Mayoral candidate Alfredo “Albee” Benitez vowed to bring change for a better Bacolod at a Team Asenso opening salvo rally at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City Saturday night, March 26.
“Tonight you have shown that Bacolod is looking for change”, Benitez told the crowd that chanted his name at the packed sports complex.
Negros Occidental provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz estimated the crowd at 75,000.
The people of Bacolod are in need of basic needs, which will be addressed under his leadership, Benitez said.
“We will bring government closer to people,” and give them respect and recognition, said Benitez.
Benitez said under his leadership it will be progress for all, and not just one group, he said.
Vice mayoral bet Caesar Distrito, Rep. Greg Gasataya (Bacolod) and Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod) called on the crowd to give Team Asenso a 16-0 win for change for the better.
Similar appeals were also made by their councilor bets incumbents Al Victor Espino, Bart Orola and Simple Distrito, former vice mayor Thaddy Sayson, former councilors Homer Bais, Celia Flor, Kalaw Puentevella, and Sonia Verdeflor, former three-term Negros Occidental board member Patrick Lacson, businessman Vladimir Gonzales, SK chairman Jason Villarosa and Pao Sy, daughter of the late councilor Elmer Sy.
BENITEZ AGENDA
Meanwhile, a copy of Benitez’s agenda states under his administration the first to be given support will be the small businessmen, vendors PUV drivers and fishermen so their livelihoods can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also said the Libertad, Central and Burgos markets would not only be a source of food in Bacolod, their potential for food tourism should also be harnessed.
Benitez also bared his plan to create a new economic zone for new investments in construction and the expansion of IT call centers that will give more jobs to Bacolodnons.
He will partner with Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya in the putting up of a Special Economic Zone, Benitez added.
“We need to rebuild out local economy with a global perspective,” Benitez said.
“Our dream for Bacolod is a masterplan for the future. A masterplan plan that will not just be pro-business, but more importantly pro-people,” he said.
He also stressed the need to strengthen Bacolod’s health system capacity that will not just focus on COVID-19.
“We will partner with private hospitals to provide services to the poor,” Benitez said.
Health cards will be given to all for equal access to medical services, he said.
They will also prioritize the construction of the Bacolod City General Hospital that has become a law based on a bill authored by Gasataya, before a coliseum, Benitez said.
Benitez also bared his plan to build on-site housing for families living in danger zones or private property.
He is pushing for on-site housing so people will not have to be relocated away from their means of livelihood, Benitez said.
Benitez also pledged to create smart classrooms in public schools and to reorient the Bacolod City College to become a center for digital revolution to produce job-ready graduates for the tech industry and digital economy.
He also vowed game changing solutions to old problems.
Benitez cited the use of new technology to address the problem of garbage, flooding and traffic.
They will opt for waste to energy technology to address the garbage problem of Bacolod, he said.
“Our dream is not just to become a smart city. Our vision is to make Bacolod a super city…and it will not take me 18 years to make this happen,” he said.
To achieve this he will need allies in Congress and in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Benitez said, as he called on Bacolodnons to vote for the Team Asenso Bacolod bets.*