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Negros Occidental News June 2015
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BFP-Negros Occidental steps up information campaign in schools
- Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=770916
- Wednesday, June 10, 2015
- (PNA), LAP/NLG/EPN
BACOLOD CITY, June 10 (PNA) -- As classes start this month, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Negros Occidental has intensified its information campaign through a series of fire drills and symposiums in schools.
Supt. Fred Trajeras, provincial fire marshal, said about 60 percent of public schools in the province, including Bacolod City, failed to implement some provisions of the Republic Act 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines.
Most of the violations are non-installation of fire safety equipment like fire extinguisher and direction signage, including fire safety exits, especially among schools with two-storey buildings.
He added that some private schools and universities are also still in the process of securing permits from BFP.
A BFP permit is one of the documents required before they are given business permit by city or municipal government.
“We already ordered all city and municipal fire marshals to frequently inspect and inform school heads about prevailing fire safety concerns in their respective areas,” Trajeras added.
The BFP official urged schools not implementing fire safety measures to be compliant.
Trajeras also encouraged students, teachers, and staff to report unsafe conditions in their buildings especially fire hazards through the BFP hotline (0999)6582243.
DA starts construction of P182-M FMR projects in Negros Occidental
- Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=1&rid=770578
- Tuesday, June 9, 2015
- By Cielito M. Reganit [(PNA), CTB/CMR]
MANILA, June 9 (PNA) --The Department of Agriculture, through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), has started the construction of two farm-to-market roads (FMRs) traversing sugarcane farmlands in Negros Occidental that are expected to bring in various benefits to farmers in the said region.
The 4.2 kilometer Sitio Magtu-od and Sitio Vergara FMR in Toboso, and the 12.46-km Barangay Caduhaan to Sitio Aluyan FMR in Cadiz City are the first sub-projects approved under the DA-implemented rural development project in Visayas.
DA Undersecretary and PRDP Project Director Emerson Palad said the construction of these FMRs that are worth over P181.99 million is expected to directly benefit 2,992 households in the area.
PRDP is a six-year national project that aims to establish a modern, inclusive, value-chain oriented, and climate resilient agriculture and fisheries sector.
It is implemented through the partnership of the DA, World Bank and local government units LGUs).
Palad, who led the ground-breaking ceremony for the twin projects last May 26 with Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., stressed that the FMRs will have a multiplier effect among the farmer-beneficiaries around the service area.
“Various business opportunities will come along the way with the construction of these FMRs, which are 11 inches thick to accommodate big trucks that bring out harvested sugarcane,” he said.
He said that the FMRs are part of the I-BUILD component under the PRDP that aims to improve agriculture production and marketing through establishment of strategic infrastructure support.
Through PRDP, the DA will provide 90 percent equity to the project, while the LGU will only need to provide 10 percent of the project cost.
“Farmer-beneficiaries should feel a sense of ownership and cooperate to maintain the quality of the project,” the DA official said.
“I urged local officials, especially from the barangays involved, to pass an ordinance requiring load limits in the utilization of these FMRs to preserve and maximize their use,” Palad said.
Meanwhile, local officials, farmers and other beneficiaries of the project expressed their gratitude to the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III for extending such projects that directly benefits local farmers.
Marañon said that with the FMRs, his constituents in the project areas could now plant various commodities, diversify their respective areas and not only rely on sugarcane production.
“Our sugarcane farmers can now look forward to planting cacao and other high value crops which are really suited for our soils,” the governor said.
Danilo Ducay, a 59-year old farmer from Sitio Vergara, Toboso, said that after decades of trudging muddy roads amidst sugarcane farmlands to deliver their goods in the market, farmers can now expect a sweeter life once the two farm-market-roads in the province are completed.
“It is really difficult to bring in fertilizers in the farms because of the uneven and narrow dirt road that turns muddy during the rainy season. With the construction of the FMR, we are anticipating better incomes because we can now deliver our goods at a cheaper price,” he said.
