CELEBRATION. (From left) Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, Senator Cynthia Villar, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the mayor's wife Elsa Leonardia, and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran during the city’s 1st Charter Day celebration on Tuesday (June 18, 2019) under the newly-approved Republic Act 11146. Villar was the guest of honor of the event held at the main lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO) BACOLOD CITY -- Senator Cynthia Villar has wished for more developments for this city, which marked its 1st Charter Day celebration on Tuesday under the newly-approved Republic Act (RA) 11146.
“Siyempre, gusto natin (Of course, we want) more developments for Bacolod. Mukhang maa-attain naman kasi makikita naman natin na maraming businesses na tinatayo dito sa Bacolod (It looks like it can be attained as we can see the many businesses sprouting in Bacolod),” the senator said. Villar, who was the guest of honor during the celebration held at the main lobby of the Government Center on Tuesday night, said that Bacolod is getting more beautiful and she believes it will become one of the leading cities of the Philippines. This year marks Bacolod’s 81st year as a city. For the past year 80 years, the city commemorated its Charter Day every October 19, which was set in RA 7724. It was eventually confirmed that the City’s Charter was actually signed by then President Manuel L. Quezon on June 18, 1938 and approved in effect Commonwealth Act 326 that created the City of Bacolod. October 19 was the inauguration of the first city officials, which was attended by Quezon in Bacolod. The new law, RA 11146, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last year to correct the date of Bacolod’s Charter Day to June 18. “Today is really your Charter Day and I’m glad to be one of those who passed RA 11146 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Nov. 9, 2018. The important milestone in the history of your city has been set right,” the senator said in her speech. During the ceremony, Villar joined city officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya in giving out the awards to the city’s outstanding employees and outstanding taxpayers, and the mayor’s special citations for select individuals and groups. “I’m glad to be part of the celebration. You (awardees) are the proof that this city is practicing good governance,” she said. Villar also underscored the need to put “high premium on honesty and integrity” in one’s profession and position. “We owe it to the people that we are serving, but it should be a personal commitment,” the senator added. (PNA)
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OATH-TAKING. Executive Judge Estefanio Libutan Jr. (3rd from left) is flanked by (from left to right) Portia Familiaran and husband Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Mayor Evelio Leonardia and wife Elsa Leonardia, and Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya after the oath-taking rites of the Grupo Progreso winners at GT Hotel in Bacolod City on Friday afternoon (May 17, 2019). All three officials won fresh mandates for a second term. (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver) BACOLOD CITY -- Reelected Mayor Evelio Leonardia has emphasized the need for teamwork among the new city officials to enable his administration to steer Bacolod to greater heights in the next three years.
Leonardia, who took his oath of office together with the other winning candidates of Grupo Progreso before Executive Judge Estefanio Libutan Jr. on Friday afternoon, said their party presented a platform of government he wants to implement in his second term. “The only way we can do this is if all of us will join hands. Together we will work hard for this. I did not entertain the thought of pursuing this alone,” the mayor said in his message. The group’s three-point “Agenda for Action” aims to accelerate socio-economic growth; efficiently deliver basic services; and strengthen local governance. “We did not write this just to win the elections. We did this because we intend to do this,” Leonardia said, adding that all candidates of Grupo Progreso signed the party’s campaign platform “in the spirit of accountability and transparency.” “I believe in teamwork. Our administration reached this point because of the support and cooperation of everybody,” he added. Grupo Progreso was the big winner in the May 13 elections here. The ruling coalition won 14 out of the 15 seats, led by re-electionists Leonardia, lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who were all given fresh mandates for a second term. A total of 11 out of the 12 City Council seats went to the Grupo Progreso candidates led by re-electionist Councilor Cindy Rojas. Other winners were Renecito Novero, Simplicia Distrito, Carlos Jose Lopez, Al Victor Espino, Archie Baribar, Israel Salanga, Dindo Ramos, Bartolome Orola Sr., Ana Marie Palermo, and Elmer Sy. The 