Four mayors from Negros Oriental and seven from Negros Occidental have confirmed their attendance at the birthday of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia today.

The mayors agreed to hold the League of Cities of the Philippines coordinating meeting today with their senior secretariat officers in Bacolod City.

Those who have confirmed are mayors Ramon Torres, Bago; Patrick Escalante, Cadiz; Eric Saratan, Talisay; Agustin Bascon, Himamaylan; Rafael Cueva, Sagay; Isidro Zayco, Kabankalan; and Juliet Ferrer of La Carlota, all of Negros Occidental; and Jimmy Clerigo, Canlaon; Rene Gaudiel, Bayawan; Karen Villanueva, Bais; and Lawrence Teves of Tanjay, Oriental Negros.

Escalante Mayor Melecio Yap and Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano will be sending their representatives.

In their coordination meeting, the city mayors and the LCP officers will talk about their role as hosts of the 50th LCP National Executive Board Meeting-Expanded that will be held in Bacolod from October 19 to 21, the culminating days of the internationally-known MassKara Festival in the City of Smiles.

Leonardia said “This one is what we call ‘expanded,’ meaning aside from the board members, other mayors are likewise invited.”

He said the mayors have decided to hold the coordination meeting in Bacolod “because Negros is the island with probably the most number of city mayors on a pound for pound basis”.

Leonardia said there are 13 city mayors in Negros Occidental and five in Oriental, or a total of 17 out of the 138 mayors.

In their October meeting, the mayors will hold dialogs with officials of the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Interior and Local Government and the National Economic and Development Authority.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said he has invited US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. to be the guest of honor in the MassKara and to speak before the mayors who will be attending the NEB Meeting-Expanded.

He said he already extended the invitation for the MassKara Festival during the Dinagyang Festival in January and Thomas asked him to send an official letter.

“I believe he is accepting the invitation,” Leonardia said.

Meanwhile, the unveiling of the 2012 MassKara Festival logo will be held at 6 p.m. today at the Bacolod City Government Center and will be attended by four GMA TV personalities.*CGS

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