Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he would prefer that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials in the Sangguniang Panlungsod would not oppose or block the policies of the administration.

“We need officials who will be reasonable and cooperative because the barangays are supposed to be part of an administration,” he said.

“We are in a period in our history as a city where we are experiencing unprecedented growth,” Leonardia said. If there is disunity between the city government and the barangays the progress of the city will be hampered, he said.

Leonardia said, “We want to sustain the momentum and that calls for barangay support and cooperation.”

Asked for his preference for Sangguniang Kabataan Federation and Association of Barangay Captains presidents in Bacolod City , Leonardia said politicians are not supposed to openly endorse any candidate.

When informed by the media during a press conference yesterday that Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella has endorsed Barangay Captain Jose Antonio Gensoli of Vista Alegre and SK chairman Jason Olivar of Brgy. Pahanocoy, the mayor said he believes the one for ABC president is the incumbent, Barangay Captain Diosdado Valenzuela of Brgy. Estefania.

Valenzuela took his oath of office Friday before Leonardia as ABC president.

Leonardia said under the ABC Constitution, when the barangay president (Councilor Arturo Parreño) graduates, the vice president is supposed to take over. That is the case of Valenzuela who was the ABC vice president, he said. Automatically he will represent the ABC in the Sangguniang Panlungsod until a successor is elected.

The ABC election is on Dec. 29, while the SK election is on Dec. 6.

Leonardia said Valenzuela is a third termer barangay captain and has performed well in his barangay and also won convincingly in the last election. “Taking into account all these, I believe he is the right man for the job,” he said.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said SK chairman Kevin Daniel Ramos of Brgy. Granada has a very good relationship with the SK which is vital for the harmony of the group. He said Ramos is a relative of his and the son of Councilor Dindo Ramos.

Leonardia clarified that he is not campaigning for them but is only stating his opinion.

He said he has reminded the SK chairmen that this is a crucial time for the SK. He said if they perform well they might make the officials, who are proposing for the abolition of the SK, change their mind.

“I hope this set will be able to overturn any negative perception of the SK,” Leonardia said.*CGS

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