BACOLOD CITY — Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) presented its slate of candidates for the 2025 elections in Negros Occidental in a formal event held at the Octaviano Residence in Ayala Northpoint on October 3, 2024.
The event highlighted PLM’s commitment to bringing alternative leadership to the province, aiming to challenge traditional political systems and prioritize the needs of marginalized communities.
The candidates officially nominated include Architect JPaul Q. Octaviano, running for Governor of Negros Occidental; Erie L. Mahinay, for Congressman of the 1st District; Joel M. Bantigue, for Congressman of the 3rd District; Vincent S. Flores, for Councilor of Cadiz City’s; and Merrie Grace N. Bausing and Edgardo C. Goyon Jr., both running for Councilor in E.B. Magalona.
During the presentation, Octaviano, the gubernatorial candidate, emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership focused on equitable access to essential services.
“Our province deserves a leadership that is not only visionary but also deeply empathetic. We are not here to maintain the status quo, but to challenge it,” Octaviano said.
He vowed to address systemic inequalities in Negros Occidental by implementing policies that are fair to all sectors, particularly the urban poor and laborers.
Flores expressed his advocacy for youth and community empowerment, echoing PLM’s broader platform of grassroots participation.
“I have seen firsthand the struggles of the youth, the laborers, and the urban poor. My candidacy is a commitment to fight for their rights and ensure that they are represented and not ignored by those in power,” Flores said.
PLM Senatorial candidate Ka Leody De Guzman also attended the event, delivering a speech urging voters to turn away from traditional politics that benefit only a select few.
“Ngayon na ang tamang panahon para sa pagbabago. Sawa na ang mga tao sa lumang pulitika na pinapaboran lamang ang iilan,” he said.
De Guzman stressed that true power belongs to the masses and called for a governance model that returns wealth and opportunity to the people.
PLM’s slate of candidates, many of whom have backgrounds in advocacy for labor rights, education, housing, and environmental sustainability, seeks to challenge the dominance of political dynasties in the province.
They are focused on policies that promote social justice and empower the province’s most vulnerable communities.
