BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Tuesday, January 29, he is thankful to the Yanson family for donating 8.8-hectare land to be used for the South Public Terminal, museum, and coliseum of the city. “I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Yanson family for their generosity and patriotism,” Leonardia said. Leonardia already signed the two deeds of donation and submitted it to the City Council on Tuesday for the ratification in the regular session on Wednesday, January 30. The City Council earlier granted Leonardia the authority to sign the deed of donation of the 8.8-hectare land to be used for the South Public Terminal, museum, and coliseum of the city with the Yanson Reality Development Corporation (YRDC) and Vallacar Transit, Inc. They unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the proposed contract of donation between the city government and Vallacar Inc. for the donation to be used for the Bacolod Public Terminal. They also approved a separate resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the proposed contract of donation between the city and the YRDC, Vallacar Transit, Inc. for the donation of several parcels of land to be used for the Bacolod MassKara coliseum and Bacolod museum. He said that getting a donation of 8.8 hectares is beyond his expectation. He noted that 13 years ago, many people were astonished when the Gonzaga family donated the 5-hectare property for the construction of Bacolod Government Center. Leonardia recalled that in the previous years, he also talked with the late Ricardo Yanson for the possibility of putting up a new growth center in the south. He said the donation of the Yanson family is an advantage to the city government, the best deal for Bacolod City. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran also said the construction of these projects in the said areas will bring economic growth as well as it will decongest Lopez Jaena Street. He said the property, with the total cost of P440 million, will house the south terminal, museum which will be financed by Senator Miguel Zubiri, and the coliseum. He added the terminal will cater all southbound buses except the eastbound going to Murcia and Don Salvador. (MAP) By Merlinda A. Pedrosa
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BACOLOD CITY -- The City of Bacolod kicked off the celebration of the annual Bible Week on Monday, coinciding with the observance of the country’s first National Bible Day, a special working holiday. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Councilor Renecito Novero led the city government employees in the opening program of the 2019 Bible Week held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds. “Our bodies need nourishment to live. The same with our spiritual lives,” the vice mayor said. He quoted Matthew 4:4 where Jesus said: “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Novero authored City Ordinance No. 433 in 2007, institutionalizing the annual celebration of Bacolod City Bible Week every last week of January. Also on Monday, members of Gideons International in the Philippines- Bacolod distributed Bibles in all offices at the Government Center. On Tuesday, the Bacolod City Public Library will host an on-the-spot poster-making contest for elementary and high school students whose artworks will be displayed at the second floor of the Government Center on January 31. A Bible Drill and Bible Quiz for high school students will be held at the MassKara Hall on Wednesday. On Friday, the celebration will end with a concert of the Pillars of Fire, and awarding ceremony for the winners of the said competitions at the Atrium of SM City Bacolod. Republic Act 11163, which President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed on Dec. 20, 2018, declared the last Monday of January every year as a special working holiday, in observance of the National Bible Day. In signing the law, the President recognized the value of the Holy Bible as the core of Christian faith, especially in a predominantly Christian nation. “As a predominantly Christian nation and the largest Christian nation in the Asia Pacific, this Act recognizes the value of the Holy Bible as the core of Christian faith,” the law read. Senator Manny Pacquiao, the bill’s author and sponsor in the Senate, said his measure calls for all Christians to “unite altogether and celebrate the Holy Bible as the cradle of human faith.” He said the proposed holiday was necessary for the “betterment of the country through God-centered governance and people-centered services.” (PNA) By Nanette Guadalquiver
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the demolition of 20 illegal structures in Barangay 16, according to Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran.
Familiaran said in a Panay News article that the illegal structures, which were located along Bag-ong Dalan in front of the Education Training Center School IV, are causing traffic obstruction. He received the order on January 24, added the politiko. Last January 13, Duterte made a surprise visit to the village after he received complaints against the illegal structures. Familiaran said the owners of the stores and houses being demolished have been cooperative and helped in the demolition. BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran reiterated to all barangays officials to educate their constituents in the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Familiaran, chairman of Solid Waste Action Team, said on Sunday, January 27, that “we need the cooperation of everybody to comply with the waste segregation policy,” adding that the barangay officials have a big role in implementing the program. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provides that local government units shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this law within their respective jurisdictions. Earlier, the City Government removed the garbage bins in Burgos and Libertad public markets. “This is one of our strategies for the collection of garbage in big public markets so we can educate our people in waste segregation in compliance of RA 9003,” Familiaran said. He said it was very effective and they did not receive any complaints in said areas since Friday. “So far, it’s very effective. It’s a matter of discipline,” he added. Familiaran said he will hold a meeting with the village chief of Barangay Vista Alegre to discuss the illegal dumping of garbage in Abada Escay Relocation Site. “We received complaints that there was illegal dumping of garbage in a vacant lot so we need to address this problem,” Familiaran said. He said he will recommend to the barangay officials to place a garbage bin in the area to educate its constituents to properly dump their garbage. He added that once the construction of cell no. 2 at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa will be completed, the City Government will strictly enforce the “no segregation, no collection” policy. Familiaran will also discuss with Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairperson of the City Council committee on environment, the clean and green contest of the barangays. Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier said waste segregation is a gigantic task. “I am appealing for cooperation. We can only do this or we can only succeed if we have the cooperation of the public. We are trying to comply with the law and it is also good for our people in terms of sanitation and cleanliness,” Leonardia said. USA. Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao (right) throws a right to Adrien Broner in the WBA welterweight title boxing match on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) in Las Vegas. (AP) OFFICIALS in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, were jubilant after Filipino boxing champ and Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao cruised to a unanimous decision victory over Adrien Broner at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada to retain his secondary WBA welterweight title on Sunday, January 20 (Manila time).
