Last Saturday was the birthday of Pert Toga, Editor-in-Chief of this newspaper. I wish him continued happiness and success! A week ago, I cheered all the City Councilors of Bacolod for passing an ordinance banning plastic bags and Styrofoam. I even said they had political will. And what do I get in return? Seven of them made a fool out of me. Like a Venus Raj who couldn’t win, the ordinance, in the end, was not passed. So, why did I write that column in anticipation of an outcome that wouldn’t be? Sit down, take 2mg. Lacipil and I’ll tell you why. A week earlier, on March 15, the City Council held the fifth 2nd reading of the ordinance. The 2nd reading is where councilors discuss the merits and demerits of a proposed ordinance and there could be many 2nd readings. After answering all questions through five (not one or two, but five!) 2nd readings, author Councilor Em Ang proposed to send the ordinance to 3rd reading for approval. Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson asked the councilors if anyone had objections. NO ONE RAISED AN OBJECTION. On that display of unanimity, the ordinance was sent to 3rd reading. That’s when I wrote my ill-fated column. But when the day of the 3rd reading came, March 23, four councilors suddenly voted NO and three ABSTAINED, effectively killing the ordinance. THEY DON’T GET IT, DO THEY? In the wake of the tragic vote, some of the seven councilors tried to explain why they derailed the ordinance. The excuses ranged from the legitimate to the ridiculous. Regardless, having excuses is not the point. Everyone is entitled to them. Everyone has the right to object. It is HOW that objection is expressed that spells the difference between being sincere and being malicious. The seven councilors could have chosen to be sincere. They could have raised their objections on 2nd reading and we could have held more 2nd readings until everybody is enlightened. Instead, they deliberately withheld their objections, sent the ordinance to 3rd reading and there, lying in wait, they ambushed it. Murder most foul! They could have used an ordinary bullet, but they shot it down with a hollow-point. They could have cut the wrist, but they went for the jugular. They could have gone to another 2nd reading, but they had to set us back six long months by voting down the ordinance on 3rd reading. Councilor Em Ang worked for six months on the ordinance. Because of that, even if she re-files it today, we could see another six months go by before the ordinance is passed. And that is the point that I lament with stabbing pain. You see, Ondoy happened in just one day and these seven councilors, by their votes, appear to assume that nothing will happen in six months. Beware what assuming can do to you and me. HOW THE COUNCILORS VOTED: Those who voted NO to the ordinance were Councilors Sonya Verdeflor, Elmer Sy, Catalino Alisbo and El Cid Familiaran. Those who ABSTAINED were Councilors Archie Baribar, Carlo Lopez and Dindo Ramos. As the tally revealed, any one of these seven, voting yes, could have caused a draw, which would then push Vice Mayor Sayson to cast a tie-breaker. But since the Vice Mayor is a known supporter of the ordinance, the seven stood pat on their votes. Therefore, all seven councilors are equally culpable for thumbing down the ordinance. And each time Bacolod is flooded because plastic bags clog our waterways, all of them will be remembered. That’s not the worst of it. God forbid somebody drowns in the flood water, or is stricken with leptospirosis. There are five councilors who should be congratulated for standing firm against plastic bags and Styrofoam. Those who voted YES to the ordinance were Caesar Distrito, Al Victor Espino, Homer Bais, Mona Dia Jardin and Em Ang. By their committee chairmanships, these councilors are in the best position to say whether or not this ordinance is needed. Councilor Espino chairs the Environment Committee, so who better to know the calamitous situation of our environment than he? Councilor Distrito chairs the Markets and Slaughterhouse Committee, a constituency that contributes substantial plastic bag and Styrofoam garbage. He also chairs the Committee on Laws and Ordinances, which assures me that the ordinance is structurally sound and in sync with the times? Councilor Bais, meanwhile, chairs the Tourism Committee, so no one can be more concerned that this city is kept clean to the tourists’ palate. Councilor Bais also chairs the Education Committee and since education is central to the success of a garbage management program, his access to educators is vital. Councilor Jardin, as President of the Association of Barangay Captains, chairs the Barangay Affairs Committee and Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) clearly assigns to barangays the responsibility of segregating garbage. Moreover, Councilor Jardin is the Barangay Captain of Brgy. Felisa, the host of our city’s open dump and future sanitary landfill. I take Councilor Jardin’s affirmative vote as a plea to her fellow councilors that the city must be more mindful of how garbage is managed, otherwise her home barangay will suffer. Don’t the seven councilors care about the people of Felisa? Councilor Ang, the author of the ordinance, chairs the Social Services Committee and giving citizens a clean and healthy society is a fundamental service that must be delivered for fear of disease, displacement due to disaster and death. Councilor Ang also chairs the Committee on Gender and Development and time and again, barangay women’s groups have proven themselves the best program implementers. So, how could the seven councilors not realize that the five who voted YES represented key stakeholders? It’s as if, from the very start, the seven councilors were intent on blasting the ordinance, come hell or high flood water. Which leads me to this observation: All the councilors who voted for the ordinance ran in the party of Mayor Bing Leonardia in 2010. This tells me, the ordinance had the blessings of the Mayor, thank you very much indeed. But can we not, just this once, put personal interest aside, put political affiliation aside and work together as one, for the sake of the environment and our children’s future home? By Alan S. Gensoli Negros Daily Bulletin
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The Bacolod councilors who voted against the passage of the proposed ordinance prohibiting the use of plastic bags, and styrofoam as containers for food, said they will support it if Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang amends it.
