Senator Francis Tolentino and former senator Vicente Sotto III (l-r) at a press conference at Natures Village Resort in Talisay City on Friday.*Ronnie Baldonado photo
Senator Francis Tolentino said with more than 16,000 individuals displaced due to Mt. Kanlaon’s ongoing unrest, a need for a budgetary outlay is essential as Negros Island Region becomes operational.
It is evident with the Department of Social Welfare and Development facing budgetary problems as thousands of evacuees remain in various evacuations center in Negros, said Tolentino who was in Negros Occidental for an Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign sortie on Friday. Feb. 21.
“We’re just having problems with DSWD and probably with OCD because of the Mt. Kanlaon unrest where a number of evacuees in La Castellana, Canlaon City and adjacent LGUs remain at the evacuation centers…What the Department of Budget and Management needs to do is beef up the transition,” Tolentino said.
At the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas sortie in Negros Occidental, former Senator Panfilo Lacson assured along with fellow candidates to secure the needed budget for the newly established region composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor for 2026 and beyond.
The Alyansa senatorial candidates joined by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for a 12-0 win at a rally attended by 12,000 supporters at the Victorias City Coliseum in Victorias City Friday night.
Former senator Vicente Sotto III admits that getting a 12-0 win for the senatorial elections could be beyond reach but he is confident that with a “best effort” drive such feat is attainable.*