Fresh from launching the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Magnegosyo ‘Ta Day (MTD) in Laguna, Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, March 14, offered to extend the same financial help to keeping peace in Negros Occidental and boosting the province’s entrepreneurial programs. The official was the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the 116th Founding Anniversary and Tourism Recovery Jumpstart held at the Kabankalan City Public Plaza, Negros Occidental. “We have money to give you kung aduna mo’y organized LGBTQI+ sector or women’s group na nagatrabaho para sa inyong city diri sa Kabankalan (We have money to give you if you have any organized LGBTQI+ sector or women’s group that are working for your city here in Kabankalan). So please let us know how we can help you in jumpstarting your tourism recovery program. Andam mi namuhatag og suporta sa inyong syudad (We are ready to provide support here in your city),” she said. The Vice President also offered her flagship program—Peace 911—when she was still mayor of Davao City. “Peace 911 is also something that you can access here because we have the budget and the funding to assist you in your peace initiatives diri sa inyong lugar (here in your area),” she added. Both MTD and Peace 911 are Duterte’s flagship projects when she was still Davao City’s local chief executive. According to the OVP, the MTD in Davao City “has been successful in enabling its beneficiaries by augmenting their daily income, making them economically empowered and independent.” This project was adopted by the OVP for nationwide implementation and has since been launched in San Pedro, Laguna. Peace 911 helped transform the far-flung community of the city’s Paquibato District which used to be a “stronghold” of the New People’s Army (NPA). The district was declared “insurgency-free” before the Vice President ended her term as mayor in 2022 to run for the vice presidency. “May I reiterate our offer to help you for the Magnegosyo ‘Ta Day and Peace 911 project for your city,” Duterte said. Because tourism is part of the Marcos administration’s eight-point socio-economic agenda, the Vice President shared plans to advance the tourism sector, which is “fundamental to the country’s economy, not only as a source of revenue but also as a major employer for millions of Filipinos.” “We need to enhance our international standing in the global tourism circuit by strengthening our brand not only as a Southeast Asian tourism node, but as a vibrant, resilient, and liveable country,” Duterte said. “This will open great opportunities for Kabankalan — with tourism being the key pillar in your economic growth,” she added. The tourism of Kabankalan, the official stressed, would continue to put the city on the national map. It will also benefit children because it would open opportunities to learn about entrepreneurship, leadership, environmental stewardship, community involvement, employment, and education toward sustainable living.