Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has thanked Negrenses from various sectors for their support for the eight-point development agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Duterte graced the opening of the 41st Pasalamat Festival in La Carlota City Monday night.
She was also the guest of honor at the kick-off of the 23rd Pagbana-ag Festival in Hinoba-an town, the province’s southernmost locality earlier in the afternoon.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday he joined Duterte in La Carlota City, where they led the ribbon-cutting rites, together with Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer.
“We had a very light talk. We talked about the Panaad sa Negros Festival and she (Sara) said that she will be attending next year. Of course, I mentioned to her that Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco represented the national government very well,” he added.
The two festivals started a day after the culmination of the Panaad sa Negros Festival, which Frasco attended on the opening day on April 17.
The “festival of all festivals” had a successful return, with PHP23.6-million in total sales, after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
In La Carlota, the Vice President said the staging of the 41st Pasalamat Festival affirms the city’s resilience, solidarity, and thanksgiving.
“It reminds us of the importance of community, of coming together to support and working towards a better future. Let us work together to build a more inclusive community where everyone is given an opportunity to succeed,” she added.
Duterte also visited teachers and learners at Dominador “Oking” Jison Memorial Elementary School in Silay City and Mariano G. Medalla Integrated School in this city.
She also met here with the parallel groups in Negros Occidental that supported her candidacy during the May 2022 elections.
In her engagements, the Vice President thanked the people for supporting her campaign, the administration of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and the eight-point agenda of the Marcos administration.
These are food security, improved transportation, affordable and clean energy, health care, education, social services, sound fiscal management, and bureaucratic efficiency. (PNA)
