LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- The capital town of Benguet  recently celebrated its 73rd Foundation Anniversary and recognized the outstanding members of the community thru the Kayabang Awards.

Mayor Romeo  Salda and Vice Mayor Roderick  Awingan awarded the Kayabang Awards to 11 individuals and an institution during the main program  in June 16.

 Former Philippine National Police Chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., led the awardees for the Kayabang Awards for 2023 under the Public Service Category. Azurin  was born in Tarlac but grew up and was raised in La Trinidad.
 
Awardees for the Special Kayabang Awards   are La Union Provincial Police Office Director Colonel Lambert Suerte for  the Public Service Category, Kurt Ludan Lubrica and Denesia Apote Esnara for Sports, and   Dr. Jimmy Catanes for Education category.

Special Recognition Awardees under the Public Service category  are Police Brigadier General Paul Kenneth Tuhay Lucas, P/BGen. Rudolph Botengan Dimas and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – La Trinidad . 

Awarded under the Academic Excellence Category  is  Rigelle Lando while Charlito Cognoden under the Human Integrity category.
 
Kayabang refers to the traditional carrying basket of the Benguet people which symbolize their industry and strength. The awards are given to residents and organizations in the municipality for their exemplary efforts and achievements bringing honor to the municipality.

Meanwhile, Congressman Eric Yap and Governor Melchor Diclas shared  their aspirations for the capital town of La Trinidad and called  for the unity and support  among the officials and the constituents.

Diclas said most of the facilities are in the municipality, but the  provincial government in partnership with Cong. Yap, more developments are being done such as the improvement of the facilities and equipment of the Benguet General Hospital and the Benguet Sports Complex.

The Congressman, in his keynote message read by Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin, shared ongoing projects in La Trinidad such as the Aquatic Center with an Olympic-sized swimming pool following the completion of a track and field oval in Wangal and the vision of a  Benguet Convention Center  at the sports complex.  Other projects include the flood control project at the Strawberry Farm, Pines Park Bridge, and solar street lights.

He also announced  that he has  filed  a  bill for the cityhood of La Trinidad.  He said that it is about time to hail La Trinidad as “The City of La Trinidad” being the capital town of Benguet.

The anniversary  celebration with the theme “La Trinidad: Flourishing in the New Normal, ” brought  back the traditional activities which were  previously halted due to the COVID-19 protocols.(JDP/RMC-PIA CAR)