Bacolod to sustain growth, prosperity

BACOLOD. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia with his wife Elsa blows the candle of his birthday cake yesterday at the SMX Convention Center. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa)
BACOLOD. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia with his wife Elsa blows the candle of his birthday cake yesterday at the SMX Convention Center. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa)

"It's my dream and wish that the City of Bacolod will accelerate the growth and prosperity."

This was the wish of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who celebrated his 66th birthday yesterday, July 10, at the SMX Convention Center, which was attended by his family, friends, city officials including the 48 barangay captains, city employees and some local officials in Negros Occidental.

Leonardia said this can only happen if the city officials can work together for the development of Bacolod.

"So hopefully, the others should wait for an election and set aside their political ambition and self-interest. Let us wait for the election because it will happen," he said.

Leonardia noted that it is wasteful if the city's growth cannot be sustained.

Bacolod was earlier cited as one of the “most livable urban centers” in the country as well as the “most business-friendly city” by The Manila Times Search for the Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities in 2018.

In 2017, Bacolod was the grand winner in the Top Philippine Model City Awards of The Manila Times contest.

The mayor also presented the ongoing priority projects of the city such as the Bacolod Economic-Highway, drainage master plan, Bacolod Welcome Park, esplanade among others, as well as the increase of business registration with the total of 21,340 issued business permits from the month of January to June this year compared to 22,004 in the whole year of 2017.

This year, the City Government’s major priority projects are Bacolod MassKara Arena, relocation site development and improvement, and expansion of Bacolod City College.

"So we have more reason now to see to it that we have to nurture the city and sustain the growth, development, and prosperity. That is my wish that Bacolod will really be established as one of the premier cities of the Philippines, if not of Southeast Asia," Leonardia said.

The mayor recalled that during his birthday in 2015, he was being pressured by his colleagues, supporters, and loyalists to make an announcement of what was his plan for 2016 election, where at the end of his speech, he declared that he will be ready for 2016, but it was generic.

"So the same here, this is 2018 and I will say that I will be ready in 2019, whatever that is," Leonardia said.

Bacolod Representative Greg Gasataya said he is thankful for the mayor's friendship and working partnership in the past years.

"I wish that he may have more energy and more wisdom as he continues to lead the city to a higher level," he said.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Councilors Caesar Distrito, Cindy Rojas, Em Ang and Dindo Ramos also wished a good health for the mayor, long years in public service, more ideas and more implementation of the ordinance for the development of the city.

"We believe if we will have a leader who has vision good for the city, it will be good for the people," they said.

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