Dinagat Islands province opened its Sept. 27-Oct. 1 “Bugkosan sa Isla 2023” on Wednesday in time for the province’s 17th charter day.
Bugkosan, which means to bind, is a call for unity among the residents amid the challenges faced by the province in the past years.
“Despite the challenges we face, the most difficult of which was the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in 2021, the people of Dinagat Islands continue to be resilient because of the unity they manifest,” Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. said in an interview.
Infrastructure development and livelihood support programs remain the priorities of the provincial government to improve the quality of life of its residents, he said.
“We will continue to implement agriculture and fishery support programs, and infrastructure improvements which are essential in the promotion of economic growth in our province,” he added.
He cited the need to empower the youth to enhance their “knowledge, skills, and personal growth” and help foster unity in their communities.
In the area of tourism, the governor emphasized the need to strengthen the province’s cultural initiatives, as well as sports and recreational activities.
The weeklong Bugkosan sa Isla festival features cultural presentations, sports, fairs, and other social activities.
The governor’s State of the Province Address will be the highlight of the Oct. 1 culminating activity. (PNA)
