Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia yesterday did not disclose what post he is going for in the 2016 polls but vowed that when he does run, he will be ready for it.

“When I campaign, I promise you that I will be ready in 2016,” Leonardia said at the end of his State of the District Report yesterday, that was met by laud applause from the crowd gathered at the Garden Royale at the Goldenfields Commercial Complex in Bacolod City.

“I believe you are expecting me to announce something. Over the past months, people have been asking me for my plans for 2016. I told them that I have a lot of work to do as congressman,” he said.

Leonardia said that if he had been thinking of his political ambition, he would not have been able to deliver projects for the city.

He said he will now start moving around consulting people, the different sectors, councilors and the vice mayor.

When asked if his statement meant that he will be running for mayor, Leonardia said that was just a generic statement that means that he believes there is a time for everything under the sun.

Since the deadline is nearing, he will be consulting the different sectors before the filing of his certificate of candidacy in October. He is just preparing their people who had helped him all these years, he said.

Leonardia pointed out that his birthday wish is not about his political ambition but his projects, which he hopes will be implemented since this will benefit the people and will make Bacolod grow.

He said he will make a decision when the time comes.

Asked if Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya will be running for congressman, Leonardia replied that if his decision is not yet final, he supposes that the plans of the rest in their group is not yet final at this time, too.

When also asked if Councilor El Cid Familiaran will be running as vice mayor, Leonardia said this is a period when speculations are flying. So, anything can be said about 2016, but the reality is that they will only know the final picture when the deadline comes, he said.

Leonardia said he invited Familiaran and other councilors to his birthday. He recalled that Familiaran also attended his birthday last year.

The congressman also noted that the city spent government funds to send barangay captains on a Lakbay Aral in time for his State of the District Report. This is not the first time this has happened, he said.

During his SDR, Leonardia also corrected what he called the lie being peddled by his political opponents that the city was bankrupt when his term as mayor ended.

He pointed out that the minutes of a Sangguniang Panlungsod session dated July 10, 2013 showed that when he left, the city had a total deposit in different banks amounting to P636.8 million. This was certified by former City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos, who said that the city was financially sound, he said.

For the 12 years he was mayor, Bacolod never had a deficit, he added.

Leonardia said that based on the competitiveness rating in 2010 , Bacolod ranked No. 2 overall, and was No. 1 in efficiency of government among the growth centers in the Philippines.

Based on the 2014 results, Bacolod dropped to No. 20 among the growth centers and in terms of government efficiency, it also dropped to No. 45 from No. 2 in 2012, he said.

Leonardia also clarified that the government center cannot be considered overpriced and that the Ombudsman said there was nothing anomalous in the implementation of the project.

Meanwhile, the solon thanked President Aquino and the Department of Public Works and Highways for the unprecedented projects Bacolod City has been getting.

Leonardia also endorsed Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. for senator in 2016 during his SDR.

He thanked those who had helped him since his political career started 20 years ago.*CGS

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