THE new home of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) was inaugurated on May 30.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, some provincial officials, ANP officers headed by its president Arlene Infante and Christina Gaston, ANP Chairwoman, other guests, among others.
The showroom features proudly Negros-made products and souvenirs.
Governor Lacson has encouraged local producers to continue to innovate and create world-class products, and to always aim for excellence, as the provincial government will always be supportive of such endeavors.
The ANP was born during a crisis that happened decades ago and portrays success and inspiring stories on self-reliance.
It is located along South Capitol Road next to Negros Forest Park. The hub will also serve as a training center, retail platform, and corporate offices of ANP.
"Now, as our province, together with the entire world is in the thick of another global crisis, we again, as a people, face this adversity with the same Negrense spirit of resilience, ingenuity, and hope we courageously displayed in the past when we had our first trade fair," said Gov. Lacson.
He also said that the province is fortunate because of the ANP's initiative of opening opportunities to small and medium enterprises.
"Even amid a pandemic, let us show the world that Negros is more than just sugar but a place where people succeed, and a healthy economy can advance by what we make and innovate," he added.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Tourism Office of Negros Occidental which is in its 27th year also inaugurated its new home at the Capitol Park and Lagoon with a bigger space.
The new Tourism office has a receiving area equipped with an audiovisual facility for video presentation and small meetings, furniture and fixtures are all from Negros producers, a counter for health protocols, information assistance and the administrative section is provided.
It also caters to walk-in and online visitors through the social media page, airport information assistance and validation of visitors and LSIs.
The said office is open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
A walkabout around the Capitol area features the Capitol Park and Lagoon, Provincial Capitol Building, Negros Forest Ecological Foundation Inc., the Association of Negros Producers, Negros Museum, the soon to open Food Terminal Market of Occidental Negros, Negros Residences and the Mambukal Resort Reservation Office. (With reports from Provincial PIO)