It’s official. The New Government Center (NGC) is now called the People’s House of Bacolod (PHOB). This, after the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod, in a regular session yesterday, approved on third and final reading the ordinance renaming the NGC into PHOB, which was proposed by Councilor Claudio Jesus Raymundo “Kalaw” Puentevella. Despite the opposition of Councilors Carl Lopez, Caesar Distrito, El Cid Familiaran, Em Ang and Roberto “Bobby” Rojas, eight members of the city council were in favor of the ordinance, namely: Councilors Ana Marie Palermo, Sonya Verdeflor, Archie Baribar, Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr, Noli Villarosa, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Alex Paglumotan, and Puentevella. Distrito has insisted that the government edifice cannot be renamed, citing a provision in the Local Government Code that requires a 10-year period before a public building could change its name. Also, Distrito insisted that the people of Bacolod are against the renaming of the structure. “We should respect the rights of the previous government officials in naming the edifice as NGC,” Distrito stressed, adding that he only stands on what is right and just. Distrito said he believes that the renaming of NGC to PHOB is illegal. “It’s up to the people of Bacolod to decide come election time,” Distrito added. According to Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, the opposition raised legal questions that only the court can determine with finality. Gasataya, who did not participate in the discussion, said, “We have to respect the decision of the majority.” The vice mayor said that Mayor Monico Puentevella will have to sign the ordinance for it to become a law./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino Watchmen Daily Journal
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The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City recently passed unanimously a resolution expressing their heartfelt congratulations to the Iglesia ni Cristo for its 101st Anniversary Celebration. The resolution is authored by Councilors, Caesar Z. Distrito, Em Legaspi Ang, Roberto Rojas, Carlos Jose Lopez, El Cid Familiaran, Alex Paglumotan and Ana Marie Palermo. The resolution said that last year, Pres. Benigno Aquino III issued Proclamation 815 declaring the year 2014 as the Iglesia Ni Cristo Centennial year and for this year, July 27, 2015 is declared as a Special Working Holiday as a show of gratitude to INC members. It said that in Bacolod City alone, Iglesia ni Cristo has more than 22 locals with thousands of members that become part of the integral social dimension of the community, contributing so much in the spiritual, economic and social well-being of the entire populace. It added that the INC has continuously extended help not only to the well-being of local townspeople but also to protect the environment through its various humanitarian services and outreach programs, such as its “Lingap sa Mamamayan (Filipino: Care for the People)”, the KabayanKoKapatidKo (My Countrymen My Brethren) which offered free medical and dental services, community cleanups and tree planting projects. The resolution said further that this is one way to recognize and show the City’s gratitude to the contributions made by the Iglesia Ni Cristo in the Philippines for the past 101 years and to show our support also to their future humanitarian efforts.* Negros Daily Bulletin Approve the supplemental budget. This was the appeal made by Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, as he stressed that the budget will ensure continuity of the projects of his administration. This budget will provide “booming projects” for the people of Bacolod, the mayor claimed. This will make Bacolod welcome more development, he added. The mayor further claimed that through the supplemental budget, the city will procure additional patrol vehicles for the police; closed circuit television cameras for public schools; and traffic lights on major intersections in the city. These three items were identified in the resolution pushed by Councilor El Cid Familiaran as among the priority needs of the city. “That’s whythe city council should approve the budget because part of it will go to these projects,” Puentevella emphasized. Meanwhile, the SP will hold a special session tomorrowto clarify questions raised by several councilors on the sources of the supplemental budget, particularly the P17 million unexpended funds for accounts payable. Expected to shed light on the budget are City Accountant MaCorazon Cardel, City Budget Officer Victor Treyes and City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino Watchmen Daily Journal Just like investments that keep on pouring in the city, his political allies are increasing in number. This was how Mayor Monico Puentevella described the recent political developments in the city and its implications in the 2016 local polls. But Puentevella refused to divulge the names of his “newfound allies”, as he stressed that it’s not yet time for him to announce the people who will join his group in next year’s election. When asked about the reports that former Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson will seek the congressional seat under his party, Puentevella did not confirmor deny. “You know, when I started in politics, almost all of them, 80% of the councilors now, and Thaddy were all my councilors. All of them were with me before. So there’s no reason that I would cut my friendship with them,” Puentevella explained. The mayor claimed that he is also close with incumbent Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Archie Baribar, who both ran and won as independents in 2013. Reports said that Baribar may join Puentevella’s ticket and run for congressman next year, but the councilor had clarified that there has been no negotiation between him and the mayor. “More people are coming to join my team,” the mayor said, adding, “You may be surprised when you will know who they are.”/WDJ By Therese Amor Panzo Watchmen Daily Journal BACOLOD City – Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Archie Baribar questioned how the city government was spending the budget for its solid waste management program this year. “Amo na gid ini kapisan maghaboy sang ila basura ang mga pumuloyo nga tunga pa lang sang tuig naurot na ang budget sa basura (Are the public dumping this much waste that the city’s budget for garbage collection was already used up this early)?” Baribar asked. Familiaran also wondered why the city government was spending so much on solid waste management. Some P254 million has been allotted for the solid waste management program this year. Mayor Monico Puentevella requested for an additional P68 million through a supplemental budget. Once the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approves the supplemental budget, it will raise the solid waste management allocation to P332.9 million. SP records showed that, of the total budget, P150 million will be used to pay Dynamic Builders Construction Company Philippines, Inc., the city government’s contracted garbage collector; P42 million to build an additional garbage cell at the sanitary landfill; P17.9 million for the Department of Public Services; and P45 million for the solid waste management programs of barangays. Furthermore, P6 million of the proposed supplemental budget will be used for street cleaning, while P62 million will be allotted for the city’s environmental and sanitary services, including garbage collection. While he was satisfied by Dynamic Builders’ performance, Familiaran believed the P150-million budget for garbage collection to be spent within six months was too much. The city government can save at least P10 million if the budget is reviewed, he stressed. Baribar, on the other hand, said the city government should explain further why it needs more budget for solid waste management. Councilor Claudio Puentevella, SP committee on finance and appropriation chairperson, earlier confirmed that the P150-million budget for garbage collection has already been spent./PN By MAE SINGUAY Panay News Negros Bacolod Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Committee on Police Matters and Security, is asking the city government to allocate funds for the procurement of additional patrol vehicles, traffic lights and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras. Familiaran stressed that Bacolod needs these equipment being a highly-urbanized city, which was recently declared as peaceful and ready for further development. The councilor noted that the city police force lacks patrol vehicles, as he pointed out that six of 10 police stations need patrol vehicles to improve their visibility campaign to help deter crimes in the streets. He claimed that policemen use their personal cars to respond to incidents due to the unavailability of vehicles. He explained that by allocating P6 million, the city could provide new patrol vehicles to the six police stations while the installation of CCTV cameras in public elementary and secondary schools will need a P2 million budget. The councilor also said that by buying additional street lights,the city could ease traffic congestion on busy intersections./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino Watchmen Daily Journal The son of Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella, Councilor Claudio Puentevella said yesterday that is father is open to alliances with different personalities, when asked about a possible tandem between his father and former vice mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson.