Among them was Councilor El Cid Familiaran who said yesterday that he will support it if the necessary amendments are made, adding that he was one of those who voted for it when it was unanimously passed by the City Council on second reading. Ang said she will re-introduce the measure on Wednesday but will separate the issue on the use of plastic bags from that of the styrofoam as containers for food. She said she was deeply disturbed and saddened that, after six months of hard work, four councilors voted against the ordinance and three abstained. Ang said the many Bacoleños who have expressed their disgust on facebook deserve the explanation of those who rejected the proposal. She said these proves that many Bacoleños want plastic bags to be “extinct” like the dinosaurs. Those who voted in favor of the ordinance on third and final reading were Ang, Councilors Caesar Distrito, Homer Bais, Al Victor Espino and Mona Dia Jardin. Those who voted against it were Councilors Sonya Verdeflor, Elmer Sy, Catalino Alisbo and Familiaran, while those who abstained were Councilors Archie Baribar, Dindo Ramos and Carlos Jose Lopez. Familiaran said the proposed ordinance does not totally ban the use of plastic bags since it only prohibits businessmen and vendors from using them, while others are not prohibited, it will not be successful. He said it is only in Bacolod where the use of plastic bags will be banned when the law should be applicable to all. Verdeflor said her negative vote does not mean she is not in favor of banning the use of plastic, but they have apprehensions over some provisions of the ordinance, particularly the banning of plastic polybags. She said that according to the Philippine Association of Supermarkets Inc., these plastic polybags have been tested and certified by the Department of Science and Technology to be biodegradable and are safer to use than other hard paper. Verdeflor said SM and Mercury Drug are using them but Ang, who authored the ordinance still opted to have plastic bags totally banned, whether they are biodegradable or non-biodegradable. Verdeflor cited the provision that “those who will misrepresent that their plastic is DOST certified and biodegradable when in truth and in fact it is not, will be penalized.” She said this is part of the proposed national bill of Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that regulates the use of plastics. They suggested to Ang to put the same provision before they pass the ordinance on third and final reading, she added. Verdeflor said Ang decided to totally ban all plastic bags and polybags but not plastic cups, except for styro cups. Ang said in case the Senate Bill of Marcos which allows biodegradable plastic is approved, it will supercede the ordinance. “I am sure the law will have a provision on which government agency will ensure testing facilities to determine if a plastic is biodegradable or not. So in the meantime, that we cannot afford it, we should implement a total ban on plastics,” she said.*CGS\ BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star THE City Council rejected Wednesday the proposed ordinance that will prohibit the use of plastic bags as packaging materials and styrofoam as containers for food in Bacolod City.
