Bacolod candidates cite platform of government

SOME Bacolod candidates laid down their respective platform of government if elected into office.

Frank Carbon, who ran under the Magbinuligay kita sa Kauswagan (MKK), said that jobs are among the major needs of the country and city. Most families work in foreign lands because there are available jobs there.

Statistics would show that the biggest revenues are generated by the overseas contract workers and not from the businesses in the country.

“We need to work on how we could help create jobs. Let's invite more investors as investments create investments and it also creates jobs and it is a cycle. The Information Technology placed second to OFWs. Cebu has 60,000 call center agents and a billion pesos income for our agents. Bacolod has more or less 12,000 call center agents going on 15,000. Everything starts with a dream and we hope to work for job generation,” he said.

Lawyer Jocelle Batapa, a candidate for councilor under MKK, whose moniker in the IT community is “Atty. JOBS” (Jocelle Batapa-Sigue) under the Bacolod Negros Federation for IT, which she helped found in 2007, had targeted a “10 for 2010”—10,000 IT jobs by 2010. Some had thought it unbelievable then but they reached 11,000 jobs in 2010—1,000 jobs over than the target figures.

Along with other stakeholders, they did pencil pushing for the available presidentially proclaimed economic zones for IT in the province.

The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) has recorded 12,000 BPO workers in Bacolod and would like to double it, making it 24,000 jobs for 2015.

Based on the market formula, for every job that is created in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, the multiplier effect is three. So for 12,000 jobs times three, there are 36,000 indirect jobs composed of construction, taxi drivers, waiters, restaurants and other allied services.

There is a significant portion of their team that is engaged in business and job generation.

Lawyer Lorney Lyzander “Bong” Dilag, an MKK candidate for Councilor said, “May bukas pa, now na.” “This campaign will take a high road. They will raise better issues for the education of our people,” Lyzander said.

Wilson Gamboa Jr., a candidate for councilor under MKK, said he subscribed to motto that, “Public office is a public trust.” He believes that being in public service is for personal aggrandizement. He also believes that there is no political independence when there is no economic independence.

Ray Carmona, a broadcaster who ran for councilor under MKK, said he will espouse the additional benefits for public school teachers and provide a means of a less interest loan to the less privileged sector.

He said he will propose the granting of a school opening bonus to the teachers under a program: “Pang Bukas Loob Bonus” of either P1,000 or P2,000 per teacher, which will be given before school opening. This is to motivate them to work efficiently at the start of classes.

He also said that if the city has funds of P50 million, he will push for its allocation to small scale loans for small businesses such as vendors, public utility and taxi drivers with one or two percent increase.

Interior designer Raymond Fuentes and businessman Jose Paolo Lacson were the mystery candidates of the MKK.

Fuentes, who is a part-time teacher at the La Consolacion College, said he was invited by Puentevella to run under his team a few days ago.

He ran as an independent candidate for councilor nine years ago. He believes there are a lot of things he can do for Bacolod if ever he is elected.

Fuentes said his thrust is with art and culture, and Bacolod has a lot to offer and only needs a little fixing or improvement. If people are made to feel that the government cares, it gives them that empowerment, he said.

The local artists believe they will have a voice in the City Council if he is elected, he added.

Lacson said he wants to help provide employment and promote sports, especially for the children.

Huelar said he also wants to promote sports because Bacolod has a lot of potentials but at the same time promote education since basketball is not a lifetime job.

Balajadia, area manager of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, said he will be campaigning separately with Wong and Mario Gerona Jr., all members of the LP.

He said the LP slate has only 12 official candidates for councilors and has no official candidate for congressman, mayor and vice mayor.

Gerona, a businessman and physical therapist, said that although there were many opportunities for him to work abroad, he was advised by former Solicitor General Frank Chavez and former senatorial candidate Alex Lacson to stay and serve his country first.

Balajadia said they are supported by groups from the civil society, Akbayan- Negros and Bacolod, and different sectoral groups.

His legislative platform is to struggle for socio, political, economic and environmental justice in Bacolod, he said. He will push for good government, justice for the poor and the protection of the environment, he added.