SUGAR MUSEUM. Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez of Victorias City, Negros Occidental delivers his State of the City Address at the city’s coliseum on Monday afternoon (July 3, 2023). He announced the city government will enter into a usufruct agreement with the National Museum of the Philippines to establish a regional sugar museum. (Screenshot from Victorias City Information Office Facebook Live)
VICTORIAS CITY – This city in northern Negros Occidental is set to partner with the National Museum of the Philippines for the establishment of a regional sugar museum.
Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez announced this development during his State of the City Address held at the coliseum here on Monday afternoon.
“The city will enter into a usufruct agreement with the National Museum of the Philippines to establish a regional museum that will focus on sugar heritage. It will be a sugar museum that Negros Occidental always wanted to have,” he said.
Negros Occidental, known as the sugar capital of the Philippines, produces about 60 percent of the country’s sugar output.
This city also hosts the Victorias Milling Company, the largest refined sugar producer in the Philippines.
“We need the approval of City Council to make this a reality. I’m confident they will approve it,” Benitez said.
He said preparations and processing of permits will begin once the city government vacates the current city hall and move to a new city hall.
“It’s a very good project. It’s a very good initiative. We’re very happy with it. This administration is really focusing on cultural heritage because it’s nice to go back, learn about our history, and figure out who we are as a city,” Benitez said.
“We don’t have that long of a history compared to other cities and municipalities, but what’s really very exciting in Victorias City is we could be a melting pot of cultures and this is one of the hallmark places where the sugar industry really started,” he added.
Benitez said they also plan to work with the Department of Tourism to make the sugar museum a tourism site.
During his address, Benitez also presented the various projects and programs implemented under his administration’s six-point agenda, focusing on dynamic governance, dignified human settlements, disaster-resilient communities, a diversified economy, inclusive education, and universal health care.
“We are one in victory. One Victorias for all of us. My fellow Victoriahon, the state of our city is strong,” he said. (PNA)
