Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who made history in local politics as the first city mayor elected for three consecutive terms, will lead city officials at their induction rites at the Bacolod City Government Center today.
Leonardia, who is serving his fourth term as the city’s chief executive, first served the people of Bacolod as a councilor in 1988-1992, became vice mayor in 1992-1995, and went on to become the youngest elected mayor in 1995-1998. With Leonardia at the helm, the long-time dream of the past city leaders became a reality. Bacolod also became one of the most, if not the most awarded cities in the country in various categories. The Bacolod City Government Center, a legacy of his administration to the people of Bacolod, is the city’s newest landmark that attracts local and foreign tourists. Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson also holds the distinction in local politics as the only vice mayor to be re-elected for a second term of office. Sayson rose from the ranks in his political career having started as a barangay kagawad of Barangay Sum-ag in 1994-98, as barangay captain in 1998-2001, and was elected twice as city councilor in 2001 and in 2004. He was first elected as vice mayor in 2007 and consequently, was elected president of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines-Negros and vice president for the Visayas of the same group. For the first time, under his leadership, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod rightfully earned the distinction as the country’s Best Sangguniang Panlungsod, highly urbanized city category, a recognition given by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine Councilors’ League. Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang is a political neophyte who vows to observe and promote good governance, efficiency, honesty, accountability and leadership by example. Ang is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of St. La Salle Bacolod and is also a licensed real estate broker. Councilor Catalino Alisbo is now on his second term as a city councilor. He started his political career as a kagawad of Barangay 9 in 1982 and became the barangay captain in 1986. As a barangay leader, he was elected auditor of the Liga ng mga Barangay a post he held from 2001 to 2004 before being elected as a city legislator. Alisbo acquired his Associate in Arts title and Bachelor of Laws degree from the Silliman University and is a licensed mortician. Councilor Homer Bais won as councilor in 2004 and is now on his third term. As a former mediaman, he had worked for Bombo Radyo for 14 years covering 1989-2004. He is a graduate of A.B. Mathematics from the West Negros College and had taken up law at St. La Salle in Bacolod City. Bais is the chairman of the Committee on Tourism and Local International Cooperation and also chairman of the Committee on Social Service. He was the proponent of the conversion of Lacson Street into a tourism strip and had pioneered the presentation of the first human flag during the 111th Independence Day celebration last year. Councilor Archie Baribar graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1978 and the University of the Philippines, Diliman, College of Law in 1982. In the past 20 years, he has made his mark in Bacolod as a human rights and labor lawyer. Baribar won as no. 7 councilor in the 1995 elections, rose to no. 2 in 1998 and became the number one councilor in 2001. He is an ex-seminarian and a former political detainee. Councilor Dindo Ramos is now on his second term as a city legislator. He started his political career as a barangay kagawad and went on to become the barangay captain of Barangay Granada in 1995. During his tenure, the barangay was recognized as having the lowest crime rate with ideal peace and order condition. A lawyer and a certified public accountant by profession, Ramos is an active legislator who helped authored various ordinances and resolutions that benefitted the underprivileged members of the community. He is also a strong advocate of the city government’s relocation program. Councilor Al Victor Espino is now on his third term as a city councilor. He is one of the youngest city councilors in the present administration. He finished his elementary studies at La Salle Bacolod and his secondary education at West Negros College-Bacolod and Ohio Valley in Ohio, U.S.A. He completed his college education at the University of St. La Salle Bacolod. During his first term as a city legislator, he chaired the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Tourism and Sister Cities and the Committee on Environment and Ecology. On his second term, he was chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation and the Committee on Police, Security and Jail Management. Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez is an entrepreneur in the field of finance and real estate by profession. He is also a lay minister in the Catholic Church and an active servant leader in various religious organizations. He is also a managing director in various family businesses that include agriculture, trading, manufacturing and real estate. As a neophyte politician his immediate plans include finding means to improve traffic and solving environmental problems. Councilor El Cid Familiaran, though a first-termer city legislator, is not exactly a political neophyte. He has been reelected three times as Punong Barangay of Barangay 13 and was the number 1 kagawad from 2007-2010. Familiaran holds a degree in Business Administration and started his career as a passenger services officer of Negros Navigation. He later became a branch manager of the same company. He is presently the president and chairman of the board of the Pioneer Entrepinoy Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Councilor Elmer Sy, a three-termer councilor, formerly chaired the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Public Works and Urban Development He was the chairman of the Philippine Councilors League-Visayas convention held in Bacolod that was attended by over 600 delegates all over the region. Councilor Roberto Antonio Rojas, Sr. took up Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from the University of St. La Salle. Rojas was instrumental in implementing the city-wide preventive measures against dengue, donation of complete blood count kits (CBC), medicines and vaccines. He facilitated donations of x-ray machine for Bacolod City Health Office and dialysis machine for the provincial hospital; creation of the position of Medico Legal Officer; providing additional honorarium for Barangay Health Workers and the enforcement of sanitary standards for malls, restaurants, hotels. etc. He was also responsible for the creation of Task Force BAHA that conducts clean-up and clearing operations of drainages, manholes and canals within Bacolod City. He was likewise responsible for the construction of footwalks in various puroks and the construction artesian wells and jetmatic water pumps in various puroks of the city. Councilor Caesar Distrito who graduated with honors from ETCS II and finished his secondary studies at NOHS. He took up AB-Mass Communications at La Salle-Bacolod where he also took up his Bachelor of Laws. He passed the bar. Through a scholarship offered by La Salle-Bacolod he took up Masters in Public Management in 2006. He was elected as SK Chairman of Barangay Singcang Airport 1992 until 2006. He was elected as SK Federation Vice President, during his second term. The 2010 elections was his first venture into city-wide elections where he was voted into membership into the Sangguniang Panlungsod – a City Councilor. Councilor Sonya Montalvo-Verdeflor is not new to politics or to public service. She was Secretary to the Mayor from 1998 to 1999 under then Mayor Oscar Verdeflor. She was elected City Councilor of Bacolod from 2001 to 2004. She served in many committees: Trade, Commerce and Industry, Municipal and International Cooperation, Tourism and Sister Cities.*CGS
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