NegOcc prepares farmers for rice tariffication

BACOLOD CITY — The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental underscored the need to prepare rice farmers for coping with challenges brought by the tariffication measure.

“Our farmers really need the help of the government mainly in terms of lowering down production cost and increasing productivity,” Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said on Sunday, two days after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the measure lifting restrictions on rice importation.

Masculino noted that one major effect would be cheaper price of imported than locally-produced rice.

Rice stocks imported by the National Food Authority being unloaded at the Bredco port in Bacolod City.
File photo from National Food Authority-Negros Occidental

Necessary interventions should be done immediately given the little time to prepare as the implementing rules and regulations may be out soon, he added.

Negros Occidental is known as the country’s top sugar-producing province, but it has also become one of the top 10 rice producers in the past years in its bid to become 100 percent rice-sufficient.

Masculino said one measure to reduce production cost of Negrense rice farmers is mechanization, which the provincial government has already been implementing since last year.

He added that if the government can seriously implement mechanization by providing funds for the purchase of machineries, it would be a big help because labor comprises more than 50 percent of the total production cost.

“Our mechanization accomplishment, especially in the planting and harvesting stages, is still minimal. If we can just fully mechanize at least our irrigated areas of 40 hectares, it would already be a big thing,” Masculino said.

Duterte certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent in October 2018 “to address the urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, to prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.”

A month after the President certified the measure as urgent, a report on the bill was ratified by the bicameral conference committee.

Under the rice tariffication law, quantitative restrictions on rice importation are lifted and private traders are allowed to import the commodity from countries of their choice.

The law imposes a 25-percent duty on rice imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-states and a 50-percent rate on imports from non-members of the regional bloc. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062168

220 Bacolod couples tie the knot in mass wedding rites

BACOLOD CITY — A total of 220 couples said “I do’s” in two separate ceremonies dubbed as “Kasalan ng Bayan: The Bacolod Mass Wedding 2019” officiated by Mayor Evelio Leonardia over the weekend.

On Sunday, 200 couples tied the knot in an elaborate event held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds from late afternoon until the evening.

A day before, Leonardia also officiated the wedding of 20 couples in Barangay Taculing.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (seated, center) witnesses the signing of marriage contract by couple Ricardo Tomayao, 74, and Glaiza Cosme, 29, in the presence of other city officials during the mass wedding ceremony at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019.
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

The mayor was joined by city officials, who served as principal sponsors, including Rep. Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, during Sunday’s rites.

“We initiate mass weddings because we believe that marriage institution is the basic unit of the society. This is one of the factors that will make the city grow. The family starts with you once you get married and that is the fiber of society that will make Bacolod develop further,” Leonardia told the couples.

During the wedding ceremony, he announced that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is also one of the principal sponsors, who promised to send wedding gifts to the newly-weds.

He added that the senatorial candidates supported by Hugpong ng Pagbabago, chaired by Duterte-Carpio, are also on the list of “ninongs and ninangs” (godparents)

“This is a special mass wedding because your principal sponsors are special,” the mayor said.

During the symbolic signing of the marriage contract, the couples were represented by the oldest groom, Ricardo Tomayao, 74, and his long-time partner, 29-year-old Glaiza Cosme.

The couple, who have three children, lived together for 15 years before they got married.

Tomayao, a mechanic and former jeepney driver, was a widower with eight children when he met Cosme when she was 14.

The Sunday wedding rites were also witnessed by Luis Gonzales, provincial head of the Philippine Statistics Authority-Negros Occidental, and City Civil Registrar Hermilo Pauyon.

Pauyon said the mass wedding event is a yearly activity of the City of Bacolod.

“This a big help for live-in couples especially those who have children who will be legitimized once they get married,” he added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062167

Election officers in 3 Visayas cities reshuffled

BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the re-assignments of election officers in three highly-urbanized cities in the Visayas ahead of the May 13 mid-term elections.

Bacolod City Election Officer IV Mavil Majarucon-Sia confirmed that she has received the order dated February 11 issued by Comelec Executive Director Jose M. Tolentino Jr. for the reshuffling supposed to take effect on February 12.

Based on the directive, a copy of which she provided to reporters on Friday, Majarucon-Sia will be transferred to Iloilo City.

She will be replaced by Election Officer IV Ann Janette Lamban, who is from Lapu-Lapu City.

Election Officer IV Reinier Layson, meanwhile, will leave his post in Iloilo City to assume Lamban’s former assignment.

“Pursuant to the authority vested in me through Minute Resolution No. 15-0468 dated June 23, 2015 and in the exigency of service, you are hereby reassigned effective February 12,” Tolentino said in the directive.

