By Samson Garzon, Jr., Victorias City Agriculturist
Mayor Francis Frederick
Palanca with Vice Mayor Jerry Jover had a face to face encounter with the National
Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) leaders and members who staged a rally at
Victorias Public Plaza last Aug. 20.
The activity was part of
the group’s nationwide annual activity to commemorate the death of former
Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. as well as to air their national and domestic
demands or needs to the Local Government.
According to the leaders of the group,
there were around 300 members who joined the rally.
Part of their national demands
posted on the placards were the pushing for approval of House Bill 252 or the “Genuine
Agrarian Reform Bill” and “No to Coal-Fired Power Plant”.
Their local concerns were
rice/food assistance for tiempos muertos,
seeds, working animals, engine pumps and organic fertilizers.
Upon seeing the group at the
public plaza, and out of compassion for his constituents, Mayor Palanca went
down from the City Hall and conferred with them.
After listening and
talking with NFSW members, the Mayor invited their leaders for a more intimate
dialogue at his conference room.
What started as a serious and tense
encounter ended up as a cordial and joyful conference.
The local leaders of NFSW expressed
jubilant remarks of gratitude as their concerns were eventually addressed by
the Mayor.
They were assured that the
present administration is creatively working consistently “Sa Pag-asenso sang Victoriahanon” (NFSW included).
