KABAYAN PROMOTES SUPPORT AND COOPERATION AMONG LGUs

AS KEY TO NATIONAL UNITY
17 November 2005

Vice President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro underscored the importance of the continued good relations among the provinces of the Southern Tagalog region that promote support and cooperation as the missing links that the country badly need today in the face of divisiveness that seriously threaten any attempt to spur our country to move forward.

This was the message of Vice President De Castro at the opening of the Barakalan 2005, the sixth edition of the Southern Tagalog Regional Trade Fair at the Megatrade Hall at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City as he noted that even after Region IV was divided into CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) and MIMAROPA (Mindoro-Marinduque-Roxas-Palawan) in 2002, the spirit of BARAKALAN started by Ricky Osmond in 1990, former Department of Trade and Industry Regional Director and presently Chairman of RDC IV-A, lived on. World-class products and services of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as local government units of CALABARZON at MIMAROPA regions are still showcased in the annual event.

Mapalawak sana natin sa ibang pang mga rehiyon ang samahang katulad ng “BARAKALAN.” I see this as an important strategy in promoting unity in the face of deep divisions brought about by political differences.

The Vice President believes that with the institutionalization of the “FORWARD AND BACKWARD” link strategy that promote help and collaboration among cities, provinces and regions, maximum economic benefits would be achieved by the country for this strategy is particularly effective in a country with geographic setup that we have.

Vice President De Castro also expressed hope that the ideals of Barakalan would carry our local products through in the face of stiff competition that globalization brings.

The Vice President explains: Nananaig pa rin ang pagkakaisa, kasipagan at ang likas na kakayahan ng mga Pilipino upang malagpasan ang anumang pagsubok. Bukod pa rito, naging maigting din ang pagtutulungan ng gobyerno at ng pribadong sektor sa pagsusulong ng mga development initiatives.

And the unified effort, innate talent and hard work of the Filipinos are the things that Vice President De Castro mentioned that would eventually carry the country to the path of progress.

Ref no. VPMEDIA 05-177