BACOLOD City – President Rodrigo Duterte did a “surprise visit” and joined the Yanson family in a late-night dinner at the Ayala North Subdivision in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday, according to Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson.
Lacson said the President had a “casual” conversation with the Yansons, who are the owners of the public transport company Vallacar Transit, Inc.
Vallacar Transit manages the operation of Ceres buses.
Duterte – who was from Manila – arrived past 11 p.m. at the Bacolod-Silay Airport on board a private jet plane.
The dinner lasted for about four hours, said Lacson, adding that he was the only local public official who was present there.
The vice governor said Duterte, accompanied by Presidential Assistant Bong Go, left at around 4 a.m. on Friday on their way to Davao.
Lacson said Duterte confirmed that the inter-island bridge project which will connect the islands of Negros, Panay and Guimaras will push through under the administration’s Build, Build, Build Program.
The President did not have any official scheduled visit in the province this month and would not attend the closing ceremonies of the 25th Panaad sa Negros Festival in Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod on Sunday, Lacson clarified.
But Duterte will be in Negros Occidental next month to inaugurate the housing project for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, he added./PN
