CITY OF MALOLOS – Owing it to their dedication to excellence and successful execution of agricultural projects for the Bulakenyos, the Provincial Government of Bulacan through the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) emerged as the Top 1 in the 2023 Top Performing Province – Overall Category during the Year-End Assessment of the Department of Agriculture Programs held at the Savannah Resort Hotel, Angeles City, Pampanga yesterday.

With this, the province has received a certificate of excellence from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Office III for an exemplary performance and transformative initiatives.

Accordingly, among the keystone for the recognition are the timely submission of reports and project implementation in the province that contribute to the overall success of the Department of Agriculture – Central Luzon.

In his message, Governor Daniel R. Fernando highlighted the significant developments in the agricultural community that raised the province’s status in the agricultural sector.

“The agricultural community in the province has experienced significant growth over the years from the adoption of modern farming techniques to the promotion of sustainable practices and a focus on empowering our local farmers. With this, I will make sure that the Provincial Government will continue to support and invest for our agricultural community,” Fernando said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria SF.  Carrillo also attributed the recognition to the people behind the implementation of agricultural projects in the grassroots level.

“Bulacan made it! Congratulations to the men and women of the Provincial Agriculture Office and of the Municipal and City Agriculture Offices,” Carrillo said.

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS—Ipinagmalaki ni Gob. Daniel Fernando na malayo pa ang mararating na tagumpay ng Bulacan lalo’t higit matapos masungkit ng Provincial Government at 12 mga bayan at siyudad sa lalawigan ang pinakahuli o 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) na ipinagkaloob ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) nito lamang nakaraang linggo. 

Sa inihandog ni Senador Joel Villanueva na konsiyerto, “Isang Gabi ng Musika” na pinangunahan ng Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) sa patio ng simbahan ng Barasoain kagabi para sa kanyang mga kababayang Bulakenyo, ipinagmalaki ng ama ng lalawigan na malayo na ang narating at malayo pa ang mararating na kaunlaran ng Bulacan dahil sa dami ng mga bayan at siyudad nito na nakakuha ng nasabing pagkilala. 

Patunay aniya iyon ng kahusayan sa paglilingkod at progresibong mga lokalidad. 

Aniya, kung noong nakakaraang taon ay apat lamang ang mga bayan na nakakakuha ng SGLG sa buong probinsiya, ngayon ay 12 bayan at siyudad na ito. 

Ito ang mga bayan ng Angat, Balagtas, Bulakan, Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Guiguinto, Marilao, Pandi, Pulilan, Plaridel, Santa Maria, Siyudad ng Baliwag at kabilang din ang Siyudad ng San Jose del Monte bilang isa sa pinarangalang lungsod sa bansa. 

Ang Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) naman ay nakamit ang nasabing pagkilala sa ikapitong taong singkad. 

“Dati ay apat lamang na mga bayan ang nakakatanggap ng SGLG sa ating lalawigan, subalit ngayon ay 12 na ito. Alam natin na mas malayo pa ang mararating ng ating mahal at dakilang lalawigang Bulacan,” pahayag ng gobernador. 

Ipinagmalaki rin ni Villanueva na ang Bulacan ay ika-8 sa Most Competitive Province sa bansa. 

Mainit na tinanggap at pinasalamatan ni Fernando ang kababayang senador sa paghahandog nito ng konsiyerto sa mga kalalawiagan. Pinuri rin nito ang senador bilang isang halimbawa ng magiting na pinuno ng bansa at isang tunay na anak at dangal ng Lalawigang Bulacan. 

Kinilala at pinasalamatan din ng senador ang mga alkalde ng lalawigan dahil sa kanilang mahusay na liderato at paglilingkod-bayan sa mahal na lalawigang Bulacan. 

Ani ng senador, isang natupad na pangarap niya ang konsiyerto ng PPO sa patio ng Barasoain Church hindi lamang upang handugan ng pamoso at banayad na classical instrumental music ang mga kapwa Bulakenyo kundi upang itanghal din ang matingkad na papel na ginampanan ng nasabing simbahan sa nakamit na kalayaan at demokrasya ng bansa. 

