The Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 48 denied for lack of merit the petition for certiorari filed by former Bacolod mayor Monico Puentevella on January 23, to prevent the implementation of City Ordinance No. 827, or the new real property tax (RPT) ordinance. The petition and prohibition with application for the issuance of a temporary restraining order was filed by Puentevella against Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the Sangguniang Panlungsod represented by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, City Assessor Maphilindo Polvora, and City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhi, asking the court to set aside C.O. 827 and to declare it unconstitutional for allegedly being violative of the equal protection clause and R.A. 7160 or the Local Government Code. Puentevella said he is not against taxation but C.O. 827 or “An Ordinance Updating the Schedule of Market Value of Real Properties in the City of Bacolod,” is unconstitutional, exorbitant and unfair, and that he is asking for its review. In her resolution dated January 29, RTC Judge Rosario Ester Orda-Caise said Puentevella failed to comply with the formal requirements of the petition or make any amendments or attachments during the clarificatory hearing on January 26. As to form, Puentevella failed to comply with Sections 1 and 4 of Rule 65, particularly failing to attach certified copies of C.O. 827, and that he also failed to state that the ordinance was published last Nov. 14, 2017. Hence, the 60-day period to file any action under Rules 65 had already lapsed, Orda-Caise said. She said the proper action to declare a law, statute, regulation, or local ordinance as unconstitutional is to file an action for declaratory relief under Rules 63 of the Revised Rules of Court. The petitioner may file the appropriate case if he believes in his position to question C.O. 827. FINAL AND EXECUTORY A certificate of finality was issued by Nenita de Vera-Alquizar, Clerk of Court V, stating that the RTC Resolution dated Jan. 29 became final and executory on Feb. 15 since no appeal was made by Puentevella. Bacolod City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan yesterday said Puentevella did not make any further appeal or make any move to further elevate his petition to the higher court. So the judgment became final. Bayatan said the petition filed by Puentevella was dismissed because he failed to supply the court with a certified true copy of C.O. 827 and to inform it when the ordinance was published. “We can say that Puentevella filed the complaint without sincerity, trustworthiness, and without any direction at all,” he said. According to the court, Puentevella should have filed for declaratory relief. He should have also exhausted administrative remedy by elevating his grievance to the Department of Justice before going to the court, Bayatan said. So the petition that was dismissed only confirmed that C.O. 827, which is an amendment to the Real Property Tax, is constitutionality valid, he said, adding that “We have already about 80 percent compliance in the payment of real property tax even during the filing of the petition.” ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ Bayatan said that comparing the real property tax of Puentevlla that was declared unconstitutional, C.O. 827 is pro-people, pro-business, and has no color of political motivation or intention at all. He should realize that C.O. 827 is fair because even the value of his (Puentevella) property is comparatively the same as all the surrounding properties, unlike his unpopular tax ordinance where the value of his property was lower compared to that of others, he said. Bayatan said the new rates took effect November 2017.*CGS BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
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About 20 of the fire victims in Purok Kabukiran, Brgy.Taculing, Bacolod City have pre-qualified for relocation. Faith Joy Lumauag, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod Housing Authority, however, said that because of the fire, the number of families who need to be relocated has increased. Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said 35 families, or 131 individuals, were affected by the fire that destroyed 21 houses and damaged nine others Sunday. Leonardia said that when he returned as mayor, he increased the financial assistance to fire victims whose houses were destroyed, from P5,000 to P10,000 and for those whose houses were damaged from P3,000 to P5,000. He said they assured the fire victims that the processing of financial assistance will be shortened to one month or less, instead of two to three months before due to the usual bureaucracy of government. The mayor and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, together with the Department of Social Services and Development and Taculing barangay officials distributed food packs to the fire victims Sunday. Leonardia said they assured the fire victims that the city will give priority to the development of the relocation sites. The Bureau of Fire Protection investigation showed that the fire started at the second floor of the house of Letecia Maculob, that was occupied by her daughter Mary Grace Caramonte. Lumawag said the fire victims who need relocation will be required to submit certification from the DSSD, Bureau of Fire Protection, the city and province. She said some will be relocated at the Arao relocation site, a few will be transferred to the Vista Alegre-Granada relocation site, while others will be transferred to Handumanan. They have conducted an inventory of vacant and abandoned lots for re-awarding, she said. There are about 400 available lots at the relocation site, while the city has 2,000 lots which have not yet been developed, she added. Leonardia said he has requested Councilor Renecito Novero to study how they can fully develop the Progreso Village