GMA visits Silay airport, takes ‘RoRo’ in sentimental journey

BACOLOD CITY — House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental during the 11th anniversary of its operations on Friday as part of her “sentimental journey” to her favorite projects in the country.

“Happy anniversary to all of us. I like to say all of us because I’m proud to have been a part of the history of this airport,” the former president said in her message during the morning program.

As then chief executive, Arroyo led the inauguration of the Bacolod-Silay Airport on July 13, 2007 ahead of its formal opening as an airport of international standards on January 18, 2008.

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo boards a roll-on, roll-off vessel bound for Dumangas, Iloilo at the Bredco port in Bacolod City, after her visit to the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City on Friday (Jan. 18, 2019). Arroyo visited the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental during the 11th anniversary of its operations on Friday as part of her “sentimental journey” to her favorite projects in the country.
*Photo from Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Beat the Odds Facebook page*

Arroyo, who came with her sister-in-law Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca, whom she described as a presumptive congresswoman for running unopposed as representative of the 5th District, was joined by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco during the program.

The House Speaker said she did not actually know there will be a celebration and she visited without knowing about the event.

“I’m already going to leave public office on June 30, and I told my staff, ‘You know, I want to make a sentimental journey to my favorite projects in the Philippines, and among them is the Bacolod-Silay Airport. That’s why I decided to come today,” she said.

“Since there’s no event in Congress or in Metro Manila, I said. ‘Let’s go to Silay. Let us look at how it is doing now, only to find out that today is your anniversary. So, the Lord wanted me to be part of this anniversary,” she added.

Arroyo recalled the resistance of some sectors to the transfer of the airport from Bacolod to Silay, but she noted the opening of the new airport has brought so much benefits to the province, particularly on tourism.

“Congratulations, for being the second most-visited by domestic tourists,” she said of Negros Occidental, adding that the province has also become attractive to more foreign visitors and investors.

After visiting the Bacolod-Silay Airport and passing through the 10-km. airport access road, the House Speaker proceeded to the Bredco port in Bacolod to take the Bacolod-Dumangas route going to Iloilo on board a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel.

“From here, we will be going on another sentimental journey, to take the RoRo, which was also our project,” she said.

The Bacolod-Dumangas route started in 2005 as part of Arroyo’s “Strong Republic Nautical Highway” program to ensure fast and economical movement of goods and people, and to boost domestic tourism and trade.

“That will be another sentimental journey because to me, the most important infrastructures in the Visayas are roads, airports, and RoRo (ports),” she added. (PNA)

Korean firm invests P2-B for solar farm in Bacolod City

BACOLOD CITY — A 50-megawatt solar power plant will soon rise in the village of Vista Alegre in this city.

The development of the first large-scale renewable energy project in Bacolod, with an estimated cost of PHP2 billion, kicked off with the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the partner-developers held at L’ Fisher Hotel here Thursday night.

Mary Grace Helene Buhain, president and chief executive officer of Amatera Renewable Energy Corp., and Charles Ji, president of TPC Construction Corp., signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies.

Mary Grace Helene Buhain (3^rd from left), president and chief executive officer of Amatera Renewable Energy Corporation, and Charles Ji (4^th from right), president of TPC Construction Corp., with landowner Ma. Teresa Lacson (4^th from left), Amatera chief operations officer and Vista Alegre village chief Jose Maria Leandro Roberto de Leon (3^rd from right), and other officials of both companies after the signing of the memorandum of understanding at L’ Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City on Thursday night (Jan. 17, 2019).
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

“The vision of Amatera goes beyond business, but the social responsibility to benefit everyone,” Buhain said.

The Bacolod-based company, which is leasing the 74-hectare family-owned land for 25 years to the Korean firm, had secured a clearance from the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct grid impact studies on the Vista Alegre property in early 2016.

Its project was then included on the agency’s list of awarded solar projects in June that year.

Buhain said the project consultants will come from Korea, but they will also hire locals for the construction, which is expected to start this year.

