‘Mountains in dreams’
IT’S QUITE fascinating to hear that lots of “very good things” for the youngest town of the province of Negros Occidental are in the offing. Yes, the 41- year- old Municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), which is 5,036 feet above sea level, will soon be having its new government center to be erected on a 17- hectare lot in Barangay Igmay-an. And such a P20-M edifice will be complemented by food and transport terminals and an open amphitheater within its peripheries. More so, DSB, if plans are finalized sooner, will also host the Philippine National Police’s ( PNP) regional training and logistic centers at Spur 14, Barangay Bunga. A plan to construct a 10,000- seater concert hall- slashconvention center on top of the mountain is also in the pipeline. Mayor Mac- Mac can’t contain his excitement. He said they’re almost “beyond ready” for these “upcoming breakthroughs” in their smallest and humble locality which is home to more than 10,000 households. All these are like “mountain in dreams” for the De la Cruzes who founded DSB, a rebels’ lair 41 years ago. Realizing them one by one is a monumental feat for the younger De la Cruzes (Mayor Mac-Mac and his brother, Vice Mayor Nehemia Joe).
FULL ENERGIZATION
Another grandiose dream of the De la Cruz brothers is the energization of all the sitios in their town. Mayor Mac- Mac is pinning high hopes to the newly- established Ne gr os Electric and Power Corporation ( NEPC) to realize this“longest ever” dream. In three years, the mayor is confident of“empowering” t heir remaining unlit sitios. Yes, DSB needs to ride on the current digital era. If not, it’ll gonna be “out of touch.” Thus, Mayor Mac- Mac is on the right track pursuing this initiative backed by the Enrique Razon- led NEPC.
Not easy, of course, considering the “up and down” elevations of DSB being the ( last) frontier town in Negros Occidental. However, Mayor Mac- Mac is really persistent to endeavoring things meant for the sake of DSB - his parents’ “immortal baby”. As he stressed ( again and again), he will never put his the late Tatay Nehemias’ efforts in vain. Nene and wife Cynthia were founders of DSB. Both were rebel combatants who fell in love underground. Later, they bolted out of the New People’s Army (NPA) and established DSB from a mere barangay of Murcia to an independent municipality. And their very “wish” was granted on February 9, 1983 by the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. via Batas Pambansa Bilang 336.
‘SUMMER CAPITAL’
Today, DSB is beyond mountains and terrains. It is now billed as the “Summer Capital” of Negros and home to beautiful vacation houses, A- 1 upland resorts, and tourist attractions.
Unbelievable to note, but everything now is real in DSB – from excellent road network to tourism facilities, local food to eat and nature to embrace, etc. “This is it !” Mayor Mac-Mac punctuated, adding that DSB is always “one step ahead” in everything it does. In a nutshell, DSB remains in the “good hands” of the De la Cruzes. From its founders to their descendants, DSB keeps growing and progressing one step at a time. Kudos to Mayor Mac-Mac!/