• GILBERT P. BAYORAN / CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Returning to the House of Representatives, Alfredo Abelardo Benitez vows to go the extra mile for Bacolod City, which he declares as fast rising and competitive.
A former congressman of the Negros Occidental 3rd district, Benitez, now representing the Lone District of Bacolod in the House of Representatives, looked back on three years of his leadership – marked by bold reforms, strong partnerships, and a vision that shaped stronger, smarter Bacolod, which he said is ready for more, during his final State of the City Address on Wednesday night
“Change was never easy, but together, we made it happen,” he declared.
Benitez told his successor, incoming Mayor Greg Gasataya, that Bacolod City is prepared to fly.
“Bacolod today is competitive, rising, and ready to lead…the City has a solid revenue base, and we have mechanisms in place to keep it that way,” the incoming Bacolod solon said.
From the P4.1 billion loan secured by the Bacolod City government from the Development Bank of the Philippines, Benitez clarified that about P2 billion has been drawn, which he stressed is to be used only for specific needs and ready projects.
“This loan is not a blank check. It is a strategic tool we use with care, to fund initiatives that matter and investments that will pay off,” he pointed out.
“We also strengthened systems to safeguard public funds through Executive Order No. 1, which created the Good Governance Committee to ensure transactions will be properly documented,” he said.
Benitez said the city government’s partnership with High Data will update its tax mapping system and improve collection, noting that property owners have not paid their dues for years, resulting in billions of losses in revenues, which should have gone to public services.
Once a digital system is fully in place, Benitez said the City Treasurer estimates that it will collect about P700 million in real property taxes next year, which may increase to P2 billion.
Benitez also reported that the city is ready to shift to underground cabling. He announced that he has signed the underground cabling ordinance and that when he assumes office as congressman he will secure funding to support its implementation nationwide.
He also stressed that his service to Bacolod has yet to end.
As I take on a new role, I carry with me the same commitment to push for real, lasting change, enumerating his eight legislative priorities in Congress, including expanded skills training through Bacolod City College; a data-driven, integrated traffic control law; long term flood barriers and pump gates; stronger LGU waste-management systems; bigger budgets for anti-drug education and rehabilitation; reliable power and water oversight; nationwide rollout of BacCHP; a national mandate for fully digital LGU frontline services, patterned after Bacolod’s success.
These are the causes I will fight for – not just as your Congressman, but as a fellow Bacolodnon who believes in our continued progress, he stressed.
While he is no longer leading Bacolod from the Government Center, Benitez said he “will continue going the extra mile for the city on the national stage as its congressman,” as he committed his full support to the administration of Mayor Gasataya, Vice Mayor Kalaw Puentevella and the City Council.
“I will be with you, every step of the way,” he further stressed.*
