Several business groups in Bacolod City will file a separate appeal before the Department of Justice next week asking for the review of the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City.
Ben Ortega, president of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, yesterday said they are filing a separate appeal from that of Puentevella, since they are an apolitical group. He said they do not want people to think that this was initiated by somebody else but it is just their duty to protect their members and customers. Earlier, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella filed a 75-page appeal before the DOJ asking the Secretary of Justice to declare the Bacolod Revenue Code as illegal and of no force and legal effect. Ortega said that during their dialog with the city officials Thursday, they agreed to form committees that will revisit the computation of the new tax rates, which they feel is too high. Their committee will meet with the retailers and wholesalers group tentatively on February 2 at the BFCCCI building, he said. Frank Carbon, president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they will meet with Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson today, who was designated by the mayor to represent the city, for the review of the new tax rates. He said that, in their first meeting today, they will prepare the parameters and mechanics on how to go about the review. They hope to resolve the matter in 30 days, he added. Diego Malacad said he will also file a 16-page petition against the exorbitant collection of taxes before the DOJ in behalf of the Federation of Bacolod City Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association. In their petition, they will ask the DOJ to direct the city to revert back to the 2011 tax rates since the new rates are too heavy, he said. If there are any increases in taxes, it should be reasonable, he added. The Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center urged Bacolod City taxpayers not to pay their taxes as a sign of protest against the New Revenue Code of Bacolod that increased high tax tariff affecting not only businessmen but also ordinary Bacoleños and Negrenses, in a press statement issued to the DAILY STAR. The group also called on Bacoleños, businessmen and ordinary tax payers to unite by launching a mass protest in any form to stop the implementation of the New Tax Ordinance of Bacolod City. Meanwhile, Puentevella, in his 75-page, complaint titled “Rolling Hills Memorial Park, Inc. versus the City of Bacolod and Evelio Leonardia,” in his capacity as mayor of Bacolod, claimed that the publication, posting and hearing requirements for tax ordinances as required under the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations were disregarded and not complied with. Puentevella said he is blaming the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, who hurriedly passed the tax ordinance, except for Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, Sonya Verdeflor, Elmer Sy and Catalino Alisbo who did not support it. Leonardia said it is more appropriate that the businessmen themselves should be the ones filing the case. “If we are proven wrong we will abide with what is legal,” he said. However, it is clear that Puentevella is just taking advantage of the sentiments of the businessmen to the detriment of the less fortunate since the old Tax Code was regressive, he added. Leonardia said it is the Local Government Code of the country requires that the Tax Code should be progressive where taxpayers who have more income should be paying more taxes. He said he believes that Puentevella’s meeting with the businessmen at the Sea Breeze hotel last week was an attempt to make them appear like his political tools and propaganda materials. “I am happy that they (businessmen) took the more appropriate step of sitting down with us last Thursday, in response to their questions and concerns concerning the Revenue Code,” Leonardia said. During the dialog Thursday, City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos came up with a very clear presentation which, among others, had shown that when one talks about the new tax rates of Bacolod, and compare them to tax of Talisay, those San Carlos, Bago and Kabankalan, it is not excessive, he said. On the other hand, Puentevella said he is not yet sure what position he will be running for in the 2013 elections and he is still praying for discernment.*CGS CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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I HAVE always this absorbing interest in how things work, what moves a gadget or a machine, what happens when it fails, what can be done to make it work again. I have discovered that some devices were engineered to last for shorter time, others longer time, a few for a lifetime; others can be repaired and replaced while many are simply disposable.
