Bacolod City – The United Negros Alliance is gearing up for the 2025 midterm elections, gathering about 200 new members, who took their oaths recently, when the party also formally declared and endorsed Board Member Jose Benito Alonso as their vice gubernatorial bet.
About 20 of them also took their oaths as new members of the National Unity Party (NUP), which was administered by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who confirmed his intention to run for congressman in the 4th district of Negros Occidental.
Alonso will be paired with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson of Love Negros, who is seeking reelection for his third and final term as the Chief Executive of Negros Occidental.
Second district Representative Alfredo Marañon III, also the UNegA chairman, welcomed the new members, said that the UNegA and Love Negros coalition is getting stronger as the years go by.
The UNegA general assembly was attended by six incumbent board members, 13 mayors, 14 vice mayors, 117 city and municipal councilors, among others.
UNegA has an existing coalition with rival political group Love Negros under Lacson since 2019.
Alonso, in his acceptance speech, admitted that it will be hard for him to imitate what Vice Gov. Ferrer has done for the province, citing the accomplishments achieved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan under his stewardship.
Gov. Lacson said he is happy with the choice of Alonso, who he had been working with during his incumbency as vice governor of the province.
He also said that Vice Gov. Ferrer deserves to be in Congress, stressing that he is “very close” to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “So, let’s take advantage of that,” he added.
Over the last five years, Lacson said he has not “favored anyone.” I try to help as much as the provincial government coffers can afford, the governor said, as he thanked UNegA members for their all-out support to his administration.
I am hoping and praying that the coalition will continue up to 2028, and even beyond, Lacson stressed.
Among those who joined the NUP were Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen dela Cruz and La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalandoon.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson announced that former 1st district Rep. Julio Ledesma IV will make making a comeback in politics, while Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo and Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen de la Cruz, both currently in their last term as local chief executives, will run for the position as members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia Yulo also announced during the United Negros Alliance assembly on September 7 in Talisay City, that her husband, Felix Mathias, will be her running mate, as the town vice mayor, in the 2025 midterm elections.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, who confirmed his intention to run for congressman, representing the 4th district of Negros Occidental, also announced that Paula Alonso, daughter of Board Member Jose Benito Alonso, will run for a board member position, representing the 4th district.
It was Lacson, who also announced that dela Cruz will run as board member, representing the 1st district in the SP.
Dela Cruz also revealed that his younger brother, Vice Mayor Nehemias de la Cruz Jr, will be running for mayor of Don Salvador Benedicto.
Lacson disclosed that incumbent Rep. Valmayor will give way to former Rep. Ledesma.
On the other hand, a battle for the mayoral position of Moises Padilla looks inevitable, as Yulo and former ally, Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor, will challenge each in next year’s elections. Both are UNegA members.
Villaflor said he will join the Lakas CMD party of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, while Felix Mathias Yulo took his oath as member of the National Unity Party and UNegA during the party assembly meeting, which was presided by 2nd district Rep. Alfredo Marañon III.
Ferrer said the rule of the equity of the incumbent must be applied.
Villaflor said that Moises Padilla Councilor Beauty Nazareno will be his running mate. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star)