SENATOR Juan Miguel Zubiri has expressed optimism that Bacolod City, having the right formula, will be able to surpass Iloilo City, especially in terms of economic growth.
Zubiri, at the sidelines of the symbolic switch-on of Bacolod City Public Plaza Beautification Project on March 17, said more development projects are underway for the Negros Occidental capital city.
He said he already gave an assurance to Mayor Evelio Leonardia in realizing the bid to edge out the other Western Visayas' highly-urbanized city.
"Our dream is to surpass Iloilo City, and we can do it," Zubiri said, as he cited working together as the right formula to make such dream to happen.
The senator recalled that when he was in Iloilo for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's concert two weeks ago, he told Leonardia to look at the formula of the city.
Zubiri said local and national officials there led by Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon have been working together for at least nine years with former president Benigno Aquino on their side during his six-year term.
Zubiri said the president was very close to Drilon thus, whatever requests of the senator for the development of Iloilo are granted.
"I salute Senator Drilon for not forgetting Iloilo and the island of Panay. There are many senators who were in the position for years but their provinces were still left behind," he said, adding: "So I have the opportunity now, I am giving my commitment to Mayor Bing."
Zubiri, who has paternal roots in Negros Occidental particularly in cities of Bacolod and Kabankalan, lightly recalled his younger years here.
"We want to relive the glory days of Bacolod City and make it even brighter," Zubiri told reporters.
Aside from infrastructure developments, they plan to improve mobility and expand government centers in the city.
Zubiri earlier allocated P10 million as a counterpart for the beautification of the public plaza.
During the symbolic switch-on, he pledged to give at least P150 million for the establishment of a museum in Bacolod.
Leonardia, for his part, said having a senator who recognizes his past in Bacolod City is something to take advantage of.
He agreed that the right formula will start at having congressman, mayor, vice mayor, city council plus a senator working together.
Like what was happening to Iloilo before, they have one godfather in the person of Senator Drilon, Leonardia said.
"If that formula works wonder for Iloilo, that would also work wonderfully for Bacolod," he said.
The mayor added that Zubiri has already committed to employing such formula in Bacolod.
"With that setup, my imagination is running wild," he said.
Though Iloilo is being considered a sort of benchmark, the mayor reiterated that for the first time after so long, Bacolod has a bigger budget than the former starting this year.
Budget is an indicator of economic dynamism and growth.
"We believe that we are catching up, we will catch up," the mayor said.
