BACOLOD. PCCI vice chairman Bing Sibal-Limjoco (center) with MBCCI president Roberto Montelibano (left) and Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (2nd from right) during the opening of the Agriculture and Livestock Expo at SM City Activity Center Thursday. (MBCCI) THE Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) is optimistic that the just-opened franchise exposition in Bacolod City will spur franchise investment opportunities especially for food, retail and service sectors in Negros Occidental. PFA officials headed by their founding president and chairman emeritus Samie Lim and vice chairman Bing Sibal-Limjoco led the opening of the two-day Franchise Expo at L’Fisher Hotel. Dubbed “Franchise Negosyo para sa Bacolod,” it will run until today, August 31. Participated by 18 exhibitors in the country, the activity is part of the ongoing 27th Visayas Area Business Conference and Agriculture and Livestock Expo hosted by the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental. PFA president Richard Sanz, in a statement, said the expo forms part of the association’s Franchise Negosyo Roadshow that aims to contribute to the economic development by providing business opportunities to the people in the regional areas. “We are excited with our franchise expo in Bacolod City because it is one of the most progressive cities in the country,” he added. PFA cited that in the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index 2018 recently released by the National Competitive Council, Bacolod ranked first among highly urbanized cities in the Visayas and number eight most competitive city nationwide. It is also this year that the city was awarded as “Most Business-Friendly City” by The Manila Times, the association said. “It is a perfect time for Bacoleños to ride on the growth momentum. It will impact not only to their local economy but to the entire nation as well,” Johnny Que, PFA director for Western Visayas, said. For his part, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who was also present during the opening rites, said the local government is optimistic that the expo will create new businesses and employment for the locals. “This is a perfect timing since Bacolod is moving towards the direction of being the most competitive city in the country,” Familiaran said. Also present during the opening ceremony were MBCCI president Roberto Montelibano, Department of Trade and Industry–Negros Occidental Director Lea Gonzales, Provincial Administrator Lucille Gelvolea and Silay City Mayor Mark Andrew Arthur Golez. Still part of the “Franchise Negosyo para sa Bacolod,” PFA and MBCCI also conducted a seminar of franchising on Wednesday. At least 40 local enterprises were taught on how to franchise business and how to invest in the right franchise. Sibal-Limjoco earlier said current opportunities in franchising industry are growing, which small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the province may take advantage of. “The Philippines is now considered as the franchise hub in Asia,” she told SunStar Bacolod, adding that “Negrenses are really into entrepreneurship thus, franchising potentials are still huge here.” Also part of the three-day 27th Visayas Area Business Conference and Agriculture and Livestock Expo running until today, MBCCI conducted the Aspire (Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Expositions) Forum and Business Matching still at L’Fisher Hotel yesterday. Aspire is aimed at integrating marketing development support services to farmers, fisherfolk, micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other stakeholders. National and local chamber officials also opened the two-day Agriculture and Livestock Expo at SM City Bacolod Activity Center yesterday. The business conference proper is scheduled today at the said hotel, where Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. will be the keynote speaker during the opening rites. Plenary session topics include Philippine Constitutional Review: Proposals Affecting Economy and the Federated Regions, Neda Briefs: Information Needed by Business and Government Planners, Tourism Sustainability: The Boracay Experience, and Investing in Sustainable Tourism. Senate committee on agriculture and food chair Senator Cynthia Villar will talk on Food Security and Government Interventions in Agriculture this afternoon. By Erwin P. Nicavera
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BACOLOD. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials led by their president Bing Sibal-Limjoco (4th from left) and director for Tourism, Retail and Franchise Samie Lim (2nd from right) with Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Roberto Montelibano (3rd from right), Department of Trade and Industry–Negros Occidental Director Lea Gonzales (3rd from left), Provincial Administrator Lucille Gelvolea (2nd from left), Silay City Mayor Mark Golez (center) and Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (4th from right) during the opening of Franchise Expo at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City yesterday. (MBCCI) THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is currently raising $20 billion to bring more infrastructures like airports, airplanes, hotels and attractions in the country positioned to boost its tourism sector especially among regions including Visayas, its official said. Samie Lim, PCCI director for Tourism, Retail and Franchise, at the sidelines of the opening of the Franchise Expo at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City yesterday, said current infrastructures in the country cannot yet cater to more than six million foreign tourists. Lim, also the founding president and chairman emeritus of the Philippine Franchising Association (PFA), said they are meeting with the local chamber pushing the latter to work closely with tourism officials in the province. “We would like to craft a master plan to promote tourism mainly increasing our arrivals every year until we reach the 100 million and 20 million for domestic and international tourists, respectively, in 10 years,” he said, adding that for Visayas region, Bacolod City along with Iloilo City will be among the gateways. The PCCI