Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso (right) at the inaugural session of the 37th Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan.*Richard Malihan photo
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday, July 8, laid out his administration’s key priorities for the next three years, focusing on strengthening health services, boosting food security, enhancing education and tourism, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
The governor, in his speech at the inaugural session of the 37th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) at the Social Hall of the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, said as he enters his final term his purpose is clear – to finish strong, institutionalize gains, and ensure that today’s efforts create an enduring impact beyond his time.
Over the next three years, Lacson said his administration will focus on strengthening sub-provincial health systems.
The goal is to make the Teresita Locsin Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City an apex hospital, expand access through telemedicine and support infrastructure, and deepen social protection for vulnerable sectors, he said.
In agriculture, his administration will drive food security and rural transformation by investing in infrastructure, promoting high-value crops, and scaling sustainable farming, he said.
Environmental sustainability will also remain a priority — through greenbelt zones, responsible mining, and climate resilience efforts, Lacson said.
“We will pass a Provincial Energy Code, accelerate clean energy adoption, and promote energy efficiency,” he added.
Education and human capital development will continue through the new Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) campus, global learning partnerships, and scholarships through the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program, Lacson said.
“We will boost MSME growth through skills training, market access, and digital integration,” he added.
Lacson said the provincial government’s tourism and cultural agenda will highlight heritage, eco-tourism, and the global recognition of the sugar cultural landscape.
Infrastructure investments will also support inclusive growth, with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training Center preparing communities for risk and disaster, he said.
“At the core of all these efforts is our commitment to digital transformation, innovation, and good governance—anchoring Negros Occidental as a model of service, resilience, and inclusive progress,” Lacson said.
“These are our goals, not for recognition, but for real and lasting impact for every Negrense,” he said.
Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso assured the governor that the SP will be his collaborative partner in furthering his administration’s development agenda.
But the SP will not be a rubber stamp for approving all requested items, “we will be asking the right questions to make informed decisions, so that when we do approve and enact various programs, we know this is what the Negrenses truly deserve,” Alonso said.
“We will always encourage a democratic exchange of ideas in the Sanggunian in an atmosphere of respect and professionalism,” he said, stressing the importance of “principled cooperation”.*