Bacolod City Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran’s ownership of a stall in Manokan Country has raised questions on his objectivity regarding the proposed sale of the go-to place for grilled chicken lovers. Familiaran owns a stall in the 1.7-hectare property owned by the city government, which suspended mayor Monico Puentevella wanted to be sold. Laying the argument on conflict of interest, Vladimir Gonzales, Familiaran’s opponent in next year’s vice mayoral race, said in a report by Panay News that the acting vice mayor’s impartiality will be put to test once the city council votes on the property sale. Gonzales noted that under the rules, the vice mayor, being the presiding officer of the City Council, is the swing vote in case of a tie. Gonzales also assailed the city government’s “bias” for Familiaran, who was reportedly paying a monthly rent of only P1,200, while others were paying more than P2,000 a month. But Familiaran said his acquisition of the stall in 2006 went through the right process and that his monthly rent was lower than the others because he paid for the construction of the stall.
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THE stall awarded to acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran at the Manokan Country has raised the eyebrow of vice mayoral candidate Vladimir Gonzales of Magbinuligay Kita para sa Kauswagan (MKK) Partido Bacolod. Gonzales questioned the acquisition of the stall by the acting vice mayor allegedly at a 50-percent discount. “How did he acquire the stall at 50 percent lower than the bid price that most awardees posted?” Gonzales asked during a press conference yesterday together with partymates former Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and former Councilor Homer Bais. Familiaran, Gonzales said, operates the Nicolo’s Resto Grill after he became an awardee of Stall No. 23 on March 23, 2006 during the time of former Mayor and now Bacolod Lone District Representative Evelio ‘Bing’ Leonardia. Gonzales urged Familiaran to give up his interest at the Manokan Country, especially now that he is the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP). “If that happened to me, I would have divested my interest in that stall at Manokan Country,” Gonzales added. Familiaran said, however, that conflict of interest is not attendant in his acquisition of the stall at the Manokan Country. He recalled that he acquired the stall through a bidding in 2006, which was also approved by the Market Committee composed of former City Administrator Lorendo Dilag, the late lawyer Allan Zamora, and the City Treasurer during that time. “It was even ratified by the SP,” Familiaran said. Familiaran also stressed that there was no special treatment in the acquisition of the stall because he was even with the opposition in 2006 when it was granted to him by the SP. Nonetheless, he said he is willing to pay a higher rental fee if necessary, even if he only rented the lot and personally financed the construction of the structure. There are 26 stall awardees at Manokan Country and only four awardees, including Familiaran, have complied with the Mayor’s permit./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino TOP political allies of suspended Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella raised on Thursday questions on the actions of Acting Mayor Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran pertaining to their respective positions. Former vice mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, MKK Partido Bacolod candidate for congressman, criticized the move of Gasataya of terminating the 10 executive assistants of Puentevella. Sayson, who will face off with Gasataya in the congressional race in next year’s elections, faced the media with his partymates Vladimir Gonzalez, who is running for vice mayor against Familiaran, and Councilor Homer Bais in a press conference held at the Negros Press Club building yesterday. He said the appointments of the 10 executive assistants, including the mayor’s son Rocky Puentevella, are considered co-terminus with the elected mayor and therefore, they should not be terminated. “They can only be terminated with cause. You could re-appoint them to other positions but not terminate them. I maintain that any replacement made in the personnel who was appointed by the elected mayor should be done with cause," Sayson added. On Tuesday, Gasataya terminated the services of Puentevella, Roger Dillano, Andre Victor Las Piñas, Lope Ledesma, Joemarie Biasca, Rufino Alcala, Elmo Olivar, Rodolfo Salga Sr., Agnes Lira Jundos, and Reynaldo Ebreo. Ebreo had earlier said that he will file a case against Gasataya for illegal dismissal or abuse of authority. He said that he may file the case either today or tomorrow once his affidavit is finalized by his lawyer. Gasataya, who took over as acting city mayor on November 16, terminated Ebreo after assessments showed the latter’s position is primarily confidential and requires his full trust and confidence. He explained that the termination does not question their competence, but he just wants to work with people whom he has trust and confidence, and those he can work with comfortably. Meanwhile, Gonzalez also questioned Familiaran for being an awardee of the city-owned Manokan Country Stall No. 023, which he was able to obtain on 50 percent discount. He said that Familiaran should have divested his interest at “Manokan” because he is now the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. This