THE Bacolod City Council already received the proposed 2016 annual budget of the city as proposed by Mayor Monico Puentevella. The proposed budget amounts to P1.8 billion, with an increase of P250 million from the 2015 annual budget of P1.55 billion. Councilor El Cid Familiaran said the new budget proposal is already with Councilor Roberto Rojas, vice chairman of the committee on finance, and it will then be submitted to the committee chairman, Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella. Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya had earlier said the SP received the mayor’s request Friday, and this will be taken up next week since Councilor Puentevella was not present during the session on Friday. In Puentevella’s budget message to the SP through Gasataya dated October 15, he stated that about 53 percent of the proposed 2016 executive budget will be funded by the Internal Revenue Allotment share of the city while the remaining 47 percent will be taken from the projected income that the city will generate from its tax and non-tax revenue collections. The 43 percent of the proposed budget will finance the city government’s maintenance and other operating expenses, 33 percent for personal services, 15 percent - capital outlay and the rest of the expenses combining to nine percent of the total budget. Incorporated in the annual executive budget is the 20 percent Development Fund. In 2016, Bacolod City is allocating P188,922,827.40, or a 10 percent increase from the P171,613,932.40 fund that was provided in 2015, it said. Among the highlights of this year’s Development Fund are allocations amounting to P38 million for the programs and projects of all 61 barangays in Bacolod City, it added.
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BACOLOD City – Lone district Rep. Evelio R. Leonardia said his Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)-Grupo Progreso is “the real team to beat in the 2016 polls.” “The slate is composed of veteran politicians and proven vote-getters—re-electionists and returnees, new faces, strong sectoral representations, as well as tested leaders,” Leonardia said. The congressman is a former four-term mayor who rose from being No. 1 councilor in 1988 to congressman in 2013. Leonardia said this was the strongest political cast he has assembled in his career. Although the slate is composed mostly of members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, it has representatives from different parties such as the Liberal Party, the Nacionalista Party, and Partido Paglaum. Two of aspirants are running for their last terms in the city council: lawyer and former Sangguniang Kabataan crusader Caesar Distrito (NP) and top Lions International leader Em Ang (NPC). Four of them, including Leonardia, have the distinction of having been elected No. 1 councilor in the past. They are congressional aspirant Greg Gasataya (NPC), vice-mayoralty bet El Cid Familiaran (LP) and former vice-mayor Rene Novero (NPC), who is now running for councilor. As if to prove their vote-getting powers were no fluke, Novero, Gasataya and Familiaran had twice topped the council polls in their own right. Interestingly, five of them used to be with the rival MKK camp: Familiaran, Novero, Elmer Sy, George Zulueta and Marlon Solidum. Five bets on the ticket are returnees to the city council: tourism entrepreneur and former transportation assistant secretary Ricardo “Cano Gwapo” Tan, CPA-lawyer and three-term councilor Dindo Ramos, veteran lawyer Rene Novero, four-term councilor businessman Al Victor Espino, and Elmer Sy of the Sy Group of Companies. Even the five relative newcomers in the slate have proven themselves to be political attractions: Bart Orola, brother of former Congressman John Orola, ended up No. 13 in the last elections and Bacolod City College Alumni Association president Israel Salanga was No. 14 in the last elections. Former Lions Club president Cindy Rojas will replace her husband who won three consecutive terms. Broadcaster Marlon Solidum has a following for his exposés on the Puentevella administration. He is billed as “The Insider," who was once privy to the inner workings of the Puentevella administration. Business executive and professor George Zulueta is identified with the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) and the Montelibano-founded Partido Paglaum. In recognition of the strong Filipino-Chinese political and business clout in the city, four of the candidates are from Chinese clans: Rojas, Tan, Sy, and Ang. “Hindi pa tapos ang laban!” This was stressed by Korina Sanchez-Roxas, as she read the message of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, during the 77th Charter Day celebration of Bacolod City at the SMX Convention Center, yesterday. In his message to the Bacolodnons, Roxas encouraged the people of Bacolod and Negrenses to continue the “Daang Matuwid” of the present administration under President Benigno S. Aquino III and in the coming years under a new leadership. Roxas pointed out the Aquino government’s “Daang Matuwid” has granted programs to the Bacolodnons and Negrenses, citing the 11,000 beneficiaries of 4Ps (conditional cash transfer program) and more than 1.2 million PhilHealth beneficiaries. Roxas claimed the programs help the less fortunate fight for their chances to reach their dreams in life. Roxas also cited Bacolod as one of the top 100 Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) destinations in the world. “This industry will further prosper in the years to come under the same slogan,” Roxas said. Roxas added the present administration also granted the unity of two Negros provinces now proclaimed as Negros Island Region (NIR). “The Negrenses will continue to progress as they welcome a new beginning,” he assured. Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella expressed his gratitude to all the people behind this year’s successful MassKara Festival. “To God be the glory!” Puentevella exclaimed. Puentevella claimed that the city of Bacolod will not just be a booming city but will exceed the expectations of the people should his political party win the election next year. He assured the people of more projects and programs that will benefit the Bacolodnons. Joining the celebration were Councilors Archie Baribar, Roberto “Bobby” Rojas, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Claudio Jesus Raymundo “Kalaw” Puentevella, Em Ang, Ana Marie Palermo, Sonya Verdeflor, Caesar Distrito, El Cid Familiaran, Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr., Alex Paglumotan, and Noli Villarosa./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino It is the genuine "powerhouse team," says Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia of his Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) - Grupo Progreso, the team to beat in the 2016 polls. The slate is composed of veteran politicians and proven vote-getters, re-electionists and returnees, new faces, strong sectoral representations, as well as tested leaders, Leonardia said in a press release from his office yesterday. Himself a former four-term mayor who started as No. 1 councilor in 1988 became vice mayor, mayor and congressman in 2013, Leonardia said this was the strongest political cast he has ever assembled in his career. Although the slate is composed mostly of members of the Nationalist People's Coalition, it has representatives from different parties such as the Liberal Party, the Nacionalista Party, and Partido Paglaum, the press release said. Two of them are running for their last terms in the city council: lawyer and former Sangunian Kabataan crusader Caesar Distrito (NP) and top Lions International leader Em Ang (NPC). Four of them, including Leonardia, have the distinction of having been elected No. 1 councilor in the past. They are congressional aspirant Greg Gasataya (NPC), vice mayoralty bet El Cid Familiaran (LP)] and former vice mayor Rene Novero (NPC) now running for councilor. As if to prove their vote-getting powers were no fluke, Novero, Gasataya and Familiaran had twice topped the council polls in their own times, the press release added. Interestingly, five of them used to be allied with rival MKK camp: Familiaran, Novero, Elmer Sy, George Zulueta and Marlon Solidum, it also said. Five on the ticket are returnees to the city council: Tourism entrepreneur and former Transportation Assistant Secretary Cano “Gwapo” Tan, CPA-lawyer 3-term councilor Dindo Ramos, veteran lawyer Renecito Novero, businessman and 4-term councilor Al Victor Espino, and Elmer Sy of the Sy Group of Companies. Even the five relatively newcomers in the slate have proven themselves political attractions: Bart Orola, brother of former Rep. John Orola, ended up No. 13 in the last elections, and Bacolod City College Alumni Association president Israel Salanga was No. 14 in the last elections, while former Lions Club president Cindy Rojas is filling up her husband's seat which he has consistently won for three consecutive terms. Broadcaster Marlon Solidum has a following for his exposes on the Puentevella administration. He is billed as “The Insider," who was once privy to the inner workings of the Puentevella administration. Business executive and professor George Zulueta is identified with the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) and the Montelibano-founded Partido Paglaum. As a recognition of the strong Fil-Chinese political and business clout in the city, four of the candidates come from Chinese clans: Rojas, Tan, Sy, and Ang. All Grupo Progreso candidates have established political, business and professional bases with large followings.* THE two protagonists in the city's mayoralty race have a common denominator. Both Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella and Rep. Evelio Leonardia have lost former allies who bolted their respective camps. Puentevella's loss, however, was not as a big as Leonardia's. Though, by comparison, the situation is almost similar at "3 and 3." Former City Administrator Rolando Villamor and Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Archie Baribar used to be allies of Puentevella. They are now running either as independent or under the rival party, the Grupo Progreso (GP). Familiaran who seeks the vice mayoralty post is Leonardia's running mate while independent bets Baribar and Villamor are hoping to replace Leonardia as lone district congressman. Practically, it's only Familiaran who crossed the "enemy line" to join the competitor. The same couldn't be said of Baribar and Villamor who, despite a falling out with Puentevella's MKK (Magbinuligay Kita Sa Kauswagan), have yet to declare war with the latter group. This means that they may or they may not campaign against the re-electionist mayor. More so, except for Familiaran who now belongs to GP, Baribar and Villamor have not endorsed any candidate for mayor. Differently positioned are Leonardia's original allies who opted for a coalition with Puentevella. Former Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who is running for congressman under the National Unity Party-MKK ticket, has brought former Councilor Homer Bais to the coalition. Re-electionist Councilor Alex Paglumotan aligned with the MKK group several months after the 2013 polls. All three haven't only formalized their union with Puentevella but