Guv pushes NegOcc as open gov’t flagship province

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson urged Negrenses to take into heart the transparency in government and make Negros Occidental a flagship province in maintaining integrity through an open government.

Lacson made the call during the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) 2022 Transparency Roadshow, held at Negros Residences in Bacolod City recently.

The activity was attended by Krizia Casey Avejar of PCOO, Negros Occ. Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Asec. Achilles Gerard Bravo of the Department of Budget and Management, Carlos Hilado Memorial State University president, Dr. Norberto Mangulabnan, John Harold Tabuzo of PHIVOLCS, and representatives from the local government units of the province, provincial government employees, representatives from the national government agencies, civil society organizations, academe, local media, and other guests.

The roadshow, held through PCOO’s Freedom of Information-Project Management Office, aims to increase awareness and engage with the communities and organizations representing the national and local governments, civil society, academe, media and the general public to promote responsible information sharing as one of the transparency initiatives of the government and its other programs.

Gov. Lacson said that at this point in Philippines’ history, alongside the strain caused by the COVID crisis, Filipinos are now worn-out and exhausted from the culture of corruption and mistrust, and as a country, and as a people, more than at any other point in time, are earnest to trust the institution once again.

“Aside from the moral degradation it causes, corruption has a lot to do with unsatisfactory economic performance, making countries poorer and less attractive to investments, thus the cycle of under performance and want,” he said.

“If the Philippines wishes to be truly progressive, we must banish not just corruption, but also suspicions of corruption,” he added.

The roadshow, now on its third leg, is a collaborative activity of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, Philippine Information Agency-Negros Occidental, CHMSU, DBM, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and PHIVOLCS-DOST.