About 40,000 elected officials and family leaders from the 61 barangays of Bacolod City joined Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in a pledge to unity and change at the launching of the Asenso Movement at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City on Saturday night, Dec. 16.
”Asenso is not about partisan politics, this is about transforming Bacolod to become an inclusive, peaceful, dynamic sustainable resilient super city”, Benitez said in his speech.
“At Asenso our focus is on governance and not politics…Our covenant for change will be our guiding principle,” he said
Under his leadership decisions are not based on politics but on good governance, the mayor assured.
“I mean business, if job order workers do not work they will be removed. If people do not follow the law they will be removed”, he said.
“There will be no sacred cows in my administration and there will be no sacred cows in the Asenso Movement,” Benitez said.
The Asenso Movement launching saw elected officials from the mayor’s Asenso Bacolod and Grupo Progreso (GP) opponents united on one stage.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, a GP member, said it was not a political gathering, Asenso is a show of support for one direction in the quest for progress in Bacolod.
“If we are united we can fast track economic growth and development for Bacolod,” Familiaran said.
Benitez, in his speech, said he made history by winning as mayor of Bacolod City by the largest margin and they were making history again on Saturday night by uniting all groups, regardless of political affiliations, for progress.
He assured the family leaders present that they are the voice of Bacolod whom he and the rest of the city officials will listen to.
The mayor said “our dream for Bacolod is gradually being fulfilled”, pointing out that the distribution of Yuhum Housing Village units will start next month.
The construction of the new Burgos Market, the renovation of the old City Hall and the City Health Office complex and more projects will also start next year, he added.
Benitez said his promise to ensure that no Bacolodnon shall be denied medical services has also started with the implementation of the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program.
Change is not just about infrastructure and projects, politics in Bacolod has also changed – there is no more color coding, service will be for all, he said.
The thanked the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from the 61 barangays of Bacolod and the rest of the city officials present at the Asenso Movement launching for their support.
“Tonight we celebrate unity and change”, Benitez said.
Col. Noel Aliño, Bacolod police director, said there were about 40,000 Bacolodnons at the Asenso Movement launching.*