is going around the country to look at the different places where tourism can be promoted. “We are very glad that cities of Bacolod and Iloilo are among the places in the Visayas we are going to,” the chamber’s director said, stressing that tourists should not be just going to Manila. They can come directly to Visayas and Mindanao as the airport in Metro Manila cannot yet cater to 20 million foreign tourists. Thus, there is a need to promote other gateways, Lim said. He stressed that it is good that the province has a new airport as this is the key to promote local tourism to the world. “You cannot have world-class destinations unless you have a world-class airport.” Part of the chamber’s measures to generate $20 billion for infrastructure is inviting people to invest in the country. The PCCI is also banking on its “5A: Arrival, Access, Accommodation, Attractions, Activities” program, which for the organization is the secret in promoting tourism. Under the 5A concept, people have to arrive conveniently and inexpensively. This means that that airport and airplane services should be inexpensive. Upon arrival at the airport, tourists have to get where they want to go within one hour. For Negros Occidental, Lim cited that the province has many “very good” beaches but it takes at least three hours to reach them thus, infrastructure development should come in. “I think they can improve the roads to lessen the time for travel. Sipalay City, for instance, could be the next Boracay Island,” he said. In terms of accommodation, Lim cited the increasing number of hotels in Bacolod City while its number of museums can be further promoted as world-class attractions. However, it should increase its activities like casino and spa, among others, to keep tourists in spending their money here, he said. “The biggest expenses of tourists now are on shopping and food,” he said, adding that “the Chicken Inasal here doesn’t look good but it tastes very good so they have to make it look better.” Moreover, as former trade and industry undersecretary, Lim pointed out that international tourists boost foreign exchange contributing to the country’s Gross National Product (GNP). Lim said Gross Domestic Product (GDP), meanwhile, is produced by the local tourists. However, the country for it to be strong, it should have a strong foreign exchange. In order to realize these efforts, he also stressed the importance of the private sector’s continuous partnership with the government. By Erwin P. Nicavera
ELECTION season is here and it begins to tickle everyone, incumbents, aspirants and political bystanders. Apparently, nothing has changed in the political arena, and the contenders, incumbents and challengers, are the same bred from old players. Whether it is the incumbent vice governor Bong Lacson against the kin or bet of outgoing governor Freddie Marañon, or the Bong Lacson against incumbent congressman Albee Benitez, it will still be a fight between old landed and rich families. The talk on the possible merging of two local political parties, Unega and Love Negros, is nothing but attempt to strike a compromise deal between the two to lessen the damages in the ruling elite circles. It is an attempt that whatever comes out it would not really change the lives of the majority poor and powerless Negrenses. It will only ensure the perpetuation of the main elites and the consolidation of their power interests in the region. The talks of who would get the blessing and support of the ruling administration from the provincial down to municipal and city posts and congressional posts, are important only in as far as logistics and ego support are concerned. Beyond that everything is local. Politics is local, so goes the saying in political circles is indeed true. No matter how local political players try to get the blessing and support of the ruling administration, at the end of everything, their chances of winning will largely depend on their ability to muster local strength, i.e. families, kin, friends, clients, patrons, machinery, logistics. The administration’s blessing will only be a plus factor but not the decisive one. And finally, the talks that this elections is a crucial battle between the anti and pro Duterte forces, the yellow and the red, the federalists and the unitarists, is senseless. It is a misleading and simplistic political distinction. It make it appear that the pro Dutertes are better than the anti-Dutertes, or vice versa. It tries to conjure the illusion that this political battle will change for good the economic and political life of our nation, will improve the quality of life of our people. These two forces are not for real social change. They are both are for the perpetuation of the ruling status quo. They are both for the maintenance of a state which don’t care about giving the strategic service utilities and public assets to the private corporations and multinational companies; of a state which should do nothing except collect taxes, repair roads, deliver social services, and attend to victims of natural and human induced calamities and disasters. They also both closed eyes to big private corporations who insatiably ravaged our resources without the responsibility, moral, legal or even economic to elevate the nation’s poor and equip the state as a social organism with the power not only to survival but advance forward. For each of them to claim they are the real representative of the people is a pure hogwash! The coming elections will not make any substantive difference in the life of our nation, and of our poor. And all the political themes and propaganda they bring with them constitute nothing but a poor political education for the people. But we cannot just ignore these realities, turn deaf and blind to its importance. As German poet and artist Bertolt Brecht once said, “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate. He hears nothing, sees nothing, and takes no side in political life. He doesn’t seem to know that the cost of living, the price of beans, of flour, of rent, of medicines, all depend on political decisions. He even prides himself of his political ignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates politics. He doesn’t know, the