By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri sponsored Senate Resolution No. 544 on Tuesday, honoring the life of former Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo G. Marañon Jr.
“He was a visionary who changed Negros,” said Zubiri, whose family came from Kabankalan, Negros.
“His agricultural and environmental initiatives for the province were groundbreaking.” As a young environmentalist, I really looked up to him. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with him in our time as congressmen in the Eleventh Congress.”
Marañon and Zubiri both served in the 11th Congress as representatives of the second district of Negros Occidental and the third district of Bukidnon, respectively.
“And of course, he was a brilliant governor, and he was really able to unite Negros, which was key to the development of the province,” Zubiri said.
Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Ramon Bong Revilla, Kiko Pangilinan, Richard Gordon, and Grace Poe also shared fond memories and admiration for the former governor.
Senators praised his agricultural and environmental initiatives, as well as his move to unite the two provinces of Negros into the singular Negros Island Region.
All senators were made co-authors of the resolution, Zubiri said.