinking agenda for the next three years. But more importantly, we have acknowledged the pressing gaps between standards and the day-to-day realities we face in our cities and municipalities. With these challenges lies opportunity – the opportunity to align, to innovate, and to collaborate”, the mayor said, adding that “together, we will close the gaps. Together, we will raise the bar.”*
