A resolution requesting the Commission on Elections to extend the registration week of Persons with Disabilities and make it a month-long activity was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.
The resolution said the registration of PWD’s, slated on June 18 to 23, should be extended to give more time for the PWD’s to register in malls, and to disseminate the matter for wider information. It also said some of them need to be assisted to go to registration centers and the time given by the COMELEC is not enough. The resolution was authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito and co-authored by Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Em Legaspi-Ang, and Al Victor Espino. The SP also passed on third and final reading Wednesday an ordinance amending Chapter VII, Section 48 of City Ordinance No. 160, Series of 1996, or an Ordinance approving the Revised Market Code of Bacolod City, which amends C.O. 539 or the Market Code of Bacolod City. The Ordinance, which provides a separate trust fund for each public market, was authored by Distrito and co-authored by Familiaran. The SP passed also, on third and final reading, an ordinance establishing the responsibility of dog-owners, requiring enclosures or fenced-in yards as a preventive measure against the occurrence of rabies injury, damage and other hazards, authored by Familiaran and Co-authored by Councilors Roberto Rojas, Mona Dia Jardin and Carlos Jose Lopez.*CGS CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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THE councilors of Bacolod City expressed their respective stands on the boycott being undertaken by sugar industry stakeholders against Coca-Cola products.
Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito expressed its 100 percent support to the cry of the sugar industry players against Coca Cola. He said he is even practicing the boycott of Coke products until the beverage company buys Negros-produced sugar, stop its importation of premix sugar and compensate those affected especially the workers. “I cannot imagine any Negrosanon not to be sympathetic to this cause, as this is our economic backbone. It is not a question about profit or cost efficiency, but a question of following the law. Their act is a slap to all of us,” declared Distrito. Meanwhile, City Councilor Sonya Verdeflor said that the boycott will not result to industrial peace. “Both sectors represent the lives and the future of thousands of our people, thus hurting either one of them could have adverse effects at a level that we might not be able to control. The best solution would still be for the major stakeholders to go back to negotiating table,” Verdeflor said. On the other hand, Councilor El Cid Familiaran said that, in fair competition, one can’t impose or dictate the public to patronize its products. “Just offer your customers the best and reasonable price,” he said. He believes that the sugarcane farmers and planters should direct their protest to President Aquino or to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and ask them not to allow the entry of premix sugar in the market. For his part, Councilor Carl Lopez said that the authorities should investigate the accusations and take immediate action. The call for boycott of Coca Cola products stemmed from the alleged non-purchase by Coke of the locally produced sugar. Instead, the beverage company imported premix sugar, which was later found to contain more than 99 percent sugar. In a related development, Confed director Jose Luis Tonggoy wondered if Coca-Cola buys and uses premixes because it is cheaper than the sugar produced locally. "Why is it that the cost of its products is not cheap?" "An eight-ounce Coke has 27 grams of sugar and the cost of sugar per gram is four-centavos or P1.08 per one bottle of Coke. Why is it that they sell their products at a high cost, considering that it incurred much savings in using premix sugar?” Tongoy asked. Coca Cola started buying premix sugar in 2010 with the issuance of Executive Order No. 850, which allows entry of premix sugar tariff free. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod THE Bacolod City Council passed the amendments to the city's Market Code.
Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito, chairman of the committee on markets and slaughterhouse, authored the ordinance and co-authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran. City Ordinance 160 or the Market Code of Bacolod City, was amended because the trust fund as provided in the ordinance is not enough to maintain and rehabilitate the public markets. Section 48 was amended in order to have a separate trust fund for each public market and to use the funds solely for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the public markets and not to be used as salaries of casual employees. Councilors Distrito and Familiaran had visited the public markets several times and they have observed that the public markets have not been maintained and are very dirty. The amended ordinance assures that every public market shall have their separate trust funds. In every collection they make, 50 percent will be allocated to the said trust fund which will be for the maintenance of the market where the collection was made. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod An ordinance establishing the responsibility of dog-owners, requiring enclosures or fenced-in yards as a preventive measure against the occurrence of rabies injury, damage and other hazards, was passed on third and final reading Wednesday by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The ordinance said there is a need to address the danger or threat caused by rabies and other possible injuries or damage posed to the public. It also said rabies is an infectious and viral disease considered threatening to the health of the populace. Despite national and local programs to eradicate rabies, it remains among the major menace to health, it added. The ordinance was authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran and co-authored by Councilors Roberto Rojas, Mona Dia Jardin and Carlos Jose Lopez. Meanwhile, a resolution urging all barangays in Bacolod City to conduct declogging and clearing of flood-prones areas, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday. Authored by Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang, the resolution said various parts of the barangays are prone to floods due to the pile up of garbage and other blockades in the canals and sewers. There is a need to protect the health and safety of the people by conducting intensified campaigns against the outbreak of diseases and the prevention of floods, it said.*CGS Visayan Daily Star THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution requesting the Commission on Elections (Comlec) to extend the registration week of persons with disabilities (PWDs) slated on June 18 to 23, 2011.