In his speech, Ji said the signing of the MOU was the start of the beautiful partnership and collaboration between the two companies.

“We are thankful for the trust given to our company, (for us) to work together for this project,” he added.

Engineer Hanshel Layaoen, technical consultant for Amatera, said about 100 employees would be hired for the technical and labor aspects, and at least 300 workers more would be needed to complete the project in six to seven months.

Both companies aim to start the commissioning by 2020, which is also the scheduled completion of the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230-kilovolt Backbone Project of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

The influx of solar power plants in Negros Occidental in recent years caused the main line, transmission, and interconnection lines to congest, according to the DOE.

Considering the congestion, Layaoen said the construction of the Bacolod solar farm project cannot proceed without the transmission utility’s backbone project.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who attended the signing event, welcomed the development of the renewable energy project in Bacolod as he recognized that solar is now at the center of local energy transformation.

“This is the first large-scale solar energy source in Bacolod and a step towards a greener and more sustainable city,” said Familiaran, who is currently the acting mayor since Mayor Evelio Leonardia flew to the United States to witness the fight of Senator Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Sunday. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059317

Bacolod councilor linked to drugs still on leave

BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City councilor, tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte in the illegal drug trade, was unable to preside over the session of the City Council on Wednesday as he is still on leave, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran has said.

Familiaran, who sits as acting mayor after Mayor Evelio Leonardia left for the United States on Wednesday night, said on Thursday that instead of Councilor Ricardo “Cano” Tan, who is the number one councilor, it was Councilor Caesar Distrito who took over as acting vice mayor and presiding officer.

“Councilor Tan is still on leave. He still has vacation leave and sick leave credits left,” he added.

Councilor Ricardo Tan (left) greets Mayor Evelio Leonardia during their meeting with officials of the Negros Occidental Football Association at the Bacolod City Government Center in October last year.
*File photo from Bacolod City PIO*

Last Sunday, Familiaran first confirmed that Tan was unable to attend the City Council sessions after he and his wife were ambushed on their way home last December 14.

On January 12, Tan was linked by Duterte in the illegal drug trade during his speech before an audience at the birthday party of a businessman here.

Reacting to the development on Sunday, Familiaran said the City Council is leaving to law enforcement agencies the action to take on the alleged involvement of Tan in illegal drugs.

He also said President’s pronouncement regarding the city councilor was a “shocking revelation.”

On Wednesday night, the President told the media in Manila that Tan was the drug lord being protected by sacked Bacolod Police chief Senior Supt. Francis Ebreo.

Malacañang said on Thursday that it will leave to investigators to probe Tan, who is already on the drug watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“The investigator will be doing that, not us,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.

Duterte also tagged Ebreo as a “protector” of drug syndicates, recalling a time when the relieved police officer visited Tan in a hospital after he was ambushed. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059275

Bacolod City rakes in P1.4-B in taxes, other revenues in 2018

BACOLOD CITY — The City of Bacolod raked in PHP1.444 billion in real property taxes and other non-tax revenues in 2018, with a collection efficiency of 143 percent, records of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) showed.

A report submitted by City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe to Mayor Evelio Leonardia showed the collection target set by the Department of Finance – Bureau of Local Government Finance (DOF-BLGF) for Bacolod was only PHP1.013 billion.

“Again, major economic indicators for Bacolod are pointing upwards. This is a solid statement that we have restored business confidence,” the mayor said in a statement on Thursday.

The CTO reported that in 2018, the city’s real property taxes reached PHP730.528 million, indicating a collection efficiency of 186 percent, compared to the target of PHP392.671 million.

It added that non-tax revenues, including business and other local taxes, fees and other charges, and economic enterprises, contributed a total of PHP714.199 million, posting a collection efficiency of 115 percent as against the target collection of PHP621.145 million.

“With (our) total collection efficiency was 143 percent, we exceeded the target of DOF-BLGF,” Balalilhe said.

