Retail tycoon Lucio Co was conferred the title of honorary mayor for the day and adopted son of Bacolod City by the Sangguniang Panlungsod at rites held at the Bacolod City Government Center on Saturday, January 10.
Co, who was not feeling well and was unable to attend, was represented by his daughter Camille Clarisse Co-Lao and her husband, Michael Stephen Lao, at the conferment that was part of the 3-day Bacolaodiat Festival held in Bacolod annually to usher in the Chinese New Year.
Camille Clarisse Co-Lao’s first act as representative of her father as acting mayor of Bacolod was to sign Executive Order No. 4 Series of 2024 constituting the Bacolod Arts and Culture Council .
The council will be chaired by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez with councilors Em Ang and Jason Villarosa as vice chairpersons.
“There is a need of creating a council that will be in the forefront of managing the programs and projects of the city that will enrich and further promote and enhance the culture and arts of the City of Bacolod,” the EO stated.
Co joins a long list of tycoons conferred such titles by the Bacolod City government, Benitez said.
The list of adopted sons of Bacolod includes Lucio Tan, John Gokongwei, Henry Sy Sr., Jose Marie Chan, Andrew Tan and Kevin Tan, the mayor said.
They were honored for their contributions and what they have done for Bacolod, Benitez said.
“We are very proud to include Mr. Lucio Co to the ranks of honorary mayor of the city of Bacolod,” Benitez said.
Camille Clarisse Co-Lao thanked the city government for the honor given her father.
Benitez said ”we welcome you very much to be part of the development of Bacolod City and look forward to more investments.”
Co’s S&R is set to open in Bacolod City in the first quarter of this year, which is expected to create about 100 jobs, the mayor said.
Co also has invested in the BREDCO port and brought Puregold branches to the city that are contributing to the economy of Bacolod, he said.
“We are looking forward to becoming a super city by having all of these business establishments and investments coming,” Benitez said.*