"Let us prepare the groundwork for more investors and set the foundation for economic growth and more jobs," Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday in his address during the inaugural ceremony of the incoming city officials at the Bacolod City Public Plaza.

He said advancing economic prosperity provides a good foundation for the difficult work of addressing the needs of society but it cannot by itself create a moral and cooperative society.

He asked the people to help him bring the basic services to the 61 barangays: from education to health and sanitation, potable water, peace and order, livelihood and skills' training and development. Leonardia said they have already started work on the three-point action plan they had presented during the elections which include the strengthening of the delivery of basic services through a proactive approach.

Leonardia said the three-point action plan which his party signed as a covenant is not just a promise but a commitment and they have already started work on it even before their inauguration yesterday.

He said he has proposed to professionalize the city government services to make them more responsive to the people's needs and that he intends to search for new avenues for economic growth, business and investment opportunities for new business to come in that can generate more jobs for the people.

"Let us continue to move forward by finishing the construction of the new government center," he also said, because, in fact it is long overdue."

Leonardia said the project, which city officials had started to dream about 50 years ago, will be an edifice for fast, efficient and effective delivery of public service. It will be a landmark, a structure of prestige and dignity, he said.

Leonardia said his special areas of concern are the family and the education of the children. To ensure that more children can go to school, the city will continue its "free miscellaneous fees" program for both elementary and high school levels, he said.

The training of the youth is also a particular concern, Leonardia said, and they must be helped to prepare for a good future. This is the vision and mission of the Bacolod City College, he said.

Leonardia said they must instill in the youth the love of God, love of country and service to humanity. He said they will take steps to ensure that the youth are protected from the threats of violence, drug addiction and abuse, child labor and trafficking.

He said he will need all the help he can get, especially from the Sangguniang Panlungsod members. However, he also said, "We are blessed with a City Council where the majority, if not all, share our vision."

Leonardia said Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson and the councilors share his dreams for Bacolod and this is a good start. He said they should all have the interest of Bacolod first above self, and above their political loyalties.

"We should be guided by the will of the people and they have clearly told us - we must work together!" He said.

Leonardia said the unprecedented trust and confidence that the people vested in him in the last elections will give him the strength to carry on, and the courage to fight for what is right and what is good for the people. He said he is determined to finish the task at hand, and appealed to the people of Bacolod, whom he thanked for their unmistakable show of support, for their cooperation in making their dreams for the city a reality.*CGS

back to top