BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Amid the crises of different magnitudes for more than a year now due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Negrenses still prevail, because of the concerted efforts of all local government officials, Capitol department heads, and other government agencies in the delivery of basic services and in fighting the virus, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday.
In his State of the Province Address, aired over the Facebook page of the provincial government of Negros Occidental, Lacson specifically cited the provincial health workers, hospital and Disaster Risk and Rescue personnel and other frontliners for their courage, self-sacrifice, and devotion to their jobs, whom they described as modern heroes.
“Although we still have a long way to go, I congratulate everyone for a job well done,” Lacson said.
“We need, not just an honorable government, but a government that is effective, a government that works, a government that empowers families, maintains law and order, provides jobs, educates the youth, provides a decent retirement, and provides basic services accessible to everyone,” he stressed.
For development and progress to be real, it must be felt by everyone, especially those who have less, Lacson, who is about to complete his first term of office in June next year, said.
EMERGENCY LINES
Against the backdrop of a pandemic, Lacson said Negrenses can ask for assistance and report any emergency anywhere in the province, due to the Digitized Health and Emergency Management, with a 24-hour 911 emergency lines responding to an average of 2,500 calls a day.
The One Hospital Command, with nine provincial hospitals, translated to an efficient emergency response, with the upgraded patient referral system and coordination with emergency responders and hospital management, he added.
Because of this, Negrenses need not scramble for emergency response and hospital vacancies, Lacson also said.
The provincial government has now two molecular laboratories, at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City and at the Valladolid District Hospital in central Negros.
Lacson said these labs are equipped to curb the spread of Covid-19 through a faster turnaround time in the detection of the infection.
“Despite the pandemic, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the people of Negros Occidental, the provincial government, as represented by the different offices and departments, were able to deliver the duties of our offices as dictated by law and by our development agenda, Abanse Negrense,” he added.
Lacson also enumerated the accomplishments of other Capitol departments, whose heads he had commended for a job well done.
He thanked the SP, led by Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, who he said, has always been committed to support the plans and programs of the present administration under the Abanse Negrense Agenda.*
