Guv endorses lawmaker to run for senator
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:14 a.m.GOVERNOR Alfredo Marañon Jr. endorsed Wednesday Negros Occidental third district Representative Albee Benitez to run for senator, as he assured the young lawmaker that the whole province will rally behind him.
Marañon made the endorsement in a speech Wednesday during the inauguration and oath-taking of the EB Magalona town officials led by re-elected Mayor David Albert Lacson. He cited the benefits of a province having a senator, like San Juan, Taguig and even Iloilo, which have two senators each.
Lacson on LMP, ACE leadership: It depends on mayors
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:14 a.m.RE-ELECTED Mayor David Albert Lacson of EB Magalona clarified that it would be up to the mayors in Negros Occidental to decide on the leadership of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Negros Occidental and the Association of Chief Executives (ACE)-Negros Occidental.
Lacson, who is LMP-Negros and ACE-Negros president, said that the mayors will have a farewell meeting next week and that they may discuss the incoming leadership in that meeting.
Leonardia thanks Bacolodnons for mandate
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:13 a.m.OUTGOING Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia thanked Bacolodnons for their mandate to him to serve for 12 years as their mayor.
Most mayors in the past have served a maximum of two terms, making Leonardia the longest serving mayor of Bacolod.
Guv lays plan on Negros-Panay bridge
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:13 a.m.GOVERNOR Alfredo Marañon Jr. bared anew the plans to connect Negros and Panay through a bridge from Barangay Tomongtong, E.B. Magalona to Banate, Iloilo.
Marañon revealed his plans as one of the good news he shared with the people of EB Magalona after he administered the oath of office of EB Magalona re-elected Mayor David Albert Lacson.
Localized peace talks pushed
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:13 a.m.CARAPALI Lualhati, former national commander of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), said he believes that localized peace talks between the government and the mainstream Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) would possibly succeed.
He cited the history of the peace talks when he was still with the mainstream rebel faction where ups and down happened because the CPP-NPA take it as a surrender with their arms once they negotiate with the government.
Leonardia: DILG limitation delays turnover of documents
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:12 a.m.OUTGOING Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has cited a limitation under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) insofar as the turnover of documents to the Transition Team of incoming Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella.
He said the DILG is the source of all of this, adding the best thing that would happen is for the DILG to come into the picture.
Leonardia: Take good care of my ‘baby’
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:12 a.m.OUTGOING Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia has asked the new occupant of the New Bacolod Government Center (NGC) to take care of his "baby" as he dearly called it.
"The government center is an institution. People come here as this has become a recreation area and definitely the most photographed government hall in the whole country today," he said.
Police to intensify Barangay Network System
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:12 a.m.THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) personnel will intensify the barangay network system in a bid to strengthen their law enforcement and crime prevention, a police official said.
The directive came from Police Regional Office-Western Visayas Director Agrimero A. Cruz Jr., according to BCPO spokesperson Superintendent Armando Tubongbanua Wednesday in a press briefing at the BCPO headquarters.
‘Salvage’ victim in Murcia identified
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 01:12 a.m.A MAN allegedly victimized by summary execution last June 18 in Murcia town was identified by the police as Resmar Ramos, a former detainee of the Bacolod City Police Station 1 lock-up cell who was detained for allegedly distributing fake money.
Ramos, who was wearing black denim short pants and a brown T-shirt, was found dead by a certain Alvin Gorsal at the PNOC Road in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental, who immediately reported the incident to the police.
Pimentel reiterates support for sugar industry
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:25 p.m.RE-ELECTED Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III made good on his pre-election promise, as he met yesterday with sugar industry stakeholders and provincial government officials at a dinner tendered in his honor by the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Inc (NFSP) headed by Enrique D. Rojas.
“I requested for a briefing on the issues that touched the heart of the sugar industry but Mr. (Enrique) Nene Rojas organized a victory party for me,” said the senator in jest upon seeing the guests who comprised of the leading personalities in the city and the province.
