BACOLOD. The newly-inaugurated P9.8-million pedestrian overpass in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. (Glazyl Y. Masculino) THE City Government of Bacolod inaugurated a pedestrian overpass in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, on Thursday, June 29.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Road Board comptroller Conchu, along with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Representative Greg Gasataya, and barangay officials led the ribbon-cutting ceremony held in front of Antonio L. Jayme Elementary School barangay around 10 a.m. on Thursday. District Engineer Abraham Villareal of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Bacolod said the budget for the said project is P10.9 million, but the contract price is only P9.8 million. Of the project's total cost, structural steel alone costs P5.6 million, Villareal added. The project was initiated by Leonardia and it started two years ago but was not immediately implemented after the previous administration did not allow its construction in the area. It was completed only in January this year and was implemented by the DPWH through the financial support of the Road Board, a national funding agency that intends to provide projects for road repair, road safety, and air pollution control. Conchu said the overpass is mainly for the safety of pupils, teachers, parents and residents in the area. “The instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte is to make our presence felt nationwide, that is why we started to have this kind of project, which is the first nationally-funded overpass in the country,” Conchu said. With such development, Gasataya said they have requested the Road Board to add three more pedestrian overpasses in strategic areas in the city. Gasataya said they are eyeing to put up an overpass at the old airport near a call center company, near the Bacolod Government Center, and North Terminal in Barangay Bata. “We are happy that the Road Board has given attention to Bacolod and also we are hoping that more projects will be granted for us here," he added. For his part, Leonardia felt grateful that the project was already implemented so that people can benefit from it. Aside from the overpass, the mayor also said that more projects will be implemented in the city through the help of the Road Board. One of which is the street lighting project in Bacolod worth P50 million that is expected to be revived by the Road Board next year. Also, the Road Board is planning to put bicycle lanes in the city as soon as they have secured permits for the road right of way. The bicycle lanes will be placed along the Circumferential Road (north and south), Bacolod to San Carlos City and Bacolod City boundary road. By GLAZYL Y. MASCULINO
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The ribbon-cutting rites for the pedestrian overpass in Brgy.Mansilingan, Bacolod City, was held yesterday with Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Road Board Comptroller Edgardo Conchu, District Engineer Abraham Villareal and Rep. Greg Gasataya (l-r) officiating.*
BACOLOD City – More than 17,000 Bacoleños joined a walk that marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) here last June 26, 2017, according to crowd estimate by the police.
Senior Supt. Jack Wanky, Bacolod City Police Office officer-in-charge, said the crowd assembled at two points—Lupit Church at Lizares Avenue and Provincial Capitol Lagoon and Park—and converged at the Bacolod Public Plaza for a program. IDADAIT is observed internationally every June 26 based on United Nations Resolution No. 42-112 signed in 1987. In the Philippines, the observance is based on Proclamation No. 264 signed in 1988, “as an expression of its [United Nations] determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drugs.” The observance of IDADAIT was spearheaded by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). In 2017, the IDADAIT theme is “LISTEN FIRST: Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.” Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in his welcome address, thanked the DDB for choosing Bacolod City as the first city outside of Luzon to host the IDADAIT. The DDB was represented by its executive director, Undersecretary Ma. Belen Angelita Matibag; board member, Undersecretary Felipe Rojas; and deputy executive director for Operations, Assistant Secretary Earl Saavedra. In his message, Saavedra said the DDB has chosen Bacolod City to host IDADAIT as it “has good practices in terms of drug abuse prevention and control” and its “Anti-Drug Abuse Council is very active and there is a convergence among the local government, public and also private institutions.” Leonardia said, “We hope to see that this will start a stronger and more productive teamwork between the local government and with the Dangerous Drugs Board and concerned government agencies in the battle against drug abuse.” House Deputy Speaker and Negros Occidental 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, who was the guest speaker, emphasized the importance of communication in the family and good education among the youth in combating illegal drugs. “Let us not allow other people to hurt our children, and one way of protecting them is to listen to them, listen to their aspirations, to their joy, to their concerns and another way of protecting them is to send them to school,” she said. Education is very important, such that drug abuse among the youth could be prevented if we educate them and if we properly nurture them, she stressed. Matibag, in her message, said, “There is no need to reintroduce drug dependency as a societal menace. What many need to know again is that drug dependency can be prevented and treated.” “We continue to pursue our comprehensive and holistic strategy against illegal drugs. Drug supply is the offense we have against drugs, and drug demand stands as our defense along with civic awareness and alternative development,” she added. “Today, as we commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, I hope that we all take to heart the commitment to the fight against drugs. It all starts in each of us. We can start making sure that our doors do not let drugs in, that our neighborhood remain free of drugs and that as a country, we remain one towards attaining a drug-resistant and eventually a drug-free Philippines,” she concluded. Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, in his speech, enjoined Bacoleños to unite against the illegal drugs abuse. He also thanked the DDB for the proposed establishment of a drug rehabilitation center in Bacolod in coordination with the city government. Meanwhile, organizers also held a poster-slogan making contest. They also awarded the Bacolod City National High School as the group with the biggest delegation, and Barangay Tangub as the most colorful delegation. Also gracing the event were Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Regional Directors Roselyn Borja of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency- Negros Island Region (NIR) and Chief Supt. Edmund Gonzales of Police Regional Office- NIR, PDEA Deputy Regional Director Wardley Getalia; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bacolod OIC-Director Carmelo Orbista; San Pedro (Laguna) Councilor Lito Roa Marquez; and Bacolod Task Force IDADAIT officers—Secretary to the Mayor Edward Joseph Cuansing, Executive Assistant Celestino Guara Jr. and DDB Focal Person Richard Nessia.*/CITY PIO DILG Bacolod head Carmelo Orbista will meet with the barangay officials and tanods on June 29 regarding security plans. This is part of thecity’s strengthening of security amidst terror threats, “so they can provide immediate response if something happens”.
