Underscoring 115th Philippine Independence Day Celebration by the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte was the PAMANA Projects Turnover Ceremony. The turnover includes 2011 PAMANA Concreting of Malibago-Malaya FMR in the Municipality of Labo with a project cost of 40,000,000.00. In attendance were DILG Regional Director Blandino M. Maceda, OPAPP Director of PAMANA Coordinating Unit for Luzon and Visayas Maria Eileen Jose and other provincial heads of different local and national agencies. The celebration was also highlighted by the message from RD Maceda.
As can be drawn from RD Maceda’s message, independence in present day terms must be viewed not only as sovereignty from colonial rule, but more importantly must be viewed as independence from the shackles of poverty, freedom from hostilities and violence, freedom from social ills and economic difficulties. Corollarily, the import of independence lies in the exercise of freedom of choice and the opportunity to access ranges of options. The perpetuating question however remains, do the poor and marginalized members of our communities enjoy this kind of freedom?
Furthermore deduced from the Director’s message, was according to him, another meaningful essence of independence is the freedom to pursue the kind of life we chose to live, it is the freedom to pursue the kind of education we want to give to our children or the freedom to access the kind of services people wanted to have to improve their living conditions. Ultimately, true independence can be only achieved if we have fully alleviated the poor and the disadvantaged from poverty, according to RD Maceda.
On the other hand, serving as the linchpin to solve poverty is the attainment of peace and social security countrywide. Noteworthy mentioning that with PAMANA projects providing the foundation for peace-building, several other pro-poor programs are expected to provide the complementary stimulus for economic growth and development that will eventually reduce poverty in Camarines Norte. – (PD Edwin F. Garcia)