Outstanding Bacolodnons lauded
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:23 p.m.THE City Government of Bacolod led the awarding of the outstanding Bacolodnons and government employees, corporate, and individual taxpayers during the 75th commemoration of the signing of the Charter of the City of Bacolod on Thursday.
Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia and Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III led the event at the grand lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center.
'Ang Banwahanon' awardees named
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:23 p.m.TWO well-meaning citizens of Bacolod were named as the "Ang Banwahanon" awardees by the City Government of Bacolod and 16 others got the mayor's special citations in relation to the 75th commemoration of the signing of the Charter of Bacolod given Monday evening.
The Ang Banwahanon Award, which is a prestigious award given to citizens of Bacolod in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the city, were conferred to Fe Remitio and Ben Ortega.
Pimentel vows to help correct error in Charter Day
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:22 p.m.SENATOR Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, III yesterday assured Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia and the people of Bacolod to help them correct the so-called historical error in the Charter Day of Bacolod.
For 72 years, Bacolod celebrated Charter day every October 19 and only three years ago that the celebration was moved to June 18 under the Leonardia administration because they believe that the signing into law by Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon of Commonwealth Act 326 becomes effective when signed in June 18, 1938.
Lease applicants flood Cyber Center
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:21 p.m.THE provincial government has already received excessive applicants who signified their intention to lease spaces at the Negros First Cyber Center building.
As per May 23 record of the Provincial Administrator, 47 companies had already enlisted as interested applicants to lease 111 units for commercial spaces at the ground floor of the Cyber Center.
Schedule for barangay polls expected today
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:20 p.m.LAWYER Jessie Suarez, provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisor, said the calendar of activities for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this October is expected to be out today.
Suarez clarified that the registration for the coming elections on October 28 is expected to start on July.
DILG to hold trainings for new mayors
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:19 p.m.TEN newly elected mayors of the province will undergo basic training on local governance for chief executives in July.
Joy Madayag, provincial officer of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), said the training would be held by the Local Government Academy for new mayors.
Reshuffling of police chiefs starts
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:18 p.m.TWO police chiefs in the province reassumed their old assignments, as the reshuffling of police chiefs in the province was effected by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) starting this week.
Records from the NOPPO revealed that Senior Inspector (S/Insp.) Mary Rose Pico and Snr. Insp. Danilo Zuniega were reinstated as Pontevedra and Toboso police chiefs, respectively.
Arrest warrants served to 2 inmates
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:18 p.m.SEPARATE arrest warrants for robbery and theft charges were served to inmates at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Handumanan and Bacolod City District Jail in Barangay Taculing last June 17, Monday by Police Officer 3 Noel Capablanca of Bacolod City Police Station 8.
Capablanca identified the suspects as Rodito Rivera and Jonel Libre.
Bacolod lacks police
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:16 p.m.WITH only 573 personnel in Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Bacolod City still lacks policemen, said BCPO spokesperson Superintendent Armando Tubongbanua in a press conference at the BCPO Headquarters yesterday.
Tubongbanua said that the population ratio of the cops with Bacolod residents is 1:1,002, which means that a policeman has to cater 1,002 people.
‘Barkers, trisikad drivers congest traffic’
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 04:16 p.m.BACOLOD City Police Office (BCPO) spokesperson Superintendent Armando Tubongbanua said that the barkers and trisikad drivers in Bacolod contribute to the congestion of the traffic in the city.
Barkers should not be allowed in places like malls, Tubongbanua added, stressing that they must only be allowed in the identified terminals.
Bacolod marks 75th year
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:26 p.m.BACOLOD will mark today, June 18, her 75th year as a chartered city since the law was signed by former Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon on June 18, 1938.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the city officials will brave the opposition on the change of date from October 19 of every year, which is duly covered by a national law to June 18, as evidenced by a photograph showing Quezon signing the law with his witnesses.
