The Sangguniang Panlungsod unanimously approved on first, second and third reading yesterday Bacolod City’s 2015 annual budget, amounting to P1.55 billion, which is an increase of P285 million from the 2014 budget.
Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday said those who were not present yesterday were councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Carlos Jose Lopez and Caesar Distrito. He said Lopez is attending a seminar in Manila, Distrito is on official travel, while Batapa-Sigue’s father just passed away. Familiaran said the 2015 annual budget was approved with certain colatillas or conditions. Among the conditions is the provision of funds for ordinances passed last year, including payment of all obligations of the city which include court cases, as requested by Councilor Archie Baribar, he said. Familiaran said councilors Em Ang and Alex Paglumotan suggested that funds also be provided for the terminal leave pay of employees from the previous administration, who have not yet been paid. He has also requested for funds to be provided for the enrollment of all job order casuals in PhilHealth, as mandated by Republic Act 7875, or the Universal PhilHealth Act, Familiaran said. Familiaran said he hopes programs and projects included in the annual budget will be implemented, especially the city’s annual investment plan with the passage of the 2015 budget. The allocations under the 2015 annual budget include: general public services – P804,054,034.20 (52 percent of the total budget); social services sector – P252,162,453 (16 percent); special purpose appropriations – P360,059,553.80 (23 percent). Councilor Claudio Puentevella, chairman of the SP Committee on Finance and Appropriation, said the terminal pay of employees from the previous administration was allocated P10 million and if the mayor has requests, they will allocate additional funds. So they expect that the terminal pay will be paid. Part of the colatilla requires a list of the balance of those who have not been paid, he said. He said they have also considered the suggestion of Ang to provide vehicles to the different departments since they have funds from the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. So they have allocated about P9 million for the different departments and through the decision of Ang, they might have an additional budget, he added. Puentevella said they have allocated P150 million for environmental services intended for one year, which include the expansion of the sanitary landfill operations. With the increase in this year’s budget of P285 million, they expect more projects and programs to be implemented next year, he said. Meanwhile, acting Mayor Greg Gasataya said the contract of EnviroKing Corporation will expire on Dec. 31. Under the contract, the city can extend the services of the private contractor for a certain period of time if the bidding is not yet finished, so garbage collection will not be hampered, he said. Gasataya said the city may also terminate the contract of the private contractor and the Department of Public Services will do the collection of garbage. The budget for environmental services under the City Mayor’s Office was increased from P110 million to P150 million because, based on the explanation of the SP, this will cover garbage collection and other activities related to solid waste management, including the construction of another cell at the sanitary landfill site since the existing facility is about to be filled up within this year, he said. Gasataya recalled that the 2014 budget was approved first week of December, and the contract between the city and Metrowaste Solidwaste was also extended.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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November 24, 2014
To preserve City’s heritage, arts and culture as historical legacy that will continue to remind and inspire us-Bacolodnons, as well as future generations to come, Councilor El Cid Familiaran resolved in the midweek session of the sangguniang panlungsod of Bacolod, to establish a museum and heritage center that will provide a place for memorabilia, artifacts, valued data, treasured heritage books, documents, items and other related items that will enable people and future generations to appreciate the contributions of our past leaders and our history as people of the City. Familiaran said, establishing the Bacolod City Museum and Heritage Center is not only a long over-due institution, but an indispensable edifice to showcase the City’s heritage, arts, culture/ and or cultural exhibits and a soul for its existence. This will not only a museum facility, but will also serve as tourists destination, and other visitors get information about a place and its people, including information about the natural features of the area. Familiaran also resolved that a building at the public plaza as ‘replica of the New Government Center(NGC)’ shall be designated as among the sites and edifices of a City Museum and Heritage Center. An Advisory Body, established under this ordinance shall look other sites/ edifices as possible venues for museum/heritage center. He also said, the Incumbent City Mayor shall designate a Museum/Heritage Center Officer (OIC) and/or his/her assistants until a permanent Officer (with a position of Curator) is appointed and qualified.* SUBMITTED BY EDITH COLMO Negros Daily Bulletin About 200 families in Barangay 35 in Bacolod City who used to be classified as informal settlers recently got the titles to the lots where they are residing.
The families were the latest beneficiaries of residential free patents in Bacolod City from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, provincial officer-in-charge of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, said. “It has been a long process,” said Rep. Evelio Leonardia, who recalled how the residents began working for their lot titles when he was still mayor of the city. The city government then provided them with financial assistance in 2012 so they can process their documents, he said. The residents got their RFP under Republic Act 10023 that gives titles to public lands to those who have actually occupied them for at least 10 years, Gerangaya said. Some 450 families in Barangays 1 and Banago were also issued lot titles by the DENR under similar circumstances when Leonardia was mayor, the CENRO added. Rep. Neri Colmenares assisted in the processing of the Barangay 35 titles and about 100 titles more are still being processed. Present at the distribution of titles organized by Barangay Capt. Maui Huelar were Leonardia, Colmenares, Councilors Carl Lopez and El Cid Familiaran, as well as former Bacolod vice-mayor Thaddy Sayson and former councilor Dindo Ramos.* Visayan Daily Star This is to take care of our cultural heritage. This was stressed by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, who has proposed an ordinance establishing a Bacolod City Museum and Heritage Center. The councilor said there are privately-owned museums and heritage centers in the city, but the local government has yet to establish its own. The replica of the New Government Center (NGC) at the Bacolod Public Plaza is being suggested by Familiaran as the designated site and edifice for the City Museum and Heritage Center. According to Familiaran, the preservation of the city’s heritage, arts, and culture is a must to remind and inspire our people and the future generations to come. The museum and heritage center will be able to provide a place for memorabilia, artifacts, valued data, treasured heritage books, documents, and other related items that would tell people – the young and future generations – the history of their city and their leaders, Familiaran, in his proposal, said. The councilor said the creation of the Bacolod City Museum and Heritage Center is not only long overdue but an indispensable edifice critical for a local government unit. Familiaran said only photos and artifacts shall be allowed for display because the NGC replica has limited space. We can have for display the photos of former vice mayors of the city, former congressmen or senators from the city, he added. Familiaran also revealed he will seek the opinion of the National Historical Commission regarding the name of the museum./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino by WDJ Leave a Comment
This is to take care of our cultural heritage. This was stressed by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, who has proposed an ordinance establishing a Bacolod City Museum and Heritage Center. The councilor said there are privately-owned museums and heritage centers in the city, but the local government has yet to establish its own. The replica of the New Government Center (NGC) at the Bacolod Public Plaza is being suggested by Familiaran as the designated site and edifice for the City Museum and Heritage Center. According to Familiaran, the preservation of the city’s heritage, arts, and culture is a must to remind and inspire our people and the future generations to come. The museum and heritage center will be able to provide a place for memorabilia, artifacts, valued data, treasured heritage books, documents, and other related items that would tell people – the young and future generations – the history of their city and their leaders, Familiaran, in his proposal, said. The councilor said the creation of the Bacolod City Museum and Heritage Center is not only long overdue but an indispensable edifice critical for a local government unit. Familiaran said only photos and artifacts shall be allowed for display because the NGC replica has limited space. We can have for display the photos of former vice mayors of the city, former congressmen or senators from the city, he added. Familiaran also revealed he will seek the opinion of the National Historical Commission regarding the name of the museum./WDJ November 17, 2014 By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino Watchmen Daily Journal |
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