Majarucon-Sia said after receiving the order last week, she requested to extend the date of her assumption as election officer of Iloilo City.

“I needed at least a week to wind up my activities in Comelec-Bacolod,” she said.

On February 19, Majarucon-Sia said Layson will turn over his post to her, and she will take over as acting election officer of Iloilo City.

However, she has yet to know the actual date of Lamban’s assumption of office in Bacolod City.

“The activities in Bacolod are almost done. We have finalized the list of voters and the list of the electoral board is almost finished,” Majarucon-Sia said. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062124

Crafts, skills of IP, women in NegOcc town pushed

BACOLOD CITY — Efforts to improve the craftsmanship and culinary skills of indigenous peoples (IPs) and women groups in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental is being pushed by a non-government organization.

Checcs Osmeña-Orbida, vice president of the the PeacePond Farmers Association (PFA), on Friday said they are advocating for sustainable development and social enterprising among these marginalized sectors.

Their organization is part of the IP Support Group, which initiated the “Showcase of Purely Binalbaganon Products” at the town’s Veteran Heroes Park on Thursday.

The Dagyaw Food Services Group displays their food products during the launch of the “Showcase of Purely Binalbaganon Products” at the Veteran Heroes Park of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on Thursday.
Contributed Photo

Other collaborating groups and volunteers included the municipal government led by Mayor Emmanuel Aranda, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, and IP local coordinator Pablito Gonzales.

“The activity mainly aims to showcase the Alayon IP Crafts and Dagyaw Food Services Group, which are products of various development interventions previously provided by the PFA and the local government,” Osmeña-Orbida said.

Alayon IP Crafts is a brand given to handicrafts and other products produced by members of Ituman-Magahat-Bukidnon, a group of eight IP associations in the southern Negros Occidental town.

These IP associations comprise the Federation of Indigenous Peoples Associations in Binalbagan.

Dagyaw Food Services Group is composed of women groups, which has housewives, fisherfolk, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for members. They have undergone training on basic catering services and customer relations.

Alayon and Dagyaw in the local dialect both mean “bayanihan” or the act of helping each member of the community.

Osmeña-Orbida said they have discovered that the IPs have skills in weaving pandan and abaca, but they lack product development ideas.

This led them to conduct workshops on product development as well as social enterprise and financial management last year, she said, adding that the effort has resulted to such brand of pandan and abaca-made crafts.

“We also incorporated organic farming because they have to plant abaca and pandan so the approach was from planting down to weaving,” she said.

The association utilized Facebook to initially sell the Alayon IP Crafts online.

The PFA also revived the Dagyaw Food Services Group, whose members are recipients of various skills training, including food processing, conducted by the municipal government a few years back.

Through the Sustainable Livelihood Program-Bottom-Up Budgetting (SLP-BUB) of the government, these products were showcased during the said activity.

Alayon IP Crafts displayed the “Libon Kwadro” or woven pandan basket without handle; “Libon Timbulog” or pen holders and of other materials; and “Sobre Bags” or pouches with envelop-like shape.

Dagyaw group showcased a 48-foot snack table filled with food and delicacies like the “Purple Rice Passion” made of sticky rice with ube topping, cream and cheese, siomai, “linupak” made of banana, and cassava ball. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062098

Fire razes 65 market stalls in northern Negros town

BACOLOD CITY — An early morning fire hit 65 stalls in the public market of Manapla, Negros Occidental on Friday, with the damage estimated at PHP58 million, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has reported.

The blaze, believed to have started from the ceiling of a food stall at about 3 a.m., damaged stores and properties in the market. No one was reported hurt after the BFP declared fire out at about 5:51 a.m.

The entrance to the Manapla public market in Negros Occidental where 65 stalls were razed by fire early morning on Friday.
Photo courtesy of DYHB Tatak RMN Page

Mayor Lourdes Escalante, in a radio interview, said the affected stall owners received financial assistance from the municipal government.

Owners of 19 big stalls were granted PHP20,000 each while the 35 occupants of medium stalls were given PHP11,000 each. The 11 occupants of small stalls got PHP2,000 each.

In the aftermath of the fire, those selling dry goods will temporarily occupy the area around the plaza and part of the vegetable section will be used as a wet market, she added.

Escalante said the firefighters made sure the flames did not reach the other side of the market building and the houses nearby, in response to criticisms that there was a delay in the response of BFP personnel.

Supt. Pamela Rojane Candido, provincial fire marshal of Negros Occidental, said in a radio interview that the firefighters in Manapla performed their duties and did not have lapses in their response.

Fire trucks from neighboring town of EB Magalona and the cities of Talisay, Silay, Cadiz, and Victorias also arrived to help combat the blaze. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062097

4 Bacolod suspects nabbed, yield P500-K in ‘shabu’

BACOLOD CITY — Police arrested four persons in a buy-bust operation at La Herencia Negrense Subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan here early Thursday morning.