Sa Barasoain Church isinagawa ang Malolos Congress noong Setyembre 15, 1898 kung saan binuo ang Malolos Constitution na siyang naging kalipunan ng mga batas ng Pilipinas. At nang ito ay pagtibayin noong Enero 23, 1899 sa nasabi ring simbahan ay niluwal na ang Unang Republika ng Pilipinas at ng buong Asya. 

CITY OF MALOLOS—Warming the hearts and spirit of Bulakenyos on a drizzling December night with classical orchestra masterpieces by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) is a dream come true for Senator Joel Villanueva.

The more than an hour transcending calmness and joy the group brings to the hearts and emotions of the officials and residents of Bulacan particularly the people of this capital city who were gathered at the grounds of the historic Barasoain Church on Monday evening gives fulfilment to the senator, one of today’s leading pride of the Bulakenyo race.

Amazed and inspired by the fine and soothing sounds and music of the PPO while watching them perform in orher regions, Villanueva had long dreamed to bring the group in his own province for his fellow Bulakenyos to also experience and enjoy.

Dubbed as “Isang Gabi ng Musika,” the concert reminds everyone of the significant role of Barasoain Church in the country’s freedom and democracy where the Malolos Constitution was crafted following the Malolos Congress on Sept. 15, 1898, the senator said.

“We do not only celebrate today and feel the spirit and joy of Christmas, but we remember and we give thanks and honor, Barasoain Church is the cradle of our freedom, the shrine of our democracy,” the senator said in his speech just before the orchestra jives with the night skies.

On Jan. 23,1889, the Malolos Constitution was ratified and gave birth to the First Philippine Republic which also later was known as the First Republic in Asia.

Michelle Nikki Junia, President of Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) expressed gratitude to Villanueva for being their partner in a similar dream which is to bring the culture, history and heritage of the country to the country side through the CCP and the PPO.

“It is our dream to bring culture and heritage to the regions, the provinces, the communities. This event gives significance to Barasoain Church which is not only a historic place but of beauty. That is what we are doing, we uphold beauty and goodness. We bring the country the top orchestra, the PPO which serenades us with beautiful and captivating classical, light music and Christmas songs that signify our Filipino culture and tradition ,” she said.

PPO is CCP’s very own symphony orchestra.

PH Task Force launched to protect children from road traffic injury

Quezon City – Road crashes are the top killer of children and youth worldwide, according to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday. More than half of the fatalities are among pedestrians and motorcyclists, the report furthered. 

Based on 2019 data on the age distribution of all-cause mortality, road traffic injury remains the leading cause of death for children and young people aged 5 to 29 years and is the 12th leading cause of death when all ages are considered, according to the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023. 

“The tragic tally of road crash deaths is heading in the right direction, downwards, but nowhere near fast enough. Road safety is a multisectoral concern. We should continue to work together to keep our roads safe,” said Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative to  the Philippines.

In the Philippines, at least 1,670 Filipino children die due to road crashes every year, according to public interest law group ImagineLaw citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. “One child lost due to road crashes is one death too many,” said Atty. Sophia San Luis, executive director of the law group. 

Task force launched to protect children from road injury

A national coalition convened by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to protect Filipino children from road injury as aligned with the vision of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023-28 or PRSAP. 

“To address road safety, we have developed the [PRSAP]. This plan, together with the WHO global report on road safety, will guide us in implementing and monitoring efforts to reduce road traffic deaths and serious injuries in the Philippines,” said DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista. 

The MOU, signed by the DOTr, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), among others formalizes the National Coalition for Child Road Traffic Injury Prevention or NC-CRTIP. 

The NC-CRTIP  is an inter-agency and multisectoral coalition that will strengthen collaboration among agencies and road safety stakeholders in protecting children from road crashes. “This coalition is us working together in building a country that protects children from road crashes,” said San Luis. 

