BACOLOD CITY – The City Council here unanimously approved during their special session on Tuesday, a resolution urgently and earnestly appealing to the National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow Bacolod City government to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 15. Based on a resolution authored by Councilor Renecito Novero, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order (EO) No. 26, placing the city under ECQ effective March 30 to April 14, and consequently extended this to April 30 through EO No. 29 due the alarming rise of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in many parts of the country, including Bacolod. While there were only two positive patients in the city at the time the E.O. was issued on March 27, this number has, since then, increased to nine with two deaths, Novero said in the resolution. The resolution stated that there were at least 150 Bacolod residents who have undergone swab test for COVID-19, the results of which are still forthcoming. He said this presents a situation of uncertainty as to how many among them could test positive, thus, requiring immediate and extraordinary approaches for cure and control, including prevention of further infections. Novero also cited in the resolution that there were hundreds of Bacolod residents, both overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and non-OFWs who will be returning to the city beginning April 28, needing to undergo the mandatory quarantine for a period of at least 14 days in the various quarantine centers in Bacolod. In addition to these Bacolod residents returnees, there were Bacolod residents, who may have had direct contact with COVID-19 positive patients, and may need to be placed under quarantine to secure the life and health of their families and neighbors. Novero also noted that were already cases of local transmission in Barangays Banago and Villamonte, which are densely populated and would have to be contained. There being no known cure yet for COVID-19, the best and most effective approach to combat the same was prevention, Novero said in the resolution. The resolution also pointed out that other cities, like Iloilo, which may have only seven confirmed cases but was permitted to extend ECQ until May 15. “The city of Bacolod is doing its utmost to prevent the further contagion of COVID-19 among Bacolod residents,” Novero said. Bacolod City serves as the center of business and leisure in the province of Negros Occidental and even the island of Negros and the lifting of ECQ will predictably cause a sudden influx of people in the city whose number and movements may become already beyond control, as stated in the resolution. According to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, they sent a copy of the said resolution to the national IATF and to President Rodrigo Duterte to consider and study their recommendations for the said extension. By Glazyl Masculino
0 Comments
Mayor Evelio Leonardia (right) and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran during a press briefing at Bacolod City Government Center recently (Glazyl Masculino / MANILA BULLETIN) Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, in a press conference recently, said that the employers were scheduled to arrive here on March 12 to screen skilled worker applicants for Japan, which is one of the COVID-19 affected countries.
Familiaran said the foreign employers will interview the applicants here through different accredited recruitment agencies, and will also meet some of them in Murcia, Negros Occidental for trainings. For his part, Leonardia said that he believed the move of the task force was only appropriate, given the prevailing circumstances. “We welcome them. How we wish they are more with the same purpose of providing jobs to our people here but under the present situation, our health and safety should come on top,” he added. Leonardia said that COVID-19 was no longer an isolated case, but has evolved into a national concern. “We just need to inform them ahead and we will do it diplomatically,” he said. He also asked the cooperation of hotels in case these foreigners will pursue their visit here. “If they won’t be prevented to come over here, I will ask them not to step down from their cars when they pass Bacolod as part of our protocols here to minimize the possibility of an untoward scenario,” the local chief executive said. He said he understood that it was a matter of business for hotels, but management should also act in accordance with the health and safety measures of the government. The first regional evacuation center worth P33.7 million at Barangay Vista Alegre in Bacolod City. (Photo courtesy of Mark Steven Mayo via Glazyl Masculino/MANILA BULLETIN) It was turned over by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the city government in rites led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Congressman Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, some members of the City Council, District Engineer Abraham Villareal, DPWH Regional Director Lea Delfinado, Office of Civil Defense-Department of National Defense (OCD-DND) Regional Director Jose Roberto Nuñez, and representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas.