The resolution said the extension is necessary since most of the PWDs need to be assisted when they go to registration centers. It added that the scheduled timeframe for the registration of PWDs, which is June 18 to 23, is not enough to register a big number of the PWDs. Section 2, (a) of Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, states that "the State should give full support to the improvement of the total well-being of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of society and the State shall adopt policies ensuring the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled persons." "Disabled persons' rights must never be perceived as welfare services by the government," the resolution stated. The resolution was sponsored City Councilors Caesar Distrito, El Cid Familiaran, Em Ang and Al Victor Espino. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod A resolution requesting the General Services Office and the City Engineers Office through the Office of the Mayor, to submit an inventory of government facilities and its usage, including those unused or unoccupied, is being proposed by Councilor Caesar Distrito.
The resolution co-authored by Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Em Legaspi-Ang and Al Victor Espino, said the Bacolod City Government has facilities that are being used by its offices, which were purchased such a long time ago, and there is need to inventory them as well as those that are unused or unoccupied for some time. The inventory will guide the Sangguniang Panlungsod and other departments as to what facilities/equipments that have been purchased a long time ago and are no longer used by the city government, so they can be utilized, it said. Meanwhile, a resolution congratulating the Philippine National Police, National Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, Regional Special Operations Task Force, and City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group, and Bacolod City Police Office for their successful anti-drug operation that resulted in the confiscation of P1 million worth of ecstasy on June 18, 2011, as a big boost to the anti-illegal drugs campaign in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, is being proposed by Distrito. The resolution was also co-authored by Familiaran, Ang and Espino. A resolution declaring June 19-25, 2011 as the Environmental Week, with the theme “Kakahuyan sa Kabukiran kag Karagatan, Manggad Kag Kabuhi sang Katawhan,” is also being proposed by Council Al Victor Espino. The resolution said President Benigno Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 125 on March 15, 2011, to launch the National Year of Forests in the country, in support of the declaration by the United Nations of the year 2011 as the International Year of Forests. “As envisioned by the UN’s declaration of the International Year of Forests, we should undertake a national greening program that would engage the whole citizenry in bringing back the vegetative cover of our uplands, while providing them economic relief;” it said.*CGS CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star THE Bacolod City Council has passed on second reading the proposed ordinance amending Chapter VIII, section 48 of City Ordinance No. 160, Series of 1996 known as “Ordinance approving the revised Market Code of Bacolod City which amends Ordinance No. 539, series of 1995, known as the Market Code of Bacolod City” in its regular session last June 15, 2011.
Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse, authored the ordinance, which was co-authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran.City Ordinance 160, otherwise known as the Market Code of Bacolod City, was amended because the trust fund as provided in the ordinance is not enough to maintain and rehabilitate the public markets.The new ordinance proposed that Section 48 be amended to have a separate trust fund for each public market and to use the funds solely for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the public markets and not to be used as salaries of casual employees. Distrito and Familiaran had visited the public markets several times and they observed that the public markets have not been maintained and are very dirty. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod Tomorrow, June 19, is Father’s Day. It is also Jose Rizal’s 150th (and incidentally my own 79th) birthday.