12th spot was clinched by opposition candidate, Wilson Gamboa Jr., also a re-electionist. “Our people should never worry about not having the voice of the opposition. I’m sure there will be,” Leonardia said. During Friday’s oath-taking rites, Libutan also sworn inGasataya and Familiaran, along with the nine newly-elected Grupo Progreso councilors. Lopez was out of the country while Espino was in Manila. (PNA) BACOLOD CITY, March 21 (PIA6)-- The Task Group (TG) Bacolod has formally deployed 4,273 personnel from 21 government agencies, including the Bacolod City Hall, for the ASEAN 2017 Summit meeting slated March 21 to 24, during a send-off ceremony at the Bacolod City Government Center March 20. PRO-18 (Police Regional Office- Negros Island Region) director Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, who is also the commander of TG Bacolod, presented the forces and resources of the government, a press release from the Bacolod PIO said. Gumban said he is confident that this magnitude of forces and resources could ensure the safety and security of the ASEAN delegates and guests. He noted that only 60 percent of these forces are present at the send-off ceremony since the others are already on-duty at their respective assignments. Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who delivered an inspirational message, said Bacolod has always been ready to host the ASEAN meet, noting that when the Bacolod City Government Center was built in 2008, at the time when he was also mayor, they have already erected 11 flag poles in front of the BCGC. Part of the send-off ceremony was the raising of the flags of ASEAN and 10 member-countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei. Leonardia said they did not have to erect another flagpole at the BCGC, as the existing flagpoles were already enough for the 11 ASEAN flags. The mayor also told the TG Bacolod personnel that “each one has a role to play” in ensuring the success of the ASEAN hosting. “Let this be your sense of mission,” he said. During a press conference later, Leonardia said that if the hosting of the ASEAN meet would be successful, the senior officials and the delegates can become Ambassadors of Goodwill, they can promote Bacolod in their own countries. Also attending the send-off ceremony were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Cindy Rojas and Em Ang, City Administrator John Orola, Chief Supt. Nestor Bergonia, Gen. (Ret.) Josephus Angan, and assistant deputy director general for tourism and special events services Angela Javier—all of the ASEAN- National Organizing Council; and Office of the Civil Defense- NIR OIC- Director Ma. Aletha Nogra. A press release from the Presidential Communications Operations Office said about 50 senior officials and other delegates [not 80 as previously announced] are attending the 15th Meeting for ASEAN Senior Officials Responsible for Information at the SMX Convention Center Bacolod on March 22-23. The delegates will start arriving today ,March 21. (LLJR-PIA6) By Lorenzo Lambatin Jr. Bacolod City, March 20 - The Philippine Information Agency Information Kiosk was formally opened March 20, 2017 at SM City Bacolod. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran led in the ribbon cutting of the kiosk, assisted by Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, PIA Director, Mr. Nep Grandea, Marketing Manager of SM City Bacolod and Mr. Lorenzo Benedicto, SM City Building Administrator. The kiosk basically contains two kinds of information – one specifically about the ASEAN, background of ASEAN, membership and benefits of the ASEAN. The other kind of information contained in the kiosk is all about government information, its programs and projects intended for the people. Before the ribbon-cutting a short program was held. Mr. Nep Grandea, Bacolod welcomed the guests and said they are happy that PIA has seen fit to have the kiosk at SM City, a collaborative effort of PIA and SM city Bacolod. Director Mesa said for her part, said that there is a need to inform people about ASEAN. This year, she said the Philippines is playing host to the series of meetings of the ASEAN. What is of particular note is that it is celebrating its 50th year since its founding way back in 2017. Bacolod, Mesa said is the host of the Senior Ministers Responsible for Information currently being held in Bacolod with the Presidential Communications Operations Office as host agency to which the PIA belongs. In his address Vice Mayor Familiaran cited that the Philippines is not only an esteemed member of the Association of the Southeast Nations because the members are of diverse culture, religion, and system but also because of the economic, political and security cooperation among its members. The PIA Information Kiosk will be open from March 20 -24, at the ground floor of SM City Bacolod. It is inviting people to visit the kiosk. (JCM/LOL/PIa6) By Lorenzo Lambatin Jr. |
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