have vowed to campaign for the latter's re-election. Having said that, their supporters are expected to augment the throng of Puentevella followers, which makes the team even stronger and difficult to beat. Aside from being popular as a well-mannered and easy-to-like politician, Sayson has the support of one of the most sought-after clans in the city. The family alone can deliver thousands of votes to whoever they would support. This is where the "winning factor" lies. Five-corner fight As more candidates battle for a single post, the winning number of votes, naturally, lowers. With five bets vying for the city's congressional seat, pundits are saying that anybody who gets 35 percent of the total votes cast (from the more than 260,000 Bacolod voters) will win the contest. This means that if there will be 80 percent turnout, or about 210,000 votes, the winning candidate would only need to get 35 percent of it or a little over 70,000 votes. But considering the fact that all five candidates are strong contenders, the winning number may even become lower, depending on the actual number of votes cast and how the other candidates would perform at the polls. This situation would favor those with existing organizations and enough resources. Talking about organization, Sayson and Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya are ahead of the other aspirants. Sayson has the MKK while Gasataya has GP. Of the two, it's Sayson who has the southern bailiwick and this puts him at an advantage. However, Baribar and Villamor are also enjoying the organizational support of the progressive bloc though their rivalry is seen to split their mass base. When it comes to resources, it's Councilor Carl Lopez who has the upper hand. The richest public official Bacolod ever had, Lopez has more than P400 million worth of assets and spending only a quarter of it may already send him to the Congress. Indeed, the congressional race, just like the mayoralty battle between Puentevella and Leonardia, will be very tough. By ROMY NIERE THE Bacolod City Council created a joint committee to study the request of Mayor Monico Puentevella to grant him authority to dispose the property located at the corners of Rizal Street, Road Lot 4, Burgos Street, and Reclamation Area -- the area where the Manokan Country stands. The joint committee is composed of Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, chairman of the council committee on laws, ordinances and good government; Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the council committee on assets; Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the council committee on urban poor, housing and resettlement; and Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, chairman of the council committee on markets and slaughterhouse. Distrito said the committee will call for a hearing and study on the proposal and the various documents submitted by the City Mayor’s Office relative to the appraisal of the lot submitted by the Appraisal Committee. He said the hearing will also answer several questions such as: What is the necessity of selling the property? Does it have an approval from the Commission on Audit? What will happen to the squatters? How much is the actual price of selling the property? In his letter to the City Council dated October 13, Puentevella said that on January 22, he received an unsolicited proposal from SM Prime Holdings offering to purchase the lot under Transfer Certificate of Title 55866 with an area of 17,783 square meters, purposely for developing the property into an integrated shopping complex with transport terminal, a hotel and an improved Manokan Country. "The proceeds of the sale will be utilized to improve health and security services for the city, rehabilitation of relocation areas, and to provide solutions for decongestion of our city streets," Puentevella’s letter added. SM offered to buy the property in an unsolicited price of P20,500 per square meter, as the property is fronting SM City Bacolod. But as a matter of procedure, the City Mayor’s Office formed a City Appraisal Committee headed by acting City Assessor Rommel de la Cruz, and members City Engineer Belly Aguillon and City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe to assess the appraised value of the property. According to Appraisal Committee, the market value of the property is P21,200 per square meter. The Appraisal Committee also observed that the property is not being properly utilized and the City Government is losing money because of it. Based on the data gathered by the Appraisal Committee, there are 26 stalls occupied in the area, but only three have Mayor’s Permit to operate their business. As of March 2015, unpaid rentals amounted to P6,574,721.64. (CNC) BACOLOD City – Is there a necessity to sell the property where the Manokan Country is located? The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) created a joint committee to answer this and study the request of Mayor Monico Puentevella to grant him authority to dispose the property on the corner of Rizal Street, Road Lot 4, Burgos Street, Reclamation Area where the Manokan Country is situated. On Jan. 22, 2015, the mayor received an unsolicited proposal from SM Prime Holdings offering to purchase the lot under Transfer Certificate of Title No. 55866 with an area of 17,783 square meters. SM plans to develop the property into an integrated shopping complex with a transport terminal, a hotel and an improved Manokan Country. The property is fronting SM City Mall-Bacolod. “The proceeds of the sale will be utilized to improve health and security services, rehabilitation of relocation areas and provide solutions to