But let’s put birthdays aside. I want to pay tribute to Fathers. Great fathers make strong and great nations. While mothers provide love, the tenderness, and the care that give the sons emotional security, it is the fathers as bread winners who provide the manly image and values. The ways, the manners, the drive, and the work ethic of the father are always passed on to the son. * * * We don’t have to go far. Look at the local landscape. The business and political leaders we have are sons of great fathers. In business, we have Roseller Ciocon, son of Teofisto Ciocon and Lourdes Concha. He owns and runs L’Fisher Hotel and other businesses. While Teofisto died early, Lourdes provided the love, care, and was an outstanding business entrepreneur herself. J.V. Tampinco, another hotelier, is the son of Raul Tanpinco and Imelda Gonzaga. Raul was a good friend of ours. J.V. runs the many family enterprises. There are many more whose business acumen was handed down by their father. * * * But more interesting are our incumbent political leaders. I have not seen one of their fathers in scandals of their time. They provided a good image and examples to their sons. Most of them were my contemporaries. Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. is the son of the late Provincial Board member Alfredo Marañon Sr. Now, Freddie is father to Congressman Alfredo Marañon III. Mayor Evelio Leonardia is the son of Court of First Instance Clerk of Court the late Jose Leonardia. Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson is the son of my old friend, the late Bacolod Vice-Mayor Jovito Sayson. * * * Among the councilors, Elcid Familiaran is the son of my late friend in media Beneldez Familiaran. Councilor Carlo Lopez is the son of a fellow Sunshine Boy, the late Manolo Lopez. Congressman Anthony Golez is the son of my partner at Sunshine Channel, retired president of big mining firms in Manila, Rolando Golez. Congressman Albee Benitez is the son of a former Cabinet member Jolly Benitez. And Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer is the son of my friend Peding Ferrer of La Carlota. Silay Mayor Oti Montelibano is the son of Freddie Montelibano and his Vice-Mayor Mark Golez is the son of my other friend Jimmy Golez. Talisay Mayor Eric Saratan is the son of my co-teacher at La Salle, Tito Saratan. And his Vice-Mayor Niel Lizares is the son of another friend, Boy Nilo Lizares. Bago Vice Mayor Nico Yulo is the son of a fellow Sunshine Boy Buc-an Yulo. * * * These are only a few I have mentioned because of the limited space. But try going over the names of our elected political leaders, they are the children of great father. This is a challenge to our leaders. If you want your children to follow your footsteps, be careful not to stain the name. I cannot see how an official convicted of corruption or abuse of power can have their children present themselves as candidates with the bad record of their father. Voters will reject them. * * * It is in recognition of the important role of the father that a day was devoted to honor them on the third Sunday of June. It was first celebrated in Spokane, Washington, U.S. in 1910, as a counterpart of Mother’s Day. It is a blessing to be a father. My children are keeping it from me but they have something to surprise me, on my birthday. My son Steve built a Chapel in my farm as his thanksgiving for their prayers after I recovered from my ailment. On my birthday, a day after, it will be consecrated by our Bishop Vicente Navarra with the parish priest of Brgy. Taloc in Bago, Fr. Nonot Mediodia. One requirement of a father is to have their children close to God. * * * For all his achievements, Jose Rizal lacks something. He has not sired a son. He should be happy though, he has great, great, greatgrand nephews in syndicated columnist Johnny Mercado and outstanding local broadcaster Vic Mercado. Rizal is a Mercado, son of Francisco Mercado and Teodoro Alonso. Both Johnny and Vic have depth and substance in the opinion Johnny writes and Vic broadcasts. * * * FEEDBACK: A lady was in a crowded bus, sitting uncomfortably next to a big man. Gathering her wit, she told the man, “Excuse me. But you look like the father of my two sons. Are you not?” The fellow got off the bus in the next bus stop. She became comfortable.* Primo Esleyer Visayan Daily Star The Rotary Club of Bacolod, more known as the Mother Club, marks its 74th Charter Anniversary today.
