BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on all employees of the provincial government to work together with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation.
Lacson, in his message to capitol executives and employees, said the 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 Negros Occidental governor said.
The recent years were a time of great challenge, however, such challenges did not hinder the provincial government, through their different offices and departments, to deliver their duties, services, and programs, Lacson said.
He 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,” Lacson said.
The governor reported that the Economic Enterprise Development Department “overperformed this year (2022)” citing the capitol-operated CyberCenter earned P99,595,00, surpassing the P15-million target, which was more than 500 percent.
“Our Mambukal catering also surpassed the P15-million 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.
Lacson said these awards and accomplishments are indeed remarkable.
“To everyone in the provincial government, who continue to unite and tirelessly work for the welfare of all Negrenses, congratulations,” the governor added.
For this year, Lacson said, they will strengthen their assistance to micro, small and medium- scale entrepreneurs through 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 the provincial government will put up an Organic Trading Posts and continue its subsidy to rice farmers and postharvest 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 of our President Bongbong Marcos’ rice sufficiency program,” he said.
The province’s Food Terminal Market, with its food court and meeting rooms, will bring in more local revenues, Lacson said, adding that the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry and Technology and Livelihood Development Center will also be in the area of FTMON.
To re-purpose and maximize the assets of the province, the governor said, the Land Transportation Office and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines building will be converted into a multi-purpose structure, another Cyber Center, and a halfway house for the watchers of the Negrense patients at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.
By July, Lacson said they will start bidding for the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project and will also push forward the development of the bamboo industry for the Safe Water Project.
Also, the One Stop Shop of the Provincial Environment Management Office will be operational early this year to facilitate the efficient processing of quarry permits. The provincial government will streamline the process that will translate to lower prices of construction aggregates as we prepare for the construction and infrastructure boom of the province.
Lacson then thanked Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer; Sanggunian Panlalawigan; the department, division and office heads; and 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.”/DGB, WDJ
