PRESIDENTIAL Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino said on Monday, there is a big chance for Bacolod to be a tourist destination in the country.
Dino, who represented Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go as guest of honor and speaker of the 80th Commemoration of the Signing of the Charter of Bacolod City at L' Fisher Hotel, June 18, said that Bacolod has been characterized by consistent dynamic growth and have instilled numerous awards in local government business-friendly city and even as top model city of the Philippines.
"I am deeply honored to be invited here today to speak before you and to celebrate with you, Bacolod City’s 80th Charter Anniversary,” he said.
"I congratulate all of you because I believe that all of you here have helped this City grow into what it is now," he added.
Dino noted that the “Build, build, build” program of the national government has completely changed Bacolod City's landscape and skyline such as the expansion of the Bacolod-Silay Airport, which is under the infrastructure program of President Rodrigo Duterte.
"Because of the expansion, you will be ready to serve an influx of passengers and boost your tourism industry," Dino said.
Dino recalled that he had mentioned to City Administrator John Orola that for him, it doesn't mean that all tourists go to a certain destination just because of the beaches.
He said some cities have revitalized their mass transport system, environment, and foods to attract tourists.
"Bacolod has everything, especially the foods. I know, the food in Bacolod is very, very good and we have to promote it not only here in the Philippines but also outside the country. So there is a very big chance for Bacolod to be a tourist’s destination," he said.
Dino urged the Bacolodnons to find a way to make Bacolod a tourist destination with the help of the private sectors.
"You have a very active mayor here and I am sure he can help, but the local government unit cannot do everything without the help of the private sector," he said.
Meanwhile, Dino said the Negros-Panay Bridge, which is part of the Duterte administration’s program to connect all provinces in the Visayas, is seen to catalyze more production and investments in Bacolod City.
He said the $2 billion Negros Occidental-Iloilo-Guimaras Bridge will have a span of 19 kilometers, which will have road components traversing Bacolod.
"During the construction phase, many of our people will be hired and will spur economic activity in the city. However, growth and development also bring with it corresponding challenges such as traffic, pollution, flooding, and all other ills of living in a big city. All these problems have to be addressed. I have faith that your local government can find solutions to these problems," he added.
Moreover, Dino said Bacolod sits in a wonderful province called Negros Occidental where the vast plantation of sugarcane will not only produce sugar for food and beverage.
"It is a near reality that Bacolod will become a supplier, or exporter, if you call it, of electricity in the neighboring provinces. I have read that Negros Occidental through the Central Negros Electricity Cooperative (Ceneco) is buying electricity from Kepco in Cebu. But sooner, Bacolod will be producing electricity for Cebu. You will soon help Cebu in its rapid growth and development through you biomass," he said.
He added that Negros Occidental sugar mills that are now engaging into biomass power generation will surely help the economic boom of the Visayas.
Dino noted that power is a very important component of development and Bacolod will be a catalyst of that very important component.
"You deserve a round of applause! One problem of booming cities that cannot be avoided is the surge of people flocking to it searching for job opportunities," Dino said.
Dino also announced that the national government will soon open the Malasakit Center at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.
This is a convergence by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President in cooperation with the Department of Health, DOH-retained hospitals in Regions 6, 7, and 8, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC) or PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV).
It is a one-stop government center instituted for the purpose of expediting processes in availing of services relevant to healthcare, primarily for, but not limited to, financial assistance.
Dino said the Malasakit Center is a perfect example of the national government working to bring compassion, dedication, and service to the grassroots level.
"To the great people of Bacolod, when you look back 80 years ago, you will see how far you've come and realized the great things you have accomplished. You made the right choice to stand on your own and charter your own course as a city and as a people. Carry on. Continue building on your city's accomplishments. Continue to make Bacolod City great," he said.
For his part, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said that this will be the next best thing to happen in Bacolod City.
"Let us consider that we don't have beaches like in Boracay and Cebu, but the food is one and it is upon us to develop the manmade attraction so we have to train our tour guides, transport industry going down to the taxi drivers because all of them are contributory," he said.
"All of this is to prepare for that eventuality and that is a study and I also subscribed that really tourism is going to become the biggest industry in the world," he added.
Leonardia said that there will be more hotels and condominiums set to open in Bacolod City.
Meanwhile, Leonardia said the presence of the Bacolodnons is very satisfactory even if June 18 was not declared a holiday.
"October 19 is still considered as historical for Bacolod because it was the day that the city mayor was inaugurated so we recognized and honor that, but we are talking here the legal birthday of Bacolod," he said.
The City Council had earlier approved a resolution requesting President Duterte to declare June 18 as a special non-working holiday.
Leonardia said the proposed legislation, which seeks to declare June 18 of every year as a special non-working public holiday in Bacolod, authored by Representative Greg Gasayata, is still pending at the Senate, but it was already approved on second reading last month.
"We just hope that it will be approved on third and final reading next month," he said.