would only put him in a compromising situation because of his personal interest on the property, Gonzalez said. Puentevella is proposing to dispose the “Manokan” property, and the City Council has conducted hearings before it decides whether to approve the proposal. Gonzalez admitted that he was among those who recommended to the mayor to dispose the land occupied by “Manokan.” Familiaran became an awardee on March 23, 2007 when Atty. Lorendo Dilag was the city administrator and Rep. Evelio Leonardia was still the mayor. Familiaran operates Nicolo's Resto Grill and regularly pays a monthly rental of P1, 227.71. Other awardees have arrearages close to P500,000. There are 26 stall awardees at Manokan Country and only four awardees including, Familiaran, have mayor's permit. Gonzalez also questioned why only Familiaran got the stall at P50,000 which is 50 percent lower than the bid price that most awardees posted. "If it has happened to me, I would have divested my interest to avoid being biased on the matter," he added. By CARLA N. CANET TOP political allies of suspended Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella raised on Thursday questions on the actions of Acting Mayor Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran pertaining to their respective positions. Former vice mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, MKK Partido Bacolod candidate for congressman, criticized the move of Gasataya of terminating the 10 executive assistants of Puentevella. Sayson, who will face off with Gasataya in the congressional race in next year’s elections, faced the media with his partymates Vladimir Gonzalez, who is running for vice mayor against Familiaran, and Councilor Homer Bais in a press conference held at the Negros Press Club building yesterday. He said the appointments of the 10 executive assistants, including the mayor’s son Rocky Puentevella, are considered co-terminus with the elected mayor and therefore, they should not be terminated. “They can only be terminated with cause. You could re-appoint them to other positions but not terminate them. I maintain that any replacement made in the personnel who was appointed by the elected mayor should be done with cause," Sayson added. On Tuesday, Gasataya terminated the services of Puentevella, Roger Dillano, Andre Victor Las Piñas, Lope Ledesma, Joemarie Biasca, Rufino Alcala, Elmo Olivar, Rodolfo Salga Sr., Agnes Lira Jundos, and Reynaldo Ebreo. Ebreo had earlier said that he will file a case against Gasataya for illegal dismissal or abuse of authority. He said that he may file the case either today or tomorrow once his affidavit is finalized by his lawyer. Gasataya, who took over as acting city mayor on November 16, terminated Ebreo after assessments showed the latter’s position is primarily confidential and requires his full trust and confidence. He explained that the termination does not question their competence, but he just wants to work with people whom he has trust and confidence, and those he can work with comfortably. Meanwhile, Gonzalez also questioned Familiaran for being an awardee of the city-owned Manokan Country Stall No. 023, which he was able to obtain on 50 percent discount. He said that Familiaran should have divested his interest at “Manokan” because he is now the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. This would only put him in a compromising situation because of his personal interest on the property, Gonzalez said. Puentevella is proposing to dispose the “Manokan” property, and the City Council has conducted hearings before it decides whether to approve the proposal. Gonzalez admitted that he was among those who recommended to the mayor to dispose the land occupied by “Manokan.” Familiaran became an awardee on March 23, 2007 when Atty. Lorendo Dilag was the city administrator and Rep. Evelio Leonardia was still the mayor. Familiaran operates Nicolo's Resto Grill and regularly pays a monthly rental of P1, 227.71. Other awardees have arrearages close to P500,000. There are 26 stall awardees at Manokan Country and only four awardees including, Familiaran, have mayor's permit. Gonzalez also questioned why only Familiaran got the stall at P50,000 which is 50 percent lower than the bid price that most awardees posted. "If it has happened to me, I would have divested my interest to avoid being biased on the matter," he added. Sun Star Bacolod by Carla N. Canet Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the city government may opt for the reenactment of the 2015 general fund budget amounting to P1,550,000,000 for next year, if the proposed P1.8 billion general fund budget for 2016 is not approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) before the year ends. Familiaran claimed the city council is waiting for the report of Councilor Claudio Jesus Raymundo “Kalaw” Puentevella, chairman of the SP Committee on Finance, who is still conducting a series of public hearings on the matter. “We will still have to wait for his report, pending the deliberation of the city council on it,” Familiaran said. With the possible reenactment of the 2015 general fund budget, Familiaran said department heads will have concerns on the insufficiency of the allotted budget for their projects in 2016. “It will hamper the projects next year,” warned Familiaran. Meanwhile, Councilor Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr. said the SP has until March 2016 to approve the 2016 general fund budget, as he explained the possible delay is due to the