Bacolod congressman Greg Gasataya formally announced Jan. 16 that he joined the Team Asenso of mayoral aspirant Alfredo “Albee” Benitez in the May 9 elections.
With the integration, the team formed is dubbed “Fantastic Four”, with Gasataya, Benitez, vice mayoral bet Caesar Distrito, and Rep. Stephen Paduano of the Abang Lingkod Partylist.
The team is gunning for a 16-0 run, with their 12 councilors.
Gasataya, who made the announcement at the launching of the Alliance for Better Bacolod at Bantug Ranch in Barangay Alangilan Jan. 16, said it is the right time for him to join the group, after the Grupo Progreso of Mayor Evelio Leonardia decided to adopt his opponent, even after he insisted that he will be neutral in the election.
GP earlier formed an alliance with businessman Danny Atayde, who is running for Bacolod congressman as an independent, after the group dropped Gasataya from their line-up, saying his declaration of neutrality is no longer believable.
Gasataya said he chose Team Albee because they have the same direction, and he is comfortable belonging to a group that is pushing for his campaign agenda.
He said he believes that the number of barangay captains, who expressed their support to him, will increase in the coming days.
Benitez, meanwhile, welcomed Gasataya to the group, adding that he appreciates the decision of the solon. He said that even from the start, he already chose Gasataya as his candidate for congressman despite the latter’s initial decision to become a neutral candidate.
Gasataya said he will continue to banner his main project, which is the construction of the Bacolod City General Hospital, even if the administration of Leonardia also insisted that they have a share in the realization of the project.
He said the initial fund of P450 million is ready for the first phase of the hospital construction in the first quarter of this year.
Of the amount, P200 million is taken from the budget of the Department of Health, and P250 million from Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Gasataya also said his proposal to establish an economic zone in Bacolod City, which was recently approved by a Senate committee, will complement the economic development proposal of Benitez, especially with the completion of the economic highway from barangays Sum-ag and Cabug going to Barangay Bata. | MML