The councilor claimed that Sayson, of the Nationalist People's Coalition, is on speaking terms with the mayor and that they are open to any alliances. They have open communication up to now, he said. Meanwhile, Councilor El Cid Familiaran, who ran under the Magnificent Seven, said he can seek re-election since he still has one term left if ever he does not receive any offers, either from the camp of Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia or Mayor Monico Puentevella. Familiaran said he has not received any formal invitation from either group. He is still independent since he does not belong to any party. He has no idea about the political plans of former vice mayor Renecito Novero, who heads the Magnificent Seven, since he has not made any announcement even during his recent birthday. Meanwhile, Familiaran denied reports that his wife, Portia Familiaran has been placed on floating status after she was seen together with other department heads at the birthday celebration of Leonardia on July 10. Familiaran said Portia is still acting Citywide Market Superintendent.*CGS A resolution requesting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources/City Environment and natural Resources Office to exempt the applications for free patents of Purok Mahimulaton neighborhood Association, and puroks Alalahoy and Nami-Nami in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, from a DENR moratorium, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod recently. The DENR issued a memorandum directing the suspension of acceptance and processing of public lands application "on lands formed by action of the sea in all water-way and accretion islets in river channels and adjacent shores, dried creeks and river beds and other lots of similar character", the resolution said. It was authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of the SP Committee on Government Assets, and Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chair of the SP Committee on Urban Poor, Housing and Resettlement. The Purok Mahimualton Neighborhood Association and those in Puroks Alalahoy and Nami-Nami already applied for residential free patents in Barangay banago, adding that through the years, hundreds of families have been living there and through their efforts and hardship, have reclaimed and developed the areas as solid and stable lands. The area are not prone to flooding, so present conditions are not precarious to the people who are longtime residents and occupants, the resolution said. the SP also requested the Office of Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano to assist and help the neighborhood associations in the processing of their applications and to discuss the exemption with the DENR. By: CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO The Visayan Daily Star Four councilors voted against while seven voted in favor of the proposed ordinance, which seeks to change the name of the New Government Center into the People’s House of Bacolod, during the session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Wednesday. The proposed law authored by Councilor Claudio Jesus Raymundo Puentevella was passed on second reading by 7-4 votes. Those who opposed the ordinance were Councilors Carl Lopez, Caesar Distrito, EmAngand Roberto “Bobby” Rojas while Councilors Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr, Archie Baribar, Alex Paglumotan, Ana Marie Palermo, Sonya Verdeflor, NoliVillarosa and Puentevella supported it. Councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue and El Cid Familiaran were out during the voting. Distrito, in a statement, claimed that “to change the name of the Government Center as the People’s House is not compliant to the provisions of the Local Government, particularly Section 12.” Distrito, chairman of the SP Committee on Government Assets, said the Local Government Code empowers the LGU to create a Government Center and therefore the law itself names the buildingas the Government Center. Distrito pointed out that the Deed of Donation of the property where the building is located and several ordinances of the City have recognized that the building should be known as the New Government Center or Bacolod Government Center. Distrito said if ever the building shall be renamed,a unanimous vote of the city council is required under the law. Distrito said the people who were behind the realization of the Government Center tackled several cases against the construction of the building but they faced them and continued to persevere in order to build such iconic structure,which really brought pride, honor and made public service more convenient in the city. “So the name New Government Center or Bacolod Government Center should not be changed to give importance to the development that those people who worked hard for it have made in the city,”Distrito added. Ang, on the other hand also objected to the proposal saying that the name should not be changed as a show of respect and courtesy to the former city officials who pushed and worked hard to realize the construction of the building. Rojas and Lopez manifested that despite getting no objections from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Historical Commission (NHC),a lot of people in the city do not agree onrenamingthe Government Center as the People’s House. Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Gasataya said the edifice was constructed in 2008, and its name can only be changed after 10 years, as he quoted Distrito. Gasataya said the ordinance will be approved on third and final reading on Wednesday. When asked about the changes made on the welcome landmark prior to the approval of the ordinance by the SP,Gasataya said “the building officer should have waited for the passage of the ordinance before making any changes to it.” “Legally, I do not see any penalty but they should have waited,”Gasataya added./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino Watchmen Daily Journal |
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