Throughout my adult years, I have applied this interest in how society works and fails, how people and organizations make society dynamic, how some people buy their ascent to power while others could not make any successful no matter how they try. This method of learning made me understand theories and commonly accepted doctrines. But upon making deeper analysis, I found out that many of these don’t have significant content, or don’t simply matter in our people’s lives. Applying this method in politics, it is apparent that the politics of former congressman Monico Puentevella and incumbent Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson are comparably incomparable. Monico’s politics on the surface has always been an endless bragging of his accomplishments and tirelessly attacking and ranting on his perceived enemies. In fact, he has the public image of a trouble-rouser. How he earned that is his problem. It is positive in so far as it keeps him on the limelight of the political arena and sustains the energy among his ward leaders and the amorphous “masa”. It is more negative because it turns off the generally quiet and rarely provoked middle class, young professionals, academicians, business groups and the churches. However, with a deeper and critical examination of his current politics, one can easily pass it off as a tabularasa or empty, and at its best, a hodgepodge of hogwash eclecticism. It is devoid of any philosophy, or even just polemics and rhetoric, a character of thinking people, of great minds, great leaders. He could not even pass the Socratic standards in making exhortation and argumentation. In fairness to him, he had bigger chances of becoming a great political leader in his first two terms as a congressman because of his excellent political machine run by people who knew exactly what philosophy to apply in what conditions. He had a think tank energized by the great mind of Italian political philosopher Machiavelli and fueled by his vast resources. He had a huge and solid army led by political officers and commanders with unswerving cult-like loyalty to him. He made himself available to anyone anytime. But in his last congressional term to his failed bid for mayoralty in 2010, Monico reconfigured his thinking machine and quickly turned it into a slot machine, where cash in and cash out are pre-programmed. He shifted to purely politics of money, of buying loyalty, of calculating plus minus alliances and planning victory on monetary terms. He built unnecessary bureaucratic layers and all sorts of protocols that practically made him less accessible to anyone anytime. This explains why he appeared detached from day to day ground reality and political dynamics. This was also one of the major factors why his political machinery in his last two failed battles was swarmed by opportunists, double-dealers, brokers and bidders, and no less, agents of his enemies. When money does the thinking, becomes the principal consideration in any strategizing and planning, the result is always a costly disaster. His organization went through the quick process of weakening, defensiveness, disorder, isolation, decapitation and finally, defeat. Today, Monico is posturing with the same politics that brought him major political disasters. He wants to have more money to rebuild his largely decapitated machine to be able to wage battle with Thaddy. Logically, he will get moneyed people, buy loyalty and sympathy, invest on media storm-troopers. In the process, he will isolate more principled allies and friends, as he did to Councilors Archie Baribar, Elcid Familiaran and their solid councilors bloc. That goes down the village level. Thaddy, Monico’s major opponent for mayoralty in 2013, on the other hand, appears to be very formidable and worry-free thinking political warrior. Despite the controversies and tirades hurled against him, the feedbacks I got from a wide array of people still say that Thaddy displays some good politics. What is good politics? He has a good sense of public service. He has a good development foresight and seems to be a good strategic planner. He makes good linkages with a wide range of service providers. He delivers the services he committed, not just “pa-pogi.” He always appears in both important and less important social and economic events, making sure he has a hands-on and gut-feel of the situation. He makes himself available to anyone, anytime and anywhere. He is not fond of setting up bureaucratic layers or stringent process with protocols. He appears to be just one ordinary guy next door ready to give a hand anytime. He is not artificial or “plastik”. He does not wear a different Thaddy in private and another in public. It is the same Thaddy you get anywhere anytime. He can laugh so loud and bare anytime on any issue with anyone. He can also be very stern or so angry, almost lifting a fist with any issue anytime and with anyone. He can be a Spartacus in a battle. He can also be as loving as any father to his wife and children. Thaddy may have some personal weaknesses and political infantility, but he is not a hypocrite to make clear himself when pointed with one or two by anyone. He is not even bragging his established solid political bases in dozens of barangays in the city, and the huge army of personnel, casual and job order employees of city hall working for him as Thaddy and as a city official. I am neither for Thaddy. But if we compare Thaddy’s politics with Monico, it is terribly unequal, incomparable, unless the latter amend his political thinking and practices to his glorious thinking times. But that would be very difficult. Certainly, he is no Manny Pacquiao nor David Beckham. But God knows, Monico may have innate potentials to leapfrog from political demise. Monico projects a quite complicated personality and politics. Thaddy projects a simple, open and straightforward political figure. That spells a big difference in winning hearts and minds in any battle. Thaddy and Archie and his bloc may be opposing on a number of fundamental issues. But without them knowing it, they share lots of common in their politics, public service and personality. A number of politicians from other blocs in fact share their politics. They only happen to be in different political grouping with differently packaged political interests. I wouldn’t be surprised if major political re-alignments and even new political convergences could happen between now and 2013 elections. Meanwhile, while the bigger world continues to be more violent, unforgiving and depressing, I am comforted by the thought that while traditional electoral politics is not getting any better in our wicked city and province, a number of our politicians and informal political leaders are waking up from the morass of the politics of money and convenience. With all this, it appears that as early as now all roads seem to be leading to Sum-ag. The road to Helvetia Heights, quo vadis. Karl G. Ombion Sun Star Bacolod THE Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bacolod now have a reliable system of crime data transmission from police stations to its headquarters in Camp Crame with the launching Friday of its e-blotter system.