In the meantime, even school children can benefit from these FMRs once they are completed.
Liezel Dalin, head of the Sitio Vergara Elementary School, said that travel time from the town proper to Sitio Vergara and Sitio Magtu-od would be shortened from one and a half hours to 40 minutes because of the FMR in thier village.
She said that with the new road, students would not have to skip classes anymore during rainy days when the dirt road gets flooded and muddy road makes it dangerous to attend school.
“With the FMR, we are expecting that students can now attend classes even during rainy days as vehicles will be able to easily pass the road,” Dalin said.
DILG chief enjoins Negrenses to be responsible for ‘historic opportunity’ under one-island region
- Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=770181
- Monday, June 8, 2015
- (PNA), LAP/NLG
BACOLOD CITY, June 8 (PNA) -- Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II enjoined Negrenses to be responsible for the “historic opportunity” given to them under the newly-formed Negros Island Region (NIR).
“This a moment of historic opportunity. For the first time, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental can come together and make a coherent plan for the entire island,” Roxas told officials of Negros Occidental during a preliminary meeting on the NIR held at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol here Monday afternoon.
Both Negros provinces have a combined population of 4.5 million.
Roxas met with officials of Negros Occidental for the first time since he announced Friday that President Benigno S. Aquino III signed on May 29 Executive Order No. 183, creating the NIR.
Before giving his message, Roxas turned over to Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. the President’s Copy of the EO 183, drawing applause from the audience that also included leaders of the sugar industry, congressmen, mayors, vice mayors, councilors, barangay officials, and employees of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“With this instrument, you can write your own destiny, you can write your own destination, you can write your own itinerary, and you can write your own plan on how to arrive there,” Roxas added.
The DILG chief also told officials here that Negros Occidental, being the bigger and the richer province, has the burden of leading the region towards faster progress.
“Mind you, this is not easy now.(But) you will no longer have the excuse. The challenge, the inspiration of taking the future in your hands (means) you are also now responsible for your future,” Roxas said.
He added: “The decisions are yours, the responsibilities are yours because the authority is yours as well. The Regional Development Council will be led by Negrenses. The Regional Peace and Order Council will be led by Negrenses. The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will be led by Negrenses.”
Roxas, who has been instrumental in pushing for the approval of the NIR before the Office of the President, considered as an anomaly the fact that in the country, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are the only provinces that belong to the same island, but don’t belong to the same region.
He admitted that the transition of the two Negros provinces into becoming a one-island region will “not be easy” and will be “a very big responsibility.”
“But I know that you can do it. Negros has always stood tall, faced many challenges,” he added.
Bacolod searching for most child-friendly brgy
- Source: http://panaynewsphilippines.com/2015/06/07/bacolod-searching-for-most-child-friendly-brgy/
- Sunday, June 7, 2015
- By MAE SINGUAY (PN)
BACOLOD City – Which of the city’s 61 villages are the most child-friendly?
The city government and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) have launched this year’s Search for the Most Child-friendly Barangay.
Officials said the search is a prelude to the nationwide search for the most child-friendly city.
In 2014, Bacolod was recognized as one of the Top 5 most child-friendly cities (highly urbanized category) in the Philippines along with Davao, Pasig, Cagayan De Oro, and Puerto Prinsesa.
Bacolod should defend its title by pursuing child-friendly initiatives at the barangay level, DILG-Bacolod City director Cheryl Tacda said during the launch of the local search Friday at the MKK Annex Hall of the Bacolod People’s House.
In last year’s awarding ceremony for the national search at the Philippine International Convention Center, Mayor Monico Puentevella suggested that a barangay search may also be held, she said.
The Search for the Most Child-friendly Barangay was a “result of discussions and agreement” after the national search, she said.
It aims is to strengthen Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children, generate child-friendly best practices, and serves as vehicle for continuous advocacy on children’s rights protection, Tacda said.
