BARLIG, Mountain Province – The provincial government, represented by Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. and accompanied by Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Joshua B. Fronda, joined the people of Barlig in celebrating the town’s 58th Founding Anniversary and the 18th Fortan Festival.
In his message, Lacwasan noted three values of the Barlig people he observed during the conduct of the festival. According to him, the first value is sacrifice because the fact that the festival managed to last as long as it did for 18 years, means that the Barlig community with the municipal and barangay government units have continued to provide time and effort to maintain the conduct of the festival amidst the financial limitations of local governments.
The second value according to the Governor is the love and respect of the people to their municipality, saying that celebrating the founding anniversary and the festival means showcasing their identity, remembering the rich history and planning for the further development of the municipality.
Finally, Lacwasan said the third value is how the people of Barlig manifested their unity through the festival.
“Isu nga tatta nga aldaw, kayat ko nga i-congratulate ti amin nga taga-Barlig. Sapay kuma ta itultuloy yu iti panag-ayat ken respeto iti ili yu, panagkaykaysa ken panag-urnos ti umili santu ti sakripisyo nga inpakita yu iti manu nga tawen nga panag rambak yu iti Fortan Festival,” Lacwasan said.
Moreover, Lacwasan also gave his gratitude to the guest of honor and speaker, Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Director Nathaniel Lacambra who symbolically turned over a ₱13.1-million check to the provincial government to be allocated to the province’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program and livelihood fund. By HENT
