BACOLOD City – The City of Bago in Negros Occidental kicked off on Monday, February 10, its 59th charter anniversary celebration amid the threat of Mount Kanlaon.
Bago is one of the local government units (LGUs) in the province most affected by the eruption of the volcano in December last year. Several residents are still in the city’s evacuation center.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo, who led the opening ceremony of the Agro-Industrial, Cultural and Educational Trade Fair at Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center (MYTMCCC) on Monday, said the city is celebrating another milestone.
“Fifty-nine years is no joke, especially when you see how our city has progressed since 1966,” he said, adding that “Success is not how you have climbed but how you make a positive difference to the world.”
The mayor also said that the city’s agriculture industry continues to be the centerpiece of economic activities, bringing more opportunities for local farmers and micro and small enterprises (MSMEs).
Themed “Celebrating 59 Years of Strength and Prosperity: Surmounting Challenges, Cultivating Hope,” this year’s celebration will run until March 1.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has reported increased volcanic activity at Mt. Kanlaon, signaling the possibility of an escalation to Alert Level 4, which indicates imminent and hazardous eruptions.
Following this, the city mayor issued last month an executive order that regulates night gatherings in the city as a precautionary step to protect public safety citing the potential escalation of the volcano’s alert status.
Charter anniversary activities were also scaled down due to the volcano threat./PN
