LOCAL political group Grupo Progreso (GP) led by incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia presented their platform of government for 2022-2025 at the Bacolod Business Inn on Thursday, March 24.Leonardia along with their congressional candidate Daniel Alfonso Atayde, incumbent Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and bets for councilors signed their three-pronged program.GP’s lineup for councilors include incumbent Councilors Cindy Tan-Rojas, Archie Baribar, Renecito Novero, Israel Salanga, Carl Lopez and Dindo Ramos, former City Administrator Em Legaspi-Ang, businessman Ed Guillem, former Barangay Captain Jonathan Diaz, broadcaster Marlon Solidum, IT professional Cashmere Montalvo and Emergency Operation Center Deputy for Medical, Data and AnalysisDr. Chris Sorongon,The group’s three-pronged program is primarily anchored on the areas of health and social services, economy and infrastructure, and the Smart City framework for local government.The group said its vision for Bacolod City is to further develop into a more livable, vibrant and resilient city where business and industry shall flourish in a climate of peace and fair competition; inclusive, innovative, and sustainable, where government serves all its people responsibly and compassionately.“We will empower our government units with the ability to deliver quality services, and for the people of Bacolod to be active participants in all our development programs and projects,” it said.“This is to ensure our accountability to guide us that we deliver our campaign promises to the electorate. That is why, we all affix our signatures on this very important piece of document,” Leonardia said.He said the program of the government is not about the next election, it’s all about the next generation.“Together with all of us, we would like to assure our people that while we try to do our better and best in the past, we will do better than our best and we assure you the best is yet to come,” the mayor added.Meanwhile, as the local campaign officially kicked off, the group held a mass at Lupit Church, a motorcade and mini-rally at the city’s Reclamation Area.GP which banners the slogan “Ipadayon ang Serbisyo kag Progreso,” also takes pride of its pure “tumandok” (native) slate, it said.They will hold its opening salvo at the public plaza at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26.Apart from the rally speeches, the event will also showcase purely “tumandok” or local talents.”As tumandok Bacolodnons, we have to take pride in our local talents who are world-class. We have to patronize our very own. Let us support Bacolod first,” Leonardia said in a statement.The other camp led by former congressman Alfredo Benitez, on the other hand, will also hold their “Team Asenso Kick-Off Party” at the Paglaum Sports Complex at 5 p.m. Saturday.Dubbed “Tion sang Pagbag-o,” the event will feature various artists including Bamboo and Silent Sanctuary.Benitez’s partymates include former councilor Caesar Distrito and reelectionist Congressman Greg Gasataya.The group’s bets for councilors are incumbent councilors Simplicia Distrito, Al Victor Espino and Bartolome Orola Sr., as well as Pao Sy, daughter and chief of staff of the late councilor Elmer Sy, who passed away earlier this year.Those seeking a return are former councilors Homer Bais, Sonya Verdeflor, Celia Flor, and Claudio Jesus “Kalaw” Puentevella, son of former mayor and congressman Monico Puentevella, as well as former vice mayor and councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson.Completing the Team Asenso lineup are businessman Vladimir Gonzales, a former mayoral and vice mayoral candidate, Barangay Sum-ag Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Jason Villarosa, and former Third District Board Member Patrick Lacson.Benitez has called on supporters to “stay calm” amid the start of the local campaign period.Tensions among some supporters of Benitez’s camp and that of his opponent arose during the congressional debate on Wednesday.”Let us present ourselves, present our platform, present our programs and let the people decide,” he said.