22nd Charter Anniversary and Negosyo Festival 2022 Officially Kicks-Off
Despite the power outage that occurred before the program could begin, people gathered and patiently awaited the official start of the 22nd Charter Anniversary and Negosyo Festival 2022 last October 5, 2022, at Rizal Park. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this annual event in Koronadal made a successful return.
Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena led the official opening of the week-long celebration. Aside from the city mayor, South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Koronadal, officials of DTI-South Cotabato, and the South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce also participated in the said occasion.
Mayor Ogena formally started his speech by highlighting this year’s theme, “Rising to the Challenges of the New Normal.” According to the mayor, there are a lot of challenges brought about by this new normal.
“There are a lot of challenges, and to address these challenges of the new normal, we need to be stronger, and we can be stronger if we are united”, Mayor Ogena stressed.
He also added that being united is very crucial in dealing with these challenges.
“Koronadal City has been a resilient city for several times, I’m sure we will be able to overcome the challenges of the new normal with the help of the provincial government, the congressional, and the city government working together.“
Meanwhile, South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. has backed-up the statements of the city’s local chief executive that in order to become progressive and developed, unity is indeed the key.
“Nakikita ko ang alignment ng City of Koronadal and South Cotabato. Iisa lamang ang pangarap ng lungsod at ng probinsiya at ito’y tiyakin na iangat ang buong probinsiya ng South Cotabato. Yong vision na meron ang city ang naka-align sa vision na meron ang South Cotabato”, Governor Tamayo said.
Tamayo also shared that the provincial government has proposed the establishment of economic zones in the city, particularly along the circumferential roads of Koronadal. He added that it is high time for the LGUs to work hand in hand to support the economic enterprises in the province of South Cotabato. Likewise, the governor is looking forward to creating a provincial-owned and controlled corporations.
“The province of South Cotabato is looking forward to having South Cotabato Provincial-Owned and Controlled Corporations. Titiyakin ko na ang mga GOCCs na ito ay hindi magiging kakompetensiya ng mga negosyante bagkus mga partners upang masiguro na tataas ang kita ng mga negosyante ng lungsod at probinsiya.”
On the other hand, South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce Vice President Atty. Romeo RJ Sustiguer, Jr., assured the city and provincial governments as well as the businessmen in the province that they will continuously provide support that will greatly benefit them.
“We would like to express that we remain committed to being partners with the City of Koronadal and the Province of South Cotabato. We fully support all the initiatives that will help our business sector, as they are the heroes of the Philippine economy, Atty. Sustiguer remarked.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-South Cotabato Provincial Director Rictoniel T. Reginio meanwhile announced that for this whole month of October, the DTI is also celebrating Consumers Welfare Month. Various activities were prepared by the agency, wherein it will be participated in by the city and provincial governments as well as DTI Region XII. This activity does not only concern the welfare of the consumers but it also promotes the welfare of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
As part of the recent advocacy of the DTI, Reginio encouraged the different local government units (LGUs) to provide budget for the procurement of the products and services in their respective areas.
“We encourage the LGUs, the municipal, city, and provincial governments to allocate at least ten percent (10%) of their budget to procure products and services as well as destinations that are developed and produced in their locality,” Reginio quipped.
In support of the business sector in the city of Koronadal, Mayor Ogena has made this appeal to the public. “Let’s patronize our local products. Let’s spend money here in the City of Koronadal.”
Earlier, the opening of KARADYAN Food Fairs and Exhibitions was conducted while a spectacular fireworks display at Rizal Park capped the opening of the festivities.