Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas visited the Province of Nueva Ecija on April 25, 2014 to personally witness how the residents of the province benefited from the different DILG projects implemented in the locality. He, being known as Mr. Palengke during his stint as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry also spent time for a simple “kumustahan” with the market vendors in San Jose City. This is after he conversed with the farmer leaders of the Kalasag Farmers Producers Cooperative where Sec. Mar pledged to give them a stall at Farmers Market in Quezon City where they can directly sell their onion products for a much cheaper price. “Darating ang araw di na kayo farmers, kapitalista na kayo”, he said. The cooperative received the 2012 Galing Pook Awards for its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program dubbed as Bridging Farmers to the Corporate Supply Chain.
Sec. Mar also inaugurated the new PNP San Jose City Headquarters. During the program, he shared a brief but meaningful message where he highlighted the nature of DILG’S task particularly the PNP, BJMP and BFP. “Let us bear in mind that there are humans… there are policemen, fire officers who are risking their lives to ensure peace and security in our localities”, the Secretary said.
He proceeded to Barangay San Felipe, Llanera where the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Sa Lahat (Salintubig) project is located. A total of 300 households benefitted from the project which is Potable Water level 2. “Ito po ang resulta ng daang matuwid na ipinangako ni Presidente Aquino”, said Sec. Roxas. “Natutuwa ako na hindi lamang sa papel ko nakita at nabasa ang mga proyektong ito. Ngayon ay napatunayan kong totoo nga na mayroong ganitong proyekto na naitayo upang makatulong sa mga mamamayan”, he added.
The SILG also inaugurated the DILG - Agencia Española Cooperacion International Para El Desarrolllo (AECID) Infrastructure Project which is the Vaca Bridge in Barangay Plaridel, Llanera and inspected the livelihood projects.
Sec. Mar then proceeded to the PNP Provincial Headquarters of Cabanatuan City and delivered a short message to the PNP personnel in the city.
He likewise inspected the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) equipment in Cabanatuan City worth Php 15M. These equipment serve as great boost in the disaster preparedness strategies not only of these two provinces but even the nearby Local Government Units. Cabanatuan and Albay are the only two LGUs nationwide provided with these DRRM equipment.
Towards the end of his visit, Sec. Roxas had an interfacing with local officials of the province of NE headed by Gov. Umali and Cong. Umali where he stated that the DILG will continuously assist LGUs by being their partner in upholding the tenets of good local governance. “Ang national government ay patuloy na tutulong sa ating mga local governments regardless of political affiliations. Lahat po ay pantay-pantay”, he said.
Sec. Roxas was accompanied by Gov. Aurelio ‘Oyie’ Umali, 3rd District Rep. Czarina ‘Cherry’ U
mali, San Jose City Mayor Marivic Belena, Llanera Mayor Lorna Mae ‘Lorna’ Vero, LMP President Blue Boy Abesamis, LNB Nat’l President Atty. Edmond Abesamis, DILG RD Florida Dijan, DILG ARD and NE PD Abraham Pascua, PNP RD PCSupt. Raul Petrasanta, Napolcom RD Manuel Pontanal, BJMP RD SSupt. Arnulfo Obias and BFP RD CSupt. Ariel Barayuga.
