BACOLOD. (from left) Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) head Superintendent Luisito Acebuche, Councilor Dindo Ramos, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority traffic engineering center director Neomie Recio, Engr. Ryan Tacbad, computer maintenance technician Vincent Joel Recio, and Engr. Guillermo Rafanan. (Bacolod City PIO) THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic and engineering center director Neomie Recio said on Monday, December 3, the implementation of traffic rules and regulations in Bacolod City is more organized compared to other regions in the country.
Recio said Bacolod has wide roads and less presence of tricycles in the national highway. “We have visited several places and Bacolod is so different because of its wide roads and strict implementation of traffic rules,” she said. Among its places they visited were Ilocos, Naga, Bicol, Batangas, Cavite, and Tarlac. Recio along with her 14 colleagues arrived in Bacolod on Sunday to study the traffic situation here for 12 days and propose a Traffic Management Masterplan. Recio said they already visited the busiest intersections during peak hours in the morning and in the afternoon. She said they will compare the traffic volume against the traffic capacity of the roads, and identify traffic generators and problems in certain areas and make recommendations on how to solve them. After the 12-day study, she added they will bring the data to their office in Manila for analysis and evaluation. The MMDA performs planning, monitoring, and coordinative functions, and in the process exercises regulatory and supervisory authority over the delivery of metro-wide services within Metro Manila. Mayor Evelio Leonardia said that commissioning a traffic master plan could cost millions if done by private groups, but MMDA is assisting Bacolod for free. He said he is thankful to MMDA chairman Danilo Lim for graciously granting his request for a free traffic master plan. “Also, we believe that the best group that we can get to help us come up with a master plan for the traffic in Bacolod is the MMDA. Not only are they equipped in academics, but they also have actual experience,” Leonardia said. He said it is something to be proud that the city’s traffic situation is much better than other places based on MMDA’s statement. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Councilor Dindo Ramos said they are thankful for the MMDA and they will wait for its final recommendation. “If it needs an amendment in our ordinances, we will amend it if it really needed,” they said. (MAP)
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BACOLOD. The Bacolod City Police Office led by Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo during the “Sikad Kontra Droga and Unity Ride for Peace,” which was participated by bike enthusiasts and other government agencies on Sunday, December 16. (Bacolod City Police Office) THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) spearheaded a fund-raising project to urge the community to be in sports and not in illegal drugs.
Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, public information officer of BCPO, said the City Advisory Council led by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, acting director of BCPO, initiated the project, dubbed as “Sikad Kontra Droga and Unity Ride for Peace,” to call on the community to join the authorities in the campaign against illegal drugs. “Instead of involving in illegal drugs, they should be engaging in sports for a healthy lifestyle,” he added. A total of 236 individuals composed of bike enthusiasts, personnel from BCPO, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office participated in the activity, which kicked off in the Government Center on Sunday, December 16. The registration fee was P100. Gabana said the proceeds will be utilized as financial support to the police who have harassment cases, and to those uniformed men who got injured in police operations. Medals were given to the oldest and youngest participants, as well as to the early comer, and who wore the best attire. Door prizes, including a brand new mountain bike, were also given to lucky participants in the raffle. (GYM) BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran urged the household owners to report to garbage hauler IPM-Construction and Development Corporation (CDC) any garbage collectors who solicit for the holiday season. “It’s a no-no to the IPM-CDC that they are soliciting from household owners,” the vice mayor said. Giving of Christmas gifts should be voluntarily and that they should not demand from the residents, he added. Familiaran noted that he received reports that some garbage collectors of IPM-CDC were distributing envelope in various barangays. “Our residents should report it to the IPM-CDC to address this problem,” Familiaran said. He said the garbage collectors should not make a demand because it’s not allowed even in the government. Daryl Abiol, project supervisor of IPM-CDC, earlier said they are not authorizing their garbage collectors to ask money from household owners. He said they are constantly monitoring the performance of their garbage collectors and reminding them not to ask anything from the homeowners. Abiol urged the household owners not to give anything to the garbage collectors. “Just get the body number of the garbage truck and report it to us, including the date and time or call us at our hotline at 7075373. We are not tolerating them because this is one of our policies,” Abiol said. (MAP) ILOILO. Local officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia receive the award for Bacolod as first runner-up in the “Excellence in Administrative Governance” category of the Department of Interior and Local Government 2018 Regional Seach for Excellence in Local Governance (Excell) held in Iloilo City on Wednesday, December 12. (Contributed photo) THE City Government of Bacolod was recognized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for excellence in administrative governance.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia received the award for Bacolod City as first runner-up in the “Excellence in Administrative Governance” category at the awarding ceremony of the DILG 2018 Regional Seach for Excellence in Local Governance (Excell), dubbed “Pagdayaw,” held at Diversion 21 Hotel in Iloilo City. Joining the mayor in receiving the award were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, City Administrator John Orola, City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jean Ramos, Business Permit and Licensing Division head Stela Rose Rayos, and Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer-designate Jonah Javier. Leonardia thanked the DILG for the award. “Together with the many awards we received recently, this DILG award will serve as an inspiration for us to do better,” the mayor said. The Excell Awards 2018 was an annual activity of DILG to recognize the commendable performance of the local government units (LGUs) for excellence in local governance. The activity also recognizes the best-managed LGUs in Western Visayas showcasing their achievements in Administrative Governance, Social Governance, Economic