Transfer of NFA-NegOcc office to Bago City approved: DA chief

BACOLOD CITY — The transfer of the National Food Authority (NFA)-Negros Occidental provincial office here to Bago City has been approved by the NFA Council (NFAC).

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said in his Facebook post on Wednesday that the approval took place during the last meeting of the NFAC held in Malacañang.

The NFA’s new office and buying station will rise on a property beside the provincial government-owned rice processing complex, a facility supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA), located in Barangay Tabunan. The proposed site is about two hectares.

The present site of the National Food Authority-Negros Occidental provincial office
on Gatuslao Street, Bacolod City.
*PNA Bacolod file photo*

Piñol said Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. himself formally requested the relocation of the NFA provincial office to Bago City from its current location on Gatuslao Street in Bacolod City.

He added that the provincial government has allocated PHP50 million for the construction of the NFA office building and grains silos.

“The transfer will be done as soon as the new office building is completed,” the DA chief added.

During his visit to Negros Occidental last October, Piñol inspected the proposed area in Barangay Tabunan, together with Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino and NFA-Negros Occidental provincial manager Frisco Canoy.

“I found the place very good. If the NFA Council would approve it, and I think they would, the provincial government has agreed to construct a building for the NFA in the area,” Piñol said in a press conference with Marañon during that visit.

“From my perspective, I am asking why we should maintain a warehouse and office for a grains agency in the middle of the city. We should be where the rice fields are, where the rice farmers are,” he added.

For his part, Marañon earlier said he has been pushing for the transfer of the NFA provincial office for the grains agency to have more space.

He noted that the road beside the NFA building is part of the land sold by the provincial government to property giant Ayala Land Inc., which has ongoing developments in the area. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061764

Palace declares special non-working days in 2 NegOcc cities

BACOLOD CITY — The Office of the President has declared special non-working days in two cities of Negros Occidental celebrating their respective charter anniversaries this February.

In Talisay City, it will be a holiday on February 11, which marks the northern Negros city’s 21st Charter Anniversary as stated in Proclamation No. 661 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on February 6.

On February 19, it will also be a non-working day in Bago City in commemoration of its 53rd Charter Anniversary, based on Proclamation No. 668 signed also by Medialdea on February 7 upon the authority of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Talisay and of the City of Bago be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamations stated.

Talisay City, under Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio Lizares III and Vice Mayor Samuel Siote, is commemorating its founding anniversary together with the 21st Pasidungog Festival on February 7 to 11 with the theme, “Maghiliusa Talisaynon, Asenso Padayunon”.

Bago City, headed by Mayor Nicholas Yulo and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, is celebrating its 53rd Charter Anniversary and 22nd Babaylan Festival from February 11 to 19 under the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Development”.

Among the highlights are the Search for Diwata sang Bago 2019 on February 17; 12th Gawad Bagonhon Awarding Ceremony on February 18; and the 53rd Charter Anniversary Parade, Babaylan Forum, Farmers’ Day and Karabag-O Festival, and Babaylan Street and Stage Dance Competition on February 19.

Last December, the Office of the President released copies of laws signed by the President on November 9 declaring non-working holidays in several areas in the country, including two other cities in Negros Occidental.

Republic Act Nos. 11134 and 11146 declare a special non-working holiday in Sagay City on June 11 and in Bacolod City on June 18 in commemoration of their founding anniversary and charter day, respectively. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061365

Bago City wins top prize in nat’l street dance contest

BACOLOD CITY — The City of Bago in Negros Occidental was declared champion in the national street dance theater category of the Dulansangan 2019 in Malolos City, Bulacan on Wednesday night.

The competition held at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center was part of the Fiesta Republica 2019 held in commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the First Philippine Republic.

Mayor Nicholas Yulo (standing, center) with the contingent from Bago City, Negros Occidental during the Dulansangan 2019 in Malolos City, Bulacan on Wednesday (Jan. 23, 2019). The City of Bago was declared champion in the national street dance theater category of the Dulansangan 2019.
*Photo courtesy of Judee Lyn Lirazan*

Mayor Nicholas Yulo led city officials in witnessing the presentation of Bago City, which was the lone contingent from the Visayas.

This year, Bago is composed of 130 performers who presented the “Legend of Tan Juan,” or General Juan Anacleto Araneta, one of the Negrense revolutionary heroes from Bago.

Dulansangan is a street dance-drama competition showcasing historical vignettes depicting the distinctive heroic event in the respective localities of the performing groups that compete in three levels — local, provincial and national.

It was on Jan. 23, 1899 when the First Philippine Republic was established, marking the beginning of Filipino democracy.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 110141, “An act declaring January 23 of every year a special working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the declaration of the First Philippine Republic”. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059956