The so-called "First Five" composed of former Monico-Novero-Palermo (MONOPAL) candidates for mayor, Congressman and vice-mayor and who ran as councilors under the former congressman’s political party as councilors are prepared to cast their lot with the majority party’s Jude Thaddeus Sayson if Renato Novero is chosen as vice-mayoralty bet instead of Roberto "Bobby" Rojas, a highly-reliable source from the Grupo Progreso camp, categorically stated.
If Bobby Rojas is instead chosen as Sayson’s vice- mayoralty bet, the "First Five" composed of Counci-lor El Cid Familiaran, lawyer Archie Baribar, lawyer Sonya Verdeflor and Elmer Sy, will go independent, the source said. They are no longer inclined to affiliate with former Congressman Monico Puentevella if he will take in businessman Vladimir Gonzalez instead of Novero, as vice-mayoral bet. At the moment, a convoluted political situa-tion exists in Bacolod with the coalition between the Liberal Party (LP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) existing with previously the First Five turning Liberal Party mem-bers, and now forced to ally with Mayor Evelio Leonardia. Majority of the Liberal Party (LP) members in Bacolod are uneasy forging an alliance with Leonardia’s aggrupation and with the NPC. The LP members said the LP-NPC alliance is incong- ruous with President Benig-no Aquino III, having enunciated a policy and a seemingly determined cam-paign of anti-corruption through his "Matuwid na Landas" truism. The NPC gubernatorial bet, is also facing charges from the Arles-Britanico families.* Submitted by Edgar cadagat
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Akbayan national chair Risa Hontiveros says that, to focus on women and youth reform programs she should be given a chance for a senatorial slate under the Liberal Party.
Risa Hontiveros with (l-r) Councilors Archie Baribar and El Cid Familiaran with Edwin Balajadia raise their arms in support for good governance during the press con-ference, Saturday at Chicken J Res-taurant in Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City.* In a press conference held Saturday in Bacolod City, Risa Hontiveros, National Chair, Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party and former Akbayan representative expressed that she will focus on enhancement of policies on women which will emphasize the issue on health, economic empowerment especially on solo parent and employment, among others. She added that policies and programs for youth will also be included in her focus once she’ll have a seat in the senate. Hontiveros also said she is not worried being ranked 17th among the Senatorial bets for 2013 by the latest Pulse Asia Survey since it is the power of the people that will prevail in the end; however, she acknowledged that such survey is important and a very helpful instrument for planning, for individual candidates, parties and even to potential supporters, the civil society and even the private sectors. However, she is waiting for the official pronounce-ment from the party, considering President Benigno Aquino III earlier revealed that the Liberal Party already has four senatorial bets including Hontiveros-Baraquel, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Joel Villanueva, and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara. Hontiveros was in the City and visited the Akbayan Multi-Purpose Training Center in Purok Akisola, Brgy. Villamonte and was the guest speaker in the assembly of the Liberal Party Women’s Group at Bacolod Pavillon Hotel.* Submitted by Ritzy Robles Malo-oy NEGROS DAILY BULLETIN There were 9 listed probables for vice mayor slot under the banner of the Nationalist Peoples’ Coalition (NPC) submitted to the NPC national leadership for evaluation, according to Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, at the presscon yesterday. The list he said includes names of three graduating councilors from NPC, some probables and some former candidates of the party. They are all members of the NPC.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson (2nd and 3rd from L) during yesterday’s presscon with the City Hall press corps at the Bacolod City Government Center with other city officials OIC-PIO Rodel Parcon (L) and City Veterinarian Dr. Rex Juplo (R) look on. Dr. Juplo expounds on the celebration of Rabies Day on the 28th.* It was decided by the party that the NPC national officials be the ones to endorse the official candidate for vice mayor, and they promised us either today or tomorrow. We heard that they will meet on the matter yesterday (Monday). They might officially receive the endorsement today (Tuesday), because they told us not later than Tuesday. Sayson said they do not have a complete slate yet but they have a complete list of probable candidates. There are some incumbents who signified that they are willing to join the slate of Grupo Progreso, so we are giving them until Friday. That is the most that we could adjust since the filing of the COC is already next week. I signified to them that if ever they have to make a decision, they have to make it before Friday because we also have to fill up our slate before the COC filing next week, Sayson emphasized. Mayor Evelio Leonardia said they have been talking with the four councilors, Archie Baribar, El Cid Familiaran, Elmer Sy and Sonya Verdeflor. The most recent of which was with the vice mayor but we have not updated each other about it. But I have made public announcements that we have to seriously consider and I think we have to finalize our slate these days. He said those in our line-up should be endorsing or supporting our candidates for congressman, mayor and vice mayor. Sayson said they will be filing their COC before October 5. Neg. Occ., 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez, who is Liberal Party provincial chairman, said Bacolod is a free zone as of now. Submitted by Edith Colmo NEGROS DAILY BULLETIN The four incumbent Bacolod City councilors who were recently sworn in as members of the Liberal Party may run as independent candidates for the 2013 elections instead.