Police Regional Office Deputy Director for operations Manuel Felix led Friday’s launching at the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) headquarters together with Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Councilors Em Ang, Sonia Verdeflor, Al Victor Espino, Roberto Rojas, El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, Caesar Distrito and Catalino Alisbo, and BCPO Director Ricardo De la Paz. Felix said through the e-blotter system, the information can be captured in all levels -- from the local police stations to the regional headquarters and to the national headquarters in Camp Crame. “It’s very fast. You can get the information immediately,” he added. He said it would help the commanders immediately see what kind of crime incidents happened within their area of responsibility. The system would also allow the complainants to follow-up their complaints after giving the information to the police, he said. Felix cited that complainants will be given a receipt or tracking number so that they can follow up the case in other police stations, even outside Bacolod City. “Only the crime registrar can access the system,” he said. Felix said the e-blotter system is not yet full-blown in other regions. In Western Visayas, only Bacolod and Iloilo Cities have the modern system. BCPO also received 14 units of computers from the City Government for the e-blotter system to be used by different police stations in the city. De la Paz said the e-blotter system is a project of PNP office to modernize the crime database and to have daily monitoring of the different police stations here. “It will become an effective management tool for us as commanders in decision-making, in formulating anti-crime strategies and in the deployment of our personnel,” he said. He added the e-blotter system is tamper-free. All crime incidents in different areas of responsibility of respective stations will be encoded in the system and will be transmitted to Camp Crame. Merlinda A. Pedrosa Sun Star Bacolod IF I may assess the current objective trends, including rumors and “psyops”, it looks like the traditional electoral politics in Bacolod is getting worse.
Lately I was informed by an unimpeachable source that former Congressman Monico Puentevella, desperately aspiring to be the mayor of Bacolod, has chosen businessman Vladimir Gonzales to be his running mate in 2013 elections, and that he doesn’t want to pick up a fight with his political nemeses Mayor Evelio Leonardia. It is a more polite way of saying Monico wants to reconcile with Leonardia so the latter won’t put up a pressure on him comes election time. If true, Monico practically junked incumbent Councilor Archie Baribar, the man he reportedly courted long enough to be his running mate against whomever the ruling administration fields. Monico can always choose whomever he wants in his team. But his latest move, again if true, exposed a number of his fatal weaknesses. One, Monico’s decision exposes his politics of money. He reportedly goes for Vladimir because of the latter’s money which Baribar does not have. Too bad. It is like courting a poor girl he knows will love him all the way, and suddenly shifted to another girl he doesn’t know but is believed to have so much money. If electoral politics is all about money and money, Monico should have refrained long ago from courting Baribar and his bloc who have a better political platform than Vladimir. And if money is all that matters in winning, why did he lose with his huge war chest in the last elections against Leonardia? Even in traditional electoral politics, everything is not about money. Two, junking Baribar forces the latter’s group of five solid councilors to take separate ways. The five, taken as a whole, has a good field machinery with substantial voting base. That will be a big loss to Monico, both in terms of machinery and votes, especially at a time he is rebuilding from his largely decapitated political house. It is not easy to put up a dependable and winnable machinery in barely 15 months to electoral contest, unless he is the guy who can turn magic to reality. Three, to get Baribar and his consistent opposition bloc, munching Leonardia and his gang into pieces 24/7, and tell them that he is reconciling with Leonardia for political convenience or whatever he calls it, is tantamount to prostituting these good councilors. Fourth, assuming Monico reconciles with Leonardia, what would be the mutually agreeable terms? And will Leonardia believe Monico’s extending hand of reconciliation? Well, I don’t know. Let it be