BY CARLA GOMEZ

Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel “Mar” Roxas will visit Talisay, Bago and Bacolod cities tomorrow to conduct consultations with Negrenses, former Negros Occidental Gov. Daniel Lacson Jr. said yesterday.

It will be the first visit of Aquino to Negros Occidental since he announced his bid for the presidency under the Liberal Party ticket with Roxas as his running mate.

After former President Corazon Aquino died, and before he decided to run for the presidency, Noynoy had planned to come to Negros to thank Negrenses for their prayers as his mother battled with cancer, and as his family mourned her death, Lacson said.

However, that visit was delayed and now he is finally able to come to do that, the former governor added.

Aquino and Roxas are also coming to consult the people on possible legislative measures they can push before the Senate, and to listen to concerns of Negrenses to help them in putting together their platform for the 2010 national campaign, Lacson said.

Aquino and Roxas have promised that theirs will be a consultative government if they win, and they will listen to the people, Lacson explained.

Their visit tomorrow will be their first round of consultations with Negrenses, Lacson said.

At 8 a.m. tomorrow, Aquino and Roxas will pay a courtesy call on Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco at the Capitol in Bacolod City, proceed to the Talisay Plaza at 10 a.m., to Bago City at 2 p.m., meet with Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and attend a 4 p.m. forum at the University of St. La Salle.

They will be accompanied by former Senator Franklin Drilon, Akbayan Rep. Liza Hontiveros Baraquel, Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon and Liberal Party members.*CPG