BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Small businessmen here banded under the Bacolod Employers Union made strong suggestions and issued a warning that “(t)he loss of trust and confidence of the people of Bacolod has increased tremendously as time passes by” as they urge for a liquidation of all public funds.”
In an open letter addressed to the local government here and city officials, the BEU said it been “keen in the observation on how you all manage and execute certain strategies in plight to protect the people from the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
Gym owner and fitness expert Samuel Solon told DNX the group was founded by another local businessman, John Anthony Ledesma, “to help promote” micro, small and medium enterprises in the promotion of its establishments and at the same time establish a platform to regulate the hiring of employees with bad records, as well as help in the processing of business permits and to be the backbone of growing entrepreneurs to have a voice in the community.
The group, however, told officials that its members “… understand how hard you work and the exhaustive efforts you are all exerting to somehow work everything together which we give due respect and acknowledgment.”
We publish the letter in its full and unedited form below:
Dear Bacolod LGU and City Officials,
In light of everything that is happening in our city the Bacolod Employers Union which is composed of MSME’s has been keen in the observation on how you all manage and execute certain strategies in plight to protect the people from the Covid-19 Pandemic. We understand how hard you work and the exhaustive efforts you are all exerting to somehow work everything together which we give due respect and acknowledgment.
We know that we are all aware of the incident that has happened yesterday was not a prank which the City Administrator Em Ang believed and you all wanted to release to the social media and media as well to make yourselves have an excuse. We wanted that you all learn to acknowledge your responsibility of mishandling the situation which resulted that the poor families of Bacolod were not able to receive any financial assistance and if it so, there were only a 100 individuals only.
We highly suggest that DSSD Head Pacita Tero will coordinate with the leaders and heads of every transport sector/association to ease in accounting the number of drivers in every barangay. In connection to that, we have also barangay leaders that can help assist in the verification and validation of every individual. On the other hand, we the BEU would like to clarify on why you only give out 100 people per day which the actual population of Bacolod is more than 650,000.
The loss of trust and confidence of the people of Bacolod has increased tremendously as time passes by, this is the reason why we need the Transparency of the proper liquidation of all the budget that was been given from the National Level. As they say politicians are more concerned on the next election and to stay in power by keeping the position. So to clear this mentality, we would like you to release the liquidated expenses with the said money.
On the side of our economy, what are your plans for Bacolod City. We wanted to hear your side on what are your plans to protect if there is such for the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises that most of it has closed down permanently due to the continuous Lockdown. We the BEU, don’t want to live with uncertainty we want you all to give us a clear visual perspective where we can see on where you all want to take the economy of Bacolod.
Lastly, stop showing us how clear the roads are every Sunday because this is just a sign that the economy is going down and we badly need the help of the LGU. We would greatly appreciate more if you can post how you all extend your financial support to the businesses that were helpless and hopeless in these times of Financial Crisis.
We the BEU is willing to see where you all can take the City of Bacolod and what are your Visions for the Next Generations.
Regards,
John Anthony Ledesma
President, BEU
