More arterial roads eyed in 5th district

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The newly-elected congressman of the 5th district of Negros Occidental, Dino Yulo, said Monday that he will work for the construction of more arterial roads in the district, especially in the upland areas.

Yulo, who defeated Rep. Marilou Arroyo in the May 9, 2022 elections, took his oath before Governor Eugenio Lacson at the latter’s office Monday.

He told reporters here that while he was campaigning, he saw that there are areas in the 5th district that need roads especially that “the province is an agricultural-based economy.”

“Road development is important, when I went around during the campaign period there are still areas nga wala malab-otan sang dalan halin pa sang kalolohan nila like in Isabela town, there are three barangays without cemented roads until now and in the upper Moises Padilla area, I would want more arterial road network in the upland areas, we have more than enough roads in the highways, we should start spreading it out sa kabukiran,” Yulo said.

When asked why he took his oath before Lacson, Yulo said that “I think it’s only apt that I take my oath before the governor politically because I am under the province of Negros Occidental, and I think it is important for us to show that we are united especially that most of our initiatives is for the betterment of our province.”

Yulo’s victory is among the unexpected twists in Negros Occidental politics as he challenged the Arroyos, a formidable political clan in the 5th district.

Arroyo was gunning for a second term and was challenged by Yulo and another contender, Barangay Captain Makoy Javelosa from HImamaylan City.

Yulo, who ran as an independent candidate and was on his fourth try, clinched the 5th district congressional seat with 118,099 votes, with a lead of about 40,000 over Arroyo (75,501) and Javelosa (22,000).

He said he will also work for the restoration of the Negros Island Region through a law.

“I have already made a commitment that I will support any initiative for the restoration of the NIR, it is also important for the 5th district, if there is clamor for it in the provincewide level, at least five localities directly straddle six local government units in the Oriental side, there are two main gateways also towards in the Oriental part of the island,” he added.