MANILA – Senators led by Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon sponsored a resolution honoring the late Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental.
Zubiri, who traces his roots in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, described Marañon in Senate Resolution No. 544 as “a visionary leader who changed Negros Occidental.”
“His agricultural and environmental initiatives for the province were groundbreaking. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with him in our time as congressmen in the 11th Congress,” Zubiri said.
Marañon, 84, died at the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City on Oct. 1.
He began his career in government service as a councilor of Sagay City in 1964 and was later elected vice mayor and mayor of the city.
He also served as assemblyman of Negros Occidental and congressman of the 2nd District of the province.
Gordon, for his part, said it was just right for the Senate to recognize a good leader like Marañon.
“You know in our country, sometimes when you’re no longer in power, you’re dust in the wind. It is very rare people get recognized when they pass on or when they’re retired. I’’d like to congratulate the Senate because we remember good men who served our country,” Gordon said.
Gordon lauded the late former governor for having catapulted Negros Occidental as a food sufficient, agricultural province and other initiatives he implemented that led to the province’s development.
During his administration, Marañon’s platform of governance was “Negros First,” his program on Natural Resources Management, Economic Development, Good Governance, Reduction of Poverty, Optimum Health Care, Strong Support for Education, Food Security, Information and Communications Technology Utilization, Roads and Other Infrastructure, Social Services and Tourism Promotion.
Marañon was also credited for making Negros Occidental a major ecotourism spot by establishing the Sagay Marine Reserve.
“Nakita natin na the Negrenses are very confident, inspired by his passion, not only for business development, agricultural development, but his passion for organic farming,” Gordon said.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and senators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Ramon Bong Revilla, Kiko Pangilinan, Richard Gordon, and Grace Poe also shared fond memories of and admiration for the late governor as they expressed support for the resolution./PN
