The bidding for the three flagship projects out of the four to be funded under the P1.7 billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines will be conducted by the Bids and Awards Committee today, Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday.
The BAC had earlier conducted pre-bid conference for the expansion of the Bacolod City College worth P350 million, site development for Progreso Village - P350 million, and the construction of roads and bridges - P200 million, which are all included in the priority projects of the city covered by the P1.7 billion loan. BAC chairman Maphilindo Polvora said the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum is not yet included in the bidding. Polvora said there were several companies that have signified their interest to join the bidding. The end user for the three projects is the City Mayor’s Office, he said. The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod had ratified the term loan agreement and continuing deed of assignment with hold-out agreement between the City of Bacolod and the Development Bank of the Philippines for P1.7 billion in December 2018. The loan will be used for the construction of the four priority projects of the city.*
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BACOLOD CITY -- The city council has approved on Monday the city government’s PHP2.52-billion annual budget for 2019. With the approval, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Bacolod will operate on a new budget starting January. He said 11 of the 14 councilors voted for the passage of the appropriation ordinance during the council’s regular session held on Monday morning. Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. abstained, while Councilors Claudio Jesus Puentevella and Ricardo Tan were on leave. The city’s annual budget for 2019 is 12 percent higher than the previous year’s PHP2.25 billion. Some 50 percent of the funds will come from the city’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of PHP1.26 billion, while the local sources will contribute PHP1.258 billion. Of the total allocation, about PHP1.33 billion will go to maintenance and other operating expenses; PHP660 million for personnel services; PHP252 million, development fund; PHP81.7 million, equipment expenses; PHP7.9 million, financial expenses; and PHP184 million for other purposes. Councilor Caesar Distrito, who chairs the committee on appropriations and finance, earlier said the city government has also allocated funds for the implementation of the salary standardization of government employees next year. Distrito further said the 2019 annual budget prioritizes health services, solid waste management, social welfare services, public order and safety, improvement of traffic management, economic and infrastructure development, tourism, and education. It also includes fund for the anti-drug campaign in line with the thrust of the national government, he added. (PNA) MASS WEDDING. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (seated, center) witnesses the signing of marriage contract by couple Ricardo Tomayao, 74, and Glaiza Cosme, 29, in the presence of other city officials during the mass wedding ceremony at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver) BACOLOD CITY -- A total of 220 couples said “I do's” in two separate ceremonies dubbed as “Kasalan ng Bayan: The Bacolod Mass Wedding 2019” officiated by Mayor Evelio Leonardia over the weekend. On Sunday, 200 couples tied the knot in an elaborate event held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds from late afternoon until the evening. A day before, Leonardia also officiated the wedding of 20 couples in Barangay Taculing. The mayor was joined by city officials, who served as principal sponsors, including Rep. Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, during Sunday’s rites. “We initiate mass weddings because we believe that marriage institution is the basic unit of the society. This is one of the factors that will make the city grow. The family starts with you once you get married and that is the fiber of society that will make Bacolod develop further,” Leonardia told the couples. During the wedding ceremony, he announced that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is also one of the principal sponsors, who promised to send wedding gifts to the newly-weds. He added that the senatorial candidates supported by Hugpong ng Pagbabago, chaired by Duterte-Carpio, are also on the list of “ninongs and ninangs” (godparents) “This is a special mass wedding because your principal sponsors are special,” the mayor said. During the symbolic signing of the marriage contract, the couples were represented by the oldest groom, Ricardo Tomayao, 74, and his long-time partner, 29-year-old Glaiza Cosme. The couple, who have three children, lived together for 15 years before they got married. Tomayao, a mechanic and former jeepney driver, was a widower with eight children when he met Cosme when she was 14. The Sunday wedding rites were also witnessed by Luis Gonzales, provincial head of the Philippine Statistics Authority-Negros Occidental, and City Civil Registrar Hermilo Pauyon. Pauyon said the mass wedding event is a yearly activity of the City of Bacolod. “This a big help for live-in couples especially those who have children who will be legitimized once they get married,” he added. (PNA) By Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD. Mayor Evelio Leonardia (seated, center) leads the signing of marriage contract of couple Ricardo Tomayao and Glaiza Cosme, with (standing from left) Councilors Elmer Sy, Bartolome Orola, Renecito Novero, and Cindy Rojas; Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran; Councilors Em Ang and Ayesha Joy Villaflor; Rep. Greg Gasataya; Councilor Ana Marie Palermo; former councilor Al Victor Espino; Barangay Singcang-Airport kagawad Simple Distrito; former councilors Archie Baribar and Carlos Lopez as witnesses. (Merlinda Pedrosa) SEVENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD Ricardo Tomayao, and his partner, 29-year-old Glaiza Cosme, were among the 200 couples who tied the knot in a mass wedding at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on Sunday afternoon, February 17.