noted however that brothers and cousins don’t go always in harmony, especially those in the extreme ends of the political arena. One thing is sure with Monico’s move - he will be on the defensive, politically and organizationally. By such posturing, he would even run the risk that his ward leaders and village campaigners would entertain several options, among them, Monico-Vladimir-Leonardia, Monico-Baribar-Golez, Monico-Baribar-Leonardia, or worse, without him, Thaddy-Baribar-Leonardia, Thaddy-Vladimir-Golez, etc. I really pity Monico on this because I have always believed that he can be a good alternative to Leonardia, given his patented courage, firmness, frankness, flexibility, innovativeness and his cult-like personality among his followers. I don’t know who are the bright boys that twisted Monico’s mind to resort to this desperate strategy, a surefire formula for defeat. Whoever they are, they will only make more enemies out of Monico’s dwindling army of friends and allies. Still, I hope he wakes up early and redraw his political strategy. He should remember that, if he loses in 2013 elections, it will be his strategic defeat, or one whose outcome he would bear for quite a long time. On the other hand, this new current will surely ignite re-alignments and re-positioning in other political groups. The camp of Congressman Doc Golez is already into a mess, constantly drawing and redrawing electoral strategy and tactics. It is only Leonardia and Thaddy that seem to take political developments lightly. With the squabbles and dribbles taking place in their enemies’ camps, they seem to enjoy political and social life so palatably. This will make traditional electoral politics in Bacolod truly a lot of fun, for whatever it means. Meantime, what would happen to Baribar and his bloc? They can remain as a solid bloc within the city council or outside. They can put up a solid councilors’ bloc in 2013 elections. They can also support as a solid bloc the mayoralty aspirant Thaddy Sayson. They have a lot of options. But whatever they take as a bloc, they will be a forced to reckon with all mayoralty contenders and even congressional aspirants who will surely deal with them. They can always negotiate in a position of strength. You see how changeable and unpredictable the traditional electoral politics is? That is because its operating principle is “there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests.” On a more positive note, these political currents should serve as a challenge for the progressive politicians, party-list organizations, non-government organizations, people’s organizations, church groups, to seize the opportunity, analyze well, develop some political convergences, draw some kind of political intervention that will facilitate the process of substantive and meaningful reforms and change in the city and province. To paraphrase a popular adage, our society will not be destroyed by traditional electoral politicians, but by our good men and women who just watch on the sideline and do nothing. Karl G. Ombion Sun Star Bacolod The ordinance establishing the responsibility of dog owners to properly leash or secure their dogs and take preventive measures against rabies injury and health hazard, will be implemented next month with corresponding penalties, Rex Juplo, Bacolod City OIC veterinarian, said yesterday.
Authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, the ordinance provides that all dog owners take full responsibility for their pets. It says that all dogs must be securely contained and leashed whenever outside their home premises. Owners must also ensure that their dogs are given immunization and vaccines to prevent rabies infections, it added. The ordinance also provides fines, P500 for 1st offense, P1,000 for 2nd offense, and P2,000 for 3rd offense. Juplo also said that under the ordinance, all dogs must be registered at the City Veterinary Office. Last year, they vaccinated and registered a total of 41, 207 dogs and cats through a mass vaccination campaign and walk-in clients, he said. Anglo added that they have conducted Bantay Rabies campaign to the barangays of the city to heighten its campaign against rabies. He also reminded all owners to take full responsibility of their dogs and cats to avoid rabies infection and penalties. *LTG AFTER the apprehension of some public utility jeepney drivers (PUJ) for the use of illegal drugs, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Senior Superintendent Ricardo De la Paz is now pushing for a random drug testing among the PUJ drivers in the city.
