Mayoral aspirant Alfredo “Albee” Benitez officially announced Sunday, January 16, that Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya has joined his Team Asenso Bacolod.
Benitez made the announcement as leaders of sectoral groups signed a covenant of support for his candidacy at a program held at the Bantug Lake Ranch in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City.
“We are campaigning as a team and will move forward as a team,” Benitez said.
Gasataya said he joined the team of Benitez because they have a common direction.
It is a direction that is not based on political colors, it is aimed at improving health and education services and the economy for the people of Bacolod, Gasataya said.
Benitez said Team Asenso Bacolod is now composed of the Fantastic Four and the Magic 12 and they are aiming for a 16-0 win.
The Fantastic Four is composed of Benitez, Gasataya, Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod) and vice mayoral bet Caesar Distrito.
The Magic 12 are the Team Asenso Bacolod candidates for councilor.
They are incumbents Al Victor Espino, Bart Orola and Simple Gamboa, 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 thanked the sectoral groups for their support for him, saying Bacolod deserves better leadership and governance. To promote progress and development in Bacolod there has to be change, he said.
“We can see that we have been growing in numbers…people in Bacolod are looking for change,” he said.
The convenors of the Alliance for Better Bacolod, composed of sectoral groups, issued a manifesto and signed a covenat of support for Benitez whom they said is the leader who will bring progress to Bacolod.
They said their vision is to achieve comprehensive and progressive change towards a people first oriented governance.
The lead convernor is lawyer Lyzander Dilag, co-lead convenor is Carmeli Bantug Zayco and secretary is Mars Sendico.
Members are Alan Gozon, Ted Macainan, Maria Eusebio, Anthony Teberio, Jose Lagoting, Monina Gulmatico, Jao Pastrana and Charlie Chavez.*