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. congratulated the Filipino boxing icon for defending his WBA welterweight crown. “Senator Pacquiao again showed the world that with long years of championship experience and hard work, one would be able to overcome any challenge in the ring,” the governor said. "Our boxing hero's latest triumph will certainly inspire many young athletes who dream big," he added. Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who carried the Philippine flag during the fight, said life begins at 40. “This is what Senator Pacquiao has just proven in Las Vegas. He did not only beat Broner, but he also beat ‘father time.’ It was amazing to watch a 40-year-old boxer still with so much speed and power. While other boxers see their careers decline upon reaching the 30s, Manny is even still peaking up,” he said. “What we just saw was the same Manny Pacquiao at the prime of his boxing career...So, the Manny Pacquiao mystique goes on. The MGM Grand Arena was still full to the brim. The huge crowd still adore him. The millions of Filipino still get glued to live TV coverage. And it looks like it will still be a long, long time that he'll rule the fascination and adoration of the Filipinos,” he added. “As our adopted son of Bacolod City, we join the rest of the country in celebrating and savoring this big victory. Thanks much to Manny, for another moment, he brought us all together as one to cheer our flag and the beloved Philippines,” the mayor said. Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran said it was a convincing win for Pacquiao. “I have my predictions that if Broner will engage with Pacquiao, it will not last until seven and eight rounds. Pacquiao won in all rounds, he controlled all the rounds,” he said. He added that Pacquiao proved that he is still there, capable, strong and very quick. “I am hoping that the Pacquiao-Mayweather return bout will soon realize,” Familiaran said. He said that it’s not a time for Pacquiao to retire from boxing. Acting Vice Mayor Caesar Distrito also said Pacquiao has once again proved to the whole world the Filipinos’ supremacy in the field of boxing. “He never failed to bring pride to the Filipino nation by giving another victory that all of us carry such tremendous honor,” he said. “Making the nation stand still, works stop, traffic is clear, crime is zero, and it is a normal phenomenon once Pacman is in the ring. But he never failed all of us,” he added. Meanwhile, there were no significant crime incidents recorded in Bacolod City and in Negros Occidental during the fight of Pacquiao and Broner. Chief Inspector Edison Garcia, public information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said the province was peaceful. Also, the Police Regional Office (PRO)- Western Visayas joined the nation in celebrating Pacquiao's victory against Broner. “Senator Pacquiao is truly an inspiration and glory to the Filipino nation,” said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of PRO- Western Visayas. “Let us continue to be united and supportive of our Filipino athletes who are modern day heroes by bringing honor and glory to our dear country,” he added. Bulalacao congratulated Pacquiao for not only being a champion boxer but also for being a true gentleman and sportsman. (with reports from Glazyl Y. Masculino) BACOLOD City – A 50-megawatt solar power plant will soon rise in the village of Vista Alegre in this city.
