5 Bacolod bets attend forum
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - 01:00 a.m.FIVE candidates in this year’s elections participated Friday in a forum organized by the Rotary Club of Bacolod, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO) and Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) at Benjamin Hall in Bacolod City.
SRA: No advance swapping; no change in allocations
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - 12:59 a.m.THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has decided not to adopt an advance swapping program or revise its allocation of sugar for the remaining months of the crop year 2012-13.
This decision came about after the Sugar Board meeting on April 25, where it was shown that sugar production may be better than expected.
GSIS launches contact center
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - 12:59 a.m.THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) launched Friday its contact center, with Bacolod City as the pilot area for Western Visayas.
The contact service (call center) will enable the close to 1.5 million GSIS members nationwide to raise their concerns at the tip of their fingertips with the agency’s 24/7 Contact Center.
Bets told: Course donations for fire victims thru Red Cross
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - 12:57 a.m.COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) registrar Milagros Salud Villa reminded politicians who want to help the fire victims of Puroks Kawayan and Katilingban in Barangays Banago and Estefania to course their donations through the Philippine Red Cross if they are sincere to help.
Villanueva said there is no prohibition in giving donations during times of calamity, except if the aid is given directly.
Pace case vs Provincial Board ‘unfair’
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - 12:56 a.m.BOARD Member Patrick Lacson said Friday that the case filed by the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (Pace) against all the members of the Provincial Board (PB) of Negros Occidental is unfair.
He said that since January, the budget has been with the finance committee, which has not presented the approval of the budget in the PB as a whole.
UNA: Provincial Board letter to DILG is a desperate move
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - 12:55 a.m.THE United Negros Alliance (UNA) dismissed as a desperate act and clear propaganda to gain media mileage the letter-complaint sent by Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez and nine other Provincial Board members to Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.
“It is clear as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow. We have substantially answered the half-truths and fact-twisting attempts they earlier made during our debate, in media fora and interviews. They know deep in their hearts that I cannot implement programs without authority from the Sanggunian. All the projects they had brought before the attention of the good DILG secretary have the imprimatur of the same people who are now questioning it,” Marañon said.
Guidelines on outdoor advertising approved
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - 12:55 a.m.THE City Council approved in its first reading an ordinance that aims to regulate and control outdoor advertising signs and structures in Bacolod City during its regular session last April 23.
Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of the committee on laws, ordinances and good government and the committee on urban planning and development, authored the ordinance.
Alvarez can save Negros from bankruptcy - Benitez
Friday, April 26, 2013 - 02:22 a.m.REPRESENTATIVE Albee Benitez of the third district of Negros Occidental expressed his trust for Nationalist People’s Coalition–Liberal Party gubernatorial bet Genaro Alvarez to take care of the fiscal management of the province and save it from bankruptcy from huge debts.
Benitez, who is also the provincial chair of the Liberal Party, reiterated his support for Alvarez in a press conference in Victorias City Thursday.
Number of Banago fire victims yet to be verified
Friday, April 26, 2013 - 02:21 a.m.BACOLOD City Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head Sally Abelarde said on Thursday that DSSD is still verifying the actual number of victims who were affected by the inferno which engulfed Barangay Banago, Bacolod City last Wednesday afternoon.
Its initial count was 668 families or 840 internally displaced individuals. But there are those who come and insist the inclusion of their names as they too are fire victims.
City observes due process on Baywalk
Friday, April 26, 2013 - 02:18 a.m.THE City Government of Bacolod has observed due process on Almana Property Development Corporation that owns and operates the Baywalk Restaurant and Entertainment Plaza which was closed last Monday due to the deficiency in its business permit.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the conclusion was made after a series of meetings, discussions and investigation made by the City Government through the Office of the City Legal and the SP Committee on Laws and Ordinances chaired by Councilor Caesar Distrito.
P3M set for Pagla-um plebiscite
Friday, April 26, 2013 - 02:17 a.m.AS THE Commission on Election (Comelec) has committed to set the conduct of the plebiscite of the creation of Barangay Pagla-um, the City Council unanimously approved during their regular special session on Tuesday an ordinance appropriating the amount of P3 million for the conduct of plebiscite.
The passage of such ordinance was requested by Mayor Evelio Leonardia to appropriate the said amount intended for the realization of the conduct of plebiscite.
