By MAE SINGUAY
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson called for a safer, more inclusive and progressive province during the executive briefing on the state of governance and development situation.
“It is time that, in Negros Occidental, progress is felt by those who have the least because, if it is not felt, then we have fallen short of building a just and inclusive society for our constituents,” Lacson said in his address to the provincial officials during the briefing.
Inclusive growth, he emphasized, must bring about a real difference in the quality of life for every Negrense.
“This is the kind of development we should aim for, because, as elected officials, this is the kind of future we owe to our fellow Negrenses,” Lacson added.
Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso, in his welcome message, said he was confident that local officials can take Negros Occidental to new heights.
Alonso said the event set the tone for the priority programs of Negros Occidental for the next three years; what services will be prioritized, how and when these services will be delivered, and who may avail of them.
The Provincial Development Agenda, anchored on the development framework, includes flagship programs that align with those of the local government units (LGUs), such as the Bulk Water and Septage Project, the zero open defecation program, the community-based nutrition program, and initiatives on land banking, resettlement, housing, and the construction of evacuation centers.
Among the major issues raised were access to safe drinking water, sanitation, malnutrition, poverty, flooding, and the hazards and risks posed by Kanlaon Volcano.
The groups shared situations in their respective communities, identified commonalities, and presented recommendations to address these issues.
“This is a way for us to create a comprehensive and inclusive roadmap that addresses the core needs of our province and our respective LGUs,” Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Antonio Peña, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Negros Occidental Chapter, said.
“This will improve social services, strengthen disaster preparedness and management, expand access to quality education, promote peace and order, secure our food systems, protect the environment, enhance infrastructure, and stimulate economic growth,” Peña added.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., president of the Association of Chief Executives of Negros Occidental, delivered the closing remarks, saying that the briefing was not merely a presentation of plans or performance indicators but “a bold and necessary reflection on where we are as local government units, where we need to be, and what we must do to get there.”
“We have seen the governor’s clear and forward-thinking agenda for the next three years. But more importantly, we have acknowledged the pressing gaps between standards and the day-to-day realities we face in our cities and municipalities,” Escalante said.
“Within these challenges lies opportunity — the opportunity to align, to innovate and to collaborate,” he added./MS, WDJ