He noted that CTO-Bacolod had received three awards from the DOF-6 (Western Visayas) in 2017 for having the highest collection efficiency among the cities in the region.

In 2018, Bacolod hit a record-high of 23,187 business permits registration, which is 23.2 percent or 4,370 higher since 2015. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059268

Bacolod police OIC told to focus on campaign vs. drugs

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Evelio Leonardia has told the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to focus on the campaign against illegal drugs.

Senior Supt. Henry Biñas took over the top post of the Bacolod City police on Monday from Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo who was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to step down over the weekend due to his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia (left) receives Senior Supt. Henry Biñas, newly appointed officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office, during his courtesy call at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO

“Every time there’s a new OIC, the illegal drugs is always one of those I would I ask them to focus on. We know that in the entire Philippines that is the problem. We have a President who is passionate about this concern,” the mayor said on Monday.

Leonardia is scheduled to meet with Biñas late Tuesday afternoon at the Bacolod City Government Center.

On Monday, the staff officers and 10 station commanders of BCPO paid a New Year’s call on the mayor.

The mayor refused to comment on the President’s revelation about the links of Ebreo and four other police officers in Bacolod to illegal drugs.

“Basically, it’s a police matter which I’m not privy to. I think we should wait for the developments. Let us take it as it is, meaning the President has spoken. The best thing to do is to wait for the next move. We will take it from there,” Leonardia said.

“I’d like to believe this is about intelligence gathering. Those things don’t reach our level,” he added.

Leonardia admitted though that, along with Rep. Greg Gasataya, he had been seeking the transfer of Ebreo since May last year because of several considerations.

“We we’re no longer at ease or comfortable with the situation. We we’re informed that our political opponents were paying him visits, the likes of Cano Tan (Councilor Ricardo Tan) and Congressman Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano),” he said.

“We we’re wondering why he did not report it to us. It’s hard to work with a police chief who does not have your complete confidence,” the mayor said.

He also said that Ebreo did not consult him before initiating a reshuffling of the station commanders, and also pulled out police personnel from the city’s enforcement units.

However, Leonardia said despite the differences of approach between him and the former police chief, there had been no disruption of police services.

“Let me be clear about this. It doesn’t mean that there’s a disruption of police services because our assistance to the police continues,” he said.

Leonardia noted that the city government provides the BCPO a financial assistance of almost PHP22 million every year.

“It is a consistent and a substantial assistance,” the mayor said. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058919

Comelec urges Bacolod bets to promote clean, peaceful polls

BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged the local candidates here to promote clean and peaceful elections on May 13.

City Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia made the call after the Comelec, together with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, led a unity walk, prayer rally, and peace covenant signing at the Bacolod public plaza on Sunday, January 13.

“We just want to remind them, our mandate is to make sure that we have clean, honest and credible elections. They have to bear with us, if from time to time, we send them notices in relation to their violations of the campaign rules,” she said.

Some of the candidates in Bacolod City led by Rep. Greg Gasataya (2nd from left) and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (right) after the prayer rally and signing of the peace covenant at the Bacolod public plaza on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019.
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

The candidates who attended the signing activity were mostly from the ruling Grupo Progreso led by reelectionists Rep. Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who both said their presence shows their support to the call of the poll body.

Part of the covenant read: “I sign this Integrity Pledge for free, orderly honest, peaceful and credible elections, and through my words and actions commit to abide by the tenets of our Constitution, election laws, rules and regulations, respecting the sanctity of our electoral exercise.”

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who went to Kalibo, Aklan, to fulfill an annual religious vow, missed the peace covenant signing, but said in a statement that he is “very willing to sign (it) and would gladly do so anytime when he comes back.”

He added that his signatures in the peace covenant in all previous elections were as good for the coming elections.

Sia said the signing of the integrity pledge during the ceremony was merely symbolic since the candidates already signed a similar document when they filed their certificates of candidacy last October.

