BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia got an “excellent” rating from the members of the City Council allied with him after he delivered his State of the City Address (Soca) on Friday, October 27. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Sunday, October 29, that more projects were implemented because of the collaboration and cooperation between the Office of Congressman Greg Gasataya, the executive, and majority of the legislative. “On a scale of one to 10, I’d give him a nine,” he said. Familiaran also supported the call of the mayor to set aside political agenda and personal ambitions. “We still have one year and eight months left before the elections. We are mandated to serve our constituents, so let us work first,” he said. In his Soca, Leonardia reiterated his appeal to all city officials to set aside political agenda and personal ambitions and work together for the people of Bacolod. Councilor Dindo Ramos said as expected the mayor conveyed the programs, projects, and future plans for the city. He said one of the achievements of the mayor was the increase of the city’s revenues that could improve the delivery of basic services. Ramos noted that several new businesses opened because of the atmosphere and environment provided by the local government unit. “It only shows that if the leadership of both the local government unit and the congressman will work hand-in-hand, there will be an easy delivery of services,” Ramos said. On a scale of one to 10, Ramos gave the performance of the mayor an 8.5. Councilor Caesar Distrito said the mayor’s Soca was comprehensive, wherein he tackled the problems and the gains of Bacolod. “The mayor did not say that all are gains, but rather there is also some room for improvement,” Distrito said. He said the increase in business confidence that led to the increase in business permit and building permit applicants, and increase in real property tax collection are all an indications that the city is in the right direction. “This is an excellent year for the city,” Distrito. Councilor Cindy Rojas said the mayor has done what is best for the people of Bacolod and has started delivering services as what was promised during the campaign period. “More improvements will happen in Bacolod,” she said. Both Distrito and Rojas gave a rating of nine for the mayor’s performance. Councilor Ricardo Tan lauded the effort of the mayor on the increase of business permit applicants. On a scale of one to 10, Tan said he gives Leonardia a six because the mayor failed to discuss real situation of the city like the problem on illegal parking in various areas. “There is already anarchy in our streets,” he added. By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA
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Some 744 indigent senior citizens of Bacolod City received their social pension of P1,500 each, or about P1,116,000, for the second quarter of 2017, during the distribution ceremony at the Bays Center recently, a press release from the city said. The pension was funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and facilitated by the city's Department of Social Services and Development. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, representing Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Councilor Caesar Distrito, delivered their messages to the pensioners, while the staff of Councilor Cindy Rojas provided snacks for them, the press release added.* Visayan Daily Star Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia (4 th from left, front row) with Councilors Bart Orola and Em Ang, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Bacolod First Lady Elsa Leonardia, Councilor Cindy Rojas, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, and Councilors Caesar Distrito and Dindo Ramos (l-r) and Grupo progreso supporters after his delivery of his State of the City Address, yesterday* BACOLOD. Mayor Evelio Leonardia with wife Elsa, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Reprensetative Greg Gasataya, and some councilors and their supporters at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center after his State of the City Address Friday afternoon. (Bacolod City PIO) BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia reiterated his appeal Friday, October 27, to all city officials to set aside political agenda and personal ambitions and work together for the people of Bacolod. Leonardia, in his 13th State of the City Address (Soca) delivered at the City Council session hall, said public officials should work for the people first because they are the reason why they are in their positions. “Let us work for our personal ambitions only when election time comes, and remember that election is still about two years from now. Let us use our time and energy, in the meanwhile, serving our people instead. They want us to work, not to work early politics,” the mayor said. Improvements In his one-hour and 20-minute address, Leonardia narrated the city's improvement on fiscal management, public and private infrastructure spending and prospects, public employment services, permits and licensing, livelihood development, tourism health services, civil registry, social services, veterinary services, resettlement and housing, agriculture and fishery, Bacolod City College, City Library, youth and sports, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, solid waste management, traffic, peace and