AROUND 10,000 supporters of Monopal team joined the "Grupo Serbisyo miting de avance" Friday night at the South Capitol Road, Bacolod City.
The Monopal team is led by mayoralty candidate Representative Monico Puentevella, congressional candidate Renecito Novero, vice mayoralty candidate Ann Marie Palermo and 12 candidates for councilor. Puentevella lauded the support of their supporters in 61 barangays of Bacolod, claiming that hard work really paced-off, performance and experience has touched so many lives in Bacolod through the "Monico Kabuhi Ko" program. He said that it's now the time to change the present administration of the city. "The people want some change, and this is the group (Grupo Serbisyo) that would be an alternative." Stressing that signs are crystal clear that Bacolenos are tired of the present administration, the Monopal Team Grupo Serbisyo vowed to save Bacolod from staggering debts amounting to over P1 billion, rid City Hall of corruption, lead the city on the road to moral recovery, deliver basic services without a hitch, bring government closer to the people and stir the local economy by developing new growth areas. Before an estimated torch-bearing crowd coming from West Negros University at Burgos area, Bangga Pepsi in Barangay Bata and the Business Inn along Lacson Street, the three-term congressman assured the city's 851 puroks in 61 barangays to strengthen the Monico Kabuhi Ko (MKK) as a vehicle for an efficient social welfare and health service delivery program, a proposal openly supported by former vice mayor Novero and Palermo. Change "The signs are crystal clear. The sign showed Bacolod wants change," said Puentevella, as he thanked the thousands of cheering supporters attending the Monopal miting de avance, whose lives he has touched through the MKK, which to date had served over 60,000 indigent residents. Indicative that Bacolenos are really clamouring for change, Puentevella explained, were the many instances when barangay folks themselves refused to entertain their rivals during their hand-shaking and barangay sorties. Bacolod wants a new set of officials. The people look up to the Monopal slate as their alternative. They are tired of the Voltes 5, the overpriced projects especially the New Government Center, the wanton abuse of local resources and mostly recently, the sex scandal involving the officials themselves, the solon said, as the crowd applauded wildly. The Monopal grand rally was opened with an ecumenical prayer led by Pastor Quirico Lauron and Mulsim Imam Omar Betita with the Ramos-Dizon Singing Youth Ambassadors providing most of the entertainment numbers. The mammoth crowd that the miting had generated, Puentevella said, is a confirmation of the Monopal's consistent campaign and continued genuine service. It was estimated that more than half of the attendees were MKK beneficiaries. Tears rolled In her speech, preceded by the video clip with "Bacolod Live Sex" scandal victim Chris Murakami detailing how she was allegedly abused by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, and Councilors Alex Paglumotan, Dindo Ramos and Wilson Gamboa Jr., Palermo could not help but shed tears over the abusive acts of local officials who were supposedly mandated to lead and serve the people. "Do we allow their continued presence at City Hall? You have seen and heard the testimonies of Ms. Murakami, what happened to our so-called moral responsibility, our propriety being public servants? Women should be treated with high respects," said the emotional Palermo, who got wild cheers from the crowd. Priorities If victorious after the Monday balloting and proclaimed the new mayor, Puentevella promised to expand the MKK, fast-track the completion of the Bacolod Lung, Heart and Kidney Center, study the increase of the teacher's ECOLA, build more Day Care Centers, improve education facilities, including a program that will offer free post-graduate studies for teachers and elevate related educational package for mentors and students alike. "I am giving credit to God for all these blessings and the good health he had provided me and the rest of the Monopal Team these last 45 days. He has guided us to become better public servants," he added. Issues Puentevella, Novero and Palermo also led in revealing the numerous "ills" plaguing the city under Leonardia that drew rounds of laughs and more wild jeers. Also highlighting the grand rally, was the video showing of the ill-gotten wealth of Leonardia, his houses and properties, cars and expensive possessions which were not registered in Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN). Also shown were the photos of what appeared as "palatial" residences and fleet of cars of the once "average guys" namely Councilors Homer Bais, Alex Paglumotan, Greg Gasataya, among others. The councilor bets also took potshots at the "Voltes 5" for alleged questionable wealth in a short span of time. Iglesia support Interviewed by the media before the start of the miting, Puentevella refused to answer when pressed whether Leonardia was junked on the 11th hour. "What I know of was that the INC had endorsed my bid for the mayorship," he replied, as he dismissed disinformation spread by his rival that he left for Manila in an effort to lobby with the INC. "I never left Bacolod. I was busy campaigning," added Puentevella, as he pointed out that such spin does not surprise him at all, as in past occasions they have misled Bacolenos with lies and half-truths. He also laughed off a question whether he had secured a permit for the Monopal grand rally saying that they even twisted the facts about the flyover project initiated by the Congressional District Office and the Department of Public Works and Highways, the new hospital, the Manny Pacquiao endorsement photo, among others. "We are happy here at the Capitol Lagoon South Road. It is here where I was blessed by the Almighty. It was here that we won three terms in Congress. This is a clear sign," Puentevella said. Novero's agenda Confident of victory on Monday, Novero outlined his legislative agenda by first, filing bills that would call for amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, upgrade teachers salaries and strengthen both the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) and the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). One of the features to an amended Local Government Code, Novero explained, is the promotion of the puroks. Under the present set-up, the barangay is the basic unit of government, but the proposed purokism, our puroks will be strengthened by giving them legal personality. "With the strengthening of our puroks, we are in effect, bringing the people closer to the people," Novero, a respected legal luminary said. Completing the Monopal slate are councilor bets Catalino Alisbo, Archie Baribar, Lorney Lyzander Dilag, El Cid Familiaran, Buen Gallenero, Ma. Victoria Nanette Garcia, Norma Juarez, Bobbie Lucasan, Jose Maria "Totong" Regalado Jr., Marlon Solidum, Elmer Sy, and Sonya Verdeflor. Survey Puentevella has topped the three Bombo Radyo-initiated surveys for the mayoralty race from February to April, overwhelming incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia. Latest results of the Random Access Consultant Inc. (RACI) survey conducted between April 24 to 26, 2010 showed Puentevella leading Leonardia by 12.5 percent after garnering 49.3 percent against the mayor's 36.8 percent. Leonardia's acceptability and popularity was also down by 3.3 percent based on identical 40.1 percent results during the Bombo RACI polls last February and March. On the other hand, Puentevella posted 42.5 percent in February and 49.4 percent in March. Sun star
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