Before a mammoth crowd at the Bacolod Public Plaza estimated by authorities to be between 45,000 to 50,000 red-shirt supporters of the Grupo Progreso (GP) led by incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia, incumbent Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran with their congressional candidate Dan Atayde delivered their platforms of government for the people of Bacolod.
Incumbent Councilors Cindy Tan-Rojas, Archie Baribar, Renecito Novero, Israel Salanga, Carl Lopez and Dindo Ramos, who are seeking reelection, along with other councilor candidates composed of former City Administrator Em Legaspi-Ang, businessman Ed Guillem, former Barangay Captain Jonathan Diaz, broadcaster Marlon Solidum, Cashmere Montalvo and deputy director of Emergency Operations Center Dr. Chris Sorongon were also each given their time to speak at the bandstand of the Bacolod Public plaza.
The GP opening salvo was anchored on the theme “tumandok versus pangayaw,” “performance versus promises” and “continuity versus change.”
GP earlier bated their three-pronged program is primarily anchored on the areas of health and social services, economy and infrastructure, and the Smart City framework for local government.
The GP’s vision for Bacolod City is to further develop into a more livable, vibrant and resilient city where business and industry shall flourish in a climate of peace and fair competition; inclusive, innovative, and suitable, where government serves all its people responsibly and compassionately.
The group said to Leonardia’s credit, Bacolod’s economy soared with the entry of major real estate projects, including those of Ayala Land, Inc., Megaworld, Rockwell, Cebu Landmasters, SM Development Corp., among others, on top of more than 20 other property developers that opened thousands of jobs to the locals.
The business environment attracted new investments, both local and corporate players, with business registrations peaking at 25,637 in 2019 before the coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic was declared in early 2020, it added.
Leonardia is upbeat for an accelerated economic recovery once the health crisis is over, especially now that Bacolod’s status has already been de-escalated to Alert Level 1 together with 37 other local government units in the country out of more than 2,000 local government units.
“If we are in school, it means that (being placed under Alert Level 1), Bacolod could be a gold medalist or a class valedictorian, ” he said.
“It simply shows that our Covid management strategy is effective because we are hitting our targets, including a successful vaccination rollout that made us No. 1 in Western Visayas,” Leonardia added.
Leonardia said all these accomplishments would not have been possible if not for the hard work of Familiaran, whom he had appointed as the local IATF chairman as well as of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force led by Ang and Sorongon.
Meanwhile, Team Asenso led by former congressman Alfredo Benitez with incumbent Congressman Greg Gasataya and vice mayoralty candidate former councilor Caesar Distrito, treat their supporters to a “party” at the Paglaum Sports Complex where local and Manila-based entertainers performed.
Clad in white, Team Asenso supporters also cheered for the 12 candidates for councilor, which included incumbent councilors Simplicia Distrito, Al Victor Espino, Bartolome Orola Sr and Pao Sy, along with former councilors Homer Bais, Sonya Verdeflor, Celia Flor, and Claudio Jesus Puentevella, as well as former vice mayor and councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, businessman Vladimir Gonzales, Barangay Sum-ag Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman Jason Villarosa, and former Third District Board Member Patrick Lacson.
There was no confirmation as to the exact number of attendees but in a Facebook post by Distrito, he said records of the Negros Occidental Provincial Administration Office reported that the event, dubbed as “Ti-on sa Pagbag-o,” gathered about 75,000 crowds.
Aside from the candidates of “Team Asenso,” also present was Abang Lingkod Party-list Congressman Stephen Paduano.
Distrito said it was the biggest crowd he had ever seen compared to the previous opening salvo and meeting de advance he had attended.
He said all of them presented their plans and projects for the city, which include health care for all, social pension for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, modernization of the three public markets, housing projects, to address the flood problem, Bacolod general hospital, Bacolod economic zone, massive road repairs, program for women, scholarship, youth and sport program, anti-corruption measures, to repair the traffic lights, among others.
For his part, Benitez said the presence of the massive crowd of supporters during their opening salvo was an indication that change is indeed coming to Bacolod.
“I was surprised to see this vast number of people who seek change in the City of Bacolod (and) I am at a loss for words seeing your presence and support to Team Asenso,” Benitez told the crowd.
“Even my fellow Team Asenso candidates said that (this is their first time) experience speaking before a massive crowd of supporters attending a political rally, which did not happen in the past,” he said.
During their caravan, motorists that they passed by lowered down their windows and flashed to them the “C” hand sign while people by the roadsides also did the same.
Benitez said the letter “C” symbolizes change, adding that he had seen and heard enough clamors from Bacolodnons who have been burdened for long now.
“It is now the time to embrace change for a better Bacolod,” Benitez said as he asked the crowd to turn on their cell phones’ flashlights to show how massive the crowd is at the opening salvo.
Team Asenso vows to bring back even the basic needs of families by serving them sincerely, honestly, and adequately. Bacolod will experience change after the election, it said.
The team also assured to “bring the government closer to the people, who do not need to suffer when they need to avail of the services and process assistance from the government.”
Team Asenso also expressed their desire to bring a strong partnership between the government and the people saying that they value the people, not just every election.