"WE WANT the growth and development in Bacolod City to accelerate, to surge ahead this 2020 and we would like to see Bacolod City zoom in this decade."
This was stressed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia Monday, January 6, 2020, during a press conference along with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, the city councilors, department heads, and Bacolod City Police Office Director Colonel Henry Binas at the Bacolod Government Center (BGC).
Leonardia, who also led the flag raising ceremony at the BGC, said they tried to hold the flag raising ceremony, which is first of the year and of the decade, with the vice mayor and the members of the City Council because of the symbolism to show their unity and unity of purpose.
In his message, Leonardia highlighted 2019 because they feel that it was the year of the source of their inspiration, guide and their standards, and they will take off from that.
"It's unforgettable past (2019). The 2019 awards will serve as our guide, model and standard. We gave a clear enumeration of what we intend to do in 2020 and we wanted to have a clear vision of 2020. We will work to continue to be one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines," Leonardia said.
He said this is going to be the golden decade of infrastructures in Bacolod.
"For the first time ever, the city itself is going to implement more than P2 billion worth of projects. This is made possible because of the loan we obtained from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) along with the other major projects and the P150 million local funds will concentrate on road construction projects," he added.
Leonardia pointed out that this year, Bacolod has a total of P3 billion annual budget, which is highest ever.
He said the P3-billion annual budget is up by a high 19 percent over last year's budget, one of the highest increases in the city's local budget history.
Leonardia noted that he finds it significant and sentimental because it was during his term when the city reached the first P1-billion budget in 2008.
"It took us 70 years from 1938 when we became a city to get a first billion and second billion budget in 2017. It took us nine years (for the second billion budget), but after only two years we got our third billion budget which only tells us that the acceleration of Bacolod is very-very fast. The billions are necessary because the principle is 'have money, will progress'," the mayor said.
Familiaran also echoed the statement of Leonardia that they want growth and development in Bacolod to accelerate and to surge this 2020.
Familiaran said that three to four years from now, there will more improvement and development in the city.
"We have a very good economy because of the on-going construction and continuing investment of big investors here. Let's look forward to 2020 with enthusiasm and optimism," he said.
Councilors Cindy Rojas, Ann Marie Palermo, Israel Salanga, and Al Victor also said that 2020 will be a stronger and better year for Bacolod City.
"It's a positive vibes for Bacolod City and let's stays more focus as ever, and we should thanks God for all the blessings that he has showered upon us for our city in 2019," they said.