Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order No. 16 creating a special committee to address the concerns of about 33 stall owners at the Pala-Pala Market along San Juan Street, Bacolod City who are being ejected from the property of the Negros Occidental Provincial Government. The stall owners of the Pala-Pala Market wrote the city government, through the mayor, on May 2 and 3 asking for any assistance from the city. They requested the city to be allowed to relocate their businesses on a temporary basis to a suitable area after the provincial government directed them to vacate their stalls at the Pala-Pala Market May 15 to give way to the construction of the Negros First Food Terminal Market. The special committee is headed by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran as chairperson, and Councilors Dindo Ramos and Bartolome Orola Sr., City Administrator John Orola, executive assistant Ernesto Pineda, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office head Police Supt. Luisito Acebuche and Social Welfare Officer IV Sally Abelarde, as members. Familiaran said he called for a meeting with Chito Magalona, chief security of the province, provincial engineer and acting provincial administrator and the stall owners to find a temporary solution to the problem. There was a proposal to transfer them temporarily to a private lot in a portion of the North Capitol Road, but the property owner will not allow it, he said. Familiaran said executive assistant Ernesto Pineda will again coordinate with the provincial government officials to find a solution to the problem. Pineda said the 33 stall owners will be transferred temporarily along the sidewalk in San Juan Street just across the Pala-Pala Market, which is owned by the city. He said they will be given first priority by the province to occupy spaces at the Negros First Food Terminal Market. The stall owners are members of the Pala-Pala Vendors Association, Pineda added.*CGS BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
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BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an executive order creating a special committee to address the matter concerning the stall owners at the Pala-Pala Market in the city. The executive order No. 16 was signed on May 10, 2018. Leonardia said there is an urgent need to address this matter as it affects the daily subsistence and needs of the families of the affected stall owners. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who was tasked as chairperson of the special committee, said yesterday, May 21, the stall owners of the Pala-Pala Market sought the assistance of the City on May 2 and 3. He said the stall owners presented that the provincial government had directed them to vacate their stalls along San Juan Street by May 15 to give way to the construction of the Negros First Food Terminal Market. He added the affected stall owners are requesting the city that they will be allowed to relocate their business on a temporary basis to a suitable area and for any assistance, the city may render. Familiaran said he already called a meeting last week with the vendors and the representatives of the Provincial Government. He said there was a proposal to temporarily use the area along North Capitol Road, but the lot owner refused to use the area so they will be referred to another area. For his part, Ernesto Pineda, executive assistant at the City Mayor's Office, said the Pala-Pala Market has a total of 33 vendors and it was decided to transfer them to the San Juan Street, fronting the Pala-Pala Market. "We are now finalizing the area to accommodate all the affected vendors, who are all Bacoleños, so they can start the construction of their temporary store or eatery along San Juan Street," he said. MERLINDA A. PEDROSA THE winning candidates of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Bacolod City are expected to elect their president next month. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Thursday, May 17, that the winning candidates will assume their posts on July 1. Their term will end in 2020. He said the winning barangay captains and SK chairpersons will hold a separate general assembly and elect their president for Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) and SK Federation. At present, the ABC president is Councilor Noli Villarosa of Barangay Tangub, who was also re-elected. Familiaran said the City Council currently has a total of 13 councilors and as soon as the SK Federation could choose its president, it will become 14. Meanwhile, City Administrator John Orola urged all the candidates, both winners and losers, to take down their campaign materials. Orola, who was designated by Mayor Evelio Leonardia as officer-in-charge of Bacolod effective Thursday, May 17, said the city will create a team to monitor the 61 barangays. He said the city mayor is on official travel along with the vice-mayor and members of the City Council. "I am appealing to everybody to help us clean our barangays for our clean and green program," Orola added. MERLINDA A. PEDROSA THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged all the candidates of the recently concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, both winners, and losers, to make an extra effort to remove all their campaign materials within their respective barangays. City Election Registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia said all candidates should start removing their posters. “They ran for barangay posts so they should also be responsible to take down their campaign materials,” she said. She added the candidates should lead their constituents in cleaning up their barangays. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the village polls were generally peaceful and it is time for all the candidates to move on. He said the candidates should remove their own campaign materials to maintain the clean and green within their barangays. “Win or lose, this is their obligation to remove their campaign materials and they should unite for the progress of their barangay,” he added. Familiaran is also hopeful that the winning candidates will do their best to serve their constituents. Meanwhile, Comelec also required all the candidates to submit their Statement of Contribution and Expenditures on June 13. MERLINDA A. PEDROSA BACOLOD City Representative Greg Gasataya said he is waiting for the approval of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) central office for the construction of an underpass in the city. Gasataya said the Bureau of Design of the DPWH is now conducting a feasibility to finalize its design. “So far, we have a positive initial response from the Bureau of Design and we are eyeing to build the underpass in the identified traffic congested area,” he said. Gasataya said the proposed underpass will be constructed along the Circumferential Road, near the Government Center. “It is part of our programs that it will be implemented here to address the traffic problems,” the lawmaker said. He said the budget will be provided by the DPWH, and this project has the support of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran. “We believe that an underpass is better than an overpass,” he added. MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya yesterday said he has requested for a feasibility study from the Bureau of Design of the Department of Public Works and Highways for the construction of an underpass in Bacolod City. Gasataya said the proposal has the support of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and it is the DPWH that will provide the budget. “We believe that an underpass is better than an overpass,” he said in an interview over Aksyon Radyo. Gasataya said they have identified areas in Bacolod City where the underpass will be constructed. They are waiting for the feasibility study of the proposed project, but the DPWH-BOD requires that it should be constructed on a road with six lanes. Meanwhile, Leonardia said that because of his good relationship with Gasataya, the projects he has started when he was yet congressman are being finished by the latter like the Bacolod Economic Highway, Araneta-Magsaysay flyover, drainage projects, Homesitebridge, etc. He also recalled that there were also 13 local roads he had proposed to be converted to national roads. He said Bacolod District Engineer Abraham Villareal has the clearance of Gasataya to coordinate with the city in the implementation of projects. Gasataya said the construction of the Bacolod Economic Highway is almost three kilometers complete in Brgy. Sum-ag while the construction of another 2-kilometers in Mansilingan will start soon. By June the construction of the portion from Vista Alegre to Burgos extension will also start. MUTUAL RESPECT He and the mayor have mutual respect for each other and they complement with each other in terms of projects, he said. Gasataya said that in 2017, about P1.8 billion worth of projects from the national were implemented in Bacolod because of the good working relationship between the congressman, mayor and vice mayor. In 2018, Bacolod has about P1.5 billion worth of ongoing projects from the national government plus another P700 million for the construction of classrooms, which is due for bidding by June, he said. Leonardia said the city and the national government represented by Gasataya must really work together. “If we want to move faster and accelerate the growth of Bacolod, our top city officials must really work together,” he said. TRUST AND CONFIDENCE Gasataya said that all projects from the national government for Bacolod City need corresponding resolution of support from the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod headed by Familiaran. All over the Philippines, the DPWH-Bacolod is number one in terms of efficiency in the implementation of projects because it has support from the mayor and vice mayor, he said. On the other hand, Familiaran said this is the first time Bacolod has overtaken Iloilo City in terms of budget, because of the trust and confidence of taxpayers in the Leonardia administration.*CGS BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev and Dmitry Larionov, first secretary of the Embassy of Russian Federation in the Philippines, joined Bacolod City officials, led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, during a boodle fight at the 1 st Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival in Bacolod City Saturday. Khovaev, who declared the festival officially open, congratulated Bacolod City for the success of the event, and said that the chicken inasal is “the most delicious chicken” he has tasted. “It’s enjoyable,” he said, adding that it satisfied his stomach and heart. He believes chicken inasal can attract more tourists to Bacolod City, Khovaev said. Leonardia said the festival is to declare to the world that the best and original chicken inasal originated in Bacolod. Three thousand pieces of chicken inasal were grilled over a 300-meter long barbeque grill that stretched along Araneta Street, from the Golden Jubilee Tower to San Sebastian Street. About 50 street children were also invited to join the boodle fight. Leonardia said the festival must also have a social responsibility angle. “For them, it is already a fiesta to eat chicken inasal so we’re giving them an opportunity to be filled and be happy.” The mayor told the Russian envoy during the opening program, that “Your presence here today symbolizes that you are representing the world.” Leonardia said the Ambassador will now promote chicken inasal. Now that he has been with us, the Russian tourists will surely come, as well as the rest of the world. He also asked Bacoleños to ensure that the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival will grow and develop and become one of the major tourist attractions of the city. Festival chairman, Councilor Cindy Rojas, said the festival will help promote food tourism in Bacolod. “This is also a way of showing the world that the city has the best chicken inasal. Chicken inasal is synonymous to Bacolod,” she said. Rojas said they plan to have a longer barbeque grill next year. They plan to make it 500-meter to 1,000-meter long. She said that out of the 25 establishments that joined the festival, about 12 were from the Manokan Country. She also thanked the police for securing the festival site that no pilferage was reported. Leonardia said they will study if the acceptance of the people is overwhelming before they can consider joining the Guinness Book of World Record. The mayor thanked everyone who made the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival possible, citing Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and councilors Em Ang, Rojas, Dindo Ramos, Ana Marie Palermo, and Elmer Sy.