the congestion of our city streets, Puentevella told the SP. SM offered to buy the property at P20,500 per square meter. As a matter of procedure, the City Mayor’s Office formed a City Appraisal Committee headed by City Assessor’s Office in-charge Rommel de la Cruz. The members were City Engineer Belly Aguillon and City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe. Based on its “highest and best use”, the committee assessed the property’s market value at P21,200 per square meter. It also noted that the property was not being properly utilized and that the city government was losing money on it. Of the 26 operating stalls in the property, only three have mayor’s permits as of March 2015, and the unpaid rentals amounted to P6,574,721.64. According to Councilor Caesar Distrito, the SP decided to form a joint committee led by Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, chairman of the committee on laws, ordinances and good government. The members are Distrito, chairman on the committee on assets; Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman, committee on urban, poor housing and resettlement; and Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, chairman of the committee on markets and slaughterhouse. The joint committee will call for a hearing and study SM’s proposal and various documents submitted by the mayor’s office. The hearing will also seek answers to questions such as: Does the proposed sale need the Commission on Audit’s approval? What will happen to the squatters there? How much does the property cost?/PN BY MAE SINGUAY A joint committee was formed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to study the request of Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella for authority to dispose of a property where the Manokan Country is located. The property is located at the corners of Rizal Street, Road Lot 4, and Burgos Street in the Reclamation Area. Earlier, Puentevella had sent a letter-request to the city council informing them about an unsolicited proposal from SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) offering to purchase the lot under Transfer Certificate of Title No. 55866 with an area of 17,783 square meters, purposely for developing the property into an integrated shopping complex with transport terminal, a hotel, and an improved Manokan Country. In his letter-request dated October 13, Puentevella said the proceeds of the sale will be utilized to improve health and security services of the city, rehabilitate relocation areas, and to provide solutions to traffic problems in the city, if such will be granted. Earlier, SMPHI has offered to buy the property, in an unsolicited price amounting to P20,500 per square meter. However, it has not been pushed through yet, pending the assessment of the appraisal value of the property by the City Appraisal Committee (CAC) created through the Office of the City Mayor (CMO). Based on their assessment, the market value of the property is at P21,200 per square meter. Further, the CAC, based on the data they’ve gathered, cited there are 26 stalls occupying the area but only three have their Mayor’s Permit to operate, as of March 2015. They said the property is not being properly utilized and that the city government is losing money due to unpaid rentals amounting to P6,574,721.64. According to Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the SP Committee on Assets, the joint committee is led by Councilors Ana Marie Palermo, chairperson of the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government; El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the SP Committee on Urban Poor, Housing and Resettlement; Carl Lopez, chairman of the SP Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse; and himself. Distrito said the joint committee will call for a committee hearing to study the proposal and various documents submitted by the CMO relative to the appraisal of the lot furnished by the CAC. The city council can discuss the possibilities and solutions in a committee hearing, before giving a final resolution to the request of Puentevella, Distrito added./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod created a joint committee to study the request of Mayor Monico Puentevella for authority to dispose of the property located at the corners of Rizal Street, Road Lot 4, Burgos Street, Reclamation Area, Bacolod City where the Manokan Country is situated. In his letter to the SP dated October 13, Puentevella said that on January 22, he received an unsolicited proposal from SM Prime Holdings offering to purchase the lot under Transfer Certificate of Title No. 55866 with an area of 17,783 square meters, purposely for developing the property into an integrated shopping complex with transport terminal, a hotel and an improved Manokan Country. Puentevella said the proceeds of the sale will be utilized to improve health and security services for the city, rehabilitation of relocation areas and to provide solutions to help decongest city streets. SM has offered to buy the property at an unsolicitated price of P20,500 per square meters as the property is in front of SM City- Bacolod. The City Mayor's Office formed the City Appraisal Committee headed by acting City Assessor Rommel de la Cruz with members composed of City Engineer Belly Aguillon and City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe to assess the appraised value of the property. According to the Appraisal Committee the assessment of the market value of the property based on its highest and best use is P21,200 per square meters. It also observed that the property is not being properly utilized and that the City Government