Councilor Em Ang, the author of the ordinance, expressed dismay over the outcome of her proposal. "This should have become among the landmark ordinances of the city, considering that plastics greatly contribute to harming human beings and the environment," she said. Five councilors gave their nod to the proposal. They are councilors Caesar Distrito, Homer Bais, Al Victor Espino, Mona Dia Jardin, and Ang. Those who voted against the ordinance were councilors Elmer Sy, Elcid Familiaran, Sonya Verdeflor and Catalino Alisbo. Councilor Bobby Rojas was on leave, while Councilor Keith Manuel Ramos came too late to cast his vote. Councilors Carl Lopez, Archie Baribar and Dindo Ramos abstained. Councilor Ang said the council's failure to pass her proposal will have a negative impact on the environment. "I have worked so hard for this ordinance for five months. I battled for this for five second readings at the council. It should have been timely, considering that the city's sanitary landfill facility will be completed in June and this should have gone together with the city's Solid Waste Management program," she lamented. She said there are so many studies proving that plastics greatly contribute to floods. Of the debris that clogged the waterways during the flood last January, 76 percent was plastics, she added. Familiaran said he would have batted for the proposal if only Ang allowed his suggestions to amend some of its provisions. He clarified that the minutes of the sessions show that he supported the proposal. However, he wanted a total ban on the use of plastics. Familiaran pointed out that while the tile of the proposal states the ban on the use of the plastics, the body of the proposal bans only the use of plastics by department stores and retail stores, not the general public. "If a person resides in Talisay, he cannot buy plastics in Bacolod. But if a Bacolod resident goes to Talisay and buys plastics, he can do so and he will bring it home to Bacolod and use it," he said. The ban should apply to all, including the public, Familiaran added. "How can we monitor the irresponsible disposal of plastics and waste by a sari-sari store in a barangay? We can hardly implement a simple Jay Walking Law." For Councilor Sy, he voted against the bill considering that his business involves the sale of plastics. Councilor Lopez, for his part, explained that his abstention on the said bill stemmed from his absence during the passage of the bill on second reading. As such, on the third reading, he is not allowed to comment anymore but simply vote for or against the ordinance. While he is for the ban on the use of plastics, he said Ang's proposal needs revisions, such as providing an alternative to plastics. (CNC) Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on March 25, 2011. BACOLOD City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan on Monday called the poll protest of a former congressman against Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia as "clownish".
Bayatan likened former congressman Monico Puentevella's case against the incumbent mayor to a "headless chicken" with no direction. He made the comment after the Commission on Election denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Leonardia's camp and granted the petition of Puentevella to conduct a manual counting of the 186 clustered precincts that he protested last year.Puentevella lost to Leonardia in the May 2010 mayoral race. Bayatan said that this is the latest circus where Puentevella would like to subject the precincts where he lost to a manual counting and those precincts that he won should be left untouched. There were 307 clustered precincts in Bacolod City during the May 2010 elections. Leonardia won in 186 precincts with 93,519 votes while Puentevellla won in the 121 clustered precincts garnering 86,258 votes. Leonardia led by a margin of 7,261 votes. After Puentevella lost the political race, he filed a protest and sought a recounting of the clustered precincts where he lost. He claimed there was massive fraud and irregularities in the conduct of the elections. However, the camp of Leonardia countered that if Puentevella is questioning the integrity of the election result, he should also question the victory of his partymates, namely Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, Elmer Sy, Catalino Alisbo and Sonya Verdeflor. “If he is claiming that there was massive fraud, is he also implying that those councilors under the MONOPAL who were victorious in the last elections also committed fraud or was their victory a result of a massive fraud?,” Bayatan asked. Leonardia’s camp believed that it was a clean and honest election, as the poll automation seeks to address elimination of fraud. Leonardia said that he will let his lawyers take care of the legality of the protest. He said he will only concentrate in doing his work for the city. The mayor said the protest aim to distract him but he said that he will never allow it to bother him. He said Puentevella has the tendency to file a protest every time he loses in an election. Lawyer Maphilindo Polvora, Leonardia's counsel, said he will appeal the Commission on Elections latest decision soon. Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on March 22, 2011. TIGHT ROPEWITH MODESTO P. SA-ONOY
First let me congratulate the eight seminarians of the Sacred heart Seminary in Bacolod for completing their Philosophy studies. They received their Ecclesiastical and Civil Diplomas from Bishop Vicente M. Navarra who presided over the ceremonies yesterday. The graduates are: Christian Jun Louie R. Llorca, Tyrone B. Ravina, Joel C. Tambuson, Ryan Raul J. Mabasa, Ritchel A. Tabanyag, Jefree C. Gabalonso, John Rey D. Piaña, and John Gilbert T. Sa-onoy. They will now move on to Theology for another 4 years of study and then to their diaconate and finally, the priesthood. * * * Bacolod Councilor Archie Baribar wrote (3/15) regarding my column (3/10) on the confirmation of Dr. Johanna Bayoneta with a snide remark “a relative?” as if the comments I made was motivated by my being her “relative.” I know her since she was a student as well as her father and mother, but I went through our genealogy which dates back to 1820 and I have not seen any of the Rabago or Bayoneta there. Anyway, I am related to her tracing back to Adam and Eve and surely we share the DNA of a human species. I don’t know if Baribar shares the same