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Bacolod City, Philippines Wednesday, October 3, 2012
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‘Team will move
Bacolod forward’
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said the Nationalist People’s Coalition in Bacolod City has a complete team and he believes this is the team that will not only make Bacolod stable but help it continue to surge ahead.

Records will show that Bacolod today is a better city than it was in 2004 when he returned as mayor of Bacolod, Leonardia said during the presentation of their slate before the filing of their certificates of candidacy with the Commission on Elections.

This has been validated over and over again by institutions, people, organizations that are prestigious, credible, apolitical, and very scientific, he said.

Leonardia said Bacolod has moved forward and they do not want that the improvements that had taken place in Bacolod in the past eight to nine years will stagnate, more so, to go down the drain.

So we need to have people who will see to it that Bacolod will grow and continue to surge ahead, and this is the team that will sustain its momentum, Leonardia also said.

“I believe the combination of mayoralty candidate Jude Thaddeus Sayson and vice mayoralty candidate Greg Gasataya is a winning combination, and their chemistry has been proven over and over again in the past,” he said.

When Sayson was Vice Mayor and Gasataya was floor leader, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod became the Best Performing SP in the Philippines, Leonardia said.

They both have accomplished a lot and for sure Bacolod will be in very good hands, he said.

Leonardia also acknowledged the presence of former Bacolod Rep. John Orola and former Land Transportation and Communication-National Capital region Director Ricardo “Cano” Tan at the presentation of their slate that was attended by about 37 barangay captains.

Sayson said they are ready for 2013, and there is no turning back.

He said they have to maintain the gains started by their administration about nine years ago.

Sayson said their priority is housing, food production, infrastructure development, opening new growth areas, among others. But these are things they have already started about nine years ago, he said.

“My personal battle cry is to continue the gains we have already established,” he added.

Sayson said they need to open new growth areas to decongest the city. Opening new development centers will create more jobs and create opportunities in other areas in the city, he said. They also have to implement more infrastructure to sustain the city’s competitive advantage and to invite more investors to come in and encourage those who are already here to stay, he added.

Paglumotan said they have already implemented programs their political opponents are still planning to do.

Gasataya said they are encouraged by the presence of all their supporters and leaders who are supporting their candidacy.

Asked about the absence of graduating Councilors Al Victor Espino, Homer Bais and Dindo Ramos, Gasataya said each one has his own right and belief but they have to follow the decision of the party.

Leonardia said they have open lines and they will wait and see how things will develop. “I am hoping all these will end up amicably, peacefully, and for sure, in the end, they will find a solution,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Police Office Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said they have detailed policemen at the office of the Commission on Elections at the Bay Center as candidates have started to file their COC’s.

Although there have been no recorded election-related violence in Bacolod, De la Paz said, this does not mean that they should be complacent.

He also stressed that based on their initial monitoring, there are no barangays in Bacolod that are considered as election “hot spots” since most of the politicians here only engage in bickerings.*CGS

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