Mass, caravan to mark 1 year after Arles’ slay
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - 01:49 a.m.A MASS and caravan is set in Kabankalan City and Ilog town today, Wednesday, for the first death anniversary of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles who was assassinated in Barangay Manalad, Ilog.
"We are hoping that the conscience of those who killed our father would be touched and we could achieve justice for our father," Lawyer Rea Arles, the judge’s daughter, said in a press conference with her older brother Philip on Tuesday.
‘Baywalk given enough time to comply’
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - 01:44 a.m.BACOLOD City Council member Caesar Distrito said Tuesday that the Almana Property Development Corporation, owner and operator of Baywalk Restaurant and Entertainment Center, was given enough time to comply with their legal requirements relative to its application of a new business permit.
In this file photo, Baywalk clients undergo inspection after paying their entrance fees. Now that the establishment was ordered closed by the city, Baywalk has to declare its revenues so that the city can determine the taxes which Baywalk should pay while it operated without a Mayor’s Permit. (Gilbur L. Guarte)Lay leaders campaign for 12 Senate bets, 3 party-lists
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - 01:40 a.m.LAY leaders belonging to the Lay Initiatives for Elections 2013 (LIFE 2013) is openly supporting and campaigning for 12 senatorial candidates and three party list groups for the May 13 polls.
LIFE, a Cebu-based organization of church lay leaders headed by Dr. Rene Joseph Bullecer, stated that they are campaigning for Team Buhay candidates and groups who are against abortion, death penalty, divorce, and same sex marriages.
Transfer of award to present stall-owners allowed
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - 01:40 a.m.THE City Council of Bacolod has approved an ordinance amending Section 2 of City Ordinance No. 541, Series of 2011 which now allows the transfer of awards to the present market block/stall/table occupants during their regular session recently.
The proposed ordinance is authored by Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito, chairperson of the Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse of the City Council.
Rep. Jules Ledesma to sue petitioner
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 01:15 a.m.THE camp of First District Rep. Julio Ledesma IV is filing counter charges against a lawyer who has filed a petition before the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court for his guardianship and seeking to declare him as “ incompetent.”
Lawyer Danny Pondevilla, counsel of Ledesma, said on Monday that the petition filed against the congressman is “black propaganda” hatched by his political opponents.
Benitez bares priorities under 'Tourism Loop'
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 01:14 a.m.THIRD District Rep. Albee Benitez said Monday he will prioritize the construction and concreting of arterial roads under the 'Tourism Loop' that will connect major tourist destinations in the Third District.
Major tourist destinations in the Third District are Mambukal Resort in Murcia, Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City, Patag in Silay City, and Gawahon Resort in Victorias City.
BM Lacson doubts guv's statement on Cyber Center
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 01:14 a.m.THIRD District Board Member Patrick Lacson on Monday expressed doubts on the statement of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. regarding the potential investors for the Negros First Cyber Center.
Lacson pointed out his observation that, despite the completion of some floor spaces of the cyber center, they are not filled or occupied until now.
P90M of Chiz's PDAF went to W. Visayas
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 01:13 a.m.RE-ELECTIONIST Team PNoy senatorial bet Francis 'Chiz' Escudero on Monday said that a total of P90 Million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) went to various projects in Western Visayas.
Escudero said the allocation for Western Visayas included P13 Million assistance for indigent patients in Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) and P500,000 for all towns and cities in the province for the repair and renovation of public markets.
‘Abang Lingkod is legitimate party list’
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 01:13 a.m.STEPHEN Paduano aka Carapali Lualhati clarified Monday that Abang Lingkod is a legitimate party-list group for the May 13 elections.
Paduano, number one nominee of Abang Lingkod, said that based on the latest in-house survey conducted by their group in the province, they are already assured of a seat in Congress because of the overwhelming support province-wide for the party.
Marañon hits Alvarez on Mambukal issue
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 01:12 a.m.GOVERNOR Alfredo Marañon on Monday laughed off the plan of his political opponent, Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr., to have Mambukal Resort developed by investors into a Boracay-like project.
"What will he do? Haul white sand to the mountain?" Marañon said Monday.
City padlocks Baywalk
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 01:12 a.m.THE Office of the City Mayor of Bacolod through Secretary Moises dela Cruz has ordered the closure of Almana Property Development Corporation, the owner and operator of Baywalk Restaurant and Entertainment Center.
