Victorias City in Negros Occidental has the highest number of accredited pre-marriage counselors in Western Visayas.
The certificate of accreditation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office VI, which confirms the city’s compliance with the Family Code of the Philippines, was presented by City Social Welfare and Development Officer Joy Reunir during the Sept. 23 flag-raising ceremony at the Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Sports and Cultural Center in Victorias.
The city’s accredited pre-marriage counselors include Joji Luces, Ryjen Mae Demegillo, Aireen Grace Gazo, Joan Demetillo, Ricky Lapidante Jr., RSW, and Chitalisa Valenciano.
Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III and councilors also led the awarding of resolutions to outstanding individuals and groups during the event, the city said.
These include a copy of a resolution of commendation presented to Jennifer Belarma for graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Agri-Business from Central Philippine State University, Victorias;
John Allen Sta. Ana Gutib, recognized for graduating magna cum laude with a BS in Mathematics Education from the Philippine Normal University Visayas, Cadiz City;
Pauline Mae Palencia, for graduating cum laude with a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo City;
The Rondalla Ensemble of Victorias Elementary School, commended for being the Visayas Regional Cluster Champion during the National Music Competitions for Young Artists; and Sean Francis Lavina, cited for passing the August 2024 Mechanical Engineering Licensure Examination.
With these achievements, Victorias City continues to set a high standard in fostering academic excellence, professional development, and community service.
Vice Mayor Bantug and Councilor Derek Palanca, meanwhile, accepted an award, on behalf of Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as one of its outstanding local government partners, during the 2024 Outstanding BSP Stakeholders appreciation ceremony (OBSAC), held in a hotel in Bacolod City last week.
The City of Victorias was recognized for its consistent promotion of BSP’s special advocacies, such as financial inclusion, digitalization, proper handling of banknotes and coins, and cyber hygiene.
Aside from the certificate of recognition, the LGU also received a commemorative P100,000 note from the BSP, the city said in a press release.
The OBSAC, which began in 2004, serves as a platform for the BSP to honor outstanding partners who support the central bank’s mandates of ensuring price and financial stability, and a safe and efficient payments and settlements system.
The event was led by BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr., BSP deputy governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and other officials.
This recognition further strengthens the partnership between the BSP and Victorias in advancing financial literacy and digital initiatives for the benefit of its constituents, the city stressed. ||