Orbista said they will invite representatives from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office and National Bureau of Investigation, to help them come out with a security plan because they want all the barangays to have their own. According to Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran the barangay officials and tanods will also be the ones to give information to the PNP and the AFP if there are presence of suspicious looking individuals or groups in their barangays. Familiaran also said, they will hold a separate meeting with businessmen, and security agency owners and managers. “We can use them as force multipliers including the traffic enforcers. While they are on duty, traffic enforcers can help monitor suspicious looking persons to prevent similar incidents that happened in Iloilo and other places,” he said During the recent Peace and Order Council meeting, the AFP reported that out of the 96 barangays in Marawi, the presence of the Maute are only in four barangays. So they might create destabilization in other local governments to divert the concentration of the PNP and AFP. Familiaran said, the message being circulated in social media sites that the Maute group might enter Bacolod and Negros Island, is now being validated by the AFP, he said. So he appealed to the public to be vigilant against suspicious looking persons in their areas. “We should not allow them to disturb the peaceful situation in the city. We must not give them an opportunity by being complacent,” he said. Familiaran further said, The PNP and AFP are on alert and continue to monitor the entry of people to Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. * Edith Colmo AT LEAST 5,000 participants from various cities and municipalities around the country are expected to join the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Idadait) 2017 at the Bacolod public plaza on June 26.
Richard Nessia, coordinator of Community Anti-Drug Coalition of Bacolod, said Wednesday, June 21, that the delegations from Makati City, Pasay City, Parañaque City, Quezon City, San Pedro, Laguna, and Tanay, Rizal already confirmed their attendance. The activity will be led by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) in cooperation with the Bacolod City. DDB Executive Director Ma. Belen Angelita Matibag and Deputy Executive Director for Operations Earl Saavedra will lead the event, with House Deputy Speaker Mercedes Alvarez, representative of the Sixth District of Negros Occidental, as the guest speaker. Bacolod City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. will also attend. Executive Assistant Celestino Guara said at 6 a.m., the participants will join the parade from two assembly points. From the north, the parade will start at Capitol Lagoon, and from the south, at Lupit Church. Motorcycle policemen and other security personnel will be assigned to various areas to secure the delegates. “It is the first time that the Idadait will be held outside Luzon. They choose Bacolod because of its recent awards as the most livable and top model city in the country,” he said. On December 7, 1987, the United Nations drafted the Resolution No. 42-112 to observe June 26 of every year as the Idadait as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drugs. Proclamation No. 264 was also promulgated by former President Corazon Aquino on June 1, 1988, declaring June 26 of every year as Idadait under the guidance of the DDB. By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Department of Interior and Local Government in Bacolod City willcall for a meeting with barangay officials and tanods on June 29 to ask them to come up with their individual security plans as the city strengthens its security amidst terror threats.
