BUSTOS, Bulacan — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday joined the Bulakenyos in celebrating the 13th Minasa Festival in this town.
It was the first physical celebration of the Minasa Festival in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I join the people of Bustos, Bulacan in celebrating this year’s Minasa Festival. This joyful gathering is an affirmation of the Bulakenyos enduring solidarity, cooperation, and pride in upholding the rich heritage and diverse resources of the municipality,” Duterte, in her speech, said.
The Vice President also lauded the local government of Bustos for its “dedicated and commendable efforts” in demonstrating the capacity of its locality to contribute to the overall development of their town and the rest of the province.
Duterte said the Minasa, Bustos’ famous local cookie, represents the Filipinos’ admirable ability to sustain our longstanding customs and build upon our traditional practices in realizing more productive endeavors.
“As you gather through music, food, dance, and religious festivities, may you harness unity in promoting sustainable development and shaping a progressive future for Bustos,” Duterte said.
“With all your potential for further growth, you have secured your place in the tourism landscape of our country, contributed to agricultural development as one of the largest rice producers in the region, and fostered flourishing industries that have made you a bustling commercial center in Central Luzon,” she added.
The celebration pushed through despite the flooding in some areas in Bulacan due to continuous rainfall and water released from Angat, Bustos and Ipo Dams.
The Office of the Vice President’s Disaster Operations Center (OVP-DOC) on Monday delivered sacks of rice to the flood-affected residents.
The OVP-DOC, in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Governor Daniel R. Fernando, Bulacan Provincial Risk Reduction Managament Office (PDRRMO), and Bustos Mayor Francis Albert Juan, delivered 200 sacks of rice to the Provincial Government of Bulacan to be distributed to the affected families.
“Sa panahon ng mga emergencies na kagaya nito, hindi po namin kayo iiwan. Sa araw na ito, ang amin pong Disaster Operations Center ay magpapadala ng tulong sa ating local government of Bustos,” Duterte said.
The Vice President assured the people that the government is working to provide necessary relief assistance to the affected families.
She also reiterated the urgent need for effective flood control infrastructures and disaster management response in reinforcing our communities’ capacity to prevent the occurrence of a calamity.
“Sa panahon ngayon, hindi pa man dumadating ang bagyo ay nakakaranas na tayo ng baha. Importanteng alam ng bawat miyembro ng pamilya at komunidad kung ano ang gagawin kapag may emergency. Kapag sinabi ng ating local na gobyerno na kailangan lumikas, sundin po natin ang payo ng mga awtoridad bago pa man dumating ang sakuna o trahedya,” Duterte said.
“Sa pamamagitan ng paghahanda, maiibsan ang ating takot at pangamba at maiiwasan natin ang panganib sa buhay at trahedya,” she added. OVP MEDIA