LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Office of the President recently issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1046 that declared Monday, November 23, 2020 as a special non-working day in Benguet to allow the people and officialdom to celebrate the province’s 120th founding anniversary.
Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea stated in the aforesaid order that it is but fitting and proper that the people of Benguet be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies subject to community quarantine, social distancing and other public health measures.
For this year, Benguet lined up simple but meaningful activities for the celebration of its founding anniversary such as the traditional ecumenical service and awards program with very limited participants.
In a related development, Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap recently filed House Bill (HB) 8037 declaring every November 23 as a special non-working holiday in the whole province in commemoration of its founding anniversary.
Medialdea also issued Proclamation No. 1045 that declared Friday, November 20, 2020 as a special non-working day in Itogon town to allow the people and officialdom of the municipality to celebrate the town’s 120th founding anniversary with fitting activities subject to community quarantine rules, physical distancing and other health and safety protocols.
“Ngayong taon ay ating ginugunita ang ika-120 na anniversary ng ating probinsiya. Ito ay pagkakataon para muling balikan ang ating mga karanasan nahumubog sa atin kung nasaan na tayo ngayon. Ang bawat tagumpay, maliit man o malaki, ay nakamit dahil sa pagsisikap ng bawat taga-Benguet,” Yap stressed.
He pointed out that he wants Benguet to be known as a world-class tourist destination because of its rich culture and traditions, coupled with the presence of peace-loving people and scenic environment that host various tourist destinations.
Further, Congressman Yap claimed that the numerous products and other crafts that are made by the people of Benguet should be known as such.
With the upcoming opening of the province’s tourism industry, he assured he will continue to aggressively promote the province as a prime tourist destination in the country which started with the conduct of professional photo and video shoots by the candidates of the Miss Universe–Philippines in different tourist destinations around the province last month.
According to him, he learned to love Benguet because the people and officialdom treated him as their son, thus, he tried his best to visit the different barangays and municipalities over the past several months to learn more about the culture of the people and their problems that need immediate action from concerned government agencies.
Congressman Yap revealed he will continue to go around the remote villages of the province to make people feel the presence of government and for them to know that the services are available for them and that the same are just right in their midst.
Yap asserted that the services being currently provided to the people are just the start of things and he will not stop in making the needed representations with concerned government agencies until such time the needed services are readily available through the teamwork, unity, cooperation and solidarity of the barangay, municipal and provincial officials.
He expressed that with the way things are going, Benguet will be elevated to greater heights and the same can be achieved in the future provided that the cooperation and teamwork people have shown to the present administration will be enhanced and sustained. By HENT