“Political will is needed to address children’s death because of road crashes –  from proper education and awareness among stakeholders to better infrastructure and improved road systems that protect vulnerable road users. Ang kalsadang ligtas sa bata ay ligtas sa lahat,” she added. 

“No one should die or be seriously injured on our roads. Every life is precious. We should continue to work together towards a Philippine society with Zero Deaths on the Road,” said DOH Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa.

Full copy of the report: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/375016/9789240086517-eng.pdf?sequence=1

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS – Bilang patunay ng kanilang pangako na epektibo at matapat na pamamahala, tinanggap ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan sa pamumuno ni Gobernador Daniel R. Fernando ang ikapitong Seal of Local Governance na iginawad ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) sa ginanap na 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance National Awarding Cluster 2 sa The Manila Hotel, Metro Manila kamakailan.

Mula ng inilunsad ang SGLG noong 2014, consistent awardee ang Bulacan at nakakuha ng SGLG seal sa pitong magkakasunod na taon.

Tumanggap din ang Bulacan ng P4,000,000.00 halaga ng SGLG Incentive Fund Subsidy na magagamit sa mga high-impact project sa lalawigan.

Samantala, kinilala naman ni Fernando ang pinagsama-samang pagsisikap ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan na naging dahilan ng pagkakamit ng prestihiyosong parangal.

“Ang pagkilalang ito ay salamin ng ating sama-samang pangako sa epektibong pamamahala, napapanatiling pag-unlad, at kahusayan sa serbisyo. Talagang ikinararangal kong pamunuan ang isang komunidad na patuloy na itinataguyod ang mga prinsipyo ng mabuting pamamahala. Nawa ay maging inspirasyon ang milyahe na ito upang tayo ay patuloy na magtulungan para sa ikabubuti ng ating minamahal na Bulacan,” ani Fernando.

Kinilala rin ng The People’s Governor ang mga pagsisikap ng SGLG sa pag-udyok at paghamon sa mga pamahalaang lokal upang matugunan ang mga pamantayan na nagresulta sa mas produktibo at progresibong administrasyon na pakikinabanangan ng kani-kanilang mga nasasakupan.

Kabilang sa 493 LGUs na nakapasa sa pamantayan para sa 2023 SGLG award ay ang mga Munisipalidad ng Angat, Balagtas, Bulakan, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Guiguinto, Marilao, Pandi, Pulilan, Plaridel, Santa Maria at Lungsod ng Baliwag, kung saan bawat isa ay tumanggap ng SGLG Incentive Fund Subsidy na nagkakahalaga ng P1,800,00.00 habang kabilang naman sa City Government Awardees ang Lungsod ng San Jose Del Monte.

Hinamon naman ni DILG Secretary at Council of Good Local Governance (CGLG) Chair Abgd. Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. ang mga LGU sa buong bansa na magpatupad ng mas epektibong pamamahala.

“Mga kasama, sa gobyerno, mabilis ang improvement sa artificial intelligence, sa telecommunications, technology, medical and natural science. Huwag tayong papahuli rito, kaya nandito ang mga eksperto –  na ang mga batayan natin ay lalo nating kunin ang tama, ibaba natin sa grassroots at i-capacitate natin ang bawat isa. Dahil ang ikatataas ng ating bansa ay tayo rin ang magdadala,” ani Kalihim Abalos.

Upang maging kwalipikado para sa SGL award, kinakailangan ng mga LGU na maipasa ang assessment criteria para sa iba’t ibang governance areas kabilang na ang financial administration; disaster preparedness; social protection and sensitivity; health compliance and responsiveness; sustainable education; business-friendliness and competitiveness; safety, peace, and order; environmental management; tourism, heritage development, culture, and the arts; at youth development.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Monday’s “Isang Gabi ng Musika” serenades Bulacan with its classical music masterpieces including Jose Mari Chan and traditional Tagalog Christmas collections at the grounds of the Barasoain Church in Bulacan’s capital, City of Malolos.

The more than an hour of orchestra music that transcends calmness into the night skies  of the city was through the kindness and generosity of Senator Joel Villanueva. Photo by Anton Luis Catindig