“We hope and pray that this will be a peaceful and credible elections for Bacolod City so we can maintain our record. In the May 2016 elections, Region 6 (Western Visayas) was awarded as the most peaceful region,” she added.

Chief Insp. Ariel Pico, public information officer of BCPO, said the activity in Bacolod has been successful as part of the simultaneous kickoff of the election period nationwide.

Only a few of the candidates were not able to attend, he added.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, who attended the separate unity walk and peace covenant signing for provincial candidates in Negros Occidental at the Capitol Lagoon and Park, said the Philippine Army supports the poll body in its aim for peaceful and orderly elections.

“Our mandate is to guarantee the safety and orderliness of the coming elections. To all the stakeholders, I said if we can walk together, we can work together,” he added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058776

New OIC police chief for Bacolod named

BACOLOD CITY — The regional police chief of Western Visayas has confirmed that the head of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has vacated his post after being fired by President Rodrigo Duterte, and a new official has been named to replace him.

Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, director of Police Regional Office-6, in a text message to the Philippine News Agency, said he has designated Senior Supt. Henry Biñas as officer-in-charge of the Bacolod police effective Sunday, January 13.

Biñas, who is in Iloilo City, said in a telephone interview that he was preparing to assume the top post of BCPO.

Before his latest assignment, Biñas was chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division of PRO-6 based in Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City, and was previously director of Iloilo City Police Office and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.

Duterte ordered the relief of Ebreo on Saturday, Jan. 12, after receiving reports of his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

The Chief Executive named Ebreo and four other police officers here as drug protectors while speaking before an audience in a private function at L’Fisher Hotel in this city.

The four others are Supt. Allan Macapagal, deputy city director for operation; Supt. Ritchie Yatar, chief of City Mobile Force Company; Supt. Nassrudin Tayuan, former team leader of City Drug Enforcement Unit; and Senior Insp. Victor Paulino, former chief of Police Station 3, who was re-assigned to the City Mobile Force Company last month.

The five relieved police officials were told to report to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit at the PRO-6 headquarters in Iloilo City.

The relief of Ebreo came 14 months after he assumed post as OIC city police director in November 2017.

In May last year, Ebreo and Paulino were awarded the Philippine National Police Medal of Merit for demonstrating exemplary competence and commendable performance during the operation against notorious drug leader Ramy Poja, the number one most wanted person of Police Station 3, who was killed after a hot pursuit operation in Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago.

In 2018, the BCPO seized more than PHP42.157 million worth of shabu in 432 operations. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058764

Bacolod to host Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra for 2-night concert

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) will hold a free two-night concert in this city on January 31 and February 1 to boost the people’s interest in the performing arts.

The PPO, a resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), is considered as the country’s leading orchestra and is widely regarded as one of the top musical ensembles in the Asia-Pacific region.

On the first night, the group will perform at the SMX Convention Center Bacolod, and the next night, they will hold an open-air concert at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he initiated the visit of the musical ensemble because he believes Bacolod has to grow in all aspects, including culture.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performing in ‘A Christmas Festival’ at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last December.
*Photo from the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Facebook page*

He invited barangay residents to watch the concert.

Councilor Em Ang, who has been designated as project manager, said they started meeting with CCP president Arsenio Lizaso and other CCP officials last year for the inclusion of the Bacolod event in the PPO’s 2019 concert calendar.

“This is part of the PPO’s outreach program, which aims to promote music appreciation in underserved communities in the different regions in the country. We are fortunate that it has chosen Bacolod to promote their music,” she added.

Ang also said that bringing the PPO performances to Bacolod will boost the city’s efforts to revive the people’s interest in the performing arts.

In December 2016, the PPO also held a Christmas concert in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Its previous performances in Western Visayas were held in Iloilo City and Antique last year. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058646

New generation BSP building to rise in Bacolod City

BACOLOD CITY — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will construct a “new generation” complex in this city to “further calibrate and enrich the growth of Bacolod.”