The facility covers 3,000 square meters and is situated in a city government-donated lot, with eight buildings to include – accommodation, office and infirmary, laundry, male and female toilets and bath, pump room, generator room, and material/recovery facility. The construction started in September 2018 and was completed on August 25, 2019 through the funds allocated by the national government. An evacuation center is constructed on sites with low risk as based on harmonized hazard maps, and not on no-build zones as identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and that the center will be resilient from flood, earthquake, and other extreme weather events. Nuñez, in his speech, said that Bacolod’s REC is the 10th evacuation center in the region that will be resilient against disasters. Nuñez said that their goal to build homes for the evacuees continues as they have already endorsed to the DPWH the requests of some local government units (LGUs) for their proposed REC, adding that he is hoping to see these centers rising in the coming months. In fact, Negros Occidental has four evacuation centers with the two others in the cities of Bago and San Carlos were turned over last year, he said. He said there will be one more evacuation center to be turned over in Sagay City. He said the evacuation centers could be more than a home for the evacuees especially during a typhoon, but also a temporary shelter for those who may be victims of the health epidemic Coronavirus Disease – 2019. He said the global concern on this health epidemic took him an initiative by ordering the temporary use of evacuation centers as holding areas for patients under investigation (PUIs) to help lessen the burden of health facilities as well as concerns of LGUs, in case PUIs will continue to spike. Also, he reiterated the important role of the government in providing a lot to build this center and ensure that this will be free from all infirmities regarding ownership. He is hoping that they will ensure proper maintenance of the facilities and ensure that all equipment donated for the improvement and conditions during an emergency should be properly stored in safe areas for use n the future event. For her part, Delfinado said that the Bacolod Evacuation Center can accommodate a total of 150 persons. She added that it can also accommodate evacuees from other cities and municipalities in the province during calamities. Meanwhile, Leonardia said he’s thankful to the national government especially to Gasataya, and the involved concerned government agencies for the construction of the said evacuation center. “We really need this (evacuation center) because times really have changed and this has become a necessity and mandatory requirement to the local government units,” the city official said. We are thankful that there’s teamwork between the national government, and the local government for the construction of the project,” he added. On the other hand, Gasataya also expressed his gratitude to the national government for providing the funds for the implementation of the project as well as to Leonardia and the members of the City Council. BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) announced on Thursday that all eight persons under investigation (PUIs) in Negros Occidental for suspected inspection of the virus were already discharged from the hospitals here.
These patients were previously considered PUIs after they exhibited flu-like symptoms, following their travel to affected countries with confirmed cases of Covid. Dr. Grace Tan, spokesperson of the task force, said on Thursday that all PUIs were allowed to go home after they were tested negative for COVID-19, based on the results of the swab tests submitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). She, however, said that there were still five persons under monitoring (PUMs) here due to their travel history. Tan said the five PUMs, who are Bacolod residents, were not isolated in a hospital but were advised to go on home quarantine. Tan said the Barangay Health Emergency Rescue Team was tasked to monitor the medical condition of the PUMs. Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in a press briefing at the Bacolod City Government Center on that day, said that Bacolod remains COVID-19-free. “We’re happy about it but this is not a cause to celebrate yet because this is an ongoing phenomenon worldwide,” he said. The mayor said they cannot just put their guard down with the recent development, but should continue their measures with the same intensity. He urged the people to be vigilant and should not be complacent. Meanwhile, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the task force, said that they passed three resolutions as part of their preventive measures among travelers. Familiaran said that they requested all airlines to have passenger manifest of all travelers with connecting flights to COVID-19-affected countries and other countries. “This is not just for the foreigners, but all travelers,” he stressed. He said that they also requested from hotels, inns, and pension houses, as well as similar establishments, to give health declaration cards to their guests especially travelers with history travel in the past 14 days. He said they are implementing these measures to detect as early as possible persons who may have flu-like symptoms, or other infections and diseases. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (Credit: El Cid Familiaran Public Servant / Mark Chavez via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Six persons under investigation (PUIs) for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Bacolod City have tested negative, the city government said. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force Against the Novel Coronavirus, said that there were a total of nine PUIs who have been admitted at hospitals in the city. In a meeting of the task force on Monday, he said that three PUIs who tested negative from the virus have already been discharged, according to the Bacolod Public Information Office. Three more PUIs who also tested negative were also set to be discharged. He also said that two PUIs are still admitted at hospitals in the city while awaiting for their swab results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicines. However, Familiaran disclosed that a new patient suspected of contracting the virus was admitted on Monday. “Of the six patients currently admitted, four are from Bacolod, and two are from outside Bacolod,” Familiaran said, according to City Public Information Office social media post. According to the vice mayor, the patients have a travel history to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Zhuhai in China. “All patients are in stable condition,” he said. Familiaran assured that all seven hospitals in Bacolod City are prepared to cater to patients required to be placed in isolation. By Jhon Aldrin Casinas Development Bank of the Philippines Chairman of the Board Alberto Romulo (left) and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia lead the signing of the agreement for the PHP1.7-billion loan obtained by the city government to fund its four flagship projects, in a ceremony held at the Bacolod Government Center lobby on Friday afternoon (August 16, 2019). (PNA / Nanette Guadalquiver ) BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Chairman Alberto Romulo led the groundbreaking for the P350-million site development and improvement of facilities of the Bacolod City College (BCC).