It is today the oldest civic club in Negros. And being just a year and two days older than Bacolod City, it has been a big participant in the growth of the city. While the Club was chartered June 16, 1937, Bacolod was chartered June 18, 1938. Many Bacolod officials had been officials, too, of the Rotary Club. To mention a few I can remember, the late Rep. Carlos Hilado who stands out to have stayed the longest as charter member until he died in 1992 or some 55 years. The late Bacolod Mayor Vicente Remitio was also president of the Club, like Hilado. Former Congressman Monico Puentevella was president of the Club too. Councilor Elcid Familiaran is past president. Former Bacolod Mayor Digoy Montalvo and Oscar Verdeflor were Club members. And many more. * * * This is my 38th year as a Rotarian, believing in the Rotary motto, “Service above self” and its Four-Way Test which is supposed to guide the life of Rotarians: 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build friendship and goodwill? And 4. Will it be beneficial to all? Rotary was founded by Paul Harris of Chicago in 1905 composed of businessmen and professionals. Meetings were hosted by rotation, hence, its name Rotary. To date, Rotary International has 1,243,527 members worldwide in 33,790 clubs. There are 12 Clubs in Negros alone. Club officers are incumbent president Jonathan Avelino, incoming president is Glenn de Guzman who will take over in July, and president-elect for 2012 – 2013 is Roderick Alba. * * * There are practices in Rotary that I like. In our Club it is the position that seeks the man and not the man seeking the position. You want to be president, render Club services and the members will elect you. You campaign, you will surely lose. I saw this happened many times. Avelino was a good vice-president that he won unopposed. De Guzman has been a hard working officer, just like a good architect that he has been. He won unopposed. In the election last year Roderick Alba, assistant PNP provincial director, was absent. I nominated him. He was unopposed. His wife, Leilani is a past president and now Avelino’s secretary. In our Club, it does not matter if you are past president. If the members want you to serve a lower position, you accept it. Past presidents Familiaran and Nelson Lo are serving as sergeants-at-arms. Avelino’s term has been successful and got awards. He got everybody’s cooperation. Everybody is set to help de Guzman in his term, too. That makes the Club last for 74 years and still getting strong. As long as members are sold to the Rotary motto and ideals there’s no reason it will not get stronger. * * * I have enjoyed my years at Rotary. During my presidency I got an award from Rotary International for my project that Willie Mirano helped me. During its Centennial Year in 2005, together with Willie we got Centennial Award from Rotary International too. My award was my promoting as a media man the ideals of Rotary. The best award I received in my life was from the Rotary Club of Manila. The award was not my being a Rotarian but my being a journalist. They didn’t know I was a Rotarian. Some years ago, the Rotary Club of Manila was giving awards to Manila outstanding columnists, Teodoro Valencia, Max Soliven, Joe Guevarra, Amando Doronila, Teddy Benigno and others. Then in 2000 it gave awards to outstanding publisher (Raul Locsin of Business World), outstanding editor (Letty Jimenez Magsanoc of Inquirer), outstanding broadcaster (Noli de Castro of ABS-CBN, he was not vice-president yet. And me as outstanding provincial journalist. * * * I got a letter I was nominated as outstanding provincial journalist. I was asked to submit 10 consecutive columns up to the time I received the letter. I did and was informed later I won by the chairman of the awards committee Art Panganiban who later became Supreme Court Chief Justice. The beautiful thing was with the award was a P50,000 cash. Since then I have not heard of the Rotary Club of Manila giving an outstanding provincial journalist to another. Of course, the DAILY STAR was also twice a Rotary Club of Manila awardee. Today the Manila Rotary Club doe not give journalism awards any more. But Rotary on its motto of Service Above Self always stands out. * * * FEEDBACK: In Rotary we call fellow members by their first name, unmindful of his position. Thus, Fidel V. Ramos is plain Eddie and Chief Justice Panganiban is plain Art. Before, Rotary did not accept women. Now in may Clubs women outnumber the men.* Primo Esleyer Visayan Daily Star BACOLOD City Councilor El Cid Familiaran urged the sanitary inspection section of the City Health Office to inspect food establishments if they are using iodized salt in compliance with City Ordinance 298, series of 2002.
Familiaran observed that the contribution of food businesses - from ambulant means to food chains – is one of the factors, which fuels Bacolod’s progress and continues to stimulate its economy. With the opening of classes, food business is sure to increase, he added. In recognizing such contribution, the city should in return protect food business as well as its customers, particularly the children or young students who patronize these food items along schools. According to Familiaran, one such protection is to require food providers to use iodized salt for their food products, per City Ordinance 298, series of 2002. Under such ordinance, the Sanitary Inspection Section under the City Health Office is mandated to inspect these food businesses. Iodized salt being required for these food providers contains iodine, which is considered as an essential element that enables thyroid glands to produce (thyroid) hormones for healthy growth, especially for children and young, and likewise to prevent cancer or (thyroid) goiter. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod |
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