- MITCH M. LIPA
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador “Bading” Escalante Jr. is the lone local chief executive from Negros Occidental among the awardees for honorary Local Chief Executive of the Year by the 2022 National Builders and Sustainable and Liveable Awards, and the awarding ceremony will be held in Manila on March 19.
Escalante said the recognition is a testimony of the business thrust and confidence to his administration, adding that, in 2021, a number of investors pushed through with their plans to open business in the city, while some existing businesses also infused funds to expand their operations in Cadiz.
He added that while the business climate and income taxes of some local government units were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Cadiz City even experienced a robust economy and an increase in tax collection.
The recognition was based on the efficiency of local governance in continuing its duty for service to the people, amid the health crisis, as well as the city’s sustainable programs for environment protection.
Sustainable Standards Inc., the brainchild of Sir Karl McLean, chairman and publisher of the Sustainable and Liveable book, launched the Most Sustainable and Liveable (Mosliv) Awards amid the global pandemic with a timely yet urgent purpose and goal, and that is to promote the growth and development of smarter, sustainable, and greener communities in the Philippines and in other parts of the world.
The need to bring sustainable development benefits to the communities, municipalities, districts, cities, and provinces could not wait, he said.
The Mosliv Awards serves as an inspiration for those in key positions or roles of influence to advocate for responsible and earth-friendly or green practices in all of the stakeholders’ development efforts, and helps ensure the sustainable existence of this world and of the people.
Aside from Escalante, the other awardees are mayors Pryde Henry Teves of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, Joseph Tan of Santiago City, Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto of Pasig, Richard Gomez of Ormoc City, Leyte, Arturo Robes of San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan, Marjorie Perales of Toledo City in Cebu, Jose Relampagos of Panabo City in Davao Del Norte, Nielo Tupas of Barotac Viejo in Iloilo, Ma. Rocelle Carolino of Santa Maria in Laguna, Carlos Lopez Jr. of Asingan in Pangasinan, Emerson Lachica of Kalibo in Aklan, and Jose Paolo Teves of Baras in Catanduanes. — MML