The development of the first large-scale renewable energy project in Bacolod, with an estimated cost of PHP2 billion, kicked off with the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the partner-developers held at L’ Fisher Hotel here Thursday night. Mary Grace Helene Buhain, president and chief executive officer of Amatera Renewable Energy Corp., and Charles Ji, president of TPC Construction Corp., signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies. “The vision of Amatera goes beyond business, but the social responsibility to benefit everyone,” Buhain said. The Bacolod-based company, which is leasing the 74-hectare family-owned land for 25 years to the Korean firm, had secured a clearance from the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct grid impact studies on the Vista Alegre property in early 2016. Its project was then included on the agency’s list of awarded solar projects in June that year. Buhain said the project consultants will come from Korea, but they will also hire locals for the construction, which is expected to start this year. In his speech, Ji said the signing of the MOU was the start of the beautiful partnership and collaboration between the two companies. “We are thankful for the trust given to our company, (for us) to work together for this project,” he added. Engineer Hanshel Layaoen, technical consultant for Amatera, said about 100 employees would be hired for the technical and labor aspects, and at least 300 workers more would be needed to complete the project in six to seven months. Both companies aim to start the commissioning by 2020, which is also the scheduled completion of the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230-kilovolt Backbone Project of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). The influx of solar power plants in Negros Occidental in recent years caused the main line, transmission, and interconnection lines to congest, according to the DOE. Considering the congestion, Layaoen said the construction of the Bacolod solar farm project cannot proceed without the transmission utility’s backbone project. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who attended the signing event, welcomed the development of the renewable energy project in Bacolod as he recognized that solar is now at the center of local energy transformation. “This is the first large-scale solar energy source in Bacolod and a step towards a greener and more sustainable city,” said Familiaran, who is currently the acting mayor since Mayor Evelio Leonardia flew to the United States to witness the fight of Senator Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Sunday. (PNA) By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran was formally appointed acting Bacolod City mayor and City Councilor Caesar Distrito as acting vice mayor while Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia is in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Association welterweight bout between Senator Manny Pacquiao and American fighter Adrien Broner. According to the acting mayor, Leonardia is expected to return by the end of the month. Meanwhile, Distrito was named acting vice mayor as City Councilor Ricardo Tan, the ‘No. 1 councilor,’ has been on leave since he and his wife were ambushed in Barangay Alangilan last month./DGB, WDJ BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is now the acting mayor of this capital city.
This has been effective since Wednesday after Mayor Evelio Leonardia went abroad to watch Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s match against Adrien Broner in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Pacqiuao-Broner fight will be on Jan. 19. There will be free live viewing of the fight at the Bacolod Arts Youth and Sports Center and gymnasiums in barangays Sum-ag, Banago, Taculing, Mansilingan, Handumanan, Villamonte, and Granada. Leonardia will be back in the city end of January, Familiaran said. Pacquiao was declared an adopted son of Bacolod City in 2006. In Pacquiao’s previous fights, Leonardia was seen carrying either the Philippine flag or the boxer’s gloves. Meanwhile, taking over Familiaran’s post as vice mayor is Councilor Caesar Distrito. Familiaran said Bacolod City’s No. 1 Councilor Ricardo “Cano” Tan was still on leave. Tan had filed his leave after he and his wife were ambushed in Barangay Alangilan in December 2018./PN A P2 billion 50-megawatt solar power plant will soon rise in Bacolod City, as a homegrown firm and a Korea-based company signed a memorandum of understanding at L’Fisher Hotel last night.
The signing of the MOU by the presidents of the Bacolod-based Amatera Renewable Energy Corp. and Korean company TPC Construction Co. marks the first renewable energy plant to be put up in the capital of Negros Occidental, that is targeted to be completed by 2020. The plant will be located at the 70-hectare property of the Lacson family, behind the barangay hall of Vista Alegre in Bacolod City. Mary Grace Buhain, president of Amatera, said that the construction of the renewable energy plant will be in time for the upgrading of transmission lines by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, that is hoped to be finished next year. Buhain said their matriarch Teresa Lacson owns the vast sugarcane land that will be converted into a solar power farm, that would help Bacolod in terms of employment as they would hire locals when they start to put up the facility. TPC President Su BaeJi also said in his speech that the signing of MOU is the beginning of the beautiful partnership between the Philippines and Korea towards creating renewable energy plants. Amatera’s role will be facilitating the permits and the logistics to put up the RE plant while TPC will invest in it, Buhain said. Hanshel Layaoen, technical consultant of Amatera, also said that after the MOU signing, initial investigation and engineering will take place in the area and if the outcomes are good, both of the companies will come to an agreement. After the agreement, they will wait for NGCP’s signal for the construction in time for the upgrade of the 230-kilovolt transmission line, he said. The solar farm will hire close to 500 workers, from its construction to operation, Layaoen said, adding that a 50MW RE plant could light about 230 households in the daytime. The event was attended by top executives of the two companies, Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Vista Alegre captain and Chief Operating Officer of Amatera Jose Maria Leandro Norberto De Leon. Familiaran said in his speech that solar energy will not only provide alternatives for sources of energy, but will give the people of Bacolod more, as it opens its doors to work opportunities and in saving the environment. “This is the first large-scale solar energy source in Bacolod and I think it’s a step towards a greener and more sustainable Bacolod,” the vice mayor said. He also thanked Amatera and TPC for “making Bacolod live in a time of extraordinary opportunities, policies, technologies, and markets that are gradually aligned to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future.”* Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran was formally appointed acting Bacolod City mayor and City Councilor Caesar Distrito as acting vice mayor while Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia is in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Association welterweight bout between Senator Manny Pacquiao and American fighter Adrien Broner.
According to the acting mayor, Leonardia is expected to return by the end of the month. Meanwhile, Distrito was named acting vice mayor as City Councilor Ricardo Tan, the ‘No. 1 councilor,’ has been on leave since he and his wife were ambushed in Barangay Alangilan last month./DGB, WDJ |
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