The provincial government of Negros Occidental bagged four major awards during the awarding ceremonies of the Pagdayaw Awards 2008 of the Department of Interior and Local Government last December 17, 2008.

Negros Occidental was adjudged as the “Best Performing Province in Western Visayas” and  also received three awards out of four categories – “Excellence in Administrative Governance”, “Excellence in Economic Development” and “Excellence in Environmental Management”.

The awards received by the provincial government are the fruits of the labor of the elected officials and the different departments. The programs and projects of the Negros Occidental provincial government are best practices that can be replicated by other provinces in the region.

Other cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental also received awards.

City Category:

Bacolod City – Best in Economic Development

San Carlos City – Best Performing City, Excellence in Social Service and Excellence in Administrative Governance

Kabankalan City – Excellence in Local Legislative and Excellence in Environmental Management

Municipal Category:

Hinigaran - Excellence in Economic Development

Pulupandan - Excellence in Environmental Management

Barangay Category:

Delicioso, Ilog and  San Antonio, Himamaylan – Best in Lupong Tagapamayapa

Bacolod woke up with the aroma of Starbucks Bacolod yesterday, December 9. The opening of Starbucks Bacolod has been eagerly anticipated by coffee aficionados in the province.

Starbucks Bacolod is located at 18th corner Lacson St., along Bacolod City’s Tourism Strip. Starbucks Bacolod is the first Starbucks in Western Visayas and hopefully will not be the last.

Starbucks loyal customers will be  eager to start filling up their sticker card for the Starbucks planner. I was at Starbucks yesterday with friends and my friend Anton, who was  there during the blessing and soft opening, already filled his card halfway.

Starbucks Bacolod is a welcome addition to the growing number of coffee shops in the city.  The international brand will surely provide a different coffee experience for coffee lovers in the City of Smiles.

I will be going with friends who were commissioned by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to conduct photo-documentation of Catholic Churches in Western Visayas. Today will be the start for the Negros Occidental leg which will end on Monday, December 1.

I know it will be a grueling three days considering the distance to be covered but I don’t mind. This is a rare opportunity  to visit all the municipalities and cities of Negros Occidental.

This is our proposed itinerary: