• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Mayor Greg Gasataya said that Bacolod City’s development goals, under his administration’s HEART Agenda, directly align with the national priorities outlined in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) July 27.
Gasataya noted that the national focus on public healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, sports development, labor upskilling, and digitalization mirrors ongoing initiatives in Bacolod.
“Our consistent efforts to reduce waste and ensure resilience, demonstrated by initiatives, like waste-to-energy and the rehabilitation of our waterways, align closely with the administration’s goals,” he added.
The mayor also expressed strong support to the President’s call to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
Gasataya said the proposed prohibition on passing system loss charges and value-added tax (VAT) to consumers is a practical measure that will directly reduce monthly electricity costs for local households.
“It is a very welcome development to see this level of trust in local government units to serve as active partners in nation-building. We have always said that when local initiatives are reinforced by national support, we deliver a more meaningful, tangible difference,” he added. | TMD
