BACOLOD CITY, June 20 -- Residents of Bacolod on Tuesday were reminded to continue their vigilance against terror threats in the wake of the atrocities of the Maute group and the New People’s Army. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who presided the City Peace and Order Council meeting on Tuesday, mentioned the text messages and social media posts on alleged threats of bombs in malls, churches, and highly-urbanized cities. Familiaran said the CPOC was assessing the peace and order situation in Bacolod amid the Marawi siege, and the recent communist rebels’ raid of the police station in Maasin, Iloilo. “We will not allow this to happen because Bacolod is very peaceful. We will not give them an opportunity to operate here,” he said. Familiaran urged Bacolodnons to cooperate with the authorities and report the presence of suspicious persons to the nearest police station. Carmelo Orbista, officer-in-charge of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bacolod, said he would meet with the barangay officials and village watchmen on June 29 to discuss the safety of residents in their level. Moreover, Familiaran said the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army, along with the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Coast Guard were monitoring the possible presence of terrorists in the city. Last week, DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Jesus Hinlo Jr. met with leaders of the Muslim community here to discuss cooperation to ensure protection of Bacolod from terror threats. Hinlo, who hails from Bacolod, said that refugees from Marawi were welcome to stay here, but there was also a need to ensure that the city would be protected from terrorists. The DILG official also urged Bacolodnons to stay alert for the presence of new faces in their respective barangays. “Our barangay officials should make sure that if they see strangers in their barangays, they should give information to authorities,” he said.(Nanette L. Guadalquiver/PNA)
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DBP chairman Alberto Romulo (center) with the Ang Banwahanon 2017 awardees, Dr. Ernesto Palanca, representing lawyer Simplicio Palanca, Omar Francis Demonteverde, representing Judge Franklin Demonteverde, Conchita Varela Sicangco and Architect Armando Guevarra (3 rd , 4 th , 6 th , 7th from left) and Elsa and Mayor Evelio Leonardia (left), Rep. Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (right) and committee members Franklin Fuentebelle, George Zulueta, Ian Lo, Ma. Rosario Sola, Johanna Bayoneta and Dr. Hector Gayares (back)*
THE Bacolod City Council approved the request of Mayor Evelio Leonardia for authority to sign the P52.5-million contract of services between the City Government and IPM-Construction Development Corporation (IPM-CDC) for the maintenance and operation of the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran on Thursday, June 1, said the request was discussed for almost three hours before it was approved during the regular session on Wednesday. The request was supported by the eight votes cast by Councilors Caesar Distrito, Renecito Novero, Em Ang, Cindy Rojas, Elmer Sy, Dindo Ramos, Bartolome Orola, and Noli Villarosa. Councilor Ricardo Tan voted against it while Councilors Wilson Gamboa and Sonya Verdeflor were out of the session hall, and Councilors Claudio Puentevella and Ann Marie Palermo were on leave. Tan aired his disagreement, saying the contract is disadvantageous on the part of the city. Familiaran said the Bids and Awards Committed submitted its favorable recommendation after determining that the Metro Manila-based IPM-CDC had passed the post qualification. The P52.5-million maintenance and operation of the landfill is separate from the existing P150-million environmental and sanitary services contract of the IPC-CDC. The seven-month contract, from June to December 2017, for the management and maintenance of the landfill amounts to P7.4 million per month. After the signing of the contract, a copy will be submitted to the City Council again for its ratification next week. By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran questioned the veracity of the report issued by the PNP Maritime Group regarding the seven alleged “car bombs” reportedly bound for Metro Manila.
In a press conference on June 7, 2017 at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Familiaran said he doubts the report which was issued by a non-commissioned officer of the PNP. Familiaran pointed out that such a report should have been released by a ranking commissioned officer of the PNP, not a Senior Police Officer 4 (SPO4). “I think the report is false, because I don’t think an SPO4 is authorized to make such a memorandum addressed to different operation managers and shipping lines,” Familiaran stressed. He lamented that the report is creating panic in the public. “People should not take chances, if they see any suspicious neighbors then they should contact their local police, but this type of irresponsible posts [in social media] is not tolerable,” he added. Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO-18) spokesperson, Senior Insp. Armilyn Vargas, said a police officer of any rank could issue such a memorandum but only if he or she was appointed as “officer-in-charge” when a ranking officer is unavailable. Vargas explained, at the time of the issuance of the memo, the PNP Maritime Unit office in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte may have been short in personnel. “Considering some stations have a shortage of personnel, the next available ranking officer is eligible to issue any actionable items that need to be determined,” Vargas explained. Vargas also validated the report saying the information was already disseminated to intelligence operatives, their counterparts in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG). She said that the information was released in social media to deter the impending terror threat and raise awareness of the citizens, adding they did not mean to create panic. Earlier, Lieutenant Jimmy Oliver Vingno, PCG-Bacolod commander, said he received the intelligence claiming that seven car bombs are being transported from Mindanao to Metro Manila. Vingno explained the suspected vehicles are traveling through the Visayas islands using roll-on/roll-off vessels. Dolly Yasa VISIT. Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran with Arnold Lazaro (right), the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation in the Negros Island Region, and NBI OIC admin BACDO Jojo Fangco, during their courtesy call Wednesday.*
BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran questioned the veracity of the report issued by the PNP Maritime Group regarding the seven alleged “car bombs” reportedly bound for Metro Manila.
