INCOMING Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya vowed that he will continue the program of outgoing Mayor and congressman-elect Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and assured that there will be no “ghost employees” in the city.
In his inaugural speech on Saturday, June 28, at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds, Gasataya said it was already started by Mayor Benitez and that he will make sure that there will be no “ghost employees” and all job order and city employees will undergo drug testing.
“We begin this journey with a clear purpose, firm resolve, and heart full of hope,” he said.
He added that in 100 days, they may not accomplish everything, but they can surely prove that they are serious about change, and even more serious about the people.
Gasataya also took his oath of office before Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Saturday, at the BCGC grounds.
Benitez took his oath of office before Barangay 18 Captain Madeline Diaz, while vice mayor-elect Claudio Puentevella took his oath before Barangay Taculing Captain Lady Gles Gonzales.
Councilors-elect Israel Salanga, Em Ang, Jude Thaddues Sayson, Jason Villarosa, Celia Matea Flor, Dindo Ramos, Roberto Rojas, Pao Sy, Homer Bais, Al Victor Espino, and Wilson Gamboa Jr. also took their oath before Judge Juvy Dioso.
Councilor-elect Caesar Distrito also joined the event, but he will take his oath on June 30 or July 1 since he still needs to turn over his responsibility as chieftain of Barangay Singcang-Airport to number one Barangay Kagawad Rosinie Distrito.
Councilor-elect Dindo Ramos was unable to attend since he was traveling abroad.
The newly elected officials will assume their posts on June 30.
Gasataya also announced that lawyer Mark Mayo will serve as city administrator, while City Legal officer Karol Joseph Chiu will stay in his post.
Gasataya also assigned lawyer Reuben Sabig as head of the traffic management in the city.
Gasataya said the first 100 days of his administration will be anchored on the word Heart, a commitment to serve with immediate, actionable solutions founded on empathy, integrity, and compassion.
He said “H” stands for Health where the Bacolod City General Hospital was one of his priority programs during his term as congressman.
“Through this, we will soon be equipped with modern, comfortable, and uncongested health care facilities for Bacolodnons,” he added.
Gastaya said “E” also stands for education/economic/environment sustainability, and they are now moving toward the realization of making the properties around the 22-kilometer Bacolod-Negros Economic Highway to be one of the Bacolod investment zones.
He said they also started laying down the groundwork for the conversion of the Bacolod City College into a university, and they will also ensure the strict compliance of the city’s garbage hauler IPM-CDC to their contractual obligations.
“Shape up or ship out,” he added.
“A” also stands for access to basic services/agriculture/animal welfare/ access to technology and housing where Gasataya said that he will request the City Council for the passage of an ordinance to exempt in the payment for the processing fee of the late registration of birth certification, death certificate, among others.
“R” stands for reliability of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRMM) to provide more efficient disaster response.
“We will establish a strategic clustering system for barangays to fast-track our emergency response times. We will ensure the full activation of our existing 101 CCTVs for enhanced monitoring and security capabilities,” he said.
“T” also stands for traffic management transportation/tourism and he said that they will implement the no parking ordinance in Lacson and Araneta streets upon identification and establishment of alternative parking spaces.
Gastaya said that among the urgent matters that they are also prioritizing are the Bacolod City senior citizens center; go, grow, glow Bacolod tree planting, caring and beautifying every available space with greens; Bacolod City governance and grassroots services for barangays; creation of technical working group for the BCGC online app portal; and establishment of Bacolod City Youth lounge and co-working space. (MAP)