BACOLOD City – The newly elected officials of this city and the province of Negros Occidental will hold separate inauguration ceremonies today, June 28.
According to Atty. Marty Go, secretary-to-the mayor, the city’s inauguration will take place at 4 p.m. at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), coinciding with the provincial inauguration at the Negros Occidental Capitol Grounds.
One of the key highlights of both events is the formal oath-taking of the incoming city and provincial officials.
Outgoing Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, now the congressman-elect for Bacolod’s Lone District, will take his oath of office before Punong Barangay Madilyn Diaz of Barangay 13.
Meanwhile, incoming Mayor Greg Gasataya — currently the city’s congressman — and incoming Vice Mayor Claudio Jesus “Kalaw” Puentevella will have separate administering officers, whose names have yet to be disclosed.
The incoming members of the Bacolod City Council are set to take their oath before a Regional Trial Court judge, though the judge’s name was still unconfirmed.
For the province, three-term Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson will also be sworn in by a court judge. The administering officers for other incoming provincial officials have yet to be finalized.
In a related development, Go revealed that Mayor Benitez has formally invited Congressman-elect Gasataya to lead the flag-raising ceremony on Monday, June 30, the day Mayor Benitez steps down after serving a single term as city mayor.
Under Philippine law, newly elected officials officially assume office at 12 noon on June 30.
Go also confirmed that the appointments of all casual and co-terminus employees at City Hall will expire on the same day.
He assured the public that city government operations will remain uninterrupted, as the incoming mayor is expected to immediately issue new appointments for key positions.
More than 3,000 job order casual employees and 18 executive assistants are affected by the lapse of appointments. However, Go could not confirm whether any of them will be retained under the new administration./PN