In a press conference on June 7, 2017 at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Familiaran said he doubts the report which was issued by a non-commissioned officer of the PNP. Familiaran pointed out that such a report should have been released by a ranking commissioned officer of the PNP, not a Senior Police Officer 4 (SPO4). “I think the report is false, because I don’t think an SPO4 is authorized to make such a memorandum addressed to different operation managers and shipping lines,” Familiaran stressed. He lamented that the report is creating panic in the public. “People should not take chances, if they see any suspicious neighbors then they should contact their local police, but this type of irresponsible posts [in social media] is not tolerable,” he added. Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO-18) spokesperson, Senior Insp. Armilyn Vargas, said a police officer of any rank could issue such a memorandum but only if he or she was appointed as “officer-in-charge” when a ranking officer is unavailable. Vargas explained, at the time of the issuance of the memo, the PNP Maritime Unit office in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte may have been short in personnel. “Considering some stations have a shortage of personnel, the next available ranking officer is eligible to issue any actionable items that need to be determined,” Vargas explained. Vargas also validated the report saying the information was already disseminated to intelligence operatives, their counterparts in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG). She said that the information was released in social media to deter the impending terror threat and raise awareness of the citizens, adding they did not mean to create panic. Earlier, Lieutenant Jimmy Oliver Vingno, PCG-Bacolod commander, said he received the intelligence claiming that seven car bombs are being transported from Mindanao to Metro Manila. Vingno explained the suspected vehicles are traveling through the Visayas islands using roll-on/roll-off vessels. DOLLY YASA After the successful staging during its maiden season, a bigger Cong. Greg Gasataya Inter-Barangay Basketball Tournament will be slated soon, the Bacolod City congressman said. Cong. Gasataya made the assurance during the do-or-die game 3 between Villamonte and Singcang-Airport, with the latter prevailing by a point, 90-89, at the STI-WNU Gym, Thursday night. Gasataya thanked the city officials headed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the barangay officials, who participated in the month long basketball tournament. Game 3 proved to be a suspense-filled roller-coaster for the two finalists with the final score settled on free throws. As Singcang’s playmaker Renz Solomon lost possession in the final seconds and his team charged with unsportsmanlike conduct, Villamonte managed to convert four free throws to escape with the victory and the title. Ravel Cadagat and Jeric Adorio led Villamonte with 18 points each while John Felix Garrido finished with 17 points and tournament most valuable player Mark Dela Cruz with 15 points. Singcang Airport’s Alvin Jamora paced the team with 24 points, followed by Jaycee Adjie followed with 22 and Solomon with 19. Villamonte received a trophy and P50,000 cash prize as champion while runner- up Singcang Airport got P30,000 plus trophy.* Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran with other city officials with the champion team, Villamonte* BACOLOD City –The proposed creation of another legislative district in this city gained positive responses during a public hearing conducted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) committee on laws, ordinances and good government.
According to committee chairperson Councilor Caesar Distrito, the responses came from representatives of the Philippine Statistics Authority, Commission on Elections, City Planning Office, City Legal Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, and several barangay captains. The public hearing was conducted on June 1. Distrito said a new legislative district would mean more projects for Bacolod City and additional Bacolodnon representation in Congress. In the next public hearing yet to be scheduled, Dsitrito said his committee will invite representatives from the academe, nongovernment organizations, students, and business clubs. On Feb. 15, Cong. Greg Gasataya wrote Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and the city council about his House Bill No. 147 creating another legislative district for Bacolod City. “We would like to hear the sentiments of stakeholders on this proposal before we (the committee) formulate an opinion. It would be good if the voices of all sectors are incorporated in the committee report to be submitted to the SP,” said Distrito./PN BY MAE SINGUAY SOME barangay officials and government agencies in Bacolod City have expressed support to the proposed creation of another legislative district.
Councilor Caesar Distrito, who led the public hearing yesterday at the Bacolod Government Center, said the Philippine Statistics Authority, Commission on Elections, Bacolod City Planning and Development Office, City Legal Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, and some barangay captains were all supportive of the redistricting. In February, Representative Greg Gasataya sent letters to Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and the members of the City Council asking their position on the redistricting to determine if they are still willing to continue the proposal. Distrito, chairperson on committee on laws, said the barangay officials and local government agencies expressed their support since it could bring more projects and increase the representation in the City Council. “The important thing here is to get the sentiments of the public,” he said. In July 2016, Gasataya introduced House Bill 147, which is an act reapportioning the lone legislative district of Bacolod and thereby creating a new legislative district from such reapportionment which seeks to create another legislative district due to its consistently increasing population. Section 1 provides that Barangays 1 to 27, 41, Alangilan, Banago, Bata, Estefania, Granada, Mandalagan, Montevista, and Villamonte will comprise the first district. Barangays 28 to 40, Alijis, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Singcang-Airport, Sum-ag, Taculing, Tangub, and Vista Alegre will comprise the second district. Another public hearing will be held next month with the business sector, non-government organizations, academe, student organizations, among others. By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA |
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