that includes the Vista Alegre-Granada and Arao relocation sites. Gina Castro, DSSD cluster supervisor, said they have provided the 35 families food packs consisting of 6-kilos of rice, noodles and six pieces of canned goods that will be good for two to three days. They will again provide again food packs to the fire victims tomorrow to sustain them during the Holy Week, she said. Castro said the social workers are re-validating the owners of the houses affected by the fire. There are also some who are taking advantage of the situation by claiming that they are renters when they are not. Leonardia said the Progreso Village has an existing elementary and high school. He had lobbied for the establishment of the high school when he was yet in Congress. They are also studying the possibility of putting up an extension college of the Bacolod City College in the area. The Social Action Center led by Fr. Chris Gonzales is appealing to the public to help the fire victims by donating food stuff and clothing.*CGS BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Wednesday, March 21, that he is against the proposed divorce bill in the country. Familiaran said he is for the stand of the church which is also against on the proposed measure. The House of Representatives had earlier approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to legalize absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage in the country. Familiaran said that even President Rodrigo Duterte is also against the proposed bill. "My spiritual orientation will not allow so I'm not supporting it. We have an option or annulment process if our family is no longer healthy," he said. Once divorce becomes effective, the marriage bonds are cut and the former spouses will have the right to marry another person, he said. Rev. Fr. Felix Pasquin of Our Lady of Candles Parish had earlier said they take this measure as another challenge to the doctrine of the church and they stand firm on the teachings of God. He said the church will continue to teach the people and public officials of the need to uphold the sanctity of marriage. (MAP/SunStar Bacolod) Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2018/03/22/bacolod-mayor-against-proposed-divorce-law-594995 Follow us: @sunstaronline on Twitter | SunStar Philippines on Facebook The Negros Occidental High School Alumni Association Inc. voted anew retired Judge Moises Nifras of Batch ’54 as president of the newly elected Board of Directors during the election of officers for 2018-2019 held Tuesday at the NOHSAAI Bldg., in Bacolod City. Also re-elected as Vice President was Charina Magallanes (Batch ’92) and Yolly Larena (Batch ’88) as Secretary. Newly elected are Arlene Alisbo (Batch ’75) as treasurer, Tess Aplaon (Batch ’65) as auditor and Mate’ Espina (Batch ’85) as PIO. Members of the Board of Directors are Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (Batch ’78), Arnel Lapore (Batch ’84), Marilyn Manuel (Batch ’66), Dr. Rowena Bañes (Batch ’83), Effie Macasa (Batch ’95), Fritz Fuentes (Batch ’91), Bert Malaga (Batch ’58), Nonito Cabrera (Batch ’73), and Armando Baylon (Batch ’97). Nifras said he was honoured to be elected for another year and vowed to make his new term more successful. The organization also aims to get more batches involved in the alumni programs. Induction of the new set of officers will be on April 28, 2018, during the annual Grand Alumni Homecoming of the Negros Occidental High School, the oldest and largest secondary public institution in the province.* Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is still waiting for the Environment Management Board (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to penalize the erring villages that violated the “no segregation, no collection” policy. Familiaran, chairman of Solid Waste Action Team (Swat), said yesterday they already forwarded the lists of 42 erring villages to the EMB-DENR. These villages are Barangays 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 35, 38, 39, 40, Alijis, Banago, Bata, Cabug, Estefania, Felisa, Granada, Handumanan, Mandalagan, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Singcang-Aiprort, Sum-ag, Taculing, Tangub, Villamonte and Vista Alegre. Familiaran said the EMB-DENR was tasked to impose the penalty to the erring villages for violations of waste segregation in relation to the implementation of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program. The erring villages were documented by the members of Swat and Solid Waste Educators and Enforcement Team (Sweet). Familiaran also reiterated his request to the DENR-6 to conduct a seminar and deputize the members of Sweet to penalize the erring villages. On Tuesday, the city launched the search for the Cleanest, Greenest and Most Well-Managed Solid Waste Management (SWM) program for urban and rural barangays in Bacolod. Familiaran said this is one of the strategies of the city to address the waste segregation problem. He said the contest is open to the 61 barangays and the first evaluation will start in June, then September and November for the second and third evaluation, respectively. For the rural barangay category, first place will receive P350,000 worth of projects, P250,000 worth of projects for the second place, P200,000 and P150,000 worth of projects for the fourth and fifth place, respectively. The urban barangay category, first place will receive P300,000 worth of projects, P200,000, P150,000, P100,000, and P50,000 worth of projects for the second, third, fourth, and fifth place, respectively. “We are hopeful that the barangay officials will do their part to comply the waste segregation policy,” Familiaran said. By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2018/03/22/42-villages-violate-waste-segregation-594999 The Negros Occidental High School Alumni Association, Inc. (NOHSAAI) recently elected new officers for 2018-2019 at the NOHSAAI building in Bacolod City.