El Cid Famillaran, Archie Baribar, Elmer Sy and Sonya Verdeflor, disclosed this yesterday. This was after the LP in Bacolod submitted the list of the candidates for councilors to be officially nominated by the party to their national office Friday and their names were not included. LP-Bacolod District Chairman Frank Carbon said Friday that the list included his name and that of former Councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Ana Marie Palermo, Andy Hagad and Edwin Balajadia of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement-Negros, who may run on the ticket of Congressman Monico Puentevella, who is running for mayor. Famillaran, who is seeking re-election, said that although they are planning to run as independent candidates, they are open to the possibility of being adopted by other parties, including the Nationalist People’s Coalition of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who are to be running for Congressman and Mayor, respectively. Despite the non-inclusion of their names, Famillaran also said that there is no rift among the LP members in Bacolod. Baribar, meanwhile, said his dream to run as vice mayor is still alive and that his mind hasn’t changed about that. Baribar had earlier declined the offer of Puentevella for him to run for re-election under his group. Puentevella is reported to have chosen businessman Vladimir Gonzales as his vice mayoralty candidate. Baribar, Sy, Familiaran, Verdeflor and Puentevella ran under the MoNoPal team in the 2010 elections. BY ADRIAN NEMES III The Visayan Daily Star THE Liberal Party in Bacolod City has submitted Friday the names of five candidates for councilor to be given official nomination by the party.
LP-District chairman Frank Carbon, in an interview over ABS-CBN on Friday, said the list includes his name and that of Andy Hagad, former councilors Anna Marie Palermo, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, and Edwin Balajadia of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement-Negros. The list, however, does not include the names of the four incumbent councilors who were sworn in as LP members, namely Archie Baribar, Sonya Verdeflor, El Cid Familiaran, and Elmer Sy. Baribar said it does not mean that, if they are not running under the LP, they will not be joining the slate of mayoralty candidate Monico Puentevella. He said they can still run as independent candidates and campaign separately. They were also invited by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson to run under their party but have not accepted the invitation yet, Baribar added. Carbon said they have extended the deadline until September 30 to give the four incumbent councilors a time to reconsider their decision. On Boys and Girls Week, the youthful counterparts of Bacolod City officials led by Boy Mayor Nelson Christian Co and Boy Vice Mayor John Kien Develos of St. John’s, with their councilors at the Bacolod City New Government Center, expressed their views on how it was to be a public servant.
The city’s PIO head, Rodel Parcon, asked them to explain first, why they were at city government office; secondly, what was there to learn; and thirdly, what they aimed to accomplish. Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and councilors Homer Bais and El Cid Familiaran graced the activity. Co stated that he wanted governance beyond the desk. That is, knowing what’s taking place in the different barangays apart from being inside the Center. Develos, for his part, said that with an outreach program that sees the situation in the barangays, like the situation in Brgy. Felisa where they met its Eco Warriors, they were feeling the pulse of the community and knowing what they needed most. Jude Mateo, counterpart of Councilor Mona Dia Jardin, noted her dynamism and saw what was being done in Brgy. Felisa where Jardin is also the Brgy. Captain, and aims to apply what was gained from the experience. Councilor Em Ang’s Girl student counterpart, Sharlene Escalona, stated that it was not in any way for popularity’s sake but that of knowing how officials work and how to serve, which is an opportunity that not all students are privileged to learn. Patricia Gallo, Councilor Homer Bais’ counterpart, said that it was a privilege, a chance to serve the people, an experience of a lifetime to gain more friends that will last for a long, long time. Councilor Caesar Distrito’s counterpart, Bea Garingalao, stated that she wanted to share a heart full of service, interact with different people, gain new ideas from the Center’s officials and apply such not only in school but also in the community. John Carlo Coniendo, Councilor Catalino Alisbo’s counterpart, said that he wanted to learn how to manage work in the office of the councilor, probably to become one someday, and that the experience brings happy memories. The other Boy and Girl councilors stated that they experienced new things in public service that can be applied not only in Negros but also in the whole country. They are learning a lot in governance – exploring the vastness of the city and that as representatives from different schools, they have the same goal of helping make a change while discovering what the officials are really doing and gauging their respective performances. /WDJ A resolution requesting Mayor Evelio Leonardia to consider establishing an extension of the Bacolod City College campus at the Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Site in Bacolod, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.