order situation report, anti-illegal drug campaign, human resources. Leonardia said that when he retook City Hall in 2016, his administration reenergized the engines of government, rebooting them as it were, for them to not just work but to work efficiently and well, and address the needs of the populace and the greater good of Bacolod. “We have abandoned and effectively repealed the onerous and unconstitutional real property tax (RPT) ordinance, which increased land taxes in an excessive, unreasonable, and unacceptable manner. We reverted back to the old RPT," he added. The mayor said they have “refocused and cut down the literal waste that bedraggled the solid waste management program that the previous government rendered ineffective and wasteful, thrice over.” Leonardia said that when his administration assumed office on June 30, 2016, the city was operating with an annual budget of P1.8 billion. “On record, however, what was left in the General Fund of the Current Accounts to fund the operations of the city was only P39.4 million,” he said. Higher collections From June 30 to December 31, 2016, the city’s collections reached P648 million or nine percent higher compared to the same period of the preceding year, the mayor said. This year, the Leonardia’s administration proposed a budget of P2 billion. “It is noteworthy to point out that in the first semester, we collected P1.151 billion in revenues, which is already 58 percent of this year’s P2 billion target. Of the said collections, only P705 million was spent for operating expenses which, in effect, resulted to a net increase of P446 million in our available funds," Leonardia said. He said that since a year go up to June 30, 2017, 103 projects with a total cost of P74.6 million have been completed and 42 projects with a total cost of P66.2 million are still ongoing. The total government spending for the year in review amounted to P140.8 million. Leonardia also noted the two major infrastructure projects which were in congressional agenda and now are being taken by Representative Greg Gasataya which includes the flyover in the corner of Araneta Street and Magsaysay Avenue and the 21-kilometer Bacolod Economic Highway which will traverse and stimulate many idle and sleepy areas in the city. Anti-red tape, peace and order On July 2, 2016, Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 4 creating and designating a Core Team to review the Anti-Red Tape Act (Arta) implementation in the City Government and to revisit the Citizen's Charter. On peace and order, the mayor said Bacolod City has significantly improved as manifested by the downtrend in the statistical date of crime incidents being recorded by the Bacolod City Police Office investigation unit through its online crime information reporting an analysis system. From June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2017, Bacolod has a total of only 4,047 crime incidents compared to 5,432 of the same period of the preceding June 30, 2015 to June 30, 2016. There is a decrease of 1,376 crime incidents or 25.37 percent. Reconstruction, making history “Like a phoenix, we are waking up from the stupor of three years, shaking off the ashes and ready to take off as we had taken off years ago, before a three-year political imbroglio that was when the previous administration took over and detoured us from the path of development we had been taking. Like a phoenix, we are slowly flapping our wings steadily but surely starting to scale the highest,” Leonardia said. He added: “We will work together to reclaim those revered positions. Already, we capped our first 12 months back at City Hall with The Manila times, esteemed icon of Philippine journalism and the oldest newspaper in the country at 119 years old, proclaiming us Top Model City of the Philippines, by no means a small feat considering where we began and how we struggled to even begin this reconstruction.” “Clearly, the story of our first 12 months back is one of rebirth, a rebirth of our dreams and aspirations and our rediscovery that as people united, we can make things happen and, indeed, we can turn our dreams into reality,” he said. The mayor added that as Bacolod accelerated its growth and development, the needs and demands of the people as well as the challenges of a more enlightened and sophisticated population that come into play, the city needs to close ranks. Leonardia also expressed his deepest gratitude and admiration to the support and cooperation of Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, the City Council, department heads and city employees. “We made history when we retook City Hall. As we rebuild and invigorate our city to bring it to greater heights, we shall continue writing history. Knowing I have your support, I intend to lead you in writing our history. But let us write our history together, yes, in unity as a team, as one community, and as one big happy family. Let us, therefore, go to the promised land together,” the mayor said. The City Council also unanimously approved a resolution expressing the City Council’s appreciation and support to the programs, projects and plans of Leonardia as he mentioned in his Soca. Also present Friday were village officials, officials and representatives from government and private sectors, department heads and former city mayors Luzviminda Valdez, Rolando Villamor, and Alfredo Jalbuena. By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Bacolod Mayor EvelioLeonardia will deliver his state of the city address during the special session of the Sangguniang Panlungsodat 4 p.m. today at the SP Session Hall, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday. Familiaran said the SOCA is normally a report of the mayor on what transpired during the past year, particularlythe accomplishments of his administration since he took over last July. The mayor is also expected to report his programs and priority projects for next year, he said. Familiaran said the SP will also hold its regular session on Oct. 30 before the All Souls Day and All Saints Day break.