Judge Moises Nifras of Batch 1954, Atty. Charina Magallanes of Batch 1992, and Yolly Larena of Batch 1988, were all reelected as president, vice president, and secretary, respectively. Among newly-elected officers, Arlene Alisbo of Batch 1975 was elected treasurer, Tess Aplaon of Batch 1965 was named auditor, and Mate’ Espina of batch 1985 won as public information officer. Meanwhile, the Board of Directors is comprised of Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran of Batch 1978, Atty. Arnel Lapore of Batch 1984, Engr. Marilyn Manuel of Btach 1966, Dr. Rowena Bañes of Batch 1983, Effie Macasa of Batch 1995, Fritz Fuentes of Batch 1991, Bert Malaga of Batch 1958, Nonito Cabrera of Batch 1973, and Armando Baylon of Batch 1997. An induction ceremony is scheduled for April 28 during the NOHS Grand Alumni Homecoming./WDJ The Search for the Cleanest, Greenest, and Most Well-Managed Solid Waste Management (SWM) Program of Urban and Rural Barangays that was launched by the Bacolod City government in the city Tuesday, is one of the strategies being implemented by the local government to help people comply with R.A. 9003, Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday. Familiaran, chairman of the Solid Waste Action Team, said that as of Tuesday about 42 barangays in Bacolod City, who are not compliant with the “No Segregation, No Collection” program of Bacolod City,have been reported to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau. In the contest, the barangay should be compliant with the criteria for judging. Its constituents should segregate, and it should have a material recovery facility, he said. The criteria for judging is in compliance with R.A. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, he added. Councilor Cindy Rojas said the contest is open to all 61 barangays of Bacolod. Judging of barangays is scheduled in June, September, and November. The awarding ceremony will be held in November as the country celebrates Environment Awareness Month, she said. Familiaran said the contest has two categories – urban or numbered barangays, and rural or named barangays. The prizes under the rural barangay category are P350,000 worth of projects for first place; P250,000 worth of projects for second place; P200,000 worth of projects – third place; P150,000 worth of projects –fourth place; P100,000 worth of projects – fifth place; and 10 consolation prizes worth P20,000 of projects each. The prizes for the urban barangay category are P300,000 worth of projects for first place; P200,000 worth of projects – second place; P150,000 worth of projects – third place; P100,000 worth of projects – fourth place; P50,000 worth of projects – fifth place. Meanwhile, Familiaran said he again wrote EMB regional director Sophie Manuel yesterday reiterating his request for 21 members of the Solid Waste Educators and Enforcement Team (SWEET) to undergo seminar/training for the effective implementation of R.A. 9003. He, together with the DENR and Mayor Evelio Leonardia have decided to look for a model barangay to focus on. Once the people in the barangay have been disciplined and educated on R.A. 9003, they will move to the next barangay. “We are governed by two local ordinances – City Ordinance 313 or the “Environment Code of Bacolod City”and an “Ordinance Institutionalizing Ardor Day in Bacolod City”, enjoining everybody, including summer jobbers, city scholars including students of the Bacolod City College, to plant 10 trees every year, which he had authored.”*CGS BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO SENATOR Juan Miguel Zubiri said he will fund the construction of a three- to four-storey building as a site for the Bacolod Museum in 2019 that is worth P150 million. Zubiri made the announcement during the switch-on ceremony for the P10-million beautification project of the public plaza on March 17 that was led by Bacolod City Representative Greg Gasataya and Mayor Evelio Leonardia. Zubiri said he will get the fund from his 2019 budget. He added he will make sure of the single release of the fund. He also said he will provide for the additional funding if needed for the total completion of the flagship project, which he considers a lasting legacy for Bacolod City. Zubiri, who has roots in Negros Occidental, said he will give three designs for the city officials to choose from and that the mayor will have to decide where to locate it. "We will put up a multi-storey, three or four-floor iconic building for Bacolod Museum for Arts and Culture where the first two floors will house the museum," he said, adding the edifice should also showcase the MassKara Festival traditional garments and masks. “The top floor will be an amphitheater for other cultural events such as concerts or whatever future needs of the city. It's up to the city officials to decide what the name of the building will be,” Zubiri said. The senator