Governance, Environmental Governance, and Local Legislation. In November, Bacolod was recognized as the Most Competitive City in Western Visayas by the Regional Development Council. In August, Bacolod was also awarded No. 8 Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines, and No. 3 Most Improved Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines in the 6th Competitive Summit and Awards of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC). In October, Bacolod received a Special Citation for the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) Awards under the City Level 1 category by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This year, Bacolod was the first runner-up in the Search for Top Philippine Model City award. It was the champion in the same search in 2017. (PR) BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Thursday, December 13, that the officials of Barangay 8 can still function with their jobs even if their barangay hall will be demolished. Familiaran said the officials can rent an office within their area of jurisdiction so they can serve their constituents. “They have a notice to vacate so we have to comply because the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) also needs the property,” he said. Last week, village chief Joanna Magalona sought the assistance of the city officials after they received a letter from the BFP regional office that they will demolish the structures situated near the BFP-Bacolod building. Magalona said the lot, where the barangay hall is situated, is owned by the provincial government. She said the BFP will rehabilitate their building and they are requesting them to vacate including the 19 houses in the area. Familiaran recalled that when he started as village chief of Barangay 13, they do not have a barangay hall, but then they continued their function as public officials. Aside from Barangay 8, Familiaran said some of the barangays were also renting for their barangay hall. “Hopefully, we can find a new place for their barangay hall and to serve their constituents,” he said. He added he will echo this concern to Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Congressman Greg Gasataya. (MAP) The Bacolod City Council ratified on Monday the term loan agreement for the P1.7-billion loan window to be availed by the City of Bacolod from the Development Bank of the Philippines. (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver) BACOLOD CITY -- Mayor Evelio Leonardia has assured Bacolodnons that his administration will be transparent in the utilization of the PHP1.7-billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for the city’s four flagship projects.
Leonardia gave the assurance after the City Council ratified on Monday the term loan agreement and continuing deed of assignment with hold-out agreement between the City of Bacolod and the DBP represented by Negros Occidental Lending Center head Bernardo Castillon. “There is nothing there that is being hidden. You are free to get copies of the (loan agreement). The fact that it was submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod was already an act of transparency,” the mayor said in an interview. He said the copy of the loan agreement, which is with the City Council, can be viewed by the public. The loan will be used for the PHP800-million construction of Bacolod MassKara Coliseum with outdoor arena, PHP350-million development of Progreso Village Relocation Site, PHP350-million Bacolod City College Site Development and Facilities, and PHP200-million construction of roads and bridges. The mayor thanked the councilors who voted for the ratification of the contract, pointing out that these projects would not be realized without the support of Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and members of the City Council. “These projects are meant really to improve our day-to-day life in Bacolod. These will have a long-term effect on the City of Bacolod,” he added. Leonardia said that after the City Council ratified the loan agreement, the next step would be the approval of the appropriation ordinance. Once the funding is available, the bidding process can proceed, he added. “The maximum loan we can avail of is PHP1.7 billion. For sure, it will not be PHP1.7 billion in the end,” the mayor added. Leonardia also noted that the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum will be positioned as an income-generating project since commercial spaces will be available within the building. “The commercial spaces will boost the business potential of the area,” he added. (PNA) 303IB yet to receive information on added units
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday said he supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to deploy additional troops and police officers to Negros in order to address the recent spate in violence. In a radio interview, Familiaran said, due to the presence of additional police officers in the city, the crime rate has steadily declined. The city official said there is no problem if the Armed Forces of the Philippines adds more troops as long as it does not create fear among residents. He also does not believe Duterte’s order is a prelude to the declaration of a nationwide Martial Law. Meanwhile, the Philippines Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) has yet to receive any communication regarding additional troop deployments. 303IB commander, Army Colonel Benedict Arevalo, said they are still waiting and do not know when the additional forces will arrive. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, citing recent acts of violence, including the ‘Sagay 9’ incident and the murder of National Union of the People’s Lawyers-Negros secretary-general, Atty. Benjamin Ramos, Jr., earlier justified the need for reinforcements in order to “prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of property.” The added security seeks to “bring the country back to a state of complete normalcy as quick as possible.” The order also reiterated measures the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) can undertake during a state of national emergency on account of lawlessness; along with directing the AFP, PNP, and Department of Justice to closely coordinate and intensify local and transnational intelligence operations./DGB, WDJ The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod is holding sessions Mondays for three consecutive weeks due to several major events.
Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said that because of the city's hosting of Meetings, Incentive travel, Conventions, Exhibitions and events (MICECON) from Nov. 27 to 29, their session this week was held Monday instead of Wednesday. Familiaran said that their next session will again be held on Monday because the Vice Mayor's League of the Philippines conference is being held on Dec. 4 to 6, and the Philippine Councilor's League on Dec. 7. Familiaran is a national officer of the VMLP being the chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order. He said they will hold their session on Dec. 10, also a Monday, because of the National Movement of Youth Legislators activity on Dec. 4 to 6.* |
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