Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Jigjag Pelaez, chairman of the legislative body’s tourism committee hailed Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano for the governor’s initiative to put the province in the tourism calendar of the country through the yearly celebration of the Kuyamis Festival, in his welcome speech signalling the start of the 4th Kuyamis Festival and the 87th Founding Anniversary of the province, at the capitol grounds, Monday.
“The governor dared to think outside the box and relentlessly pursued his initiatives for the total development of the province through tourism,” Board Member Pelaez said.
Pelaez also hailed Emano for the latter’s innovative ideas that pivot the rapid development of the province unprecedented in its history.
“Here is a Governor who never stops to innovate ways and means to hasten the delivery of basic public services to the people,” Pelaez added.
One of these innovative ways and means is through tourism particularly the Kuyamis Festival that is now attracting visitors.
“Ultimately, I am convinced that many of these visitors will come back and bring investments with them,” Pelaez said.
He also pledged the cooperation and support of the province’s legislative body on the initiatives of the Governor on all aspect of development for the province.
Board Member Pelaez is one of the great grandchildren of the illustrious Don Gregorio Pelaez, the first Governor of Misamis Oriental when this was created as a province 87 years ago and Dona Felipa Neri Pelaez.
“This is for you, Misamis Oriental,” with this simple dedication, Emano opened the week-long festivities for the 4th Kuyamis Festival and 87th Founding anniversary of the province on Monday, at the provincial capitol grounds.
In his opening remarks, the Governor narrated how he strived to maximize the resources of the province into undertakings that would bring development and progress to the people.
“I dream of the day when there is no more gap between the rich and poor; when all of us eat the same food, when all our children go the same school; when all of us get treated in the same hospitals,” Governor Emano said.
This is the same reason underlying his total development plan anchored on tourism and the same reason for the holding of the yearly Kuyamis Festival.
“Think of how progress could impact on the lives of our people when what is happening now to Sagpulon Falls could be duplicated in areas where there exists spots with tourism potentials,” Emano said.
Sagpulon Falls in Jasaan town was used in his illustration due to the financial viability is has shown and how it attracts visitors even only after a short period of operation. (pr)