De la Paz said Friday he already talked with Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman on City Council committee on peace and order, regarding his recommendation. “We want to make sure that our riding public is safe. We want to clean the organization of PUJ drivers in Bacolod City,” he said. Recently, some PUJ drivers were arrested in stakeout and buy-bust operations by operatives of City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (CAIDSOTG) in Bacolod. Some of the apprehended drivers tested positive for illegal drugs use. De la Paz said the city councilor assured him that they will conduct a random drug testing in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Drug Testing Centers, Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory and the PUV operators. “We are pushing for a random drug testing among our PUJ drivers because we feel that it’s a very effective deterrent for not using of illegal drugs. If found positive, they will be jailed and their driver’s license will be confiscated,” he said. De la Paz earlier ordered the CAIDSOTG head Police Senior Inspector Jomarie Occeño to closely monitor the PUJ drivers who are using illegal drugs. Merlinda A. Pedrosa Sun Star Bacolod OPPOSITION Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, Sonya Verdeflor and Elmer Sy registered a perfect attendance in the conduct of the regular and special sessions covering January 1 to December 31, 2011, disclosed City Council acting secretary Helen Legaspi.
She said there were 54 total regular and special sessions held in 2011. Councilor Caesar Distrito attended 52 regular/special sessions with 2 absences due to official travels. Councilor Homer Bais attended 51 sessions with three official leaves. Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson attended 50 sessions with three official leaves and one official travel. Councilor Em Ang attended 50 sessions with two official leaves and two official travels. Councilor Catalino Alisbo attended 50 sessions with four official leaves. Councilor Mona Dia Jardin attended 50 sessions with two official leaves and two official travels. Councilor Al Victor Espino attended 49 sessions with one official leave, three official travels and one absence. Councilor Carl Lopez attended 47 sessions with seven official leaves. Councilor Keith Emmanuel Ramos attended 47 sessions with five official leaves and 2 absences. Councilor Dindo Ramos attended 45 sessions with eight official leaves and one absence while Councilor Roberto Rojas attended 32 sessions with 12 official leaves. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday signed into law City Ordinance No. 576, or an ordinance creating the Bacolod City Chinatown Center, in the presence of Sangguniang members and officers of Filipino-Chinese community at the Bacolod City Government Center.
The ordinance said “The Bacolod City Chinatown Center will be established at the Capitol Shopping Center, a once prime commercial district of the city, which presently needs to be afforded attention and concern by the city government as it was once the proud business center of our Tsinoy brothers and would be future tourist destination for the city.” Leonardia said “We can say that, upon signing of this ordinance, we hit the ground running, and we thank the Tsinoy community for their support. After all, this is a government-private sector partnership,” he added. He said the establishment of the Center will concretize the presence of the Filipino-Chinese community who had been in Bacolod for so long. “We have even gone as far as celebrating the Chinese New Year through the BacoLaodiat Festival,” he added. Leonardia said they envision that the Bacolod Chinatown Center will become a new growth center in Bacolod. The Tsinoys, are noted for their business acumen and if properly motivated and supported, Bacolod officials are confident that something positive will come out of the project. Witnessing the signing ceremony were Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Roberto Rojas, Dindo Ramos, and Em Legaspi-Ang, City Planning and Development Office head Lemuel Reynaldo, Bacolod Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo De La Paz, and City Tourism Officer Imogene Kana-an. The Chinese community was represented by BacoLadiat Foundation president Leonito Lopue and vice chairman Crispin Chua, and directors Terry Gochangco and Lily Go; 888 Mall owner William Ong; Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Ben Ortega, Southern Negros Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president John Yap and directors Johnny Yap and Philip Yap; and Enrique Dy of the Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade. After