Negros Occ lawmaker boosts PHL–Japan ties via OISCA

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental 2nd District Rep. Alfredo D. Marañon III has strengthened the decades-long Philippine–Japan partnership through renewed collaboration with Japanese lawmakers and officials from the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) during a recent fellowship dinner.

In a weekend post on Sagay City’s official social media page, Marañon highlighted how OISCA’s principles of “Love Green” and “Food First” continue to shape the second district’s environmental and development policies.

He recalled how his late father, former Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr., championed OISCA’s mission, leading to more than 40 years of reforestation and grassroots conservation in Ulay and Nabiga-a.

“This mission has been ingrained in our family, with two of my siblings also working closely with OISCA,” Marañon said.

“Today, we continue this legacy to ensure that our people and our environment thrive together,” he added.

He also noted the emergence of “junior OISCANs” at Sagay National High School and stressed the importance of involving the youth in sustaining the movement.

Sagay City Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, for his part, presented an audio-visual showcase of the city’s eco-tourism and biodiversity programs, citing their alignment with OISCA’s sustainability values.

The event, organized in partnership with OISCA Philippines, reaffirmed shared commitments to environmental protection, sustainable development, technology transfer, and cultural exchange.

It also marked an expansion of more than four decades of bilateral efforts in Negros Occidental and beyond.

The Japanese delegation was led by Hon. Koichi Tani, member of the House of Representatives from Hyogo Prefecture and secretary general of the OISCA Parliamentary Association.

He emphasized Japan’s enduring ties with Negros Occidental through OISCA’s livelihood, training, and reforestation initiatives.

Other key delegation members included Hon. Shinji Inoue, executive committee member, and Hon. Takakazu Seto, member of parliament.

Provincial and national leaders, including Cebu 4th District Rep. Sun Shimura and Donald James Gawe, executive director of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, also attended the event.

Shimura, whose district includes Bantayan Island, participated in discussions about a possible Sagay–Bantayan roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) route between the two LGUs.

OISCA Philippines President and Provincial Board Member Arthur Christopher Marañon formally welcomed the guests to the gathering.

OISCA Secretary-General Agnes Iida also acknowledged the attendees and their roles in deepening the Philippine–Japan connection.

Board Member Marañon expressed gratitude to guests whose presence helped pave the way for future developments.

The fellowship dinner symbolized both the legacy and the evolving vision of Philippine–Japan cooperation built on shared environmental, cultural, and technological goals.

It reaffirmed Negros Occidental’s role as a national model for sustainable and inclusive development.