Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri received the Bulawanon Award from the City of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental on Friday (Aug. 1).
Presented by Mayor Benjie Miranda, the award honors Zubiri as the Most Distinguished Kabankalanon for his contributions to the growth and development of the city.
“I may not have been born here, but Kabankalan runs in my blood,” said Zubiri in his acceptance speech.
His father, former Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, was born in Barangay Talubangi.
Though from Mindanao himself, the younger Zubiri and his siblings were raised by their father to speak Hiligaynon “as a reminder of where our family came from.”
Throughout his legislative career, Zubiri has initiated numerous projects and measures in the service of Kabankalan.
In the Senate, he spearheaded the passage of the Negros Island Region Act (NIR), which brings the provinces of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor under one administrative region.
“With the NIR, we can now have better delivery of government services for our people. The residents of Kabankalan no longer have to travel to Iloilo to transact with our regional government offices,” Zubiri said.
“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 shared that under the Expanded Philippine Science High School Act, the NIR will get 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.
Apart from these legislative measures, Zubiri also fought for Kabankalan to get its rightful share in the national budget’s infrastructure development program.
To date, he has pushed for infrastructure funding amounting to about P180 million for the city.
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.
The biggest project thus far, is a rehabilitation and waterline improvement project under the SIPAG-Water Supply program of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“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 emphasized.” ||