imbecile that from his political non-participation comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber, and the worst of all, the corrupt officials, the lackeys of exploitative multinational corporations.” There is no reason to boycott the electoral contest. There is more reason to use it as part of the greater fight for real social change by seizing positions of power and influence. *** Looks like the incumbent officials of Bacolod City plus those they consider to be part of their ticket will sweep straight the elections 2019. Incumbent Bacolod congressman Greg Gasataya seems to have no formidable challenger. The talks that former mayor and congressman Monico Puentevella will face off with Gasataya without complete slate will likely not prosper. All odds is now up against Monico. But the man is a political struggler. Who knows he may still have some magic in his pocket. Incumbent Mayor Bing Leonardia has apparently become more formidable over the years of sharpening his ability and capacities to master different political equations and combinations and keeping his cool doing public service. Although Leonardia has yet to translate these into better local economic development and effective governance, it seems no person no matter who his patrons are and war-chest preparedness could match and beat the incumbent, either in one on one fight, or multi-cornered fight. Incumbent Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is in the same position as his mayor, and maybe even better in other aspects. He mastered to higher perfection his ability to be his own man, and yet keeping a great team work in the company of his mayor. He remained firm in his old principles and practices without bullying, pushing and manipulating anyone. Such earned him the respect and trust of his group peers and those in the opposition. He is indeed a Google man as noted by a friend, someone you can search for answers to a question anytime and anywhere; yet he can also be very frank in giving you trashes if you also key in trashes. What a great mix of characters and dreams given to Bacolodnon thirsty of real leadership with results. (For feedbacks, email [email protected]) By Karl G. Ombion
BACOLOD CITY – A total of 788 persons benefited from the medical mission organized by Aksyon Radyo Bacolod during its 49th anniversary held at the Bacolod Arts, Youth, and Sports (Bays) Center Friday. The program, which started at 9 a.m. until 12 p.m., offered free dental services, medical consultations, legal consultations, eye check-ups, massages, and haircut. For the medical consultation, nine doctors served 326 patients who were also given free medicines. Also, 200 individuals availed of the free eye-screening, 123 availed of dental services, 69 availed of free massage, and 52 others got a free haircut. Eight lawyers provided legal services to 18 persons. According to Aksyon Radyo Bacolod Station Manager Nona Demaala-Magbanua, the medical mission is an annual activity of the radio station, as a way of reaching out to the community. Aksyon Radyo Bacolod is not just about news and current affairs, but they also aim to help the public through these activities, she added. Demaala-Magbanua also expressed her gratitude to the sponsors who helped them make the activity successful. The project was undertaken with Task Force Kasanag commander John Chiong, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Rep. Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Provincial and City Health Offices, Soroptimist International, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., Tess Penuela, 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, and medical students of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos. On August 24, the radio station will also hold a bloodletting activity in partnership with the Negros First Provincial Blood Center at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center (Nompac). One hundred donors are expected to participate in the activity. By Dolly Yasa
Bacolod City is known for MassKara Festival, one of the most sought-after celebrations in Western Visayas. The “City of Smiles” was recently recognized as the No. 8 most competitive highly urbanized Philippine city in the 6th Competitiveness Summit and Awards of the National Competitiveness Council. MASSKARA FESTIVAL/FACEBOOK BACOLOD City – The “City of Smiles” was declared the No. 8 most competitive highly urbanized Philippine city during the 6th Competitiveness Summit and Awards of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC). Bacolod ranked No. 1 for the same category in the Visayas. Thursday’s awarding ceremony was held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Metro Manila. NCC’s ranking was based on “four pillars” of highly urbanized cities (HUCs) – economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency. Bacolod ranked ninth in economic dynamism, 15th in government efficiency, sixth in infrastructure, and 10th in resiliency, the NCC said. Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who received the award alongside other city officials, said, “This is a big inspiration and will encourage us to do more.” Rounding out the top 10 most competitive HUCs in the country were Quezon (first), Manila (second), Pasay (third), Davao (fourth), Cagayan de Oro (fifth), Makati (sixth), Pasig (seventh), Cebu (ninth), and Muntinlupa (10th). Bacolod’s No. 8 ranking is a “big leap” from last year’s No. 20 ranking, according to Councilor Em Ang who was also at the awarding. The NCC also declared Bacolod as the third Most Improved City in the HUC category. A total of 1,494 local government units (LGUs) participated in this year’s summit, said Trade and Industry undersecretary Rowel Barba. Awards were also given to LGUs under three other categories – third- to sixth-class municipalities, first- to second-class municipalities, and component cities. Aside from Leonardia and Ang, Rep. Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, councilors Cindy Rojas and Bartolome Orola, City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jean Ramos, City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe, Local Economic and Investment Promotions officer Jonah Javier, City Development Council vice chairman George Zulueta, and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office administrative officer Bernadeth Montelibano were also present at the awarding. (With Bacolod City PIO/PN) By Panay News
