BACOLOD City – Village officials here were urged to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems in their jurisdictions as a deterrent to crime.
“Criminals would think twice or be discouraged from committing crimes knowing that they are being watched,” stressed Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, saying that he was alarmed by two successive shooting incidents in the past few days here. He encouraged village heads to set aside a portion of their budget for the installation of CCTVs in their areas. “This would be a big help in maintaining peace and order in the community,” he said, adding that CCTV footage have been effective in preventing crimes. The latest gun attack in this city has claimed the life of Paul Masicampo of Barangay 2. He was shot dead on Monday, while his live-in partner Norma Tipon survived. Two unidentified gunmen wearing masks allegedly attacked them around 7:10 p.m. Masicampo reportedly had links to illegal drugs. On Friday last week, Jail Officer 1 Jayvee Jason Vargas also died in an ambush. Vargas together with his three companions was ambushed by unidentified assailants who opened fire at their vehicle in Barangay Pahanocoy shortly before midnight. Police Station 9 chief Lieutenant Jovito Pastrana said prior to the ambush, Vargas was in La Carlota City to follow up on a personal transaction. Vargas was allegedly linked to illegal drug activities. According to Pastrana, at least eight armed men carried out the ambush and the incident was likely planned. Last April, Vargas survived an earlier attempt on his life when he was also ambushed outside the city’s Bredco Port./PN
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CHRISTMAS is a very big part of the Filipino culture and tradition.
Many would agree that this is the happiest time of the year and a great one to end the year as people will enjoy their Christmas bonus and other work-related incentives. This means blessings will certainly abound. This is the most wonderful time of the year and the feel of Christmas is already in the air. The tallest Christmas tree mounted by SM City Bacolod was recently lit up, ushering in sparkling holidays felt not only in the mall but in the whole city. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson and Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran led SM’s annual Lighting Ceremony of the 45-foot-tall Christmas Tree. With the theme #SparklingSMallidays, the holiday centerpiece was surrounded by icons of a magical play land, with circus elements and colorful ornaments. The grand event was also joined in by Bacolod City councilors Renecito Novero, Israel Salanga and Ayesha Joy Villaflor. The lighting was made even more magical with the participation of mall goers at the countdown and the burst of sparklers and confetti as the tree lit up. A sensational weekend show entertained the mall audience. Live performances of holiday musical favorites were rendered by Mojo Nova Band, Garcia-Sanchez School of Dance and the La Salle Chorale. The special appearance of Santa Claus with treats for mall goers added another magical touch to the program launch. “We are happy to bring a one-of-a-kind experience to our mall goers,” said George Jardiolin, mall manager of SM City Bacolod. “Our Christmas Tree and the magical land surrounding it is the perfect one-of-a-kind backdrop for all the holiday photos for family and friends.” The perfect holiday hangout The Christmas centerpiece located at SM’s main atrium at the north wing features interactive pieces, the Storyland Magical Carousel and Merry Train, where children and the young at heart can experience. Over the next weeks leading up to Christmas Day, treats await mall goers: more holiday performances, special surprises, mall wide promos, gifts from SM’s partner establishments, Santa sightings, and appearances of other beloved whimsical Christmas characters. Holiday decor all around the mall spreads the merry feeling to everyone who enters SM City Bacolod. The season of sharing The Christmas Launch also featured SM’s Bears of Joy. An annual event for charity, the Bears of Joy promote Christmas as the season of love and gratitude. Everyone is encouraged to be part of this noble cause: for only P200, one gets two bears, one to keep and one to donate. All donated bears will be shared with kids of SM’s chosen beneficiaries. Mall goers can enjoy the Magical Christmas Land for the rest of the holiday season up to the first week of January 2020. CHRISTMAS is a very big part of the Filipino culture and tradition. Many would agree that this is the happiest time of the year and a great one to end the year as people will enjoy their Christmas bonus and other work-related incentives. This means blessings will certainly abound. This is the most wonderful time of the year and the feel of Christmas is already in the air. The tallest Christmas tree mounted by SM City Bacolod was recently lit up, ushering in sparkling holidays felt not only in the mall but in the whole city. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson and Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran led SM’s annual Lighting Ceremony of the 45-foot-tall Christmas Tree. With the theme #SparklingSMallidays, the holiday centerpiece was surrounded by icons of a magical play land, with circus elements and colorful ornaments. The grand event was also joined in by Bacolod City councilors Renecito Novero, Israel Salanga and Ayesha Joy Villaflor. The lighting was made even more magical with the participation of mall goers at the countdown and the burst of sparklers and confetti as the tree lit up. A sensational weekend show entertained the mall audience. Live performances of holiday musical favorites were rendered by Mojo Nova Band, Garcia-Sanchez School of Dance and the La Salle Chorale. The special appearance of Santa Claus with treats for mall goers added another magical touch to the program launch. “We are happy to bring a one-of-a-kind experience to our mall goers,” said George Jardiolin, mall manager of SM City Bacolod. “Our Christmas Tree and the magical land surrounding it is the perfect one-of-a-kind backdrop for all the holiday photos for family and friends.” The perfect holiday hangout The Christmas centerpiece located at SM’s main atrium at the north wing features interactive pieces, the Storyland Magical Carousel and Merry Train, where children and the young at heart can experience. Over the next weeks leading up to Christmas Day, treats await mall goers: more holiday performances, special surprises, mall wide promos, gifts from SM’s partner establishments, Santa sightings, and appearances of other beloved whimsical Christmas characters. Holiday decor all around the mall spreads the merry feeling to everyone who enters SM City Bacolod. The season of sharing The Christmas Launch also featured SM’s Bears of Joy. An annual event for charity, the Bears of Joy promote Christmas as the season of love and gratitude. Everyone is encouraged to be part of this noble cause: for only P200, one gets two bears, one to keep and one to donate. All donated bears will be shared with kids of SM’s chosen beneficiaries. Mall goers can enjoy the Magical Christmas Land for the rest of the holiday season up to the first week of January 2020. The annual Bacolod Diwali Festival took place last week, kicking off on November 7 to ending on November 9. (PIO photo) Despite the Bacolod City government not yet releasing P1.5 million in financial assistance, the Bacolod Diwali Festival proceeded as planned, kicking off on November 7 to ending on November 9. Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the amount on the condition that organizers liquidate their 2017 expenses. City Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, said the financial assistance can be released only if the Diwali Festival organizer submits their liquidation report to the city government. “They failed to submit [the report],” admitted Diwali chairman Malkit Singh. However, he added, they are preparing to submit their liquidation report for the 2017 festival. Meanwhile, according to Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, this year’s celebration was better compared to the previous years because of new activities, such as Zumba at the Bacolod City Government Center. For next year, festival coordinator Haresh Chugani said they plan to kick off festivities in Silay City. The event aims to foster better friendship, cultural, and economic ties between the Filipino and Indian Communities in Bacolod City, thereby mutually supporting the city’s Tourism Industry. The festival is celebrated during the second weekend of November of each year./DGB, WDJ ACHIEVEMENT. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (2nd from left), with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (right) and City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jean Ramos (2nd from right), accepts the city’s 2019 Seal of Good Local Governance award from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (left) in rites held at The Manila Hotel on Tuesday (Nov. 5, 2019). Bacolod was among the four cities in Negros Occidental that received the SGLG this year. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO) BACOLOD CITY -- Mayor Evelio Leonardia considers the city’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as the “highlight of all highlights” for Bacolod this year.
“This validates and legitimizes all our other awards and recognitions from various institutions,” he said after receiving a plaque from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año in rites held at The Manila Hotel on Tuesday. Leonardia, joined by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and some City Hall department heads during the event, said the SGLG is a “guidance, recognition, reward, and inspiration” for Bacolod. “This also raises our standards in local governance and we now have that additional moral obligation to sustain and maintain our brand of local governance,” said Leonardia, also national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines. This year, only 57 out of 145 cities around the country have been presented with the SGLG Awards. Bacolod, a highly-urbanized city recognized as the 2019 Top Philippine Model City by The Manila Times, is among the four cities in Negros Occidental bestowed with the DILG seal this year. The three others are the component cities of San Carlos, Silay, and Victorias. The DILG has lauded Bacolod for its “remarkable achievement.” “The DILG has been steadfast in promoting the practice of good local governance and the principles of transparency, participation, and accountability," Año said in a letter addressed to Leonardia. The SGLG criteria have seven governance core areas -- financial administration; disaster preparedness; social protection; peace and order; business-friendliness and competitiveness; environmental protection; and tourism, culture, and the arts. In an earlier statement, Año said the SGLG 2019 presents a more challenging requisite of hitting the minimum criteria in the SGLG’s seven governance areas. This time, the LGU also has to demonstrate positive results out of its reform efforts, taking into account the local leadership and the cohesive action of the entire workforce, he added. (PNA) The 2019 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Award that Bacolod City received from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as a national awardee is a validation of all the awards that the city has received from various institutions.