*CGS BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia will deliver his State of the City Address (Soca) Friday, October 27 at the City Council session hall at the Bacolod Government Center. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said they will hold a special session at 4 p.m. for the mayor’s address. He said they expect that Leonardia will report the city's performance and his priorities, programs, and plans for next year. “It will be his accomplishment report after he assumed his post on June 2016,” Familiaran added. Expected to attend are barangay officials, department heads, officials and representatives from government agencies and the private sector. Leonardia first became mayor from 1995 to 1998. He returned to the city in 2004, narrowly defeating then incumbent Mayor Luzviminda Valdez, and went on to become mayor for three terms from 2004 to 2013. Leonardia was then elected as representative of the Lone District of Bacolod in 2013. In May 2016, Leonardia again ran for mayor and defeated reelectionist Monico Puentevella. Familiaran said the City Council will hold a session on October 30 since November 1 is a holiday. By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Today is still a special non-working public holiday in Bacolod City, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday. Leonardia said the city government takes cognizance of Republic Act No. 7724, otherwise known as “Bacolod City Charter Day.” City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan, in his Legal Opinion No. LO-17-176 released yesterday, said that Section 2 of RA No. 7724 is clearly self-executory in declaring that “October 19 of every year is declared as a special nonworking holiday in the City of Bacolod.” RA 7724 was approved on May 19, 1994 and henceforth, every October 19 of the subsequent years are observed as non-working public holiday in the City of Bacolod, Bayatan added. Leonardia said that, although he wants to correct this with the recent discovery that the City's Charter was actually signed on June 18, the holiday remains in force until the law is amended. The mayor saidearlier that it is their position that the Charter Day of Bacolod should be held on June 18 instead of October 19 after they discovered the correct date in the documents signed by President Manuel L. Quezon. This makes June 18 the actual Charter Day of Bacolod and we should straighten the record, Leonardia said. What happened on Oct. 19 was the inauguration of the first city officials, for which Quezon came to Bacolod. The mayor said there is also a photograph of the event dated June 18, 1938 which he believes is very authentic, valid, and shows that it is the legal date of the Charter Day. AMENDMENT Last June 13, Leonardiawrote to Rep. Greg Gasataya to request him to file a bill that would amend Republic Act No. 7724 that erroneously set a wrong date for the celebration of the Charter Day of Bacolod City. “We hope that Your Honor will expedite the filing of the bill to amend RA 7724 and clearly declare that June 18 is the Bacolod City Charter Day and that this day is a legal holiday in consonance with the clear and unmistakable letter and intent of Commonwealth Act No. 326,” the mayor wrote. “RA 7724 created the unfounded belief that the Bacolod Charter Day is on October 19,” he added. "I would like to thank and congratulate Congressman Greg Gasataya for sponsoring the bill that will finally correct this historical inaccuracy. I'm confident that he will pursue this to its final passage and together with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and majority of the councilors, we assure him of our full support," Leonardia pointed out. Leonardia said he feels the urgency of this amendment considering that in 2018, Bacolod will commemorate its 80th year of existence as a city and so the time is appropriate to correct a “historical error.”* A gun ban began at 12:01 a.m. today in Bacolod City and will last until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, while cellular phone signal jamming at specific times and areasis being eyed during the highlights of this year's MassKara Festival, and the arrival of President Rodrigo Duterte in Bacolod City, this week. The Police Regional Office-6 also sent off a 4,365-strong security force and logistics to be used in securing revelers and sites of the festivity, at ritesheld at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds in Bacolod, yesterday. Chief Supt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, regional director of PRO-6 and Task Force MassKarahead, said they requested the service providers of cellular phones, on a limited scale, to shut off their repeaters at certain areas, which is part of the security requirement. JAMMING The specific time and area where their signalsare to be shut off will be based on the threat