the signing of the ordinance, Leonardia immediately convened the Bacolod City Chinatown Development Council which he said is composed of multi-sectoral groups including government department heads and the police. During its first organizational meeting, the Council created several committees: the Master Plan Committee, the Incentives, Trade and Industry Committee, the Infrastructure Committee, the Security and Traffic Committee, and the Public Relations Committee, and also appointed their chairmen and members. The Council also agreed to hold regular meetings every second Thursday of the month. Councilor Dindo Ramos, who authored the ordinance, said they will put up a Police Station that will provide 24 hours police visibility in the area. The ordinance said persons or entities who wish to finance the redevelopment of Shopping Center into a prosperous Chinatown Center will be entitled to a refund in the form of Tax Credit Certificate. Councilor Em Ang, earlier had said that 70 percent of the cost of the project they will put up in the Center will be paid by the city in the form of tax credits to be spread over a period of five years. The upgrading of the area will be administered by the Council headed by the City Mayor as chairman, and the Vice Mayor as vice chairman. The ordinance provides that the city government will appropriate not less than P15 million as initial funding for the improvement of the infrastructure such as, but not limited to, welcome arch, cleaning, greening and landscaping and road concreting within the area of the Bacolod City Chinatown Center.*CGS CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia signed Thursday City Ordinance No. 576, or an ordinance creating the Bacolod City Chinatown Center, at his office in the presence of council members and officers of Filipino-Chinese community.
Witnessing the ceremony were Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Bobby Rojas, Dindo Ramos, and Em Ang, Planning and Development officer Lemuel Reynaldo, Bacolod police chief Senior Superintendent Ricardo De La Paz, and City Tourism Officer Imogene Kana-an. The Chinese community was represented by Bacoladiat Foundation president Leonito Lopue, vice chairman Crispin Chua and directors Terry Gochangco and Lily Go; 888 mall owner William Ong; BFCCCII president lawyer Ben Ortega; SNFCCCI president John Yap and directors Johnny Yap and Philip Yap; and Amity Brigade’s Enrique Dy. The city ordinance creates the Bacolod City Chinatown Center out of the Shopping Center, a commercial district established for the Chinese. It became a prominent commercial center but lost its luster to other business centers. The purpose of the ordinance is to facilitate the revival of the area into a prosperous commercial center run and operated by Filipino-Chinese. The revival of the Bacolod Chinatown shall be undertaken by way of a public-private partnership. Under the ordinance, the Filipino-Chinese investors are encouraged to finance the redevelopment of Shopping Center into a prosperous Chinatown Center. Seventy percent of these advances shall be returned to them in form of tax credits. The upgrading of the area shall be administered by the Bacolod City Chinatown Development Council headed by the city mayor as chairman and the vice mayor as vice chairman. Right after the signing of the ordinance, Leonardia convened the council. During its organizational meeting, the council created several committees, namely the Master Plan committee; the Incentives, Trade and Industry committee; the Infrastructure committee; the Security and Traffic committee; and the Public Relations committee. The council decided to hold its regular meeting every second Thursday of the month. (PR) For the period January 1 to December 31, 2011, four councilors were reported to have perfect attendance in the sessions of Sangguniang Panlungsod. As reported by Helen Legaspi, OIC Secretary to the Sanggunian, there were 45 regular and special sessions of the SP. Perfect in attendance are Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, Elmer sy and Sonya Verdeflor.
Caesar Distrito has 2 official travel; Homer Bais - 3 official leave; VM Jude Thaddeus Sayson –3 official leave and 1 official travel; Em Ang - 2 official leave, 2 official travel; Catalino Alisbo - 4 official leave; Mona Dia Jardin -2 official leave, 2 official travels; Al Victor Espino - 1 official leave,3 official travel, 1-absence; Carl Lopez - 7 official leave; Keith Emmanuel Ramos - 5 official leave, 2- absences; Dindo Ramos - 8 official leave, one absence; Roberto Rojas - 12 official leave.* Edith Colmo Daily Bulletin |
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