This is what Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who received the award together with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and City Hall heads at rites at The Manila Hotel yesterday said of the award he described as the “highlight of all our highlights in 2019,” a press release from the city said. “This validates and legitimizes all our other awards and recognitions coming from other institutions,” he said. Bacolod was one of only 57 out of 145 cities in the country to receive the SGLG award for 2019. Leonardia said, “The SGLG is our guidance, recognition, reward, and inspiration. This also raises our standards in local governance and we now have that additional moral obligation to sustain and maintain our brand of governance,” he added. “This should set our direction and quality standards henceforth, because we know that it is easier to reach the top, than staying on top,” he said. “This will be our credo in our quest to serve our people to the best we can and bring our city to unprecedented heights in progress and development,” he said. In September, Bacolod was recognized as the Top Philippine Model City 2019 by The Manila Times, the oldest newspaper in the country. Aside from this major award, Bacolod received two special awards: Business-Friendly / High Returns, and Retirement Haven. In October, Bacolod received a Special Citation in the 2019 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards under City Level 1B category for cities outside Metro Manila. Accompanying the mayor and the vice mayor in accepting the award were City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jean Ramos and DILG-Bacolod director Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag. Joining them were City Accountant Corazon Cardel, City Development Council vice chairman George Zulueta, and DRRMO administrative office Bernadeth Montelibano. The DILG congratulated Bacolod for such “remarkable achievement.” Bacolod is one of only five cities in Western Visayas that received the award. The others are Passi, San Carlos, Silay, and Victorias. In a letter to Leonardia, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said, “The DILG has been steadfast in promoting the practice of good local governance and the principles of transparency, participation, and accountability.” The seven governance core areas of the SGLG criteria are Financial Administration; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection; Peace and Order; Business Friendliness and Competitiveness; Environmental Protection; and Tourism Culture and the Arts.* BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has approved the P1.5-million budget for this year’s Diwali Festival, but set a condition to organizers.
Councilor Cindy Rojas said the festival – slated Nov. 7 to 9 – can only push through if organizers are able to liquidate their expenses for 2017. There was no Diwali Festival held last year. “A budget is always appropriated every year for the city’s mainstay festivals,” said Rojas, who chairs the SP’s Committee on Appropriation and Finance. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, for his part, said the local Indian community was unable to hold the Diwali Festival last year because the organizer failed to liquidate expenses during the 2017 event. The yearly celebration and the financial assistance extended by the city to the festival organizer are based on the Diwali Festival Ordinance. Cited on the ordinance that “this event aims to foster better friendship, cultural as well as economic ties between the Filipino and Indian communities in this city.” SUPPORT. Valladolid town Mayor Enrique Miravalles, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines - Negros Occidental, speaks before a gathering for peace in Bacolod City led by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (seated) on Monday afternoon (Nov. 4, 2019). The activity expressed support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in the campaign to end the local communist armed conflict. (PNA photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver) BACOLOD CITY -- The city government here has declared support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the campaign to end the local communist armed conflict.
The declaration came days after military troops and police arrested 55 persons, including 13 minors, believed to have links to the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in four simultaneous raids in three villages here. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who led an assembly held at the Old City Hall grounds on Monday afternoon, said everybody wants peace, and that he believes any conflict can be addressed when discussed in a peaceful manner. Familiaran noted that earlier this year, the City Peace and Order Council passed a resolution declaring the CPP-NPA persona non grata. "We are public servants and mandated to serve the people. All of us want peace," he said. Familiaran added that the search warrant operations that led to the arrest of suspected rebels were presumed to be legal with the presence of barangay officials and media practitioners, and if those arrested say otherwise, they should prove it in court. Valladolid town Mayor Enrique Miravalles called on the young people to be cautious because they are being targeted for recruitment by communist rebels. “You should be vigilant to avoid being used for wrong ideology,” he added. Miravalles, who is also president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) - Negros Occidental, said change does not start with the barrel of a gun. “We should be responsible citizens and support the programs of the government. Change should start in us. On behalf of LMP-Negros Occidental, I declare our support to the AFP and the PNP program to end local communist armed conflict,” he added. Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, said through the assembly, the people of Bacolod showed that the CPP-NPA does not deserve the support of the public. The communist-terrorist group continues to deceive the people and even uses children for their cause, he added. “The people should support the government instead,” the army official said. Among those who joined the rally were the parents of four minors who were rescued during the raid in the progressive groups’ compound in Barangay Bata on October 31. “Ka Joros”, a former member of the NPA Northern Negros Front Special Partisan Unit (SPARU), also shared how the rebel front groups indoctrinate young people through cultural dance shows using revolutionary songs to entice them to join the rebel movement. (PNA) BACOLOD. Hundreds of Bacolodnons join the people support rally at the Old City Hall Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City Monday, November 4, to end local communist armed conflict. (Merlinda A. Pedrosa) THE City Government of Bacolod has expressed support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to end local communist armed conflict.