The ceremony was held at the school’s main campus here last August 16. BCC is a city-run school that was established in 1997. The project is among the city government’s four flagship programs funded by a P1.7-billion loan from the DBP. Leonardia, founder and chairman of the board of BCC, thanked the financial institution for funding the project. “Now we know why you are called the Development Bank. It’s because you build our hope for development,” he said. Leonardia described Romulo, an adopted son of Bacolod, as the “godfather of BCC” for being instrumental in the realization of their dream to put up bigger and more conducive facilities for the students. “When the history books of Bacolod are written someday, this particular event that we are celebrating will surely be in an era when the growth and development of Bacolod City is accelerating,” the mayor said. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, said the BCC development program “is a gift of the mayor to Bacolod, a gift to all of us… Imagine how progressive we can be if all city residents have a college degree.” The three other projects which will be funded by the DBP are the P350-million development of the Progreso Village Relocation Site, P800-million construction of the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum, and the P200-million road and bridge construction program. BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) opened the Simplicio A. Palanca Passenger Seaport Terminal at Bredco port here Tuesday.
The inauguration rites led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Bredco President John Alonte, coincided with the 81st Charter Day celebration of the city. Alonte said the terminal costs P400 million to build. It took a while to inaugurate the port facility because the company had to fix some minor glitches, he added. Alonte said he is a hundred percent certain the terminal can serve the the needs of Bacolod and Negros Occidental. A separate terminal for roll on-roll off vessels will be constructed soon. Port manager Romeo Casela said the facility covers about 10,800 square meters, and has food stalls, a prayer room, restrooms, and other amenities like x-ray machines for baggage. It is also fully air-conditioned. It is three times bigger than the passenger terminal in Iloilo City, Casela said. The port can handle about 3,500 passengers daily, with an average number of 2,700 fast craft passengers daily, and the remaining go on board 2Go vessels plying Manila-Bacolod routes, Casela said. It has 31 security officers and is equipped with security cameras. Casela said P7 million went to the installation of security cameras. The Philippine Coast Guard will also assist port officials with its K-9 dogs. Leonardia said the port is a catalyst of change that will further spur development in the city. The project is an example of a successful collaboration with the private sector, the mayor said. BACOLOD CITY – The proclamation of the winning candidates in Bacolod City has been delayed after four secure digital (SD) cards got corrupted from four clustered precincts.
Bacolod election registrar Ann Janette Lamban said the SD cards were brought to the regional office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Iloilo City on Tuesday. Two of the four SD cards were already fixed but Lamban said they opted to wait for the other two cards before proceeding with the canvassing of votes. Lamban, during a short media interview at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) session hall at the Bacolod Government Center on Tuesday, said the Board of Canvassers (BOC) is expecting the arrival of the four cards, the following day. The members of the BOC will convene again at 3 p.m. on May 15 for the transmission of the remaining data from the four corrupted SD cards. Lamban is positive that the two other cards will be fixed as they are also hoping to have the proclamation of the winners on the same day. About 98.02 percent or 349 of 353 election returns were already processed, based on the Comelec’s transparency server, as of 7:38 p.m. More than 230,000 individuals voted on the election day out of 312,816 registered voters in the city. Meanwhile, lawyer Marvin Tañada, representing the legal team of Grupo Progreso (GP) has manifested a motion before the BOC to lower the threshold of the proclamation of the three winning candidates from the congressional, mayoralty, and vice mayoralty positions. Based on the partial/unofficial results from the Comelec as of 7:38 p.m., Bacolod Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya is leading with 133,822 votes in the congressional race against former Mayor Monico Puentevella with 83,638, and Dr. Kevin Moises with 3,697. Mayor Evelio Leonardia leads the mayoralty race with 143,115 against former Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue with 80,244, and media practitioner Ray Carmona with 1,740. For the vice mayoralty race, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is ahead with 124,707 votes against former Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson with 90,803 votes. Gasataya, Leonardia, and Familiaran are reelectionists. For the city council slate, reelectionists – Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero, Dindo Ramos, Bart Orola, Ana Marie Palermo, Elmer Sy, and Wilson Gamboa Jr., neophyte Simple Distrito, Carl Lopez, Al Espino, Archie Baribar, Israel Salanga, are leading based on the partial/unofficial results of the Comelec. Of the 12 candidates in the slate, Gamboa is the only non-GP member. |
Archives
September 2020
Categories
All
|