Senator Zubiri named most distinguished Kabankalanon

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri received the Bulawanon Award from the city government of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental on Friday, one of the highlights of the ongoing Udyakan Festival.

Presented by Mayor Benjie Miranda, the award honors Zubiri as the Most Distinguished Kabankalanon for his contributions to the city’s growth and development.

“I may not have been born here, but Kabankalan runs in my blood,” Zubiri said in his acceptance speech.

His father, former Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, was born in Barangay Talubangi, Kabankalan.

Though from Mindanao, Zubiri and his siblings were raised by their father to speak Ilonggo “as a reminder of where our family came from.”

Throughout his legislative career, Zubiri, who calls himself a proud Kabankalanon, has initiated numerous projects and measures in service of the city.

In the Senate, he led the passage of the Negros Island Region Act, which merges the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor into a single administrative region.

“With the Negros Island Region, we can now have better delivery of government services for our people,” he said.

“The residents of Kabankalan no longer have to travel to Iloilo to transact with our regional government offices.”

“We can now have our own regional government offices right here on the island. We are bringing our government closer to the people.”

Zubiri also noted that under the Expanded Philippine Science High School Act, the Negros Island Region will soon have its own Philippine Science High School campus.

“This way, our math and science whiz kids no longer have to cross over to Iloilo or Cebu just to study at a Philippine Science High School campus,” he said.

Aside from these legislative efforts, Zubiri has also worked to secure a fair share of the national infrastructure budget for Kabankalan.

To date, he has pushed for infrastructure funding amounting to about PHP180 million for the city.

Among the projects funded are a classroom for Tapi National High School in Barangay Magballo, an evacuation center in Barangay Tan-awan, and a multi-purpose building at Mag-Aso Falls in Barangay Oringao.

The largest project so far is a rehabilitation and waterline improvement effort under the Department of Public Works and Highways’ SIPAG-Water Supply Program.

“With clean, reliable water, we will be able to serve not just our homes, but also the commercial and industrial sector,” Zubiri said.

“This means more jobs, more income, and more development for Kabankalan.”

At the awarding ceremony, he reiterated his commitment to continue uplifting Kabankalan and its people.

His dream, he said, is “to raise the profile of Kabankalan and make it a center of development to rival other economic hubs here in Visayas and Mindanao.”