AS CADIZ City Councilor Sixto Teofilo Roxas Villena “Pal” Guanzon Jr. graduates from the City Council this year, he aims to introduce a new brand of leadership in the second district of Negros Occidental.
Guanzon wants to be a member of the Provincial Board (PB) representing the second district via the United Negros Alliance or UNegA.
He said that he and fellow candidate Samson “Jongben” Mirhan are offering a people-empowering and people-oriented brand of leadership.
Guanzon is the elder brother of Commission on Election (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, and son of former PB member Elvira and retired Cadiz City Regional Trial Court judge Sixto Guanzon.
Councilor Guanzon said he authored several ordinances in Cadiz City that were relevant to the community and meant to benefit many Cadizenos.
Among the sectors that benefited from his local legislative efforts were the senior citizens through his ordinance: the “ninetynarian” longevity cash award. According to the 2018 Expanded Coverage of Age Longevity Cash Award, Cadiz City provides cash incentives to senior citizens who reach the age of 90.
A 90-year-old will get P25,000 while a 95-year-old receives P10,000. The elderly will receive another P10,000 when he or she reaches the age of 100.
He also authored an ordinance for persons with disability (PWD) for their integration in enterprise employment in Cadiz City. According to the ordinance, for every 10 employees, a company is required to hire one PWD as long as he or she is fit to work.
Another landmark legislation that Councilor Guanzon authored is the “Cadizenos awardees,” which recognizes citizens of Cadiz City. On January 22, the first grand awarding rites recognized 252 Cadizenos.
If elected into the PB, Guanzon said he will replicate the ordinances he introduced in the council to the province.
“The ordinances that had greater importance to the community, that have been put into effect, will surely be done in the province, God willing. The ordinance will be translated into action that will benefit the people of Negros Occidental,” he said.
His mother, Elvira Guanzon, served Negros Occidental for 18 years during the administration of the late former governor Alfredo Montelibano Jr.
“I think, I will be following the same roadmap, God willing, if the people will allow me to get elected in the May 13 elections,” he said.
He denies having an advantage as the older brother of Comelec Commissioner Guanzon.
“There are no advantages beyond that,” the councilor said. “We are working on a very professional level of maintaining what is there in the Comelec and what is there as a public official and also as one running for a slot in the PB. We enjoy the care and love of being a family and in the same circle of public service.”
“She is in the Comelec and I am in the public office as the councilor of Cadiz City for 18 long years,” continued Councilor Guanzon.
“If she sees that I am wrong, she corrects me immediately because she wanted to set a good example that there should be a strict adherence to the law. I have learned that from my mother Elvira and our father, Judge Guanzon. I will continue to nurture that service should be for the common good and for the greater number. My father taught me to do things within the bounds of the law,” he said. (CNC)