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| Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion |
It was time for the people of Bacolod to hear what our congressman, Evelio “Bing” Leonardia, of the lone district of Bacolod, was doing in Congress. His birthday celebration July 10 at the Garden Royale, Goldenfields Complex in Bacolod City, was a most opportune time for Bing’s State of the District Address.
The crowd began gathering at the venue as early as 10 a.m. for the Holy Mass, concelebrated by Frs. Mao Buenafe and Belarmino Obordo. It was a heady mix of politicians, businessmen, academe, movers and shakers, media, civic leaders, supporters and well wishers, etc. A burst of thunderous applause greeted Rep Bing, who arrived with wife Elsa and daughter Kara.
The program began immediately after the mass, and everyone was eager to hear the congressman’s report to the district. Bing began his report with a description of his assuming his congressional seat at the height of the PDAF scandal and the abolition of the pork barrel funds.
Being a neophyte congressman, he said he refused to accept that “our congressional leadership would rise or fall on the issue of pork alone”. He then went from one Cabinet secretary to another, from office to office, seeking ways and means for the realization of a dream for a better Bacolod. His efforts paid off because while the lone district lost P35 million in PDAF funds for 2013, and another P70 million for 2014, it actually got P892,843,735 worth of public works and infrastructure projects in the last 12 months!
The congressman then reported in detail the kind of projects the money would go to, which was met with continuous applause from the audience. He also revealed that as a representative, he is a member of eight different committees and is senior vice chair of Transportation, which is probably the highest committee position a neophyte could get in this 16th Congress.
He has already filed 43 bills in the last 31 work weeks of Congress: an efficiency rating of 1.4 bills per week. These bills have immense significance not just to the nation but especially to the lone district of Bacolod.
After his impressive SODA, the birthday celebration began with a sumptuous luncheon enjoyed by all the guests. Congratulations, congressman, on your job well done and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Bing!*
