As guest of honor and speaker at the Philippine Independence Day celebration of the Bacolod City government Friday, newly-installed commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army, Col. Francisco Delfin urged everyone to collaborate to attain full freedom and independence.
Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (center) welcomes the newly-installed commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, Phil. Army, Col. Francisco V. Delfin (left), as he paid a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office, yesterday, in the presence of Col. Noel Buan.*(Capitol photo by Richard Malihan) Delfin said, “it is a fact that we have not yet attained full freedom and independence we are hoping for. There are lots of problems we face to address but I believe we will attain it soon if we join hands and collaborate our efforts. Bayanihan is the key to achieve lasting freedom, peace and prosperity.” The celebration was led by City Councilors El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the committee on peace and order, and Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, chairman of the 2015 Independence Day Celebration, themed, “Tagumpay sa Pagbabagong Nasimulan, Abot-kamay na ng Bayan”. Meanwhile, the provincial government of Negros Occidental celebrated the 2015 Philippine indpendence with a flag raising at the provincial capitol attended by provincial officials, various government agencies, academe, NGOs, youths and other organizations. Executive assistant Nestor Bayona read the message of Gov. Alfredo Maranon, Jr. who was in Iloilo with President Benigno Aquino for the celebration. Maranon’s message was: “Our battle for independence continues; the problem of poverty remains in our midst. There is no doubt, however, that if we stay united as a people, together, we would be able to move the country ahead to greater economic heights.” Police Supt. Samuel Nacion, Negros Occ. Provincial Police Director, reiterated the message of PNP Deputy Director General Espina: “The men and women of the PNP who continue to perform their duties with loyalty, dedication and pride are contemporary heroes of our time who share the same vision for a free and just society under an independent, strong and progressive country.”* By: Edith Colmo Negros Daily Bulletin
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SO THE issues in Manokan Country is now reduced to sell or not to sell -- not to collect? I thought the City was just trying to collect back rentals from the tenants. Earlier, Mayor Monico Puentevella argued that majority of the 23 Manokan tenants failed to pay their rentals amounting to P6.5 million.
But in the recent dialog, this suddenly became a non-issue. Mayor Puentevella presented several projects that most likely will be funded by the proceeds of the sale of the Manokan Country property, including plans to purchase new dialysis machines. I find this focus on city projects and purchase of dialysis very confusing. Why is the Mayor Puentevella exploring the sale of the Manokan as the ONLY option? After all, Bacolod Councilor El Cid Familiaran expressed the same concern in a resolution he penned. The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved his measure, concurring with gravity of the plight of the hemodialysis patients in the province and Bacolod. Councilor Familiaran appealed to State agents, requesting assistance from Evelio R. Leonardia of Bacolod City, Julio A. Ledesma of 1st District, Leo Rafael M. Cuevas of 2nd District, Alfredo Benitez of 3rd District, Jeffrey M. Ferrer of 4th District, Alejandro Y. Mirasol of 5th District, Mercedes K. Álvarez of 6th District, Neri J. Colmenares of Bayan Muna Party List, Joseph Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod Party List, Gary C. Alejano of Magdalo Party List, and Roland de la Cruz of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. Familiaran mentioned that 99 hemodialysis patients have petitioned President Benigno Aquino through PhilHealth President Alexander Padilla to increase the hemodialysis coverage from 45 to 90 sessions. Why don't our local legislative and the local chief join hands to look for other State institutions for assistance? Section 11 of the 1987 Constitutions guarantees Filipino citizens that "The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health, and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers." State sources of revenues for health projects come from taxes and non-tax revenues such as fees, fines, and penalties, borrowings as proposed by Puentevella's arch enemy, Cong. Evelio Leonardia. Then, of course, as Ms Tutor pointed out, the Department of Health, City Health Office, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and other foundations take care of the needs of those patients who undergo dialysis. I know of pauper patients who have accessed Pagcor funds for their hospitalization and medical bills. I would have too in 2009 if my health benefits and voluntary contributions for my recovery proved inadequate. This time, I have to agree with Manokan Country Vendors Association Treasurer Rosario Tutor who questioned why they should be the sacrificial lambs to finance the health care program for those with kidney problems. But perhaps, this could partially answer Ms Tutor's question. The City Government's debt with the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital has ballooned to P15 million. The P15-million debt covered unpaid bills from January 2015 to this month, and part of bills unpaid in 2014 that the Bacolod local government promised to shoulder. So if the tenants settle their arrears of P6.5 million, their payment could lead to the diminution of Bacolod's outstanding account payable to the regional hospital. That could lead to a win-win situation for the tenants, the customers, and the city government. I'm beginning to suspect that this is not even about dialysis machines and health projects. The national and local elections are just a heartbeat away. By BENEDICTO Q SANCHEZ Sun.Star Bacolod SP APPROVES CCTV INSTALLATIONS IN SCHOOLS; POLICE TO FOLLOW CHECK POINT RULES AS CLASSES BEGIN6/1/2015 To monitor the activities of school children, the sangguniang panlungsod of Bacolod City approved in Wednesday’s session, (May 27) the resolution authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, to install CCTV in public schools. He said, schools that were prioritized in CCTV installations are the Bacolod City National High School, Sum-ag National High School, Granada National High School, and at Singcang Airport National High School.
These schools are given priority considering the volume of students enrolled. We will see to it that the CCTV be installed upon opening of classes, Familiaran said. On the other hand, the sangguniang panlungsod also approved the resolution of councilor Caesar Distrito for the police to follow or observe when conducting checkpoints. He said, City Ordinance 547 series of 2011, provides the necessary things to be done by law enforcers and by the citizens during the conduct of checkpoints. However, he said, it has been observed that several checkpoints conducted in the City are not compliant with City Ordinance No. 547, series of 2011.* Negros Daily Bulletin |
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