WINNER. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (center) holds the plaque for being the third Most Improved Local Government Unit in the highly-urbanized cities category of the 2018 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index during a ceremony held in Manila on Thursday (August 16, 2018). Also in the photo are National Competitiveness Council co-chair Guillermo Luz (3rd from right), Rep. Greg Gasataya (2nd from right), Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (3rdfrom (left), Councilors Cindy Rojas (right), Em Ang (2nd from left), and Bartolome Orola. (Contributed Photo) BACOLOD CITY -- The City of Bacolod has been ranked the third Most Improved Local Government Unit (LGU) in the highly-urbanized cities (HUCs) category of the 2018 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index. Bacolod, which moved up to eighth from the 20th spot last year in the Overall Most Competitive HUCs list, was number one among the HUCs in the Visayas. Cebu was the only other Visayan city that made it to the Top 10. It came behind Bacolod, placing ninth. This year’s ranking was announced by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) during the 6th Competitiveness Summit and Awards held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila on Thursday. Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who received the award along with other city officials, said the recognition is a big inspiration for Bacolod that would encourage his administration to do more. “For all these, our city officials are inspired to even do better to bring the city to greater heights and are appealing to all Bacolodnons to ride on this growth momentum,” Leonardia added. Others in the Top 10 most competitive HUCs are: 1 -- Quezon; 2 -- Manila; 3 -- Pasay; 4 -- Davao; 5 -- Cagayan de Oro; 6 -- Makati; 7-- Pasig; and 10 -- Muntinlupa. The ranking was based on the sum of the scores in the “Four Pillars” -- Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency. In the 2018 ranking, Bacolod improved in all four pillars from its 2017 ranking: Economic Dynamism, from No. 20 to No. 9; Government Efficiency, No. 22 to No. 15; Infrastructure, No. 15 to No. 6; and Resiliency, No. 19 to No. 10. Awards were also given to LGUs in three other categories: third- to sixth-class municipalities, first- to second-class municipalities, and component cities. NCC co-chair Guillermo Luz awarded the plaque to Leonardia, who was joined by Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Cindy Rojas, Em Ang, and Bartolome Orola. Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go was the guest speaker of the event that was also graced by New Zealand Ambassador David Strachan and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. (PNA) By Nanette Guadalquiver
MAYOR Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran will lead the Bacolod delegation that is attending the 6th Annual Competitiveness Summit and Awards ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City Thursday, August 16. Undersecretary Rowel Barba of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has informed Leonardia that the DTI, through its Competitiveness Bureau, will recognize the local government units (LGUs) with exemplary performance in the four pillars of the competitiveness index: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency. This year, a total of 1,494 LGUs participated in this initiative, Barba said. Awards will be given to LGUs in four categories: 3rd to 6th Class Municipalities, 1st to 2nd Class Municipalities, Component Cities, and Highly Urbanized Cities. Awards for the Most Competitive Province and Most Improved City and Municipality will also be conferred this year, he added. Under the present administration, Bacolod has been awarded the Top Philippine Model City in 2017. This year, it won first runner-up in the same competition, with a special recognition as the Most Business-Friendly City. Also this year, Bacolod was considered one of the four fastest- growing cities in the Philippines for property searches, according to Lamudi, an online real estate marketplace with operations in 34 countries. Moreover, Bacolod is one of the 5 cities in the Philippines that are included in the Tholons List of Top 100 “Super Cities” in 2017. Tholons International is the leader in global outsourcing locations rankings. (PR) BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran urged the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to acquire and train K-9 dogs to intercept contrabands in the entry points of the city. Familiaran said K-9 dogs will be a big help in securing entry points like seaports and terminals and intercept illegal drugs and arrest drug personalities. “For lack of security in our seaports or terminals, the drug personalities took the chance to transport the illegal drugs here,” he said. He added that even hotels had their own K-9 dogs to check the baggage of their clients. Familiaran noted last week that the operatives seized an estimated P5.1 million worth of illegal drugs in a drug bust at Barangay Singcang-Airport, a day after the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) also recovered about P1.2 million of drugs in a drug raid at the said village. Familiaran said he believes the illegal drugs have been transported from other regions and were distributed here. “I salute to our operatives, it’s a big accomplishment for BCPO and hopefully they could have K-9 dogs to secure the entry points. Sniffing dogs are very effective to trace the contraband,” Familiaran said. Familiaran had earlier offered to donate German shepherd and Belgian dogs to be trained as bomb-sniffing dogs of BCPO. “I do not know why they refused to accept it,” Familiaran said. He said the sniffing dogs are a big help in the city’s anti-drug campaign or to be used for bomb threat scenario. Mayor Evelio Leonardia also lauded the accomplishment of BCPO. by Merlinda A. Pedrosa
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