BACOLOD CITY – In either politics or finance, there is always a nerve center.
In his State of the Nation Address (SOCA) in the first quarter of this year, Bacolod mayor Evelio Leonardia outlined his programs and projects which translate into his blueprint for Bacolod in the nest three years.
In his reference to his blueprint for the next three years Leonardia said, “At the start of this report, I mentioned that our city is in the midst of exciting times. The tempo of our economy is picking up. We have to sustain it for the sake of our people’s future. By God’s grace and with a lot of hard work on our part, we will become one of the premier cities of this country.”
“We have long dreamed of a New Government Center (NGC). Now that dream is becoming real.”
Those close to the city’s chief executive say the New Government Center (NGC) will be the nerve center of all the plans, programs and development, he will carry out for the city and its people.
Requesting anonymity as they do not want to be misinterpreted, barangay leaders said the NGC now being constructed in the Circumferential Road area has, in effect become the landmark for achievement and more development.
Leonardia said city government officials needed to focus on two areas insofar as development is concerned. These are physical or infrastructure development and strengthening the delivery systems for basic social services to support the development of communities and growth centers.
This would mean delivering more services to blighted and marginalized communities and focusing on growth centers for business and its expansion.
With his foresight and those of his planners, Mayor Leonardia has pinpointed the task at hand—mainly to finish the construction of the New Government Center (NGC) and to build road and bridge linkages as well as road networks.
The linkages and networks should be linking Gonzaga Extension and Eroreco Road to connect these to the Circumferential Road, Taculing Road to connect this to Alijis national highway with a bridges, Aguinaldo street Extension with a bridge to be connected to the back portion of the mall, Robinson’s Place the North Capitol Road to be connected to the Reclamation area road networks within barangay Alijis-Granada Relocation site to the New Government Center (NGC).
Major projects include the building of public transport terminals for south and north-bound vehicles closer to outer city limits, to support the implementation of the nationally-funded flyovers along Lacson St, covering two points by the DPWH which is intended to decongest traffic; improve the drainage systems which flows into the Magsungay River, Mambuloc area Creek, Lupit River and Creek, to build critically-needed satellite markets in populated areas.
Economic development and delivery of basic services while establishing its nerve centers in the NGC will have its own specific nerve centers close to the chief executive who is to oversee all those.
There is no way for the city government but to go forward. With the development Bacolodnons see around them, each one will develop nerve centers in their own hearts and minds enough for them to cooperate with leaders of the city who are doing their best to builds city for the future for the present, and more as the children or the future. source: http://www.negrosdaily.com