*CGS BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO BACOLOD CITY. City officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia (2nd from right) and Representative Greg Gasataya (right), along with Ambassador of Russia to the Philippines Igor Khovaev (3rd from right), during the 1st Bacolod Inasal Festival along the Araneta Street on Saturday.(Merlinda A. Pedrosa Photo) “It is very delicious.” This was how Igor Khovaev, ambassador of Russia to the Philippines, described the taste of the city’s finest chicken inasal after he declared the 1st Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival officially opened on Saturday, May 5, which drew crowds and highlighted the city’s food tourism. Khovaev, along with the city officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Representative Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Cindy Rojas, Em Ang, Dindo Ramos and Ann Marie Palermo, City Administrator John Orola along with Department of Foreign Affairs Head Carolina Constantino, walked and enjoyed the 300-meter long of grilled chicken at Araneta Street, from Diamond Jubilee Tower towards San-Sebastian Street. Khovaev also joined the boodle fight with the city officials, local media and the street children in the area. The Russian envoy said it is the most delicious chicken that he had tasted in his whole life. “I had never taste more deliciously chicken than chicken inasal of Bacolod. It is a great privilege, big honor, and pleasure to see the joy of this festival. Thank you very much for inviting me to taste the famous chicken inasal,” he said. Khovaev promised to the Bacoleños that the Russian people will know about chicken inasal. “I am sure that it will affect much more tourist to the beautiful city, the City of Smiles,” Khovaev said. Leonardia said it is a big honor to have Khovaev joining the city’s first chicken inasal festival. “What makes this event extra special is because of the presence of the Russian ambassador,” he said. He pointed out that the most delicious chicken inasal can only be found in Bacolod City. “This festival is to show to the world and to declare to the world that the best and original chicken inasal is from Bacolod,” the mayor said. The City Government has provided tickets to the indigents and street children to control the crowd and it is for free. Leonardia said they invited the street children because this festival should have a social responsibility angle. “Thank you for all the support and to the people who made this festival successful,” he said. Rojas, chairperson of the first Chicken Inasal Festival, said they provided about 3,000 chicken which was grilled by 25 chicken vendors in Bacolod and some of them from the Manokan Country. She said the chicken inasal will promote the food tourism in the city. “This is a way of showing to the world that Bacolod City has the best chicken inasal,” she added. The festival is one of the activities in the city’s 80th anniversary celebration this year. Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) also deployed about 150 personnel to ensure peace and order. There were also several traffic enforcers. The city officials are hopeful that by next year, they will make the longest grilled chicken. In 2009, the city government attempted to break the world record in the longest barbeque grill. MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Yanson Group of Bus Companies that operates Ceres Liner donated a P3.6-million bus to the Bacolod City government, and a refurbished tourist bus owned by the city. The turnover of the two buses was heldat the Bacolod City Government Center grounds yesterday. Representing YGBC president and chief executive officer Leo Rey Yanson, at the turnover rites were Business Diversification manager Casey Olive Yanson, assistant chief finance officer Jerica Leanne Ramos, and Security, Fuel, and Public Relations head, Miloy Seva. Receiving the buses were Mayor Evelio Leonardia, with Councilors Cindy Rojas, Em Ang, Elmer Sy, and Bartolome Orola, and former councilor Roberto “Bobby” Rojas. Both the donated 55-seater bus and the refurbished 66-seater bus were painted red, with photos of MassKara Festival dancers and the line, “Smile! You’re in Bacolod.” Speaking on behalf of the Yansons, Casey said their family considers Bacolod as more than a home, and they are happy to give back to the city where their business grew. “I hope that this donation of a 55-seater bus becomes a symbol of the harmonious relationship that we have and I hope that it would be a help to the city and to the community,” she told the city officials. In response, Leonardia told the Yanson and the YGBC, “We would like to thank you because you likewise represent the business and the community in general in Bacolod City, which is precisely what we would like to establish while we are in this administration. We would like a harmonious and, most of all, a productive relationship between the government and the private sector,” the mayor told the YGBC officials. “Literally and figuratively, we will go a long way because of these buses,” the mayor added. Leonardia also thanked the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod through Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran for ratifying the contract between the donor and the city. “For us, this is a very big boost to our tourism efforts”, he said.* |
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