Leonardia presents GP platform before Fil-chinese bizmen
AS HAS been a tradition in all the Grupo Progreso (GP) campaigns, Mayor Evelio Leonardia presented the GP Platform of Government, called “Agenda for Action 2019-2022,” before the Filipino-chinese businessmen, leaders and families associations at a gathering in a restaurant recently.
Leonardia, chairman of Grupo Progreso, was accompanied by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Congressman Greg Gasataya, and incumbent GP councilors and candidates at the gathering.
It was attended by more than 60 Filipino-chinese businessmen from various groups, including Henry Uy, chairman of the Negros Occidental Filipino-chinese Amity Club; Edgar Sy, chairman of the Bacolod Filipino-chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI); Alfonso Cu, president of the Southern Negros Filipino-chinese CCI; Roger Yap, vice president of the Northern Negros Filipinochinese CCI; Jet Li, Ong Beng Peng, and Alfredo Barcelona, who are all past presidents of the Bacolod Filipino-chinese CCI; and Filipino-chinese families association.
The mayor also presented the latest updates on Bacolod Developments Plans and Projects under his administration—both those that were finished in the last three years and those they are working on for the next three years and more.
“Tsinoy leaders found the presentation enlightening, inspiring, and encouraging. The information are interesting and useful. It was a picture of what to expect in the near future,” Crispin Chua, corporate secretary and director of Negros Occidental Filipinochinese Amity Club, said.
AGENDA FOR ACTION
Leonardia said it has been the practice of the Grupo Progreso during the campaigns to present to various groups and sectors a written program of priorities for the next three years.
“It contains the Agenda for Action that we will undertake. It is as well our contract and covenant with you,” Leonardia said.
“We came up with this from our consultations with you, as well as from what we can personally see as the needs that must be met to build an even better Bacolod,” he told the group.
The mayor said the GP 3-point Agenda for Action are: (1) Accelerate Socio-economic Growth; (2) Efficiently Deliver Basic Services; and (3) Strengthen Local Governance.
“At the heart of the Grupo Progreso mission is the economic as well as human development for Bacolod and her people,” he said.
“Aside from putting down on paper this GP Agenda, we have also signed and sealed it as a covenant with our people. This way, it will be easy for you to evaluate us and our work,” he said.
“No other political party in Bacolod can boast of doing so. Too many politicians promise was too many things, even the fantastic and forget them after elections. Not so with GP. We do not simply promise. We sign a covenant and deliver what is written there,” the mayor stressed.
“Three years ago, we said, ‘Ibalik ang Progreso.’ This time, the battlecry is,’ipadayon Ta ang Progreso,” Leonardia added.
DEVELOPMENTS
On a regular basis, the Leonardia administration is also doing a situationer report before various sectors in the city.
He presented the city government’s direction in handling peace and order, traffic, drainage and flood control, solid waste management, and road network developments.
The mayor also updated the businessmen on the real estate development in Bacolod, enumerating the list of new and upcoming residential properties, subdivisions, hotels, condominiums, and malls being constructed by property giants.
With the entry of Megaworld, Ayalaland, SMDC, Camella Homes, Sitari, Cebu Landmasters, O Residences and other big developers, Bacolod’s real estate is indeed booming, he said.
“All the big players are here in Bacolod. There must be something in our city that’s why all the major players want a piece of Bacolod,” he said.
Leonardia said Bacolod is fast becoming an “economic powerhouse” as described by Lamudi, a world leader in real property searches.
“As Bacolod is on a roll in terms of economic development, let us ride in this growth momentum, and if Bacolod is taking off now, it’s not the right time to change pilots,” Leonardia said, in convincing the business leaders to continue supporting his administration.
Hans Sy of SM Prime Holdings told Leonardia that they are investing in Bacolod because they believe in his leadership.
Moreover, the mayor also presented the upcoming big projects of his administration such as the Bacolod Masskara Coliseum, Bacolod Museum, development of Progreso Village relocation site expansion of Bacolod City College, and the improvement of road network in the city, especially the New Bacolod Economic Highway./pr