DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — For the first time in several years, the provincial government of Negros Oriental held its separate celebration of the 116th Independence Day of the Philippines.
Governor Roel Degamo led the provincial’s celebration at the Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park, fronting the Capitol, simultaneous with Dumaguete City government’s similar rites at Quezon Park.
Newly installed commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, Col. Allan Martin, was the guest of honor and speaker in the provincial government’s ceremonies.
Farrah Gentuya, head of the provincial office of the DILG explained that, while not compulsory, it was more ideal for the provincial government to hold its own Independence Day activities to allow its employees and other national government agencies in the province to participate.
The celebration came as a surprise to many who noted that, for the past years under the previous governors, both the provincial government and the local government of Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental, held a joint Independence Day celebration at the Rizal Monument in Quezon Park.
This year, Gentuya however said that based on a memorandum from the DILG, the provinces were encouraged to hold their own Independence Day celebration. She added that Negros Oriental was the only province in the country that was not holding its own Independence Day celebration for so many years. (FREEMAN)