Lawyer Omar Francis P. Demonteverde, chair of the Investigating Committee which conducted the fact-finding team, with the approval of Atty. Joselito Bayatan, recommended to Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia the revocation of the mayor's permit issued to the said establishment with Mayor's Permit No. 201340649 dated Feb. 5, 2013.
Order to regulate smoking up for final nod
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - 01:12 a.m.THE proposed ordinance that will regulate smoking in public places in Bacolod City is up for third and final reading in the conduct of the regular session of City Council.
Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito, the chairperson of the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, who is the proponent of the said ordinance, said this measure aims to minimize cases of smoking-related deaths and diseases in the city by promoting proper health and sanitation, to protect the non-smoking citizens of the city from acquiring illnesses due to secondhand smoking.
Contending parties rally in Escalante
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 12:34 a.m.THOUSANDS of Escalante City residents and supporters of a mayoralty candidate joined a rally on Saturday to condemn the alleged extra-judicial killings in the city that allegedly claimed the lives of 28 victims.
Rallyists spearheaded by the families of the victims and the groups Save Negros Movement and Sanlakas demanded justice for the victims.
Farmers urged to pursue claim on P14B Philsucom-Nasutra funds
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 12:33 a.m.LAWYER Roger Reyes urged sugar planters in Negros Occidental who are now receiving demand letters from the Philippine National Bank (PNB) for their crop loans all amounting to billions of pesos to file an intervention on the Roberto S. Benedicto (RSB) Estate Proceedings pending before the Regional Trial Court Branch 51 in Manila since year 2000.
"This is one way to avoid foreclosure of hundreds of sugar lands in the province that are now being pursued by the PNB now under the control of business tycoon Lucio Tan," Reyes said in a press conference last Saturday at the Sugarland Hotel.
Ortiz can run as Don Salvador Benedicto mayor
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 12:33 a.m.THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) has granted the appeal of lawyer Jose Max Ortiz for his inclusion in the list of voters of Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), reversing the order rendered by the Municipal Trial Court.
RTC Branch 46 Acting Presiding Judge Estefanio S. Libutan Jr., in his order dated April 18, 2013, granted the appeal of Ortiz against the Election Registration Board of the Municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental composed of Mary Ann I. Davila, Jeremy G. Celeste and Cleopatra C. Areglado.
Guardianship sought for Jules Ledesma
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 12:32 a.m.A LAWYER filed a petition for guardianship of incumbent Representative Jules Ledesma IV of Negros Occidental’s first district before the Regional Trial Court in San Carlos City for his alleged physical and mental incapacity.
In his petition, lawyer Epifanio E. Liberal Jr. stated that the petition is filed pursuant to Rules 92, Section 1 and 2 and 93, Section 2 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure.
4 more escapees recaptured
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 12:32 a.m.FOUR more jail escapees were re-arrested last Saturday in Barangay Rafaella Barrera, Sagay City by police operatives led by Police Chief Inspector Edel Jose Manzano.
Police Chief Inspector Rico Santotome Jr., spokesperson of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, identified those recaptured prisoners as Joemar Libester, Jolito Subteniente, Jonar Quirante and Jimmy Vistar.
Caña laughs off Grupo Progreso survey result
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 12:32 a.m.LAWYER Lyndon Caña, independent congressional candidate, has found amusing if not insulting to the intelligence of Bacolodnons the recent survey claim made by propagandist of Grupo Progreso showing a sweep victory of all their candidates.
The publication of such survey violates Republic Act 9006, known as the "Fair Elections Practices Act," which requires, among others, a mention of who commissioned or paid the survey, the period of the survey, the methodology used in the area where the survey was conducted, as well as the kind of questions asked.
Puentevella, Leonardia, Novero lead radio-sponsored survey
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 12:31 a.m.PAMILYA MKK standard bearer Monico Puentevella for mayor, Mayor Evelio Leonardia for congressman, and Renecito Novero for vice mayor lead in a recent survey conducted by Random Access Consultants Inc. (RACI) as commissioned by Bombo Radyo Philippines-Bacolod.
According to the survey, Puentevella is the next preferred mayor of Bacolod as he got 60.1 percent of voters in a mid-April 2013 survey that covered 40 barangays with 1,200 respondents.
