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Bacolod City, Philippines Tuesday, November 20, 2012
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Mayor names Orola
new city administrator
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Former tourism attaché and Bacolod Rep. John Orola Jr. is the new City Administrator following the resignation of Rogelio Balo, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia announced yesterday.

He appointed Orola as City Administrator Friday after accepting the resignation of Balo on the same day, the mayor said.

Balo, who is now with his family in the U.S., tendered his resignation Friday for health reasons, Leonardia said.

“It was with a heavy heart that I accepted the resignation of Balo, but it is with a happy heart that I appoint Orola as our City Administrator,” he said

Leonardia thanked Balo for his competence, dedication, hard work and loyalty to the service.

He also said he is very positive that Orola will be a fitting grand finale to the nine years of this administration.

With his wealth of experience, having been the first tourism coordinator of Negros Occidental and tourism attaché in Osaka, Tokyo in Japan; Seoul, Korea, Los Angeles, California, and other important cities in the world, Leonardia said he is very confident that Orola will be a spectacular addition to the team of the city government.

Orola, who was Leonardia’s former boss at the Department of Tourism, said the Mayor is now his boss, and thanked him for his trust and confidence in him.

NO POLITICS

Leonardia said politics was not a consideration in the appointment of Orola as City Administrator. It was based on his competence, track record, wide professional and business exposure, and acknowledged national and international connections, he added.

The question was raised since Orola’s brother, Bart, is running for councilor under the Nationallist People’s Coalition Grupo Progreso led by Leonardia.

Leonardia said Orola is a living asset that the city has not tapped to the maximum.

“While he was productive in the private sector, I believe that, given an official position, he will produce even more” he said.

Leonardia recalled that Orola was the congressman with the most number of major projects and programs because of his diplomatic skills and expertise in connecting the city to national agencies and to the international business and tourism world.

OROLA’S PROJECTS

Among his projects were the widening of the Sum-ag road, Alijis food terminal,the slaughterhouse structure that was started when he was congressman, and many more, he said.

Leonardia said he is looking forward to an Office of the City Administrator that will be very dynamic with the appointment of Orola who has a heart for the market, because he came from that sector.

“There was no need to bring him in for political reasons. It was more from the administrative and professional advancement of the city that we considered him for the position,” Leonardia said.

Orola thanked the Mayor and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson for giving him the opportunity to return to public service.

RECOGNITIONS

He said the progress that the Mayor has made in the city in the past nine years will continue, and cited the awards and recognitions reaped by the city like the “Most Business-Friendly City” and “Most Livable City,” among others.

Orola said he believes the City Administrator has to work closely with the department heads and added that he will require them to submit weekly or monthly reports of their accomplishments to guide him to areas that need attention.

His thrust will be to provide opportunities for everyone, he said, adding that he will recommend to the Mayor that more skills training will be provided to the people, as well as livelihood and employment opportunities, in partnership with national agencies.

TOURISM

Orola said that on Friday, he will meet with figures in the tourism industry in Iloilo to make Western Visayas, particularly Negros Occidental, the gateway of tourism, trade and investment.

He also noted that visitors who come to Bacolod want to live in it because they find the place peaceful, its roads wide, and the environment very conducive.*CGS

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