It is the genuine "powerhouse team," says Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia of his Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) - Grupo Progreso, the team to beat in the 2016 polls.

The slate is composed of veteran politicians and proven vote-getters, re-electionists and returnees, new faces, strong sectoral representations, as well as tested leaders, Leonardia said in a press release from his office yesterday.

Himself a former four-term mayor who started as No. 1 councilor in 1988 became vice mayor, mayor and congressman in 2013, Leonardia said this was the strongest political cast he has ever assembled in his career.

Although the slate is composed mostly of members of the Nationalist People's Coalition, it has representatives from different parties such as the Liberal Party, the Nacionalista Party, and Partido Paglaum, the press release said.

Two of them are running for their last terms in the city council: lawyer and former Sangunian Kabataan crusader Caesar Distrito (NP) and top Lions International leader Em Ang (NPC).

Four of them, including Leonardia, have the distinction of having been elected No. 1 councilor in the past. They are congressional aspirant Greg Gasataya (NPC), vice mayoralty bet El Cid Familiaran (LP)] and former vice mayor Rene Novero (NPC) now running for councilor.

As if to prove their vote-getting powers were no fluke, Novero, Gasataya and Familiaran had twice topped the council polls in their own times, the press release added.

Interestingly, five of them used to be allied with rival MKK camp: Familiaran, Novero, Elmer Sy, George Zulueta and Marlon Solidum, it also said.

Five on the ticket are returnees to the city council: Tourism entrepreneur and former Transportation Assistant Secretary Cano “Gwapo” Tan, CPA-lawyer 3-term councilor Dindo Ramos, veteran lawyer Renecito Novero, businessman and 4-term councilor Al Victor Espino, and Elmer Sy of the Sy Group of Companies.

Even the five relatively newcomers in the slate have proven themselves political attractions: Bart Orola, brother of former Rep. John Orola, ended up No. 13 in the last elections, and Bacolod City College Alumni Association president Israel Salanga was No. 14 in the last elections, while former Lions Club president Cindy Rojas is filling up her husband's seat which he has consistently won for three consecutive terms.

Broadcaster Marlon Solidum has a following for his exposes on the Puentevella administration. He is billed as “The Insider," who was once privy to the inner workings of the Puentevella administration. Business executive and professor George Zulueta is identified with the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) and the Montelibano-founded Partido Paglaum.

As a recognition of the strong Fil-Chinese political and business clout in the city, four of the candidates come from Chinese clans: Rojas, Tan, Sy, and Ang.

All Grupo Progreso candidates have established political, business and professional bases with large followings.*

back to top