Lacson enumerates achievements in state of the province address

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson delivered his State of the Province Address with a sense of fulfillment at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday, August 8.

Lacson said the state of the province is good, notwithstanding the drawbacks that needed to be overcome due to the manifold challenges caused by the previous years.

He enumerated the achievements of every Capitol department.

For Agriculture and Food Security, Lacson said the province has attained a rice self-sufficiency level of 84 percent.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist has turned over projects worth P71 million, benefiting 54 associations in the province.

We have completed irrigation projects that contributed to an increase of 228.50 hectares, which led to additional production of fresh palay, Lacson said.

In terms of road projects, Lacson said a total of 29.8891 kilometers of provincial road concreting/upgrading projects were completed, with a total amount of P457.5 million, while 9.1487 kilometers were ongoing, amounting to P148 million.

“For this year, we have a lot of civil works projects in place, amounting to a total of P278 million, which includes the construction of the the Animal Rescue Center in Silay City, Sanitary Landfill in La Castellana, concrete paving of provincial roads in various LGUs, upgrading of hospital facilities at Valladolid District Hospital, among others,” he said.

The establishment and construction of hospital facilities in four hospitals, namely, Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (Provincial Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility), Cadiz District Hospital (Women and Children Protection Unit), Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital (Motorpool and Maintenance Office), and Gov. Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital (Covid 19 Isolation Facility), worth P32.52 million, were completed, Lacson said.

The Economic Enterprise Development Department made a significant increase in revenue in the accommodation facilities and catering services of four operating enterprises - the Cybercenter, Negros Residences, Food Terminal Market of Occidental Negros, or FTMON, and Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary and Catering Services.

The CyberCentre generated a total collection of P64,329,885 from its rental revenues for January – June this year, with a 92.5 percent occupancy rate, thus, representing a 32 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022.

Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary and Catering Services were able to collect approximately P9,780,741.00.

Mambukal has achieved a financial self-sufficiency rate of 80%.

Lacson continued that the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program continues to provide comprehensive health care to Negrosanons, especially to indigents and senior citizens.

From last year until June this year, a total of 47,861 NOCHP members and their dependents, from all over the province, availed of free medical and health services and outpatient care.

“We have added two more NOCHP satellite offices, one in the north and one in the south of Negros Occidental,” Lacson added.

For the Hospital Operations Division, Lacson said on

March 2022, the province inaugurated the First Human Milk Bank in Negros Island. “This milk bank facility is located at Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, which has been providing newborns with breastmilk that they need, especially premature and sick ones,” he said.

“We will continue upgrading our hospital facilities to further improve hospital services in our nine provincial government-run hospitals,” he added.

Lacson said the province increased the bed capacity of Cadiz District Hospital from 50 to 100 beds.

He also said that after the completion of the new OR/DR complex at the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital, its bed capacity will be increased from 25 beds to 100.

The Dialysis Unit Building at Ignacio L. Arroyo Sr. Memorial Hospital will soon be completed, which will cater to more patients, he said. “We will establish two more in Kabankalan and Valladolid. Our Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital is now a Level 2 Hospital, he added.

Lacson also reported the completion of the construction of various infrastructures within the Panaad Park and Stadium, such as the rehabilitation of the rubberized track oval, main grandstand, covered court, and diamond softball field; and the construction of the open bleachers, beach volleyball court, covered court extension, additional parking, and lights.

For the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Lacson said since last year up to June 30 of this year, they have assisted a total of 47,749 beneficiaries for various services such as shelter and food assistance, financial aid, hospital and medical assistance, and social pensions, with a total amount of P170.9 million.

Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said that the governor gave a good report to the province.

He also added that, along with Lacson, they will continue to serve the province well.*