Murcia officials thank Sen. Zubiri for covered courts

Murcia officials led by Mayor Gerry Rojas, Vice-Mayor Johnny Reosura, Sangguniang Bayan Members and barangay officials thanked Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri for allocating funds for the construction of two completed covered courts in the town.

The senator was the guest of honor last Friday during the blessing and inauguration of the multi-purpose covered courts in Brgy. Lopez Jaena and Brgy. Zone 2 near the Murcia Tinabuay Public Market.

In behalf of all Murcia officials, the mayor expressed his gratitude to Sen. Zubiri for providing projects for Murcia, and for fighting for the sugar industry in the Senate.

“Thank you very much, Sen. Zubiri, for delivering these projects to Murcia, and for the other projects and assistance which you will give to our town. I urge all Murciahanons to support Sen. Zubiri’s candidacy. He is a true-blue Negrense who looks after our welfare, and he also fights tirelessly to protect the sugar industry, which is the backbone of our economy here in Negros,” Mayor Rojas said.

SB Member Hernan Alintana, concurrently the ABC President of Murcia and the Punong Barangay of Lopez Jaena, informed the senator that the covered court has served as an evacuation site for residents of nearby barangays when Kanlaon Volcano acted up recently.

“With this spacious covered court, our farmers who sell their products in this ‘bagsakan’, as well as Murciahanons who buy their produce, are protected from the heat of the sun and from the rains. Moreover, the products which our farmers sell here will remain fresh longer, because the fruits, vegetables and other crops are not exposed to the elements,” added Zone 2 Punong Barangay Alona Gomez.

Senator Zubiri was impressed that, aside from serving as venue for official programs and functions, the covered courts have proven useful to Murciahanons in other ways. He also lauded the mayor for the excellent quality of their construction.

“I am very happy that the people of Murcia have benefitted much from these projects. Under the supervision of Mayor Gerry Rojas, the construction of these structures shows that there was no corruption in the implementation, and that the budget was truly spent for what it was intended,” Sen. Zubiri said in Ilonggo, the dialect which he and his family have spoken since his childhood days in Negros and his growing up years in Bukidnon.

The senator reiterated his Ilonggo roots, tracing his family to Brgy. Talubangi in Kabankalan City. He disclosed that the mayor’s father is the comrade-in-arms of his father in the sugar industry, and that the mayor’s wife, Berni Rubin-Rojas, is his second cousin from the Zayco-Rubin clan of Kabankalan.

He assured Murcia of his continued support, pledging a bigger allocation of P5 million for 2022 for infrastructure projects in the town, as well as additional funds for Murcia’s Covid-related poverty alleviation programs.* (Butch Bacaoco)