assessment, Binag said. Bacolod Mayor EvelioLeonardia said he experienced signal jamming in Iloilo and he believed this was also done in Cebu, where major festivals were held. “It will be hard for the public that their cellular phones will have no signals but this is for their own good, because this is a security measure,” Leonardia said. The mayor is appealing to the public for their understanding if the signal jamming will cause them inconvenience as they are doing it for everyone's security. As to the gun ban, Binag said all permits to carry firearm outside residence are cancelled. Only law enforcers are allowed to carry firearms, he said. Binag said the send-off ceremony is to show the people of Bacolod and all the local or international visitors that the security task force,and the emergency response are ready. “We are prepared for the festivities,” Binag said, adding, “Practically all my battle staff is here.” SECURITY Of the security forces, 1,361 are police officers from the Bacolod City Police Office and PRO-6, 120 are from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 600 are Army reserves, 370 are fromthe Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, 704 are volunteers, and 1,210 are Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams. Binag told Supt. Roderick Minong, BCPO officer-in-charge, and the rest of the police force in the city that he wants a strong police presence in Bacolod and toreduce crimesand fear of crimes. Binag toldhis men, “Let us be serious in this task. This is another opportunity for us to showcase that we have a professional police service ready to serve whatever kind of task is given to us.” The security force also includes air support from the Air Force, and help from the Philippine Coast GuardandBureau of Fire Protection,Binag said. He said their recent addition to the security force is the Explosive Ordnance Division personnel from Camp Cramewho, with their bomb suits and X-ray, will be panelling the area. “We mean business in providing security to this world-renowned MassKara Festival,” Binag said. APEC STANDARD The TFM aims to reach an APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) standard, including the send-off ceremony, which was used during APEC and currently being done in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), he said. Binag said PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa instructed them to reassure the public and to see to it that the celebration of MassKara is orderly, peaceful, and successful. “And let this news be spread throughout the country, to those who will be attending. Please come to the MassKara Festival and you're safe,” Binag said. The Presidential Security Group will be meeting with the TFM today in connection with the visit of the president. Local Government UndersecretaryJesus Hinlo, Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Bacolod Rep.Gasataya, and Martin Diño, Mayor Rodrigo RoaDuterte's National Executive Coordinating Committee secretary general, also attended the ceremony.*SGG BY SHIELA G. GELERA BIR Deputy Commissioner Jesus Clint Aranas, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Councilor Bartolome Orola, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Councilor Em Ang (l-r) at the opening of the 38th MassKara Festival at the Diamond Jubilee Tower last night*
From left) Bacolod City Councilor Bartolome Orola, Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Bacolod Officer-In-Charge Carol Constantino, City Councilor Em Ang, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Jesus ‘Clint’ Aranas, City First Lady Elsa Leonardia, and Mayor Evelio Leonardia pose for a photo during the opening ceremony of the MassKara Festival 2017 held at the Bacolod Public Plaza yesterday evening. (Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga photo) A fireworks show took place during the the opening of the 2017 MassKara Festival, last night. (From left) Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Jesus ‘Clint’ Aranas, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, City Councilor Bartolome Orola, Jr., Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and City Councilor Em Ang took part in the festivities. Despite the heavy rains and traffic, thousands made it out to witness the official opening of the 2017 MassKara Festival.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia called last night’s opening the “tip of the iceberg,” saying more surprises await festival goers, along with festival highlights scheduled for October 21 and 22. Among the guests included Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Jesus ‘Clint’ Aranas, who is originally from Bacolod City. Aranas congratulated the city on a successful opening despite the weather and announced President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to appear at this year’s festival. “Last year, [Duterte] was here and, for a second time, he will be here,” the BIR officer announced. The President is expected on October Aranas also wanted to assure those gathered the president does not “hate” Negros, following the signing of an executive order dissolving the Negros Island Region. “That’s why Duterte is coming here to assure us,” he added. Also taking part in the opening ceremonies were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran; and Bacolod City Councilors Em Ang and Bartolome Orola, Jr./WDJ |
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