“LET’S free our constituents from poverty.”

This was the statement of Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran amid the commemoration of the 121st Philippine Independence Day Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at the Bacolod public plaza.

Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Elisio Rio Jr. will be the guest speaker during this year’s celebration in Bacolod, which carries the theme “Kalayaan 2019: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan”.

Familiaran, who was in Manila for a Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines conference, said Tuesday, June 11, that the best freedom that will be received by the people is freedom from poverty.

“As a public official, let’s focus on one freedom, a freedom from poverty. Let’s focus to alleviate the status of our constituents every year. For me, it’s very important that every year, there’s an increase of the percentage from the poor to middle class. Let’s build a strong middle class,” he said.

He added that it’s their job to focus on public service to free the people from poverty.

There will be a flag raising ceremony and wreath laying at the public plaza Wednesday morning.

Aside from the city officials, the Philippine Independence Day celebration will also be attended by government employees, Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, veterans, and teachers.

Bacolod is also celebrating Wednesday “Mga Adlaw Sang Paghanduraw”, the city’s yearly commemoration of history, art and culture from June 12 to 20 as provided in City Ordinance No. 616.

The City will hold its Halandumon Food and Trade Fair at the Bacolod Government Center grounds as well as photo exhibit Wednesday.