Carmelo Orbista, officer-in-charge of the DILG-Bacolod, yesterdaysaid that since this is a peace and order concern, he has decided to call for a meeting with the barangay captains and heads of the barangay tanods, so they could provide immediate response if something happens. They will also invite representatives of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office and National Bureau of Investigation to help them come up with a security plan because they want all the barangays to have their own, he said. Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the barangay officials and tanodswill be the ones to give information to the PNP and the AFP if the presence of suspicious looking individuals or groups is noted in their barangays. Familiaran said they will hold another meeting with businessmen, and security agency owners and managers. “We can use them as force multipliers including the traffic enforcers. While they are on duty, traffic enforcers can help monitor suspicious- looking persons to prevent incidentssimilar to what happened in Iloilo and other places,” he said. According to the AFP, out of the 96 barangays in Marawi, the presence of the Mauteis only in four barangays. So they might create destabilization in other local governments to divert the concentration of the PNP and AFP, Familiaran said during the City Peace and Order Council meeting yesterday at the Bacolod City Government Center. The message being circulated in social media sites that the Maute group might enter Bacolod and Negros Island, is now being validated by the AFP, he said. Familiaran appealed to the public to be vigilant against suspicious- looking persons in their areas. “We should not allow them todisturb the peaceful situation in the city. We must not give them an opportunity by being complacent,” he said. The PNP and AFPare on alert and continue to monitor the entry of people to Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, Familiaran said. During the CPOC meeting, they discussed the peace and order situation in Bacolod in relation to the Marawi siege, the incident involving the police in Maasin, the Mautesister who was allegedly apprehended at the Iloilo port, and Facebook and text messages circulating involving security threats to the city and Negros Island, he said.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran urged Bacolodnons to be vigilant in the fight against terrorism and report to the authorities the presence of suspicious persons.
Familiaran issued the reminder during the City Peace and Order Council meeting Tuesday, June 20, at the Bacolod Government Center after text messages and posts on Facebook from a certain Nikka stated that will “create bomb in malls, churches and highly-urbanized cities. ” Familiaran said they are concentrating on the peace and order situation in the city in relation to the Marawi siege and the recent raid of the police station in Maasin, Iloilo. “We will not allow that this will happen to us because Bacolod is very peaceful. We will not give them an opportunity to operate here. We should cooperate and report the presence of any suspicious person to the nearest police station,” he said. Familiaran said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are now validating the reports, text messages, and posts on social media. He added that evacuees from Marawi are staying with their relatives in Bacolod and policemen are coordinating with them to ensure that they are not members of the Maute group. Familiaran said the PNP, AFP along with the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Coast Guard are on alert to monitor the possible presence of terrorists in Bacolod. The vice mayor said they will hold a meeting with businessmen and security agency owners next week to help in the monitoring. Carmelo Orbista, officer-in-charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Bacolod, said he will also hold a meeting with the barangay officials and village watchmen on June 29. He said there should be a security plan for Bacolod. “We are a highly-urbanized city so we need to provide immediate response to any crime incident,” Orbista added. By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA BACOLOD City – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging all barangays to have their own security plan.
On June 29, the DILG will meet 61 village chiefs and watchmen to discuss about peace and order concerns. The meeting, which will be held at the Bacolod City Government Center, will also be attended by the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Armed forces of the Philippines and the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office. DILG officer-in-charge Carmelo Orbista said the security plan is necessary to all barangays especially with the recent terror attacks in Iloilo and Marawi City. “The law enforcement agencies will guide them [barangays] to make a security plan because they have already a template,” said Orbista. Meanwhile, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said he will also conduct a meeting with businessmen and managers and owners of security agencies here because they are considered force multipliers. “We do not want that what happened in other provinces like Marawi City, Maasin and others will also happen in Bacolod, said Familiaran./PN Mae Singuay BACOLOD City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) are still validating reports on social media saying the Maute group is planning to attack highly urbanized cities like Bacolod.
According to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, the reports still need confirmation from law enforcement agencies. The vice mayor also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons in the community. “We do not allow any terror activities in this city because we are a peaceful city,” Familiaran said. Third Infantry Division commander Major General Jon Aying said the news started to surface after the attacks in Bohol and Marawi. However, he still urged the public to remain calm but vigilant since they are still validating the reports. “I think it’s more of a hoax, but we cannot underestimate the possibilities especially with the situation in Marawi City,” Aying said, adding that he believes the Maute group “has a plan.” Police is also conducting strict profiling on Marawi City evacuees who have relatives in the city. Meanwhile, the provincial government of Negros Occidental is also doing its part in securing the province through creating Joint Task Force Buglas. The task force, together with the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and other law and civilian agencies, met with Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday at the capitol. The governor asked for updates on the current situation in the province after the arrest of three suspected Maute group members at Iloilo port. Marañon also issued an executive order to add more agencies to help Buglas. Further, an anti-terrorism workshop will be held in Bacolod City next week. The workshop will be followed by an anti-terror summit in July. Members of the religious community, barangay officials, and the academe will be invited to attend./PN Mae Singuay |
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