“Bacolod City has consistently seen vigorous economic expansion, expanding infrastructure development, and a high influx of investments. Indeed, it is among the most active growth corridors in the country,” BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said in a message read by Monetary Board member Felipe Medalla during the groundbreaking and time capsule laying rites held on Wednesday.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (5^th from right) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas officials lay down the time capsule during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new generation BSP-Bacolod Branch complex at the reclamation area on January 9, 2019.
*Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO*

The structure, which will rise on a 5,000-square meter property at the reclamation area, will be the future home of the BSP-Bacolod Branch, which has been occupying a building on corner Lacson St. and Luzuriaga St. for more than 30 years.

Espenilla said the new complex will enable the BSP to enhance its services, particularly in the areas of currency management, financial inclusion, and financial and economic awareness.

He added the BSP looks forward to sustaining its support for the city’s mission “to endeavor to build, strengthen, and enhance Bacolod’s economic fundamentals, infrastructure, social services, human resources and public governance.”

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who was the special guest during the rites, said that if the BSP is expanding its operations in Bacolod, it must have seen something right in the city.

“Thank you so much for making us feel assured and we are flattered by your confidence. This is quite awesome for us here in Bacolod to have the Monetary Board transplanted in Bacolod City, finally,” the mayor said in his message.

Leonardia added that for Bacolod, which is one of the most business-friendly and the most competitive cities in the country, the BSP expansion, as well as the recent opening of the Securities and Exchange Commission extension office, completes its picture as a growing and dynamic city.

“Altogether, having the Bangko Sentral, I believe it has completed the picture in Bacolod. Together with the people of Bacolod and all these dynamic people who are making Bacolod grow by leaps and bounds, we welcome you and we hope to see that Bacolod will even grow faster because you’re here. So, if you grow, we grow and let us grow together,” the mayor added.

During the ceremony, Medalla was joined by other Monetary Board members, among them Juan de Zuñiga Jr., Peter Favila, Antonio Abacan Jr., and V. Bruce Tolentino, as well as BSP officer-in-charge and governor’s alternate Diwa Guinigundo, deputy governor Chuchi Fonacier, and BSP Bacolod deputy director Joanne Marie Castelo. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058549

Bacolod extends business permit one-stop-shop until Feb. 28

BACOLOD CITY — The one-stop-shop for business permits registration in this city, originally set from Jan. 3 to 20, has been extended until Feb. 28 following the approval of the City Council.

Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of committee on laws and ordinances, said they passed on January 9 an ordinance for the extension of the deadline upon the request of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI).

“To assist our taxpayers and businessmen, we extended the deadline so they will not pay a penalty or surcharge (even if they renew after Jan. 20),” he said.

Information desk personnel assist clients applying for business permits registration at the Business One-Stop-Shop situated at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center.
Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver

Business taxpayers who pay in full can avail of a 10-percent discount. Those renewing permits after Jan. 20 and will meet the Feb. 28 deadline will not be charged a 25 percent penalty.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier said he received a request from the MBCCI for an extension of the filing of permits and tax payment for the first quarter.

As of Jan. 8, the City Mayor’s Office-Permits and Licensing Division has received permit applications from 6,281 business establishments.

“I’m happy with this development because it shows that we sustain our efforts as a business-friendly city, and it’s very important,” the mayor said.

In 2018, Bacolod posted a record-high of 23,187 business permits registration, an indication that business confidence has been restored in the city, Leonardia said.

Between 2015 and 2018, business permits registration increased by 23.22 percent — from 18,817 to 23,187 by Dec. 31, 2018.

Last year’s registration was 5.33 percent higher than the 22,004 establishments registered in the entire 2017. The 2017 figures are higher by 15.68 percent compared to the 19,021 approved permits in 2016.

Stela Rose Rayos, head of the Permits and Licensing Division, said the processing of business permits this year is faster because the system is now fully automated, which makes the procedure easier.

The three standard steps for renewal only include encoding/assessment, payment/clearances, and receiving/releasing of mayor’s permit. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058531