THE United Negros Alliance (Unega) will hold its general assembly at Nature's Village Hotel in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on September 18.

This was announced Wednesday, September 8, by Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, who is also the secretary general of Unega.

Escalante said they were supposed to hold the assembly on either September 25 or 26 but they rescheduled it earlier instead.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Escalante said, had told him that Unega and Love Negros coalition will have a general assembly this month.

The date, though, is not yet definite, he said.

Escalante noted that he met with Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Second District Representative Leo Rafael Cueva and Sagay City Mayor Alfredo "Thirdy" Marañon III on Monday, September 6, during the presentation of his official line-up in Cadiz City for next year's elections.

Escalante, who reaffirmed his support and commitment to the re-election bid of Lacson and Ferrer, gave the tandem an 80 percent performance rating out of 100 percent.

"Because of the pandemic, we have not fully implemented what we were supposed to do in terms of projects but both [of them] have performed well for the province," Escalante said.

On reports that Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco is planning to run for vice governor against Ferrer, Escalante said this is not possible because both are members of Unega.

"The Unega mayors are close and have a good relationship with Ferrer," Escalante said.

He said Jaojoco has signified plans of running for councilor in Toboso so that he can guide and help his wife, Madonna Marañon Jaojoco, in her bid for the mayorship of the town.

He said, however, that Jaojoco has not yet secured his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (Cona) for town councilor.

As to his slate in Cadiz City, Escalante named incumbent Vice Mayor Lilia Decolongon as his running mate along with re-electionist councilors Lalen Lamis, John Vincent Escalante, Sheila Tabanao, Bamboo Puey Hinolan, Warren Saragoza, Marlon Metoda, CJ Olvido and Fria Cervantes.

Escalante said all of them were already issued with their respective Cona by Unega.