Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia thanked the 34 towns that participated in the “Pasigarbo sa Sugbo” held Saturday night at the Cebu International Convention Center.
In a meeting with the mayors on the implementation of the Sinanduloy Alang sa Kabusog, Sinanduloy Alang sa Kahimsog (SAKSAK) program, Garcia expressed her thanks in her welcome message.
“From the bottom of my heart, I may say thank you, thank you, thank you, very, very much!,” Garcia said.
The governor also pointed out that it was the best presentation so far in terms of costumes, choreography and props.
“I think the best word to describe it is fantastic! Fantabulous! It’s truly deserving of our great pride as Cebuanos,” she said.
“Nahibawo ko kung unsa kalisod ang inyong gi-agian…sa inyong way katog nga mga gabii,” she added.
According to her, what had happened last Saturday night was proof of unity among the Cebuanos.
“Upat katuig ni nga atong gipaningkamutan, gilihok, og hinay-hinay, gikan sa sinugdanan diin kita nagkawatak-watak, adtong gabhi-una nagkapundok kitang tanan, nagkahiusa gayud ang Sugbo...nagkahiusa ang tanang sugbuanon,” Garcia said.
That night, 34 towns vied for the prizes. In the end, Palawod Festival of Bantayan town won the first prize, Haladaya Festival of Daanbantayan town got the second prize and Siloy Festival of Alcoy town bagged third prize.
Meanwhile, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head Marivic Garces said that 49 out of 51 local government units under the province are actively implementing the SAKSAK program.
“Nag-vary lang ni sila sa number of kilos sa camote og sa rice,” Garces explained, adding that the report was classified into four classes: the one-is-to-one ratio of NFA rice and Camote (1:1), the five-is-to-one ratio (5:1), five-is-to-two (5:2), and five-is-to-three (5:3).
The eleven towns that implemented the 1:1 ratio (1 kilo of rice: 1 kilo camote) are Argao, Dalaguete, Badian, Aloguinsan, Balamban, Danao, Talisay, Consolacion, Bantayan, Asturias and Minglanilla.
The twenty that implemented the 5:1 ratio are Naga, Sibonga, Alcoy, Ronda, Tabuelan, Bogo City, Tabogon, Borbon, Catmon, Carmen, San Francisco, Poro, Pilar, Tuburan, Toledo City, Compostela, Alcantara, Dumanjug, Samboan and Santander.
The four that applied the ratio 5:2 are Barili, Santa Fe, Sogod and Carcar City.
Six towns that implemented the ratio of 5:3 are San Fernando, Moalboal, Pinamungajan, Liloan, Sogod and Cordova.
The towns of Daanbantayan, Boljoon, Oslob, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Medellin and Madridejos are still using NFA rice without camote but Garces said they promised to implement the one-is-to-one ratio of rice and camote next month.
Garces also said that Tudela and Mandaue City has not yet implemented the program. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/BRP