BACOLOD CITY — Top officials of this city vowed to work closely with the new set of barangay officials to propel Bacolod towards further development.
This was the commitment of Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran to the officials of the city’s 61 barangays, who were inducted into office by Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino in a ceremony held at the SMX Convention Center here on Saturday afternoon.
Gasataya urged them to partner with the city’s officials to uphold better governance and bring more progress for Bacolod.
“Let’s focus on the direction you committed to your respective barangays. That commitment is to serve the welfare of your constituents. Let’s set aside politics,” Gasataya said. “We are willing to work hand in hand with your barangays for Bacolod City’s sake.”
Gasataya said village officials are blessed with elective positions that a lot could only aspire for.
“We are hoping that after you assume office on June 30, we will have better governance not just in the national government, in the city, but also in your barangays,” the lawmaker added.
Leonardia said Bacolod could only achieve an inclusive growth when the city government has the support and participation of barangay officials.
“We have a City Development Council and we will have many other venues in the future where we can sit together. When we do the final plans for Bacolod, we promise we will seek your suggestions, we will seek your advice, we will seek your guidance,” the mayor said.
“We can make Bacolod’s growth and prosperity complete only if we can have the participation and leadership of our barangay officials. That is what I’m appealing to you,” he further said.
Familiaran said there was “nothing personal, no political commitments” in the city government’s efforts to bring all the barangay officials in one venue to take their oath of office.
“This is one way of showing them that we are willing to work, cooperate and unite with them for the good of the city,” the vice mayor said.
Ma. Joy Meredith Madayag, director of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bacolod, urged the barangay officials to renew their vows to serve their constituents with commitment, sincerity and fidelity.
“We in the DILG will continue to exercise our mandate of general supervision over all our punong barangays and other barangay officials. We will continue to see to it that you will perform your duties, powers and functions within the bounds of law,” Madayag added. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
