Bacolod Mayor Evelio "Bing" Leonardia yesterday said his trips overseas are part of an effort to strengthen linkages with other countries and discovering the value of untapped resources like the Overseas Filipino Workers.

At a press conference yesterday, Leonardia, who was in Mexico March 16-22 for the 4th World Water Forum, in his capacity as deputy secretary-general of the League of Cities, stressed that he is not using government funds for his trips and even comes home with positive results for the city.

The Mayor was reacting to the latest tirades against him by his critics, who are questioning his recent trips abroad.

The negative commentaries on my trips are just politically-motivated, he said, adding that all of his overseas visits have been very productive for Bacolod.

Leonardia said such trips abroad have been bearing fruit, citing the help of the government of Chinese Taipei, which is set to donate three dump trucks and 30 motorcycles to Bacolod.

Japan is also donating three dump trucks and one fire truck to the city, he added.

"I don't go abroad just for fun. It is high time that City officials broaden their horizons and seek untapped resources," said Leonardia, who also flew to the United States in January to, among others, watch the fight between Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Erik Morales in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, an adopted son of Bacolod had personally invited Leonardia to the event.

But Leonardia said the US trip was not for leisure, citing the revival of the sisterhood agreement between Bacolod and Long Beach, and strengthening ties with groups of Filipinos in the US, like the Bacolod Society of America and the United Ilonggos of America. The latter is also donating a dump truck to the city, he said.

In fact, the mayor added the BSA has agreed to serve as the liaison organization for the Bacolod-Long Beach sisterhood.

"They (Bacoleños abroad) are just physically away but they still think of Bacolod as home," he said. *CPT

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