• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Seeking his third term as Chief Executive of Negros Occidental, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed on Thursday that no local government unit will be left behind in the implementation of projects, regardless of political party affiliation, should he be given another mandate to lead the province.
Lacson and his vice gubernatorial candidate, Board Member Jose Benito Alonso, accompanied by returning First District Representative Julio Ledesma IV, filed their respective Certificates of Candidacy at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, the venue used by the Commission on Elections used as a venue for accepting documents from candidates.
He said the presence of so many incumbent and former officials of Negros Occidental strengthens his belief that they were happy with the way he and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, who is vying for the Fourth District congressional post, managed the provincial government for almost six years.
If you review the projects implemented by the province, it will tell you that we have spread it well. There was no LGU left behind, Lacson said, stressing also that they made sure to connect all local government chief executives.
Witnessing also their filing of COCs were San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo, Toboso Mayor Madonna Jaojoco and her husband and predecessor, Richard, Board Members Rommel Debulgado, Sixto Pal Guanzon, Samson Mirhan, Andrew Montelibano, Jeffrey Tubola, Anthony Dennis Occeno, and former Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, among others, including their political allies.
I am very happy for their appearance and support to the Lacson- Alonso tandem, the governor said.
As of this time, Lacson has one challenger in the person of Ferdenand Diego, a 50-year-old Candoni farmer, who claims to be a former police officer.
Former Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca was, as of yesterday, reportedly filing his COC for the gubernatorial position on Monday, October 7, together with Sixth District congressional candidate, former Hinobaan Mayor Ernesto Estrao. Both are members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
If given a chance to be reelected, Lacson said he will complete his unfinished business, including the P1.2 billion Capitol bulk water project, the bidding of which was again postponed to November this year; to continue accepting renewable project proposals; and with many more farm to market roads and bridges in the pipeline up for construction, among others.
The reelectionist governor said if elected, he will ensure that all the projects will be finished when he steps down in 2028.
The Lacson-Alonso administration, according to him, intends to use only 50 percent of the 2028 budget when he steps down as governor, so that the next administration will have a choice on the projects they will implement.
On his part, Alonso, who has been in the public service for 35 years, assured Lacson of a smooth relationship between the legislative and executive branches of the provincial government.*