Hundreds of Bacolodnons, including city officials led by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, barangay officials and Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles joined the people support rally at the Old City Hall Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City Monday afternoon, November 4. Familiaran said they gathered to show their support to the AFP and PNP to end local communist armed conflict. “We are public servants and we are mandated by law to serve the public, rich or poor, young or old, and all of us want peace,” he said. Last Thursday, October 31, operatives led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Western Visayas, the Philippine Army and the Bacolod City Police Office personnel implemented search warrants issued by a Regional Trial Court in Quezon City in the offices of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela, and Anak Pawis in Barangay Bata, and the National Federation of Sugar Workers in Barangay 33. The operatives also arrested 13 minors who are now under the custody of the Department of Social Services and Development. The individuals arrested by the operatives were believed to be members of the so-called legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and are detained at the custodial facility of CIDG-Negros Occidental. Familiaran said the operation was witnessed by the barangay officials so it is legal. But if they question the operation, they should prove that in court. “It’s a wakeup call to all of us since minors were already part of the group. Let’s intensify our information dissemination to prevent recruitment of students,” he said. The vice mayor added that in previous months, the City Peace and Order Council already approved a resolution declaring the CPP-NPA as persona non grata. Familiaran encouraged parents to monitor the activities of their children in schools, among others. Army Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo said the groups are using the minors to materialize their plans against the government. “These kind groups should not be supported by people. We should support the government and not these groups,” he said. He added that they are thankful to the local government for their support to end the local communist armed conflict. MANILA. Mayor Evelio Leonardia (3rd from right), accompanied by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (1st from right) and City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jean Ramos (2nd from right), accepts for Bacolod the 2019 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Award from the DILG, as handed by DILG secretary Edauardo Año (5th from left), in the presence of (from left) DILG-Negros Occidental provincial director Ferdinand Panes, DILG-Western Visayas assistant regional director Ma. Calpiza Sardua, DILG-Western Visayas regional director Ariel Iglesia, and DILG Usec. Marivel Sacendoncillo, at rites at The Manila Hotel November 5. (Contributed photo) THE 2019 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Award that Bacolod City received from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as a national awardee is a validation of all the awards that the city received from various institutions.
This is what Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who received the award together with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and City Hall heads at rites at The Manila Hotel November 5, stressed as he described the award as the “highlight of all our highlights in 2019.” “This validates and legitimizes all our other awards and recognitions coming from other institutions,” he said. Bacolod was one of only 57 out of 145 cities in the country to receive the SGLG award for 2019. Leonardia said, “The SGLG is our guidance, recognition, reward, and inspiration. This also raises our standards in local governance and we now have that additional moral obligation to sustain and maintain our brand of local governance,” he added. The mayor further said, “This should set our direction and quality standards henceforth, because we know that it is easier to reach the top, than staying on top.” “This will be our credo in our quest to serve our people to the best we can and bring our city to unprecedented heights in progress and development,” he stressed. In September, Bacolod was recognized as the Top Philippine Model City 2019 by The Manila Times, the oldest newspaper in the country. Aside from this major award, Bacolod received two special awards: Business-Friendly / High Returns, and Retirement Haven. In October, Bacolod received a Special Citation in the 2019 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards under City Level 1B category for cities outside Metro Manila. Accompanying the mayor and the vice mayor in accepting the award were City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jean Ramos and DILG-Bacolod director Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag. Joining them at the awarding ceremony were City Accountant Corazon Cardel, City Development Council vice chairman George Zulueta, and DRRMO administrative office Bernadeth Montelibano. The DILG congratulated Bacolod for such “remarkable achievement.” Bacolod is one of the only five cities in Western Visayas that passed the said award. The other cities are Passi, San Carlos, Silay, and Victorias. In a letter to Leonardia, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said, “The DILG has been steadfast in promoting the practice of good local governance and the principles of transparency, participation, and accountability.” The SGLG criteria have seven governance core areas: Financial Administration; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection; Peace and Order; Business Friendliness and Competitiveness; Environmental Protection; and Tourism Culture and the Arts. (PR) |
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