Puentevella, Marañon vow to work for greater good
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:26 p.m.BACOLOD City Mayor-elect Monico Puentevella paid a courtesy visit to Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. in his office at Capitol on Monday to share notes on what they can do together to bring greater good for Bacolod and the province of Negros Occidental.
Puentevella said he foresees cooperation between the two local government units and aimed to work hand-in-hand with the re-elected governor, being his previous colleague in the House of Representatives for three years and also a former colleague of the governor's son outgoing Rep. Thirdy Marañon (second district) for six years.
Puentevella inauguration set July 2
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:25 p.m.BACOLOD City Mayor elect Monico Puentevella will have his inauguration on July 2, 2013.
The ceremonies will start with a mass at 3:30 p.m. and he is inviting everyone in Bacolod which will be concelebrated by Bacolod Catholic Bishop Vicente Navarra and other clergies.
100 lose jobs as Philex closes in Sipalay
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:25 p.m.SIPALAY City Mayor Oscar Montilla confirmed on Monday that about a hundred people of the city will lose jobs due to the temporary closure of Philex Mining Corporation.
The people of Sipalay City are wary about the closure of the company because thousands are expected to be employed by the company once it is through with the exploration stage and go full swing on its operation.
Leonardia asks for authority to digitize SP ordinances, resolutions
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:24 p.m.BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia asked the City Council to authorize him to sign the compromise agreement entered into by the City Government with CD Technologies Asia Inc. for the company to digitize, harmonize and codify the ordinances of the City Government from 1938 to 2011.
Based on the compromise agreement, the total cost of the project is P2,319,452 to be payable upon completion of phases 1, 2 and 3. Phase 1 will cost P1,275.698.60; phase 2 – P579,863 and phase 3 – P463,890.
Traffic enforcers to undergo training
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:24 p.m.BACOLOD City will also give a try to it under the administration of mayor-elect Monico O. Puentevella, as traffic enforcers will now undergo the needed traffic management training.
Puentevella met with Bacolod City Police Director PSSupt. Edgardo Ordaniel on Monday and discussed a better management of traffic in Bacolod City.
Army: NDF should pursue peace pact with gov’t
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:23 p.m.COLONEL Jon Aying, Commander of the 303rd Brigade in Negros, said that the National Democratic Front (NDF) should pursue peace negotiation with the government because they will never win the armed struggle.
Aying made the statement after Luis Jalandoni, lead negotiator of the NDF, confirmed in a video statement on their website that they would no longer continue talking peace with the government under the Aquino administration.
Man nabbed for firing gun
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:23 p.m.A MAN, who allegedly fired a gun around 11:30 p.m. last June 16 at Purok Sto. Niño, Phase 6B, Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City, was arrested by elements of Bacolod City Police Station 10.
The suspect, who was identified as Rene M. Ostan reportedly created alarm and scandal and fired a gun in front of Kriemhild A. Elijay and Yorapyl E. Brennan’s house.
Increased domestic sugar consumption seen
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 01:50 a.m.SUGAR production in the country increased to 2.448 million metric tons (mt) as of June 2, 2013, said Sugar Regulatory Administrator (SRA) Gina Martin.
“The figure is 0.6 percent higher than SRA’s second production estimate of 2.434 million mt for crop year 2012-2013 and this will further increase as three mills are still grinding while some mills that earlier stopped milling are set to restart by early August," said Martin in an emailed statement to Sun.Star Bacolod.
Benitez is new Love-Negros chair
Monday, June 17, 2013 - 01:50 a.m.RE-ELECTED third district Representative Albee Benitez was chosen by the members of Love-Negros as their provincial chairman in a meeting and bonding over the weekend at Midas Hotel in Manila.
Love-Negros official spokesperson Board Member (BM) Patrick Lacson of the third district said that Vice Governor-elect Eugenio Lacson was chosen as the vice chairman.