The resolution authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran, said that the Bacolod City College was established in 1997 to answer the rising cost of tertiary education for poor families, through the City Ordinance No. 175. It said that through the years, the Bacolod City College has expanded to Sum-ag, Fortune Town and Taculing campuses; There is, however, still a need to have another campus extension for BCC, especially in a strategic location and in an area where there is a concentration of population, like the Abada-Escay relocation site, the resolution said. Putting up a BCC campus extension at the Abada-Escay relocation site will not only host the thousands of those living in the area, but will also offer favorable opportunities for students who are living in Barangays Alangilan, Granada, Vista Alegre, and such other communities in the city, it added. The SP also approved a resolution requesting the Bacolod Housing Authority through the Office of the Mayor to harness Public-Private Partnership scheme for the housing site of government employees. The resolution said that, despite the housing programs extended to government employees, there are still a number who have not availed of this kind of service like the plantilla casuals and or Job Order casual employees. It said providing settlement and/or similar housing programs or services for these lower Grade ordinary employees will enable them to have land tenure and live decently. The resolution was also authored by Familiaran and his counterpart Girl Councilor Megan Therese Arroz. Meanwhile, the SP also approved another resolution enjoining the participation and cooperation of all Bacolodnons in Bacolod City in the city-wide family week celebration September 23 to 29, 2012. The resolution authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, said the Department of Social Services and Development of Bacolod has scheduled September 23 to 29, 2012 for the city-wide family week celebration with the theme: “Ensuring Work-Family Balance. BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR The chairman of the Political Committee of the Liberal Party has resigned citing his intention to seek re-election.
Bacolod Councilor El Cid Familiaran said that for the sake of delicadeza, it will be better for the committee to be handled by someone who is not running. Butch Ebreo is now the chairman of the committee. Familiaran said he believes in principle that Neg. Occ. 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez has included him and Councilors Archie Baribar, Sonya Verdeflor and Elmer (known as First Five) as candidates of LP for councilor. They have not yet discussed which party they will join, he said, adding that he will wait for the decision of the LP national directorate but added that he has not yet committed himself to any political party. Baribar, meanwhile, said he will decline if he is asked by former Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, who is eyeing the mayoralty post, to join his slate. He said they (First Five) have waited for eight months to discuss the line-up and composition of the party. But they were never consulted and instead, Puentevella declared who will be his running mate, he said. Baribar said he will decide what position to run for on October 5. But his preparation for now is for vice mayor, he said. In an interview over ABS-CBN, businessman Vladimir Gonzalez said he believes he will be chosen by Puentevella to be his running mate because he has better chances of winning even if Baribar has the experience. Gonzalez said he is not presenting himself but just offering himself as an alternative choice for Puentevella. However, Puentevella, has not yet issued any official statement on his choice for his running mate. The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan had earlier endorsed the candidacies of Gonzalez and Lorney Lyzander “Bong” Dilag, as their candidates for vice mayor and councilor of Bacolod City. BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR The Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia case, or that of former Cong. Monico Puentevella? Some media colleagues last night were calling and texting a lot of officials here and in Manila to confirm the alleged suspension of Leonardia. City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan was appointed as OIC Mayor last Monday by Leonardia as told by Councilor Elcid Familiaran to a media colleague last night which added up to the allegations. Let’s wait for a confirmation to such suspension talks.
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved on third and final reading Tuesday the amended Barangay Paglaum Ordinance and set the plebiscite on it on December 15, 2012 to determine if the residents want Paglaum to become a barangay.
The ordinance was authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, withCouncilors Em Legaspi-Ang, Al Victor Espino, Roberto Rojas, Carlos Jose Lopez, Dindo Ramos, Homer Bais, El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar and Mona Dia Jardin, as co-authors. The ordinance provides that the date for the plebiscite will be December 15, 2012, as suggested by the Commission on Elections, and with the support of the Barangay Council of Mansilingan, who had earlier passed a resolution calling for the holding of the plebiscite. It provides that in case the “yes” votes win in the plebiscite, Paglaum will become the 62nd barangay of Bacolod, and Mayor Evelio Leonardia is mandated to organize the local government unit with the appointment of its officials, such as the barangay captain, seven barangay kagawads, Sangguniang Kabataan chairman and seven SK kagawads. Distrito said the ball is already in the hands of the people of Barangay Mansilingan, including those of Paglaum Village, and its neighboring communities that will comprise the new barangay. To ensure that the plebiscite will push through, the ordinance provides a P5 million budget to be appropriated for the conduct of the plebiscite, which is to be administered by COMELEC, Distrito said. Distrito said it is only Mayor Leonardia who can say that funds are available for the conduct of the plebiscite, as the SP had already appropriated P5 million as embodied in the amended ordinance. The areas covered by C.O. 37 series of 1987 that created Barangay Paglaum, are Esteban Guanzon, which include Hda. RGG Agri Development Corp., Hda Lopuez Realty Corp., Lolita Heights Subdivision, Land Heights and Iloilo Development Corp., National Power Corp. sub-station, Hda. Magdalena, Esteban Village Subdivision, Hda. Villarosa, Hda. (RGG) Guanzon Subd., and Hornets Game Fowl. Alejandrino Montelibano Y Ramos which include Paglaum Village Subd.,C and C Agri. Dev. Corp. Land II,Hda. Fortaliza, Hda. P. Tanalgo, Hda. J. Quirobin, Hda. Gonzaga (Green Inc.),Hda. Nieves,Hda. Trinidad Tanalgo and Miranda, Hda. Montinola,Hda. R. Mabesa, and Hda. Patricio Martir. CGS The Visayan Daily Star |
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