New Negros Occidental governor vows to keep “bringing food to the table”

BACOLOD CITY–The 35th governor of the province of Negros Occidental on Saturday (June 29) took his oath of office promising to “continue to bring food to the table” by helping farmers become more productive.

Gov. Eugenio Lacson said his battlecry would be “Abanse Negrense (Forward Negrense)”.

His administration, Lacson said, would concentrate on agriculture, education, health, tourism and on improving the province’s economy.

He said under him, farmers would be given “greater role” in his objective of making quality food available and within reach of the people. Although he did not say how he planned to do it, he said he wanted to bring cost of production down because “affordability is vital.”

Lacson said he would continue a program to provide farmers crop insurance and scholarships to students.

He said it was not enough to bring children and the youth to school but also to “ensure a place of employment when they finish schooling.”

He promised improved health care by upgrading hospital facilities and pushing for a more efficient delivery of health services. He said he would increase the number of beneficiaries of the NOCHP, or Negros Occidental Health Care Program, to give health insurance coverage to people in remote and upland villages.

Lacson took his oath as governor before San Carlos Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Kathrine Go, while Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer took his before outgoing Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. (Editor: Tony Bergonia)