THE Provincial Board of Canvassers (BOC) has proclaimed incumbent Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson as the next governor of Negros Occidental.
Lacson will replace outgoing Governor Alfredo G. Maranon Jr. who will step down at noontime on June 30.
Lacson garnered 827,657 votes for the Office of the Provincial Governor.
He said with his official proclamation to the new position, he will now finalize his transition team to meet with the transition team formed by Marañon to ensure a smooth flow of turnover.
He promised to collaborate with the office of incoming Vice Governor Jeffrey P. Ferrer, who was also proclaimed by the BOC along with his wife, re-elected Fourth District Representative Juliet Marie Ferrer.
The incoming vice governor took his oath of office before Marañon after his proclamation.
Lacson was joined by his mother Menchu Lacson, Emily Yanson, his partner in life, son and other family members.
His mother got sentimental when she heard BOC Chairman Salud Milagros Villanueva proclaiming her son.
She said she never expected that her son would be serving as governor of the province. She thought it was his brother who had a political inclination over the incoming governor.
Lacson has always been very reserved but it turned out that he is the one who became governor, she said.
She wished her son to be a good governor.
"I am very proud of him. I was really speechless of Bong (Lacson) being declared as the incoming governor. I will support him all the way. I want him to do everything what the people ask of him on his own capacity. I wish his dad was alive to see him that he has come to that level. Bong, as others told me, he is the only politician who is really clean where they cannot find anything against him. No matter what they do, they cannot find one. So, I guess, that is the best quality he has," she said.
Lacson, on the other hand, said he will focus on improving the Mambukal Resort in Murcia, an economic enterprise component of the Provincial Government.
"I really feel strong about tourism. We do have a plan to even improve further Mambukal resort. I am so excited about it. It was presented to him by Ms. Ellen Jalandoni, head of the Mambukal, and I really feel that with this improvement, we can even attract more visitors in that area," he said.
He will continue the scholarship program and will also invest in infrastructure outside of Bacolod.
"I think, we have done so much in Bacolod," he said.
Lacson extended his sincerest thanks to the people of Negros Occidental who participated in the last May 13 elections.
"It was a peaceful election day. There were some alleged vote buying but it was generally peaceful. The decision or outcome of the election is being respected by everybody. Congrats to all. I pledge to do my best to lead this Province of Negros Occidental," he said.