Governor Lacson: Everything we are doing are for Negrenses

“Everything we are doing are for Negrenses. We always keep them in mind. Whether it is social governance, economic and health governance.”

This was the assurance of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson as he called on all employees of the provincial government “to work together with renewed sense of purpose and motivation — for public service, is both a privilege and a blessing that we should all value and cherish.”

Lacson, in his message to Capitol executives and employees, said that “New Year is always a hopeful time. Today, as we start a brand new work year, this should provide us with a good viewpoint to look over the past and look forward to the future.”

“The recent years were a time of great challenge, both for our people, and us, public servants. However, such did not hinder the Provincial Government, through our different offices and departments, to deliver our duties, services, and programs.,” the governor said.

Lacson also reported that according to the December 2022 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority, “all economies of Western Visayas grew in 2021, rebounding from the declines in 2020, with Negros Occidental leading the growth of the Region. Of the 5.9 percent growth of the region, Negros Occidental led the growth with the highest percentage points contribution.”

“As for the 2022 Excellence in Local Governance Awards, we were conferred as the first runner-up, Best Performing Province in Western Visayas,”

“We were also named as Champion in the Excellence in Environmental Governance, First Runner- Up in Excellence in Economic Governance; First Runner- Up in Excellence in Local Legislation; First Runner- Up in Excellence in Administrative Governance; First Runner- Up Excellence in Social Governance; and Second Runner- Up in Excellence in Public Safety, Peace, and Order,” he said

Lacson also bared that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also conferred the Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence to the Province of Occidental and declared the province fully compliant in adhering to the standards for the establishment and functionality of the LDRRMCOs.

“Our Provincial Treasury Office was also recognized by the Department of Finance Region VI and the Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors as the Top 1 among the provinces in Region VI, on the YEAR END GROWTH IN LOCALLY SOURCED REVENUES with our 83.68 Growth Rate, ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE COLLECTION EFFICIENCY of 245.57 percent, and COLLECTION EFFICIENCY IN 4 LOCALLY SOURCED REVENUE of 88.49 percent.”

The governor also reported that the Economic Enterprise Development Department “overperformed this year” citing the Capitol-operated CyberCenter earned P99,595,00 surpassing the P15 million target, which is more than 500 percent.

“Our Mambucal catering also surpassed the P15million target, with their P20,000,000 in revenues. The Ayala rentals also surpassed the P35 million target to P51,000,000 by reason of our collection efficiency,” he said.

“These awards and accomplishments are indeed remarkable. Beyond the awards, our winning programs and projects are now models of good governance, worthy of emulation. These are proofs that the provincial government of Negros Occidental, despite the drawbacks, sought tirelessly the necessary transformations, desired innovations, improved coordination, planning, and implementation of programs,” Lacson pointed out.

“To everyone in the provincial government, who continue to unite and tirelessly work for the welfare of all Negrenses, Congratulations;,” he also said.

For this year, Lacson said, we will strengthen our assistance to micro, small medium- scale entrepreneurs through our shared service facilities (SSF).

“We are going to start the Showroom for the products coming from our shared facility. Our farmers will provide the raw materials which will be paid by the province. Such raw materials will be processed in our processing plant, and the Province will market the products and find the buyers, to help our farmers and to establish the brand name, Abanse Negrense Products,” he said.

Lacson also said that the provincial government will put up an Organic Trading Posts and continue its subsidy to rice farmers and post harvest support through mechanization.

“We will be hiring Job Order Employees to assist our farmers in all phases of the planting cycle. This is also in support to our President Bongbong Marcos’ rice sufficiency program,” he said.

Our Food Terminal Market with its Food Court and Meeting Rooms, will bring in more local revenues, Lacson said adding that the offices of DTI and Technology and Livelihood Development Center will also be in the area of FTMON.

To repurpose and maximize the assets of the province, the governor said, the Land Transportation Office and the Boy Scouts Building will be converted to a multi-purpose structure, another Cyber Center, and a halfway house for the watchers of the Negrense patients in Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.

“The NOLITC Global Campus will also be completed this year, and this will pave the way for more quality instruction and vocational trainings to further equip and prepare the Negrense workforce. To strengthen our International Linkages and Partnerships, we will be sending our NOLITC trainors to Australia, so that we can produce Australian accredited workforce,” he also said.

By July, Lacson said we will start our bidding for the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project. We will also push forward the development of our bamboo industry for our Safe Water Project. Several LGUs have shown serious intent to be the bamboo capital of the province.

Also, we will fully pursue our Barangay Based Nutrition Program to comprehensively address undernutrition, malnutrition, overnutrition, and stunting in the province, Lacson reported.

The One Stop Shop of PEMO will be operational early this year to facilitate the efficient processing of quarry permits, Lacson said as the move “will streamline the process will translate to lower prices of construction aggregates as we prepare for the construction and infrastructure boom of the province.”

Lacson also thanked Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, the Sanggunian Panlalawigan, our Department, Division, and Office heads, and to the entire provincial government “for your consistency and commitment to service. We have braved last year’s challenges, in order that this year, and the other years to follow will be more fruitful than the past.”* (Eugene Y. Adiong)