Puentevella, who is running for mayor, announced that Ana Marie Palermo will be his vice mayoralty bet and Renecito Novero will run for congressman of Bacolod City under the “MONOPAL” team.

Joining their slate are former councilors Sonya Verdeflor, Archie Baribar, Bobbie Lucasan, incumbent Councilor Catalino Alisbo, educator Norma Juarez, media practitioners Marlon Solidum and Buen Gallenero, former Brgy. Captain El Cid Familiaran of Brgy. 13, Nanette Garcia and Lyzander “Bong” Dilag, who are running for councilors.

Not present was Bacolod businessman Jose Maria Regalado.

Palermo said their team chose a female candidate for vice mayor to give due recognition, respect and appreciation to the role of women in everyday and everyone's lives.

Palermo was also a former Bacolod City Administrator, Lucasan was a former Brgy. Captain of Monte Vista, Novero and Solidum are pastors, Gallenero was a former manager of RGMA Super Radio, Garcia was a former Governor of Rotary, Juarez was former president of the Bacolod City College , and Dilag was a former regional director of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Region VI.

Puentevella said they will hold another press conference to discuss their vision and mission. He said their priorities include the payment of the P400 million loan of the city, education, health, and environment programs.

He said the reason why they wore white shirts yesterday is because they want to start on the right foot.

Puentevella said they will decide during their planning session when they will file their certificates of candidacy and the presidential candidate they will choose to support.

If elected, they will show the city that they will be able to pay the P400 million loan after a year, he said.

Familiaran said he will propose an ordinance amending the Revenue Code in order to give free City Health Office services to the indigent people of Bacolod .

Verdeflor said that when she was councilor, she had authored two revenue generating ordinances – the Revenue Investment Code and the Tourism Code.

Baribar said he decided to return to public service when he saw the state of the city. He said the city needs a responsive, compassionate, proactive, independent and ethical council.

Juarez said she has rallied for the increase of the teacher's Emergency Cost of Living Allowance and also claimed that as a member of the school board, her brainchild was the conceptualization of the BCC.

Also present were former mayor Luzviminda Valdez, former vice mayor Ramiro “Chick” Garcia and Novero's father, Rene.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said that by December, they will start the construction of the 5-storey Bacolod City Kidney, Heart and Lung Center behind the proposed payward building of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital .

The construction of the two flyover projects will also be started, one of which will be near Bangga Pepsi, he said.

BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO
Visayan Daily Star