NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is optimistic of 100 percent cooperation from the province’s 12 cities and 19 municipalities in this year’s edition of the annual Panaad sa Negros Festival.

“Every year we expect all the local government units in Negros to join the Panaad,” Lacson said.

In the past, some towns and cities of Negros Occidental did not join the annual event either complaining that they lack budget or it runs in conflict with their own festivals.

The governor added Panaad “is the festival of all festivals in the province.”

“We are hoping that this year we will have a good cooperation from LGUs,” Lacson said.

He also said that he is still “hopeful” that the province will remain Covid-19 free but also cognizant of the possibility that “it can get worse.”

Lacson said, that health officials in the country “should prepare that the virus can be transmitted through human to human or local transmission.”

“It’s just a warning to keep us vigilant but I am hoping it will not happen,” he said.

During its regular session on Tuesday, the Sanggunian Panlalawigan approved a financial assistance for the province’s 12 cities and 19 municipalities in the amount of P200,000 each to be used for the repair and renovation of their pavilions at Panaad.

Hopefully, this would encourage all local government units to join the annual festival that highlight our convergence as a people, Board Member Rommel Debulgado, chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance, said. (TDE)