by: Joel Pineda Jaquinta

E.B. Magalona Mayor Marvin M. Malacon and Vice Mayor Eric D. Matulac thanked 3rd District Representative Dr. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez for the two significant bill filed at the House of Representatives.

Congressman Benitez earlier filed two House Bill namely; HB 3890, an act seeking for the establishment of a multi- species marine hatchery in E.B. Magalona and HB 46, an act providing for the construction of a coastal road traversing the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay and Victorias and the Municipality of E. B. Magalona in the Province of Negros Occidental.

“The two House Bill filed by our own Congressman will definitely impact the socio-economic sector of our town. From our fishing community to the micro and small entrepreneurs in the seafood industry to our eco-tourism potentials and to the local economy as a whole”, Mayor Malacon said.

“What’s more important is that, it will have greater effect in the lives of our constituents especially the underprivileged. I know Congressman Kiko Benitez and former Congressman Albee Benitez had seen these potentials in our town. While harnessing this potentials, we are making sure that everything is critically considered, the environment and the people, the resources and its protection and sustainability for the future of our children and the generations to come”, Mayor Malacon added.     

Vice Mayor Eric Matulac for his part said, “It is with great honor and pride that Congressman Kiko Benitez had chosen our town to be the host local government unit for the proposed establishment of multi- specie marine hatchery. We are challenged today as local legislative body to ensure that every programs and projects being implemented by different government agencies in our town will be protected and sustained, thus the need for us to enact local ordinances in support of this. Congressman Benitez and Mayor Malacon is assured of that”.

With more less 29kilometers of coastline stretching from 9 Barangays and more or less 11thousand hectares of fishpond, the Municipality of E.B. Magalona is known for its abundant marine resources such as the famous blue swimming crab locally known as “kasag”, oyster known as “talaba”, brown mussels locally known as “tahong”, shrimp locally known as “pasayan”, sardines locally known as “tuloy”, milkfish known as “bangrus”, dried fish or the famous “uga” and different species of fishes. Considering the volume these marine products, the town today play a vital role in the supply both in the local and export market.

Booth Mayor Malacon and Vice Mayor Matulac expressed hopes that the 18th Congress will pass the two bills into law filed by Representative Dr. Jose Francisco Benitez.