BACOLOD CITY — Triumphs and setbacks was the narrative of the provincial government Negros Occidental, experiencing highs and lows from local initiatives and an unprecedented loss in livelihoods.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, in early December, received the Gawad Parangal from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict as he was cited for his efforts in making a positive impact on society, and working for the convergence of efforts to attain the goals of ending the local armed conflict.

As chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Western Visaya and the Provincial TF-ELCAC, Lacson has been advocating for the surrender of communist rebels and avail of the benefits offered by the national and local governments and make Negros Occidental insurgency-free.

Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, led by provincial director Col. Leo Pamittan, was also awarded Best Police Provincial Office in rites celebrating the 122nd Police Service anniversary of the Philippine National Police in August.

The peace efforts, however, also suffered some setbacks, as a police officer died while three others were wounded in an armed encounter while on their way to serve warrants of arrest to communist terrorists in the hinterlands of Calatrava town, northern Negros in August.

Cpl. Jaime Nuñez died while those wounded were deputy station chief Capt. Jesus Alba, Staff Sgt. Frank Caballero and Cpl. Dennis Nasis, all of Calatrava police.

Another national recognition conferred on Negros Occidental was its inclusion in the roster of the Seal of Good Local Governance awardees last 14 December by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The SGLG, enacted through Republic Act 11292 in 2019, is an institutionalized award, incentive, honor, and recognition-based program that encourages the commitment of LGUs to continuously progress and improve their performance in various governance areas.

For the feat, the provincial government received an SGLG marker and an incentive fund of P4 million.                                 

On the local front, Negros Occidental has been a trailblazer in offering rice at a lower price in the local market, as farmers of the Federation of Irrigators' Association of Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System sold rice at only P25 per kilogram at the "Bigasan ng Bayan" at the Food Terminal Market in Bacolod City in October and November.