public hearings that are necessary to discuss several revisions the other councilors proposed. “It will require more time and more public hearings before making changes on the provisions of the proposed budget,” Gamboa added. Also, Gamboa pointed out the change in leadership, following the suspension of Mayor Monico Puentevella, affected the approval of the 2016 budget because the city is still adjusting to acting Mayor Greg Gasataya. Gamboa believes the possible non-passage of the 2016 budget will not affect the basic social services of the city because the reenactment of the 2015 budget could still finance the projects of the city. About 53 percent of the proposed P1.8 billion general fund budget for 2016 will be sourced from the Internal Revenue Allocation share of the city while the remaining 47 percent will be taken from the projected income the city will generate from its tax and non-tax revenue collections. Forty-three percent of the proposed 2016 budget will finance the city government’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), while Personal Services gets 33 percent, Capital Outlay – 15 percent, and the rest of the expenses – 9 percent./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino BACOLOD City Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. said the proposed P1.8-billion 2016 Annual Budget, which is P250 million higher compared to 2015 budget of P1.55 billion, may not be approved this year. The possible delay could be that there is a pending public hearing to be conducted yet, he said. Gamboa, a member of the City Council committee on finance, said a series of public hearings is needed for the approval of the 2016 Annual Budget due to several revisions that the other councilors wanted to make. He said the committee on finance has just only conducted one public hearing recently, so it needed again a series of public hearings. The suspension of Mayor Monico Puentevella affected the approval of the budget because the city is making adjustments to the new administration under acting Mayor Greg Gasataya. “It will require more time, more public hearing before they can even change the provisions there in the proposed budget,” the councilor said. He said it’s just fine that the approval of the annual budget will be pending for they are allowed to approve it until March next year or they can still reenact the 2015 budget. The non-passage of the budget will not in any way hamper the basic social services of the city government, it will still keep going because the reenacted budget will provide the financial funding to the projects of the city, he said. Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the City Council will just wait for Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, chairman of the committee on finance, when he will submit his committee report to council. Puentevella is the son of the suspended mayor. Familiaran clarified that the public hearings were just a supplemental purposes.”If there are departments that have concern to their budget which have not included in the 2016 proposed budget maybe given an appropriations for the supplemental budget in the future. Familiaran said most of the concerns of the several department heads that they have lack of budget in their respective departments. From the P1.8 billion proposed budget, about 53 percent of the proposed 2016 general fund budget will be funded from the Internal Revenue Allocation 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. Forty three percent of the proposed budget will finance the city government's Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, while Personal Services gets 33 percent, and Capital outlay - 15 percent and the rest of the expenses combining to nine percent of the total budget. (CNC) The Bacolod City government may operate on a reenacted budget if the proposed P1.8 billion executive budget for 2016 is not approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod before the year ends, acting Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday. The 2015 annual budget was P1.55 billion. Familiaran said the city council is still waiting for the report of Councilor Claudio Puentevella, chairman of the SP Committee on Finance, who is still set to conduct a series of public hearings on the proposed annual budget for 2016. He said the public hearings will be for purposes of a supplemental budget because the SP cannot propose additional budgets if departments and offices have concerns that were not included in their request for inclusion in the budget for 2016. Familiaran said they are mandated to approve the annual budget before the yearend. But if the budget is not passed before Jan. 1, 2016, the city will operate on a reenacted budget, he said, adding that there will be projects that will be hampered unless these are continuing projects. Meanwhile, Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., said the SP has until March to approve the 2016 annual budget. Any possible delay in its approval may be due to the series of public hearings needed to discuss several revisions that other legislative members have requested especially the opposition, he said, referring to those allied with acting Mayor Greg Gasataya. Gamboa also pointed out that the change in the administration, following the suspension of Mayor Monico Puenetevella, affected the approval of the 2016 budget because the city is currently making its adjustment to the present administration under Gasataya. About 53 percent of the proposed 2016 general fund budget will be funded from the Internal Revenue Allocation 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. Forty three percent of the proposed budget will finance the city government's Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, while Personal Services gets 33 percent, and capital outlay - 15 percent and the rest of the expenses combining to nine percent of the total budget.