By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the opening rites of the 24th Panaad sa Negros Festival at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan over the weekend, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. addressed the press and discussed the need to diversify agriculture in Negros Occidental.
“Negros has been known for its sugar,” he said. “We are trying to diversify from sugar to other possibilities, such as cattle raising, dairy, rice farming, poultry, and swine.”
The governor added it is not “safe” for the province to have a “mono-crop.”
He also discussed the importance of tourism, saying, “It has a multiplier effect for other industries.”
Marañon projected a 20 percent increase in tourist volume from last year’s festival, calling the event “the festival of festivals.”
“This celebration is province-wide,” he added. “This is the only festival that is participated in by all local government units.”/ WDJ