said he loves Bacolod City and Negros Occidental because this is the place where his family hailed. He recalled he used to spend his vacation at the house of his grandparents here when he was a young boy. He said he discussed the proposed project with Leonardia when they recently met in Iloilo. Zubiri said the groundbreaking ceremony would take place before the banning of the projects in lieu of the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. City officials allied with Leonardia earlier revealed plans of building a sports and cultural center or coliseum, preferably on the city’s eight-hectare property at the Reclamation Area. While they already have a prospect on where to build the museum, the City Government is also open to any other areas where a landowner is willing to donate his property to the city. Leonardia said that once the project is realized, Bacolod City will be the only city in the whole country to have this. Initially, he said the city has already made an ocular for possible sites and that they need to have it detailed. "We'll have to finish all the plans so when the funds are released, we would immediately start the construction," Leonardia said. "Words are hard to find for our appreciation. This is a dream come true, beyond of what is expected and we're proud that he is from her," Leonardia told Zubiri. The senator said the local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, like his hometown Bukidnon in Mindanao, enjoy the multi-year funding from his office. "Since 2016 until the end of my term, this multi-year funding will continue because I want to give back to my bailiwick. The LGUs are given P2 (million) to P3 million per year except for Kabankalan City, where I gave P10 million for the terminal of their airport," Zubiri said. He said he also supports the expansion of the Bacolod-Silay Airport. Zubiri also assured the Negrenses he will closely monitor the realization of the Negros-Panay Bridge after President Rodrigo Duterte made his commitment to the project. Meanwhile, Zubiri said he was happy to see the improvement of the public plaza. "I am happy to see how it was improved. It's cleaner than before. I hope this will make Bacolodnons happy," he said. Gasataya, for his part, said the P10 million was utilized to rewire electrical wirings, change lightings, and paint the refurbished bandstand with the gold-spruced twin lions sitting flatly at the back, the four water fountains with gold-spruced statues, among others. By TERESA D. ELLERA Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2018/03/19/p150m-bacolod-museum-594393 Follow us: @sunstaronline on Twitter | SunStar Philippines on Facebook Following the recent declaration by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI Director Wardley Getalla designating all Negros Occidental barangays as “drug-affected,” Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran believes uncooperative barangay officials have contributed to the situation. The vice mayor said he wants all Barangay Anti-drug Abuse Council (BADAC) in the city activated in order to combat illegal drugs in the city. He pointed out, the City Anti-drug Abuse Council (CADAC) is active, but the problem of illegal drugs persists because some barangay officials are afraid they will be targeted by drug personalities. Earlier, Getalla urged local government units to initiate and double clearing efforts; adding, all barangays are required to activated their BADAC in compliance with a recent memorandum released by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña, meanwhile, criticized the Bacolod City government for failing to address the problem of illegal drugs, claiming the local government is not doing enough./DGB, WDJ By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Following the recent declaration by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI Director Wardley Getalla designating all Negros Occidental barangays as “drug-affected,” Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran believes uncooperative barangay officials have contributed to the situation.
The vice mayor said he wants all Barangay Anti-drug Abuse Council (BADAC) in the city activated in order to combat illegal drugs in the city. He pointed out, the City Anti-drug Abuse Council (CADAC) is active, but the problem of illegal drugs persists because some barangay officials are afraid they will be targeted by drug personalities. Earlier, Getalla urged local government units to initiate and double clearing efforts; adding, all barangays are required to activated their BADAC in compliance with a recent memorandum released by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña, meanwhile, criticized the Bacolod City government for failing to address the problem of illegal drugs, claiming the local government is not doing enough./DGB, WDJ |
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