Leonardia: Experience is my edge

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia said that his wealth of experience as a public servant will make him a better congressman of Bacolod.

Leonardia who was among the guests in the ABS-CBN Ihayag 2013 Election Candidates Forum yesterday, said that he has served the local government for 19 years - 12 years as mayor, 3 years as vice mayor and 4 years as councilor - and had come to know the city and the concerns of the people much better.

He is willing, ready and able to serve his fellow Bacolodnons.

Legislative work is no stranger to him.

The many Ombudsman cases filed against him were all harassment cases and in fact many of those cases have already been dismissed by the Ombudsman.

During his press con, he vowed to continue the progress and development in the city.

A congressman is expected to perform legislation work but the Office of the Congressman is an effective tool in getting funding from the national government, a privilege and opportunity to harness the vast resources of the national government to contribute to the development of the city.

Out of the 291 congressmen in the country, only one congressman will serve Bacolod as his singular and main priority.

A congressman can access more of the national funds if he has good relations, especially with the Office of the President.

Leonardia said that he is a coalition candidate of the LP and NPC parties, an official candidate of the Team PNoy. If he wins, he will surely get more projects for Bacolod, unlike the incumbent Congressman Anthony Golez, Jr. who served as the former spokesman of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

"We were chosen as official candidates of the coalition along with Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Greg Gasataya based on our track record, competence and loyalty to our political commitments," he said.

Grupo Progreso was formed on a belief that they will bring progress to the city. In fact, they have brought Bacolod to unprecedented heights, as evidenced by the many achievements of the city.

"We have a momentum to sustain. If the vehicle is Grupo Progreso and the riders are still the same, Bacolod will continue to grow. Why fix it if it ain't broke?" he said.

Leonardia considered it unbelievable to hear that Golez has brought in P4 billion infra projects.

The modernization of the regional hospital was because of Sen. Franklin Drilon whose brother Dr. Julius Drilon serves as the Chief of Hospital of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano regional hospital.

The Sum-ag and Lacson projects were made possible because of Sen. Koko Pimentel.

But Golez said Pimentel only contributed to it.

The issues on donations, sidewalk vendors, trisikad were also raised against Leonardia.

On donation, there is no donation that will not pass the scrutiny of the Commission on Audit. We have a MOA to those that are given the donations that, in case of disallowance, they will reimburse what was given to them.

On sidewalk vendors, the city is treating them with compassion because that is their means of earning a living. But they are being regulated along with the existence of the trisikads. (CNC)