Tomayao, a mechanic and former public utility jeepney driver, said his first wife died in 1969. He said he met Cosme, who was collecting plastic or scrap in Barangay Mansilingan, when she was 14 years old. “She’s sweet, a good person, and I love her,” he said. Cosme said Tomayao helped her finish high school. “He’s older than me, but age doesn’t matter because he’s a good man.” Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who officiated the ceremony, said they were happy to hold the annual mass wedding for the people of Bacolod as it aims to promote family welfare. “We believe that the marriage institution is the basic unit of the society. The marriage life is not going to be always a bed of roses. It’s a reality that once in a while, problems and challenges will come and we should think that it’s not meant to destroy or shake us,” he added. Also in attendance were Congressman Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Councilors Em Ang, Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero, Bartolome Orola, Elmer Sy, Ann Marie Palermo, and Ayesha Villaflor. Also present were Luis Gonzales of the Philippine Statistics Authority in Negros Occidental, and Bacolod Civil Registrar head Hermilo Pauyon. He said this year’s event is also special because some politicians, including senators, agreed to be the godparents of the 200 couples. Gonzales said the mass wedding is part of the city’s activity every February in line with the Civil Registrar’s Office’s observation of the National Registration Month. He said it’s a goal of the PSA to register all the Filipino people. Gonzales, for his part, said the local government units were conducting a mass wedding to help those couples who are living together but not yet married. The city government has allotted about P100,000 for the wedding rites. BACOLOD. Councilor Bart Orola (center), first lady Elsa Leonardia (3rd from right) and owners Bryan and Sheryl Dueñas (3rd and 6th from right) and guests during the opening of the BSD Building in Barangay Mansilingan Friday, February 8. (Photo by Carla Cañet) CITING the business-enabling climate and vast areas for commercial development in Bacolod, an official said Negros Occidental’s capital city is capable of welcoming more investors including “balikbayans.”
Councilor Bart Orola, who spoke at the opening of BSD Building at Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City Friday, February 8, said the number of business establishments in the city has been increasing tremendously. Orola, who is the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on markets, said the city has also become an “interesting” area for “balikbayans” who plan to venture into business. “We have to continue promoting the vibrant business environment of Bacolod City in the international scene including those potential Bacoleño investors based abroad,” he said. “Inviting more balikbayans to invest here would translate to more employment opportunities for the people,” he added. The councilor cited Hong Kong-based Bacoleño couple Bryan and Sheryl Dueñas, who constructed a two-story commercial building on an estimated 1,000-square-meter property in Barangay Mansilingan. Orola said the investment brought in by the couple is seen to spur growth in the interior portion of the city. There are still many areas for development especially in the southern part, he said. “We have to invite more balikbayans like them,” Orola said, as he assured that the city government continues to implement policies and measures that would attract more investors, such as the one-stop-shop business permit licensing system. The just-opened building, which is located near a residential area, offers 20 commercial spaces. As of Friday, about half is already occupied. Sheryl Dueñas said they were encouraged to invest in a commercial building after they learned of various property development projects in the city. She was confident that the locators in their building would have a captive market from the subdivisions nearby. “Through this structure, we hope to address the needs of the surrounding communities,” she said. Her husband, who is a pilot, said the building is the realization of their family’s dream. ”We hope to eventually expand,” he said, adding that “we will bring here the money from Hongkong.” The couple is also engaged in an egg production business. Meanwhile, also present during the event were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and first lady Elsa Leonardia. BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Tuesday, February 5, that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now finalizing the Traffic Management Masterplan for the city.
Familiaran, who held a seminar with the MMDA on waste segregation in Makati City, said the MMDA has a short and long term traffic plan for Bacolod. “We are waiting for the copy and hopefully, we can bring it today,” he said. He added the MMDA’s traffic management plan is a big help to address the traffic congestion in Bacolod. In December 2018, the MMDA conducted a 12-day study in Bacolod City for free. MMDA traffic and engineering center director Neomie Recio, who led the traffic study in Bacolod last year, earlier said that the implementation of traffic rules and regulations in Bacolod City is more organized compared to other regions in the country. Recio said Bacolod has wide roads and less presence of tricycles in the national highway. “We have visited several places and Bacolod is so different because of its wide roads and strict implementation of traffic rules,” she said. (MAP) BACOLOD City Government officials along with the 45 village chiefs in the city attended a two-day seminar on solid waste management seminar in Makati City from February 3 to 4. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who initiated the seminar with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said on Monday, February 4, the village chiefs who joined the activity paid for their own expenses. “This seminar is a big help to our barangay officials for the implementation of the Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” he said. He added the seminar was conducted by the MMDA at their main office in Makati City because it’s part of their mandate - the development planning, traffic and transport management, health and sanitation, urban protection and pollution control, urban renewal, zoning and land use planning and shelter services, and solid waste disposal and management public safety. Familiaran noted that some of the barangay officials failed to join them because of their prior commitments. He pointed out that this seminar is also in preparation for the implementation of waste segregation policy this year. The vice mayor said the village chiefs are the “frontliners” in the implementation of waste segregation, traffic rules, and clearing of illegal structures within their areas of jurisdiction. Also present in the seminar were Councilors Cindy Rojas, Ana Marie Palermo, Bartolome Orola, Renecito Novero, and Elmer Sy. Last month, Familiaran reiterated to all barangay officials to educate their constituents in the implementation of RA 9003. “We need the cooperation of everybody to comply with the waste segregation policy and our barangay officials have a big role in the implementation of this program,” Familiaran said. 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. (MAP) About 45 barangay captains from Bacolod City attended a two-day seminar in Makati conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) about its best practices on traffic and solid waste management that can be implemented in Bacolod.
Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday that the barangay captains attended the seminar held from February 3 to 4 at their own expense since they have a budget from their respective barangays. This is an educational trip for them to learn about traffic management, and the implementation of R.A. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, he said. As frontliners, they are expected to implement clearing operations, traffic management and proper garbage disposal in their respective jurisdictions. Other barangay captains were not able to attend, because they had prior commitments, Familiaran said. Meanwhile, Familiaran said the MMDA is finalizing the traffic plan of Bacolod City and might propose short and long term recommendations for the improvement the traffic in the city. About 15 MMDA traffic experts, led by Director Neomie Recio, arrived in Bacolod on December 2 to study the traffic situation in the city after Mayor Evelio Leonardia met with their officials to discuss the proposed “Traffic Master Plan for Bacolod City.”* The Bacolod City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) held an emergency meeting Friday on the request of the Liga ng mga Barangay concerning the case of eight barangays in Bacolod City reported to be actively involved in illegal drug activities.
Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said there were eight barangays mentioned in a radio interview by a whistleblower, but only one barangay captain was named. So they invited the members of CADAC, Public Attorney’s Office, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and other government agencies to the meeting, he said. Familiaran said the barangay officials whose barangays were mentioned were advised to continue with their official functions. Except for Singcang Barangay Captain Rosinie Distrito, other barangays cannot file libel charges since their names were not mentioned by the whistle blower, he said. But there are also instances where the concerned barangays captains are being attacked on social media for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs, he added. Councilor Lady Gles Gonzales-Palen, president of the Liga, said they are happy that their request to hold an emergency CADAC meeting was granted. She said she expects that after their meeting with CADAC, the involvement of the barangays in the anti-drugs abuse campaign will be 100 percent. Palen said about 60 percent of the barangays have been supportive of their anti-drug campaign through their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC). So she sent the barangays notifications last month reminding their barangay captains to actively and punctually submit their drug-clearing reports, she said. The barangay captains involved are concerned for their safety and that of their families, she added.* BACOLOD. Mayor Evelio Leonardia (5th from left) presents a plaque of appreciation to Senator Cynthia Villar (4th from left), whose company, Camella, is one of the major sponsors of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s two-night concert in Bacolod. (Contributed photo) THE 14th BacoLaodiat Festival kicks off on Friday, February 1 at the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) grounds in Bacolod City with a free open concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Thursday, January 31, the opening of the festival will be attended by the city officials, Filipino-Chinese community, and other guests. He said the al fresco concert is a partnership between the Bacolaodiat Festival Inc. and the City Government of Bacolod. The Philharmonic Orchestra, which recently celebrated its 45th anniversary, makes Bacolod as one of their concert venues for their 36th season under Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura and associate conductor Herminigildo Ranera. Familiaran said the organizers will not use Lacson Street, the city’s tourism strip, to avoid traffic congestion in the area, and all the activities will be held at the BGC grounds from February 1 to 5. BacoLaodiat was coined from the name of the City of Bacolod and the Fookien word “laodiat,” which means happy celebration. Among the highlights of the festival is the BacoLaodiat Lantern Dance Competition, which will be participated by Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Alijis, Balow Dance Group, Granadianz, Double J Full Force, Choi Force, and Rustylian, as well as last year’s champion, BMD, and first runner-up, Jojaju. They will also hold a Lighted Giant Pig Lantern Contest for students. The contest is open to groups of high school students, college students, and those taking vocational courses in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. Familiaran said the Bacolod City Police Office is also on full alert status and they will deploy more personnel in the festival site to ensure the safety of the public. “We should be vigilant and let’s cooperate to our authorities to avoid the untoward incident like what happened in Jolo, Sulu in Mindanao,” he said. Meanwhile, Familiaran also reminded the festival goers to maintain the cleanliness of the festival site. “We should keep our garbage, especially plastics and always use a garbage bin to maintain the cleanliness at the BGC. Let’s cooperate for the success of the festival,” Familiaran said. By Merlinda Pedrosa
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