Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. yesterday lauded Bacolod City for being in the process of surpassing its neighbors through an agenda that builds human resource programs for the Information Technology industry.

"This means generating jobs, building commerce and sustaining local businesses," Revilla said in his speech at the inaugural ceremony of the incoming government officials of Bacolod City at the public plaza, where he was guest of honor and speaker.

Bacolod is also at the forefront of becoming known as "climate friendly city," he said, being identified as a pilot area for the integrated waste management and sustainable energy project.

He said the Climate Friendly Cities project, the first of its kind in the Philippines and in the Asian region, is an integrated approach to solving urban environmental problems while creating innovative solutions for mitigating climate change.

Revilla said one of the best ways of making the country strong and great can be found in local empowerment, in a strong and vibrant local government.

"I am happy and proud to say that one of the best examples of these kind of economic development and leadership is Mayor Evelio Leonardia," he said.

Revilla cited that the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has affirmed the sustainability of Bacolod as the "Most Business Friendly City in Western Visayas" in 2006, and that in September the city will host the 16th Visayas Area Business Conference, with more than 120 chief executive officers of various corporations nationwide.

Revilla said Mayor Bing believes the attendance of these CEO's is significant in the light of the thrust to put Bacolod into the investment map of the Philippines.

He said Bacolod has even been proclaimed by the Asian Institute of Management as one of the five Most Competitive Cities in the Philippines, and as the "Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit" by the PCCI.

Meanwhile, Revilla said this country has great potentials in Southeast Asia with its vast natural resources and strong labor force.

"If our neighbors like Korea and Singapore can grow and progress, so can we," he said. "Yet people continue to perceive weakness in our governance and to perceive mismanagement in our public institutions," he added.

Revilla said a weak government fails to collect taxes and distribute resources properly. He said this results in inefficient public service which results in slow growth. The past three years have seen a tremendous improvement in our economic growth, Revilla said. But the only persons who have responded confidently to this growth are foreign investors who have renewed their faith in our government and their faith in our country, he said.

Revilla said "We Filipinos have somehow sidestepped all of these positive developments in our economy in favor of political intrigues and divisiveness." He said he believes it is time for the people to take a hard look at themselves if they believe that they can make the country great.

Revilla said "Let us bury the wounds of the past elections and all join hands together and work for a brighter future. He said he too had a dream of a strong and proud Philippines."

When he was Video Regulatory Board chairman, he fought to protect the rights of Filipino artists and talents because he believes we must protect our own, he said.

Revilla inducted Leonardia into office, while Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and the members of the City Council were inducted by Judge Ray Alan Drilon and Judge Lorena Demonteverde, respectively.

Present at the inaugural ceremony at the Bacolod Public Plaza were Msgr. John Liu, Assistant Transportation Secretary Ricardo Tan, former Miss International Aurora Pijuan, noted architect and city planner Felino Palafox Jr., former Bacolod Rep. John Orola, former Bacolod Mayor Amado Parreño Jr., Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, Candoni Mayor Cicero Borromeo, Boboy Fernandez the trainor of Philippine ring idol Manny Pacquiao, representatives from the private and business sector, balikbayans, the academe and city government officials, among others.*CGS

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