As he took his oath for his third and final term as top honcho of Cadiz City on July 4, alongside other winning local officials in the May 12 polls, Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. committed anew to make their city a hub of limitless opportunities, a press release from Cadiz PIO said.
The mayor, in his inaugural speech, highlighted the city’s growing status as the “RE (renewable energy) Capital” of Negros Occidental.
Aside from the current 132.5-megawatt (MW) Helios Solar Energy Corporation in Barangay Tinampaan, two more RE companies are soon to nest in Cadiz.
These include the Clean Current Renewable Energy Inc., an energy arm of SM Holdings Inc., and Aboitiz Renewables, Inc.
“The presence of these industry giants affirms our city’s appeal to investors and reflects our readiness to embrace a greener, more sustainable economy,” Escalante said.
“This is a bold step toward securing a better future for the next generation of Cadizeños,” he said. “Cadiz is no longer just a place on the map—it is becoming a hub of potential and progress.”
As he reflected on the city’s journey under his leadership, Escalante expressed gratitude to all Cadizeños who gave him the mandate to lead their city for another three years.
Escalante was mayor of Cadiz from 2001 to 2010. He moved up to the provincial level as a board member of the Second Congressional District from 2010 to 2019. In 2019, he ran again for mayor of Cadiz and from 2025 to 2028, will be concluding a second set of three terms.
“I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude for the trust you have once again bestowed upon me to serve as your mayor,” Escalante told the crowd.
“This is not merely a mandate to lead. Rather, this is a reaffirmation of our shared dreams, our collective aspirations, and our commitment to continue building a Cadiz that is strong, inclusive, and full of promise.”
Escalante also presented his major accomplishments from 2019 to date that have benefited thousands of his constituents.
These included roads, bridges, public buildings, and housing initiatives.
But beyond infrastructure, he also underscored what he termed as the most important investment he has instilled in Cadizeños’ minds: a lasting principle: “A culture of compassion and a mindset for excellence.”
Likewise, Escalante stressed, “Public service isn’t about titles or ambition—it’s about small acts of kindness that make a big difference.”
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson praised Escalante for making Cadiz great beyond expectation, acknowledging, too, the trust given by the people of Cadiz in his leadership.
“Your time, your energy, your voice, and your vision no longer belong to you alone. They now belong to Cadiz City and the Cadizeños,” Lacson told Escalante as the governor reminisced on their “friendship beyond politics.”
Lacson swore in Escalante (2019, 2022 and 2025) as mayor of Cadiz for the third time.
Lacson and Escalante were contemporaries at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in 2010 to 2019 as vice governor and board member, respectively.
Negros Occidental Second District Representative Alfredo Marañon III lauded Cadiz for having an astonishing economy under Escalante’s leadership.
Being a first-class component city right now is an attestation that Cadiz is doing well – financially and economically, the solon said.*
