Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas dispatched personnel of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRMO) to conduct a three-day clearing operation on Bila-Palansa and Palansa-Apunan farm-to-market roads in Bokod, Benguet to ensure safe travel of farmers and residents in the said locality.
Tyson EstangkiENVIRONMENT. Employees of the Provincial Government of Benguet headed by Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas plant guyabano trees in Allitang Communal Forest in Sagpat, Kibungan, Benguet in celebration of Arbor Day on June 25, 2021.More tree planting activities are schedule for next month.
Tyson Estangki
P5.97M GYMNASIUM TURNED OVER TO BUGUIAS. Governor Melchor Daguines Diclas on June 25, 2021, leads the turn-over ceremony of the recently completed Construction of Open Gymnasium at Bangao Elementary School in Bangao, Buguias, Benguet funded by the Provincial LGU of Benguet.
Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas joins a tree-planting activity at the Strawberry Farm, La Trinidad during the launching of Green Buffer Zone for BLISTT areas on June 23, 2021.
DOST-CAR represented by Regional Director Dr. Nancy A. Bantog and the Provincial Government of Benguet represented by Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Design and Establishment of a Very High-Frequency (VHF) Provincial Radio Communications Network for Early Warning and Monitoring of Hazards and Incidents in the Province of Benguet. The MOA signing was done at the Benguet Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on June 21, 2021. This aims at enhancing communication among local government operations centers, especially during calamities.
The recently completed Improvement of Ambiong Elementary School Open Gymnasium project in Ambiong, La Trinidad, Benguet funded by the Provincial Government of Benguet headed by Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas.
Some 85 trainees for Automotive Servicing NC I (45) and Tailoring NC II (40) attend the orientation and training induction program at the Benguet Technical School headed by Flora Manuel under the Office of Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas on June 21, 2021. Among the facilitators are representatives from the TESDA-Provincial Office and from the Office of Congressman Eric Go Yap.
CARE FOR ENVIRONMENT. Some 200 seedlings of guyabano and pine trees were planted at Balakbak Elementary School in Balakbak, Kapangan, Benguet in celebration of June 18, a special non-working holiday in Benguet in observance of its separation as a subprovince of Mt. Province since 1966.
The said tree-planting activity is a joint effort of the personnel of Barangay LGU of Balakbak, Balakbak Elementary School, and of the Provincial Government of Benguet headed by Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas through the Benguet Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) together with the Benguet Capitol Bikers Club (BCBC).
The same activity is conducted yearly as a program in compliance with the National Greening Program, Climate Change Act, and the National Environment Month which usually kicks off on Arbor Day.
On July 2, 2021, the Provincial LGU is set for another tree-planting activity in Poblacion, Atok, Benguet.
Meanwhile, a tree caring/maintenance of the planted seedlings is also being conducted to ensure their long-term health.
On the 22nd day of November, 1900, Act No. 48 was issued providing for the establishment of local civil governments in the townships of the Province of Benguet. Such Act shall apply to all the townships of the province namely, Baguio, Trinidad, Galiano, Itogon, Tublay, Atok, Kapangan, Balakbak, Palina, Ampusongan, Loo, Buguias, Kabayan, Adaoay, Bokod, Daklan, Sablan, Kibungan, and Ambuklao.
On the next day, November 23, 1900, Act No. 49 was issued providing for the establishment of civil government for the Province of Benguet. This is being celebrated yearly in the province along with Adivay Festival through different activities.
The Province of Benguet was then organized under the provisions of Act. No. 1396 known as “The Special Provincial Government Act” dated September 14, 1905 repealing Act No. 49 dated November 23, 1900.On August 18, 1908, Act No. 1876 was issued in which Benguet Province became a sub-province of Mountain Province along with Amburayan, Apayao, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Lepanto.
A year after, in 1909, Baguio became a chartered city and the 19 towns of Benguet as embodied in Act No. 48 dated November 22, 1900 were reduced to 13. The town of Tuba was created while the towns of Ambuklao, Adaoay, Balakbak, Daklan, Galiano, Palina, and Loo were abolished under Executive Orders issued by the Governor General of the Philippines.
57 years later, on June 18, 1966, Republic Act No. 4695 was issued dividing Mt. Province into four provinces, namely Benguet, Mt. Province, Ifugao, and Kalinga-Apayao. Section 2 of the said RA states “The Province of Benguet shall comprise the Subprovince of Benguet and the municipalities of Tuba, Sablan, Itogon, La Trinidad, Tublay, Atok, Bokod, Kabayan, Kapangan, Bakun, Kibungan, Mankayan and Buguias.”
In 1994, Republic Act No. 7672 was issued “Declaring June Eighteen of Every Year as a Special Nonworking Public Holiday in the Province of Benguet” recognizing Republic Act No. 4695 which was enacted into law on June 18, 1966.
These two significant days, June 18 and November 23, are worth remembering as part of the rich history of the Province of Benguet.
On June 18, 2021, let us commemorate the 55th year from the separation of Benguet as sub-province of then Mountain Province, while we celebrate the 121st birthday of Benguet on November 23.