The operation, conducted by the Police Station 3 Drug Enforcement Team, led to the arrest of high-value target Mary Grace Bonza, 35, and three others identified as Jaymar Gequinto, 26; Rhonna Grace Laluyan, 29; and Seth Andrew Mendoza, 29.

The suspects yielded eight sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated value of PHP500,000 along with the PHP2,000 marked money and PHP1,400 cash.

Eight sachets of suspected shabu worth PHP500,000 were seized by the Bacolod City Police Station 3 Drug Enforcement Team from three suspects in a buy-bust in Barangay Mandalagan on Thursday (Feb.14, 2019).
*Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office*

They are facing charges for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) under Article II of Republic Act 9165.

Senior Supt. Henry Biñas, officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office, in a statement on Friday lauded the operating unit for their accomplishment as he urged them to strive harder in the campaign against illegal drugs.

During the period February 8 to 14, the Bacolod police have seized about PHP2.6 million worth of suspected shabu in various buy-bust operations.

Anti-drugs units recovered PHP2.1 million of the prohibited substance from February 8 to 10 which led to the arrest of nine suspects while on February 14 alone, PHP500,000 in shabu were confiscated from four suspects.

On February 10, Edmond Malanda, 30, was apprehended in Purok Rosas Pandan, Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago together with Maria Theresa Juarez, 42; and Daryl Punayan, 49.

The three yielded nine sachets of “shabu” valued at PHP130,000.

On February 9, two persons were nabbed in a buy-bust which led to the recovery of PHP1.875-million worth of shabu in Purok Riverside, Barangay Banago.

The operation, conducted by personnel of Police Station 3, led to the arrest of Randy Benjamin, 39, and Jamil Equital, 22. Another suspect, Leoner Jalando-on, 35, was able to escape. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062039

OCD opens P34.7-M regional evacuation center in north Negros

BACOLOD CITY — The Office of Civil Defense in Region 6 (OCD-6) has unveiled the second regional evacuation center in Western Visayas in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday afternoon.

The two-story building, with a project cost of PHP34.69 million, is situated at Margarita Subdivision, Barangay 2 of the northern Negros city.

OCD-6 Regional Director Jose Roberto Nuñez, together with representatives of other concerned agencies, turned over the facility to Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. and other city officials.

The PHP34.69 million regional evacuation center in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental inaugurated by the Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 14, 2019).
*Photo courtesy of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental LGU*

“As we turn over this project to you, we hope that you will ensure proper maintenance of the facilities and ensure that all equipment donated for the improvement and conditions during an emergency are properly stored in safe areas,” Nuñez said in his message during the inauguration and turn-over rites.

He acknowledged the city government for providing a location for the evacuation center and ensuring that the project is “free from all infirmities regarding ownership”.

Nuñez and Valmayor signed a memorandum of agreement, together with the representative-officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Health (DOH), for the operation of the facility that can accommodate around 33 families or about 130 individuals.

Also signing on behalf of their respective agencies were Engineer Oliver Zamora, chief of DPWH-6 Maintenance Division; Candelaria Salem of DOH-6; and Luna Moscoso, chief of DSWD-6 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division.

For his part, Valmayor committed to the partner-agencies, led by the OCD-6, that the city government will do its part in the maintenance and improvement of the evacuation center.

“We assure our partners that our City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office under the city government will ensure the proper use and maintenance and allocate funds to complete all necessary equipment,” the mayor added.

Last year, the OCD-6 opened the first-ever regional evacuation center in Bago City in southern Negros Occidental.

Nine more evacuation regional centers will soon open, including the ones in Sagay City, Bacolod City, as well as in Roxas City, Capiz; San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; Kalibo, Aklan; Nueva Valencia, Guimaras; and the towns of Carles, San Miguel and Zarraga in Iloilo province.

“The use of schools as evacuation centers disrupt the classes of students and displace them that is why we, in the Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas, continuously ensures the establishment of safe evacuation centers,” Nuñez said. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062004

NegOcc cassava farmers receive P3-M in equipment

BACOLOD CITY — A group of cassava farmers in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental received PHP3 million worth of farm machines from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The pieces of equipment, which include a four-wheel tractor, a cassava chipper, and three units of water pump, are expected to boost the farmers’ production capacity.

Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, who led the turn-over rites in Barangay Odiong on Thursday, said a huge part of the 30-hectare contiguous farm being cultivated by the Barangay Odiong Cassava Farmers Association is devoted to food-grade variety of cassava.

