Mayoral candidate Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez stressed the need for proper urban planning and an increase in investments where money in circulation remains in Bacolod to ensure the city’s economic growth at a virtual town hall debate Saturday, January 15.
Benitez joined the “Debate Eleksyon 2022” organized Saturday, January 15, by the University of the Philippines Law Alumni Association – Negros Occidental Chapter with the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the University of Saint La Salle.
His opponent Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia did not attend.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and former Bacolod Rep. John Orola faced off in the gubernatorial debate segment.
Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of the Commission on Elections, who spoke at the start of the event, said it is important that voters hear from candidates to make informed choices on who can better lead the city and province.
Questions were fielded by multi-sectoral representatives and the public.
Definitely urban planning is a must in developing Bacolod, Benitez said, because it will address the problems such as flooding, traffic, and the need for environment sustainability.
Planting more trees is part of urban planning, Benitez said, in stressing the need to increase Bacolod’s green cover.
We can lessen carbon emissions by promoting green technology, he also said.
ECONOMIC PLAN
On his plans to help local businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic, Benitez said there is a need to subsidize some of the financial requirements of businesses such as the heavily hit transport and retail sectors.
Benitez said he is looking at creating a subsidy or some financial instruments where they can access funds to augment their operations.
He also stressed the need for continuous mobility of business transactions amid the pandemic, and an increase of money in circulation.
“We have to ensure that there is economic progress and the only way to do that is to entice more investments” wherein money in circulation stays in the city, he said.
He cited the need to further increase the information technology industry in Bacolod City.
ON COVID RESPONSE
Benitez said the local government has done a lot to address the COVID-19 problem but said there should have been more proactive and exhaustive contact tracing, testing and treatment .
These would have assured a bubble to protect the local economy, he said, pointing out that it is always a balancing act between preserving lives and the economy.
Protecting borders to make sure people coming in from other areas are properly screened and tested is needed, he said.
ON BACIWA, CENECO
On the privatization of the Bacolod City Water District and the city’s water supply woes, Benitez said he is not fond of privatization.
Once you start privatizing utilities and services you are actually at a disadvantage because Value Added Tax imposed increases water rates, he said.
Privatization is a myth, it just like saying the private sector can do better than government, he said.
He also stressed the need to elect people to the board of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative who understand the industry, rather than people who are close to politicians.
To ensure the effective delivery of electricity there is a need to reduce political intervention in the cooperative, he said.
CONSENSUS
Asked to describe his brand of leadership in one word, Benitez said “consensus”.
“I am a consensus builder, I make sure that all stakeholders are properly heard before a decision is arrived at,” he said.
He also said transparency is the key solution to ensure integrity, credibility and to avoid corruption.
PRESIDENT
Benitez said he has not chosen a president to support in the May polls because he is a member of the PDP Laban and he is waiting for the party decision.*