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO BACOLOD City – Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is in favor of pursuing the P50-million road lighting project that is being lobbied by Rep. Evelio Leonardia. If the project needs the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Familiaran said, he is ready to act on it as the undertaking would be favorable to the city government, especially in deterring road accidents and crimes. The proposal, however, should first be forwarded to Acting Mayor Greg Gasataya as one of the project’s conditions is for the city government to shoulder the expenses of using the street lights, he said. Following the suspension of Mayor Monico Puentevella on Nov. 16, Leonardia said the city government may “regain” the road lighting project that the city executive turned down. Leonardia said Road Board executive director Adolfo Escalona recently assured him that the project can still be “salvaged” considering that there are changes of power in the city government. Hopefully, with Gasataya who is “cooperative and friendlier,” the project can be realized, said Leonardia. “We likewise expect the cooperation of acting Vice Mayor Familiaran and the city council because lighting projects are an utmost necessity.” Prior to the P50-million budget allocation, the Road Board deployed a team to determine the exact location of the streetlights. Leonardia initially recommended that the streetlights be put up in the city boundaries in barangays Sum-ag, Bata and Mandalagan. These areas are considered “traffic hazards” at night./PN BY FRAIRE ACUPAN ACTING Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is in favor of pursuing the P50-million road lighting project being lobbied by Bacolod Representative Evelio Leonardia. Leonardia earlier requested Acting Mayor Greg Gasataya to act on the lighting project as well as the fly-over along the Burgos-Circumferential Road. Leonardia said Road Board Executive Director Adolfo Escalona told him that the project can still be revived. He added that the lighting project need the approval of the local government to ensure it pays for the electrical consumption of the street lights. Without this cooperation, it cannot be implemented, he said. Familiaran said he is ready to act on the said project if it needs the approval of the City Council It should first be forwarded to Gasataya for further study, considering that the city government will shoulder the expenses for the use of the street lights, he said. By CARLA N. CANET Acting Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday said he is in favor of pursuing the P50 million road lighting projects being lobbied by Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia. Leonardia had earlier said that since Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella has been suspended, he is requesting acting Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya to act on his P50 million lighting project, including the flyover along the Burgos-Circumferential Road. The solon had initially recommended the Bago boundary leading to Sum-ag onwards and the Talisay boundary going to Barangays Bata and Mandalagan including lighting up the flyover, which many consider a traffic hazard during nighttime. Leonardia said he called up Road Board Executive Director Adolfo Escalona if the lighting projects can still be salvaged, considering that there is a new mayor now, and he was assured that the project can still be revived. It can be recalled that the projects, which were supposed to light up the northern and southern entrances to Bacolod City, were shelved because Puentevella had refused to cooperate in their implementation, Leonardia said. Hopefully, with Gasataya who is cooperative and friendlier, they can get these projects going, Leonardia also said. They likewise expect the cooperation of Familiaran and the council, because lighting up major thoroughfares is an utmost necessity, he said. Leonardia said the lighting projects need the approval of the local government to ensure that it pays for the electrical consumption of the street lights. Without this cooperation, it cannot be implemented. Leonardia said that in a visit to Escalona earlier this year, he was informed that the P50-million fund he requested had already been allocated for Bacolod and that a Road Board study team was deployed in Bacolod to determine the exact locations of the project. Familiaran said he is ready to act on the project if it needs the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. But, it should first be forwarded to Acting Mayor Greg Gasataya for further study, considering that the city government will shoulder the expenses for the use of the street lights, he said. He believes that such project will be favorable to the city government, as it can prevent road accidents, he said. The streetlights will be placed in the boundaries of Barangays Sum-ag, Bata and Mandalagan, which are considered as “traffic hazards” at night, Familiaran added.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO |
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