One of the machines received by the Barangay Odiong Cassava Farmers Association in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental from the Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas under the agency’s cassava development program.
*Contributed photo*

“The machines would help the recipient-farmers, who are agrarian reform beneficiaries, especially in the land preparation,” he said.

Masculino added that the pieces of equipment can also help the organization generate income through custom plowing, or allowing non-member farmers or associations subject to rental fee.

The support services given to the Barangay Odiong Cassava Farmers Association is provided by the DA-Western Visayas under its cassava development program, through the assistance of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO).

The Barangay Odiong Cassava Farmers Association, comprised of 36 farmer-members, delivers up to 30 sacks of fresh cassava twice a week to an institutional buyer in Bacolod City.

Their area is considered a model farm as they were able to sustain the production on top, having the largest contiguous area devoted to cassava in the province.

Through the machines, OPA hopes the association can also fully utilize the entire area for cassava production, Masculino said,

He noted that although the project is a dole-out, the OPA will still monitor the implementation, specifically to determine whether the equipment have helped boost productivity and profitability of the association.

Masculino said they also recognized the need of the farmers for additional interventions, including livelihood projects like free-range chicken dispersal and value-adding trainings.

“Value-adding interventions include processing of cassava cake, flour and other cassava-based products as sources of additional income and livelihood,” he added.

The OPA chief said the farmers can be introduced to a credit facility through the Production Loan Easy Access program, mainly for additional capital. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062015

NegOcc releases P15.5-M for regional meet athletes

BACOLOD CITY — Delegates to the 2019 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet in Roxas City, Capiz this month received PHP15.534 million in allowances on Wednesday.

A total of 534 student-athletes will represent Negros Occidental in the sports meet from February 17 to 23 and the money will be for their training, meals, uniforms, transportation, sports supplies and other needs.

Provincial Sports Coordinator Angel Verdeflor said on Thursday that Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is supportive of the province’s sports program which have been producing athletes who have made it to the Philippine national teams.

Negros Occidental Provincial Sports Coordinator Angel Verdeflor (right), with Department of Education-Negros Occidental Division Sports Officer Romeo Sison (left), turns over sports supplies to the athletes who will compete in the 2019 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet on February 17 to 23 in Roxas City, Capiz.
*Photo courtesy of Richard Malihan/NegOcc Capitol PIO*

“Participating in a sporting event is one way of training the athletes to be good in their respective fields and to help them improve their skills and develop their potential,” he said.

Verdeflor turned over the financial assistance and sports supplies to the athletes and coaches led by Department of Education-Negros Occidental Division Sports Officer Romeo Sison in a ceremony held at the division office here.

Sison said the Negros Occidental delegation, which also includes 187 coaches and trainers, will leave for Capiz on February 15, and they will be billeted at the President Manuel Roxas Memorial School.

This is the second year that Negros Occidental has re-joined the WVRAA Meet after competing separately in 2017 under the Negros Island Region (NIR).

After the NIR was abolished in August 2017, Negros Occidental again competed as another province in the 2018 WVRAA Meet held in Iloilo City.

Last year, Negros Occidental won 138 golds, 126 silvers, and 66 bronze medals in the elementary division while in the secondary level, the Negrenses took home 184 golds, 184 silvers, and 68 bronze medals. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061943

TESDA partners with NegOcc for P2.8-M scholarship grants

BACOLOD CITY — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) established a partnership with the Negros Occidental provincial government in offering PHP2.8 million worth of bundled technical-vocational scholarships to qualified Negrenses.

The courses will be offered by the Capitol-run Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) as part of the implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA).

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. (2^ndfrom right) and TESDA-Western Visayas Regional Director Ashary Banto (2^nd from left) after the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, in the presence of TESDA-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Jimmicio Daoaten and NOLITC Vocational School Administrator Ma. Cristina Orbecido at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday (Feb.13, 2019).
*Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Capitol PIO*

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and TESDA-Western Visayas Regional Director Ashary Banto signed a memorandum of agreement in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol here on Wednesday.

The signing was witnessed by TESDA-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Jimmicio Daoaten and NOLITC Vocational School Administrator Ma. Cristina Orbecido.

Scholarships are available for courses in Contact Center Services, 2D Animation, and Visual Graphic Design, which will be offered as bundle qualifications.

Banto said 100 scholars, who are high school graduates or college dropouts, will be selected to avail of free training, as well as allowance, instructional materials, tool kits, and dormitory accommodation, if needed.
Orbecido said the NOLITC is now accepting applications for scholarships.

Under the RA 10931, TESDA’s technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs can now be availed of for free in all state-run technical-vocational institutions, including local government unit-run training centers such as the NOLITC, which is one of the agency’s 22 partner-institutions for the UAQTEA implementation. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061919