Barangays will be judged based on the following criteria: organization, 10 percent; meetings, 10 percent; policies, plans and budget, 30 percent; and accomplishments, 50 percent.
The first placer will get P50,000 cash; second placer, P30,000; and third placer, P20,000.
Villages will be evaluated from July to September. Winners will be recognized in October in time for the Children’s Month celebration.
59,000 has. in southern Negros still up for distribution - DAR
- Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2015/06/06/59000-has-southern-negros-still-distribution-dar-411632
- Saturday, June 6, 2015
- By Erwin P. Nicavera
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) South Negros still has a land acquisition and distribution balance of 59,000 hectares, its top official said.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (Parpo) II Lucrecia Taberna said yesterday that of the total land area with notice of coverage (NOC), they are targeting 24,000 hectares from Bago City to Hinobaan town to be distributed this year.
Taberna added that the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) will continue for those land holdings issued with NOC before June 30, 2014.
“We are doing our best to complete the balance despite many challenges by making the beneficiaries fully understand the process of land acquisition and distribution,” Taberna said at the sidelines of the 27th anniversary program of Carp at Bacolod Pavilion Hotel yesterday.
Moreover, Parpo I Ronald Gareza said that DAR has already released P66.8 million in support services this year to 17 agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (Arbos) in southern Negros.
In terms of production loans, Gareza said the government has already extended P309 million in grants to 17,000 ARBs.
“We are reminding the beneficiaries to pay their loans before the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) program ends so that we can enroll them in regular lending window of the Land Bank of the Philippines,” Gareza said.
He added that 11 Arbos in Negros Occidental had also received support in the form of eight farm tractors last year. This year, three more tractors will be distributed.
During the program that was preceded by a caravan, the DAR-South distributed 284 certificates of land ownership award to 25 beneficiaries, covering 181 hectares.
President Aquino signs Executive Order creating Negros Island Region
- Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=1&rid=769386
- Friday, June 5, 2015
- (PNA), SCS/PND/RSM
MANILA, June 5 (PNA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Executive Order 183 creating a Negros Island Region (NIR), comprising of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.
The President signed the Order last May 29 “to further accelerate the social and economic development of the cities and municipalities comprising the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental and improve the delivery of public services” in the two provinces.
The Order stated the formation of a NIR-Technical Working Group (NIR-TWG), composed of the Office of the President (OP), Department of Budget and Management, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and representatives of the two provinces.
The group will formulate a roadmap to put in place the institutional arrangements for the NIR by 2015-2016; recommend to the OP the preferred Regional Center; arrange the requirements for organizational development, staffing and budgeting of regional line and regulatory agencies, as well as the imperatives for development planning and investment programming.
The Regional Councils and the government agencies designated as their interim secretariats are Negros Island Development Council-NEDA; Negros Island Peace and Order Council-DILG; and Negros Island DRRM Council-Office of Civil Defense.
The Order stated that the funding for the NIR-TWG will come from the implementing agencies of the NIR-TWG and the two provinces, subject to the availability of funds and upon compliance with all applicable laws and budgetary, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.
It also directed all departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and government financial institutions, to extend the working group their full assistance.
Construction of 42-MW hydro power plant in Negros seen to start in 2016
- Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=768807
- Thursday, June 4, 2015
- By Marchel P. Espina [(PNA), CTB/NLG/MPE/EDS]
BACOLOD CITY, June 4 (PNA) -- The construction of the proposed USD 140-million, 42-megawatt hydro power plant in Negros Occidental is expected to start in 2016.
On Wednesday, representatives of Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. (ACR) owned by the Mindanao-based Alcantara Group, gave a presentation of its Bago River Hydro Project before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The 42-MW power plant will have a powerhouse in Barangay Codcod, San Carlos City with an installed capacity of 8 megawatts; Barangay Igma-yaan, Don Salvador Benedicto, 8MW; Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, 15MW; and Barangay Bacong-Montilla, Bago City, 11MW.
Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the proposed hydro power plant will address the power demand not only in Negros, but also in other areas.
"It’s possible that whatever they can come up with the project, it will be transmitted to the grid. This could be a source of power for the whole country," he added.
Lacson added that the proponent presented the project to them because they would need an endorsement from the Provincial Board by issuing a resolution interposing no objection to the project.
The vice governor said he is confident because with the company they are “very reputable.”
“They are into diesel and coal. Now, they’re focusing on renewable energy,” he added. “They are looking at 2019 for the commissioning, and the construction could start as early as 2016.”
Lacson said the Provincial Board will also consult Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. on the project.
According to the proponent, the benefits of the hydro power plant include clean, reliable and economic power supply; taxes; employment opportunities; and community development projects like education livelihood projects and training, reforestation and watershed, health care, and community electrification.
This year, the company is expected to finalize its feasibility studies, which include upkeep of gauging stations, updating of hydrology data, and site environment confirmation survey; permits; and updating of financial model.
City sets Ordinance Awareness Week in August
- Source: http://panaynewsphilippines.com/2015/06/03/city-sets-ordinance-awareness-week-in-august/
- Wednesday, June 3, 2015
- By MAE SINGUAY (PN)
BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlugsod (SP) here recently approved an ordinance declaring the third week of August as Ordinance Awareness Week.
Authored by councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue and Archie Baribar, the measure seeks to increase public awareness on various city ordinances.
It also aims to educate Bacolodnons about local laws to help them practice “responsible citizenship.”
A massive information campaign on the Ordinance Awareness Week will be held to update the people about the purpose of all ordinances, especially the newly approved ones, said Sigue.
Competitions and workshops, exhibits, and displays will also be held in line with the information campaign.
All SP members and their presiding officer, Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, will lead the observance of the Ordinance Awareness Week.
World celebrates Environment Day June 5
- Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1031433229179/world-celebrates-environment-day-june-5
- Tuesday, June 2, 2015
- By Easter Ann Doza (JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, June 2 (PIA6) - - The province of Negros Occidental joins the world in celebrating the World Environment Day on June 5.
This year’s theme “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care” reminds the public of its consumption and production patterns that threaten the carrying capacity of the planet, thus, positive changes are encouraged to ensure a healthy environment.
The theme and logo is the winning entry of the on-line voting facilitated by the United Nation Environment Program or UNEP which focuses on sustainable lifestyle.
During the World Environment Day celebration which will be held in Talisay City, there will be a Pick and Walk activity, a clean-up of sorts, wherein participants pick up trash along the walk route.
The celebration is also a prelude to the 23rd Provincial Environment Month with localized celebrations among participating local government units aside from the Provincial Environment Management Office initiated activities.
PEMO will also launch on the same day the Let’s Do It Philippines campaign that seeks volunteers for the country’s version of a massive one day global clean up.
Activities lined-up for the Provincial Environment Month include exhibits, fashion show, football cup, tree growing activities, awarding of the Seal of Good Environmental Governance, among others.
SM holds seminar on caring for PWDs
- Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/June/01/businessnews4.htm
- Monday, June 1, 2015
- (Visayan Daily Star)
SM City Bacolod conducted a seminar Wednesday on caring for customers with special needs for its tenants, security and housekeeping personnel, and employees.
This sensitivity initiative is a regular activity of SM to further educate all who work in the front lines and the back offices in providing the better service to persons with disabilities (PWDs), a press release from SM said yesterday.
Melchor Aidan Tumbos, Disabled Filipino of the Year in the distinguished President Apolinario Mabini Awards 2002, spoke to the attendees on PWD rights and privileges under RA 9442.
SM Supermalls' program on persons with disabilities promotes a barrier-free and disability-inclusive environment, the press release said.
Also an Apolinario Mabini awardee, SM holds the distinction of being the most PWD-friendly mall in the country, designed to enable customers with special needs make their shopping and malling experience easier, friendlier and more enjoyable, it added.