is losing money. Based on the data it gathered out of the 26 stalls being occupied, only three have Mayor's Permit to operate their business as of March 2015, while unpaid rentals amounted to P6,574,721.64. Bacolod Councilor Caesar Distrito said that the SP, after discussions on the request of Puentevella, decided to form the joint committee led by Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, chairman Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government together with himself as chairman of the Committee on Assets; Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman Committee on Urban, Poor Housing and Resettlement; and Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, chairman of the Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse. Distrito said they will call for a committee hearing and study the proposal and the various documents submitted by the City Mayor's Office relative to the appraisal of the lot. He said the hearing will also answer several questions such as what is the necessity of selling the property and where the proceeds will go. They also want to know what process should be followed and if this has an approval from the Commission on Audit; what will happen to the tenants and squatters, and how much is the actual price of the property to be sold, and whether the appraisal of the appraisal committee is considered reasonable, Distrito said. These questions need to be resolved by the four committees but the committee of Palermo will decide on the matter, he said.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO It will be a six-cornered fight in the congressional race in Bacolod City for the May 2016 local and national elections. Those who filed their certificates of candidacy for congressman were Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya of the Nationalist People's Coalition, Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez of the Liberal Party, Jude Thaddeus Sayson of the National Unity Party, and running as independent candidates are City Administrator Rolando Villamor, Councilor Archie Baribar and Joel David Enriquez. Sayson, Baribar and Villamor are allies of Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella of the MKK Partido Bacolod, while Gasataya and Lopez are allies of Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia. Leonardia - NPC, Puentevella - NUP and Wilfredo David – independent, are running for mayor of Bacolod, while Councilor El Cid Familiaran - Liberal Party, and businessman Vladimir Gonzalez – NUP, are both running for vice mayor. Villamor and Baribar said they have no grudge against Puentevella, while Lopez said he has no ill-feelings against Leonardia. MKK Partido Bacolod only knew of the Villamor's plan to file his candidacy for congressman last night, a press statement from the group said. “We respect his decision. The group will fully support Sayson as our congressional candidate. We are all for congressman Thaddy, Mayor Monico, vice mayor Vladi, and all the councilors of MKK,” it said. Sayson said he will be with Puentevella up to the very end. In 2013 he was defeated by Puentevella in the mayoralty race. Lopez said he still loves Grupo Progreso and supports Leonardia and Familiaran and other candidates who also support the Liberal Party. He said his edge over other candidates is his connection in national offices which resulted to more projects for Bacolod. He saw that he can help Bacolod City more if he holds a national office especially in Congress. Lopez said he was also chosen by President Benigno Aquino, Roxas and vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo to be the lone district representative of Bacolod since they have the same objective which is to fight graft and corruption in government. When asked why he did not join the party of Puentevella, Baribar said ”I hear a different beat of the drums. I feel this is now the time when I should continue what I have started in 2004. I have a choice. If I am not taking this as an option, I can still pursue my own.” Baribar said he thanked Puentevella for reserving a place for him. He believes it is a kind gesture from the mayor. It would have been a better position if he was asked to run for congressman, he said. “But my fate is not defined by other people. I define my own fate,” he added. Villamor said he is just fully exercising his constitutional right of suffrage – the right to vote and to be voted upon. He just wants to pursue his objective to seek a higher officer after having been elected as councilor and had served as acting mayor and acting City Legal Officer. He said he also filed for forced leave up to October 26. But he was informed by Bacolod Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia that he is deemed resigned from his post as City Administrator after filing his COC. Villamor said he already informed Puentevella that he will file his COC. The mayor did not offer him any position in his slate. This is his free will to run for congressman, he said. Meanwhile, the 27 candidates for councilor are Allan Arroyo, Wilson Gamboa Jr. ,Dr. Francis Balzomo, Sonya Verdeflor, Lorney Lizander Dilag, Alex Paglumotan, Arnel Sigue, Homer Bais, Claudio Puentevella, Jocylin Uychiat, Ana Marie Palermo, Catalino Alisbo, Rico Ferdinand William Villafuerte, Ricardo “Cano” Tan, Al Victor Espino, Bartolome Orola Sr., Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero, Israel Salanga, George Zulueta, Marlon Solidum, Caesar Distrito, Elmer Sy, Em Ang, Dindo Ramos, Ronnie Albao, and Jose Godfrey Perares.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star October 17,2015 sgg |
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