genetic code or he has a different one from our species. Baribar said that there is no position in the Bacolod City College for an Administrator but only a President. Well, is there also a prohibition that an administrator cannot be appointed? What do they say in law? What the law does not exclude specifically cannot be deemed excluded, isn’t it, or whatever legalese they use? If the Board of the college recommended her, surely they are not foolish. They did not recommend her for President with its qualifications, but administrator with the qualifications they believe are proper. So what is Baribar beefing about? Baribar claims the appointment is illegal, then, by all means it his duty to bring the matter to court not whine under the guise of “courtesy.” If courtesy be his parameter then he is not doing his duty in insuring that issues in debate in the council are discussed with thoroughness and a wise and legal decision is made. If courtesy is the yardstick, why whine about the SP action being illegal? He noted that like them (with Sonya Verdeflor and Catalino Alisbo) the majority voted “along party direction.” Is that not expected? What are political parties for? Of course, Baribar probably does not believe in it since he keeps on jumping from one party to another whichever is convenient for his political ambitions. Political parties discuss issues and come out with common or united stand. I wonder whether Baribar’s group discussed this issue and voted along party lines because he did not mention Councilor El Cid Familiaran, to have voted with them. I would have enjoyed commenting on his other points, but as he admits he wants to avoid “petty politics.” Nevertheless, If the SP action is illegal, is that just petty politics? * * * By all means let the protest of the Monico Puentevella who lost in last year’s election for mayor proceed. His protest which seeks to annul the election returns must have some merit in it that the Commission on Election has given it due course. Puentevella alleged “massive fraud and irregularities from the casting, counting and transmission of the votes” that can only be attributed to the Board of Election Inspectors. Mayor Evelio Leonardia claims that the protest of Puentevella is a “sham, unmeritorious and lacks factual and legal basis.” Puentevella, of course claims otherwise and thus the issue is joined and must be resolved with finality lest the sword of uncertainty will hang over Leonardia’s head and that of his administration and we will never hear the end of the conflict and confusion. That Comelec finds it worthwhile to order a recount, then Comelec must have a basis so let the game continue that we may have something more to watch than the tragedies that are being inflicted on people in various parts of the globe, from natural to man-made disasters and we can keep our minds off the daily rising prices of commodities. Surely the recount can be done in a day because it must be computerized as during the elections, using the same machines but by a new set of inspectors, counting all the votes, not only those precincts to be chosen by Puentevella because he claims cheating in all the 307 or clustered precincts. If there was cheating in all, then all the votes must be counted, not just what Puentevella wants.* Visayan Daily Star The National Housing Authority has committed a substantial amount to help Bacolod City fund the development of the new relocation site in Brgy. Granada that it had bought from the Arao family, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday.
Leonardia said NHA general manager Chito Cruz asked him during a meeting in Manila if the city is willing to give the police facilities in the area. He said his priority are the Bacoleños because it would be unfair to give lots for housing to other people who are not from Bacolod especially since the property was bought by the city. Leonardia said he is negotiating with Cruz if NHA could increase the fund it is allocating for developing the new relocation site of Bacolod. The new relocation site is also one of the areas being eyed for the Social Development Center because the size of the lot is quite substantial, Leonardia said. Even the Philippine National Police has asked the city, through former Tarlac Rep. Margarita Cojuangco, to put the PNP Training Center there, he said. Leonardia said their technical men are studying the possibility of converting some areas in the (Arao) property that was initially for a relocation site. “Personally, I am open to the idea of using some of the areas for this purpose because, in the end, the dynamics of things in that property will also be enhanced if there are other institutions there that can help stimulate economic activities in the area,” he said. He will consult other city officials on the matter, he added. “Overall, if we have to give part of the lot for that, I believe that we have a substantial number of lots to fill the immediate needs of our people,” Leonardia said. He said the new relocation site has a development plan but it can be revised if they have to accommodate others. The first phase of the property is now ready to accommodate about 500 qualified informal settlers of the city by the second quarter of the year. Meanwhile, Leonardia said he was also able to talk to Florentino España of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation and they are going to thoroughly study the possibility of putting up medium rise buildings for Pag-Ibig members since the city has properties at the reclamation area. “The housing needs of our people have no end. If we make plans, at least we can start to address this problem,” he said. Earlier the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution requesting Vice President Jejomar Binay to consider Bacolod policemen and women and homeless city employees for housing program under the President’s Social Fund. Authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, the resolution said there is now an opportunity for low-paid police personnel and government employees to have their own homes under the administration though the P7 billion President’s Social Fund.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star A resolution requesting Vice President Jejomar Binay to consider Bacolod policemen and women and homeless city employees for a housing program under the President’s Social Fund, was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.
Authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, the resolution said there is now an opportunity for low-paid police personnel and government employees to have their own homes under the administration though the P7 billion President’s Social Fund. It said the President gave Binay, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chairman, an initial P2 billion and he has tasked every local government unit to identify 5-hectares of land to accommodate 500 houses, it added. Meanwhile, the SP also passed a resolution reiterating a previous request to the Office of the City Mayor to give priority to the immediate need of the Bacolod City Police Office-Women and Children’s Protection Desk for a service vehicle for the effective discharging of their functions. Authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, the resolution said the BCPO-WCPD is still borrowing vehicles to undertake the various duties and responsibilities of their office.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star THE Bacolod City Council on Thursday passed a resolution requesting the Office of Building Officials to inspect buildings in the city and come up with written report regarding the stability of these buildings.
Councilor El Cid Familiaran, author of the resolution, said the earthquake in Japan was an awakening to most countries around the world to consider their earthquake disaster preparedness program. The countries that are prone to earthquake are along the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire” and that is exactly where Japan and the Philippines are located, he said. While the national government thru Congress is in the state of reviewing an earthquake disaster preparedness program, the same challenge is posed to the City of Bacolod as it brings to the fore the condition of the buildings in the city. He said there is a need for the City Government to objectively determine the strength of the structures and buildings located in the city to be properly guided in its action, he stressed. A school official here cited the empowerment of women in various sectors of society that is especially increasingly felt in cooperatives.
Barangay Handumanan National High School principal Dennis Develos observed that women today have become backbones of many thriving cooperative organizations in the country as they are in the school’s very own. During the recent board of directors meeting of the MRRP National High School Teachers’ and Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Develos lauded the efforts of women as they honor the top ten women cooperators-contributors for bringing into the cooperative substantial amount of money as its working capital. Bacolod Councilor El Cid Familiaran expressed elation on the achievements of the group and urged them to remain united in their goals. He said political leaders should help cooperatives grow because their success promotes the welfare not only of its members, but also of the community. Chairperson Renato Monteclaro told PIA that with good financial standing, they are now ready to renew their rediscounting line with the Land Bank of the Philippines with the hope to get an approval of P5 million. He called on the members to continue to be active and take part in the organization’s activities so that they are constantly aware of its status. He further encouraged them to invest their time, money and effort to the cooperative to hasten its growth and fulfill its mission to the members and the community. *(JCM/LOL-PIA6) A school official here cited the empowerment of women in various sectors of society that is especially increasingly felt in cooperatives.
Barangay Handumanan National High School principal Dennis Develos observed that women today have become backbones of many thriving cooperative organizations in the country as they are in the school’s very own. During the recent board of directors meeting of the MRRP National High School Teachers’ and Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Develos lauded the efforts of women as they honor the top ten women cooperators-contributors for bringing into the cooperative substantial amount of money as its working capital. Bacolod Councilor El Cid Familiaran expressed elation on the achievements of the group and urged them to remain united in their goals. He said political leaders should help cooperatives grow because their success promotes the welfare not only of its members, but also of the community. Chairperson Renato Monteclaro told PIA that with good financial standing, they are now ready to renew their rediscounting line with the Land Bank of the Philippines with the hope to get an approval of P5 million. He called on the members to continue to be active and take part in the organization’s activities so that they are constantly aware of its status. He further encouraged them to invest their time, money and effort to the cooperative to hasten its growth and fulfill its mission to the members and the community.*(JCM/LOL-PIA6) Negros Daily Bulletin |
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