DILG Zambales, in partnership with the Provincial Government, spearheaded the Provincial Caravan on October 7, 2014 in celebration of the 23rd Local Government Code (LGC) Anniversary. Present during the activity were Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr., Vice Governor Ramon G. Lacbain II, LMP Zambales Chapter President Jun Rundstedt C. Ebdane, VMLP Zambales Chapter President Elvis R. Soria, PCL Zambales Chapter President, Atty. Noel S. Ferrer and Liga ng mga Barangay Zambales Chapter President Romelino R. Gojo. It was by PNP, BFP, 24th Infantry Battalion – Philippine Army (PA), Barangay Tanods, Barangay Health Workers (BHW), Traffic Management Bureau (TMB) of Subic and NGOs like the International Police Commission (IPC) Zambales Command Riders and the Kabayan Action Group of Iba and Botolan Chapters. There were 106 vehicles and 28 motorbikes registered in the motorcade with 646 participants.
Delegations from the Northern Zambales Cluster (Sta. Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig and Iba) and the Southern Zambales Cluster (Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan and Botolan), in their simultaneous take off at 7:00 in the morning from Sta. Cruz and Subic starting points, traversed the national highway while each municipal delegation adjoined with the flow of the caravan from their respective municipal boundaries. Both clusters merged at the Zambales Sports Complex, Iba, Zambales around 9:30 in the morning.
The program, held at the Zambales Gymnasium, was started with ecumenical prayers led by Archbishop Florentino G. Lavarias, Jr., D. D. from the Roman Catholic Church, Bro. Eric Zaratan from the Iglesia ni Cristo and Bishop Virginio Ducos from the Transformation Ministry followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem. Zambales Provincial Director Armi V. Bactad acknowledged the guests, participating delegations and organizations. Vice-Governor Ramon G. Lacbain II gave the welcome remarks followed by a short message from Provincial Administrator Jun Omar C. Ebdane. Likewise, LnB President Romelino R. Gojo, PCL President Noel S. Ferrer, VMLP President Elvis R. Soria, LMP President Jun Rundstedt C. Ebdane and former Congresswoman Rachel “Baby” J. Arenas, 3rd District of Pangasinan shared their messages. An intermission number was also performed by the dancers from the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU).
Governor Ebdane, in his inspirational message, stressed the delineation of roles and responsibilities of elected officials and local functionaries and quoted “Pag hindi mo trabaho, huwag mong pakialaman.” He added that with the promulgation of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, everyone must be guided with its provisions in order to enhance the practice of a transparent and accountable governance.
