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| Batac mayor Albert D. Chua leads the lighting of the giant Christmas tree on Dec. 8, 2020 at the heart of the city. (Doms Dela Cruz) |
By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
City of Batac—The
city government here led the commemoration of the feast of Immaculate
Conception of Mary—the Principal Patroness of the Philippines—and the opening
of the annual city fiesta, despite the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
A mass held at the Immaculate Conception Church in the morning kicked
off the festivities followed by the blessing and inauguration of 43 barangay multi-purpose
vehicles, which the city government later distributed to all the 43 Barangays
in this city.
Rev. Fr. Philip Anthony Dimagiba led the blessings of the 43-brand
new multi-purpose vehicles witnessed by Batac mayor Albert D. Chua, Batac vice mayor
Windell D. Chua, city councilors and all the punong barangays with their kagawads.
Mr. Chua said the PHP50 million L300 multi-purpose vans are for
the barangays’ official transportation business as well as for emergencies in
their respective barangays. For rural barangays, the said vans can also become
a transporter of farm products to the market.
The mayor disclosed that the fund for the vehicles’ purchases
comes from the city government’s general fund. He added that they registered
the vehicles under the name of the barangay government and not under the
incumbent barangay chairperson. He also noted that the barangay council may
pass a barangay ordinance for the van’s maintenance, as well as its rental fees
should they decide on this.
The donated vehicles are considered multi-purpose since it has a
radio, emergency lights, siren, and rescue hooks among others.
Prior to the L300 van donations, the city government earlier
distributed patrol tricycles and mini dump trucks to the 43 barangays in this
city for the peace and order, and infrastructure purposes respectively.
“Awan sabali a panggep
daytoy gobyerno iti siyudad iti Batac no di ket ipaayan iti maysa a
wagas a pakalag-anan kadagiti kalugaran tayo tapnun makasagrap da met iti
sangkabassit a nam-ay,” Mr. Chua emphasized.
As the city commemorated the feast day of Immaculate Conception
of Mary on December 8, it also served as the “opening salvo” for the city’s annual
fiesta.
In addition to this, the celebration became special as it also
marked the official lighting of the city’s giant Christmas tree and the opening
of the Yuletide Season in the city of Batac.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city government has limited
this year’s fiesta activities to observe health protocols set by the national and
provincial governments.
The city government will hold a virtual search for “Miss Batac
2020” thru social media. Pre-pageant and coronation are scheduled inside the
city hall with limited persons only: make-up artists, choreographers,
organizers, judges and very limited guests.
The 43 barangays were clustered into nine groups. Every cluster
fielded two candidates
The city government has also lined-up the distribution of
agricultural machineries to city farmers and zanjeras, blessing and
inauguration of concrete pavements, multi-purpose community centers.
Highlighting the city fiesta and the Yuletide Season are the gift-giving
for PWDs, senior citizens and other surprises.
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