Negros Occidental and Bacolod City’s leaders welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s message of hope and promise to promote unity and progress during his inaugural address Thursday, June 30.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took his oath as the 17th president of the Philippines before Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo in the presence of his wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos, who has roots in Negros Occidental, and sons Sandro, Simon, and Vincent.
Present at Marcos’ inauguration at the National Museum in Manila were Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez, his son Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, and brother Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District).
“His 110 million reasons to be confident of the future, his faith in the Filipino, and his call to believe and have hope is the positivity we all need as we start a fresh mandate,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said of Marcos’ inaugural address.
“The president was eloquent and his message was up to the mark as it discussed the key elements we expected from his inaugural address, “Lacson said.
“His values and beliefs, were anchored on unity and humility, as expressed by his statement that we are indivisible as one republic, and that he was not the instrument of change, that it was the people that made it happen”, the governor said.
As for his visions for the country, Lacson said he acknowledged “our common aspiration for peace and brighter future for our children”.
“Marcos made clear his governing philosophy to focus on the future when he said that we do not look back, but ahead, and that there should be no looking back in anger or nostalgia,” said Lacson, who supported Vice President Leni Robredo for president.
“The president’s speech covered a lot of aspects that gave us hope as Filipinos to unite for a better Philippines”, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who led the Negros Occidental campaign for Marcos, said.
Ferrer said Marcos will bring tremendous change to further enhance the country’s development and progress.
Ferrer said the success of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte “will be our success too, so let us respond favorably to their call for unity and uphold the Bayanihan spirit for the greater good of our country”.
Alfredo Benitez said what stuck to him was the president’s emphasis on food security.
Marcos, in his inaugural address, said “the role of agriculture cries for the urgent attention that its neglect and misdirection now demands. Food self-sufficiency has been the key promise of every administration. None but one delivered”
“We need to move forward and we need to individually help in the big endeavor the president will be undertaking post COVID and the world in turmoil. Do your best in your field of expertise and help the country,” Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines and a Marcos supporter, said.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they agree with the priorities outlined by the president “but he failed to mention or appreciate the soaring inflation”.*