Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya announced Thursday, September 30, that he is seeking reelection under the Nationalist People’s Coalition and will stay neutral on the mayoral race of the city.
Gasataya has been a member of the Grupo Progreso of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who is being challenged by former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in the 2022 polls.
“I am not taking sides. I will run as neutral. Mayor Bing Leonardia and Former Congressman Albee Benitez are my ‘maninoys’ during my wedding. Both are significant to my personal and political journey,” said Gasataya at a press conference yesterday.
He said the decision was difficult to make “but it was made with the most important and sacred consideration in mind: the lives of the people of Bacolod City”.
“My decision is ultimately premised on the realization of the Bacolod City General Hospital, which will start construction next year in the midst of election season, in the midst of a pandemic. We can all agree that we need a hospital in these most critical of times. Our healing greatly depends on it,” he said.
Gasataya assured Bacolodnons that he will ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the hospital next year.
“I am for the realization of our dream for Bacolod. I am for the realization of our Bacolod City General Hospital,” he said.
He was non committal on whether he will have candidates for councilor on his ticket.
“I will manage my own campaign,” he said, adding that he will continue to serve the people of Bacolod regardless of their political color.
Gasataya, who is running for his third term as congressman of Bacolod City, said he will continue to focus on the education and the health of Bacolodnons, along with their other needs.
He has prioritized giving scholarships and ensured the expansion of the bed capacity of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, which through his legislative measure has allowed it to hire 547 new health workers, Gasataya said.
Gasataya also said his bill on the creation of the Bacolod City General Hospital that he filed even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has since become a law, is his most important project for the people of Bacolod.*