MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan—The provincial government of Bulacan, along with hundreds of Bulakenyos, will relive the spirit of true independence during the 119th anniversary of the Philippine Independence to be held at the historic Barasoain Church here on Monday.
With the theme “Kalayaan 2017: Pagbabagong Sama-samang Balikatin,” the celebration aims to inspire and depict the great dedication of Filipinos who fought for the welfare of the country and of the people.
“Unity is the main key in achieving personal and national freedom and the government is more than willing to help the citizens in striving to achieve a better nation,” Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said.
“Unity is the no. 1 key toward freedom and progress. Similar to what our noble heroes have done, we, in our present times, should be hand-in-hand for a free, progressive and peaceful nation,” Alvarado said.
Senator Loren Legarda is expected to grace the event as the guest speaker.
The provincial government has also lined up activities to celebrate freedom day.
To help Bulakenyos achieve freedom from health issues, the provincial government of Bulacan through Kapitolyo sa Barangay will conduct on Monday a free medical and dental mission that will offer free medicines, X-ray and electrocardiogram tests, haircut, reflexology and massage as well as legal counseling, coinciding the Independence Day celebration.
On the same day, the Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office will hold the “Lakbike Turismo: A Fun Ride to the Past 2017,” a non-competitive bike eco-friendly tour which aims to create a widespread awareness on the value and importance of health and wellness as a lifestyle and to promote travel destinations in the province by using the most environmentally sustainable mode of transportation.
Participants will pedal their way to various historical places in the province including Garden City in Guiguinto; Enriquez House, Nuestra Señora Dela Asuncion Church, Gregorio Del Pilar marker and Marcelo H. Del Pilar Shrine, all in Bulakan; and Isidoro Torres marker, Malolos Heritage District and Barasoain Church in the City of Malolos.
Independence Day (Araw ng Kalayaan) is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed every June 12 as a commemoration of the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898 by President Emilio Aguinaldo.
Meanwhile, in Bustos, Governor Sy-Alvarado and National Irrigation Administration chief Ricardo Visaya expressed satisfaction on the progress of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Angat Afterbay Regulator dam, also known as Bustos Dam, said to be the world’s largest rubber irrigation dam.
According to NIA Central Luzon manager Josephine B. Salazar, the rehabilitation of the Bustos Dam, which started in May 2016, will be finished before the end of July this year.
The governor and the NIA administrator conducted a project site inspection Wednesday, accompanied by Bulacan Second District Rep. Gavini Pancho, Bustos Mayor Arnel Mendoza and other NIA officials.
Alvarado said he was glad to know that the rehabilitation is pushing through as scheduled.
“Bustos Dam is one of the three important dams in Bulacan. Once the rehabilitation is completed, it will have an increased holding capacity to prevent flash floods. It will also secure the delivery of irrigation to farmers in 16 towns in Bulacan and four towns in Pampanga, with over 23,000 farmers dependent on it,” he said.
The governor said that brittle rubber gates of the old Bustos dam is like the proverbial sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of the people of Calumpit and Hagonoy, the perennial catch basins of backfloods during typhoon season.
“When two of the dam’s gates are opened to let out excess water, the two towns are submerged in water reaching up to seven feet,” he said.
The NIA administrator said the new rubber gates are now equipped with sprinklers to ensure that it will not become brittle during the summer season.
Alvarado thanked Visaya and other ranking NIA officials for personally inspecting the rehabilitation of Bustos dam.
“Not only the farmers will be served fully well but this will also help solve the flood problems in the low lying towns of Hagonoy and Calumpit,” he said.
He said that once completed before the end of July this year, the dam will help boost the harvest of agricultural products.
