Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was honored with a Bulawanon Award by the Kabankalan City government during a ceremony at the city plaza on Thursday, July 31.
The award was handed to him by Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda.
The city gives the award to outstanding residents who have shown exceptional service and brought honor to Kabankalan.
The city government stated that the award recognizes Zubiri’s “unwavering support for Kabankalan and his deep connection to his roots,” even with his national responsibilities.
Zubiri, whose father former Bukidnon governor Jose Maria “Joe” Zubiri Jr. is from Kabankalan, thanked the city officials for naming him this year’s most outstanding Kabankalanon.
“I may not have been born here, but Kabankalan runs in my blood,” said Zubiri in his acceptance speech.
Zubiri, who calls himself a proud Kabankalanon, said throughout his legislative career he has initiated numerous projects and measures for Kabankalan.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (6th from left) at the Kabankalan awarding rites*
To date, he has pushed for infrastructure funding amounting to about P180 million for Kabankalan City, Zubiri said.
Among the projects funded under his initiatives are a classroom for the Tapi National High School in Barangay Magballo, an evacuation center in Barangay Tan-awan, and a multi-purpose building for Mag-Aso Falls in Barangay Oringao, he said.
The biggest project so far is a rehabilitation and waterline improvement project under the SIPAG-Water Supply program of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Zubiri added.
“With clean, reliable water, we will be able to serve not just our homes, but also the commercial and industrial sector. This means more jobs, more income, and more development for Kabankalan,” Zubiri said
At the awarding ceremony, Zubiri also reiterated his commitment “to raise the profile of Kabankalan and make it a center of development to rival other economic hubs in the Visayas and Mindanao.”*