Bacolod City in Negros Occidental is also known as the City of Smiles because of its vibrant and widely renowned MassKara Festival, which culminates on the fourth Sunday of October. Besides abundance and diversity, there’s another reason why the people of Bacolod are smiling from ear to ear, and that’s thanks to the leadership of City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo B. Benitez.
He assumed the position as Bacolod City’s 43rd mayor on June 30, 2022, and wasted no time championing projects and programs that carefully consider the city’s growth and his constituents’ welfare. His priorities include infrastructure, health, education, livelihood, and policy.
Benitez also placed digital infrastructure at the top of his list because he believes it’s the key to empowering Bacolod to become globally competitive and adapt to the ever-changing market trends.
It coincides with his vision of having a city where all the residents can feel his efforts and enjoy its advantages. After all, he does envision a strong relationship between the government and the public.
The mayor is also enthusiastic about bringing more tourists to Bacolod City to boost the local tourism industry and attract more investors. It was the highlight of his 2023 State of the City Address (SOCA) last July 5.
Moreover, he planned to maximize the potential of the city’s recently recovered MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector.
Under his administration, Benitez plans to position Bacolod as a top MICE destination. He signed Executive Order 56 to assemble the Bacolod Meetings and Conventions Board to market the city as the prime location for such events while securing the grant of incentives and assistance to organizers.
Before becoming Bacolod Mayor, Benitez was part of the 17th Congress of the House of Representatives. While in office, he became the Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development and the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Energy, among other positions.
He also enacted several bills into law, including Republic Act 10659, or the Sugarcane Industry Development Act, which promotes and supports the competitiveness of the local sugarcane industry.
Other significant bills and resolutions Benitez filed in the 17th Congress include the Administrative Capital City Planning Act, In-City Housing Act, and a Resolution Calling on the Philippine Congress to Convene itself as a Constituent Assembly to propose Amendments to the Philippine Constitution.
With Benitez’s unwavering supervision over Bacolod City, the locals will keep smiles as they reap the rewards of having a public leader who advocates their interests.