Negros Occidental News April 2018

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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL FACTS & FIGURES

Land Area : 7,926.10 sq. km (2004)
No. of Barangays: 661 (As of September 2003)
No. of Municipalities: 19 (As of September 2003)
No. of Cities: 13 (As of September 2003)
Total Population: 2,565,723 (As of May 1, 2000 census)
Population Growth Rates: 1.08 (1995-2000)
Income Class: First Class
Consumer Price Index (2000=100): 116.4 (2004)
Inflation Rate: 4.1 (2004)
Average Family Income: 73,923 (2000)
Average Family Expenditure: 69,241 (2000)
Telephone Loads: 45,348 (2003)
Telephone Density: 1.6 per 100 population (2002)
No. of AM Broadcast Stations: 13 (2003)
No. of FM Broadcast Stations: 15 (2003)
No. of Motor Vehicles Registered: 105,127 (2004)
No. of Elementary Schools:
     Public:    949 (SY 2003-2004)
     Private:  39 (SY 2003-2004)
No. of Secondary Schools:
     Public :   200 (SY 2003-2004)
     Private:  38 (SY 2003-2004)
No. of Tertiary Schools: 39 (SY2003-2004)        
No. of Licensed Hospitals: 22 (2003)
No. of Establishments (3rd Qtr. 2004)
     Business Name Registration: 828   

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Himamaylan ARBs coop gets 6-wheeler truck

By Easter Anne D. Doza (EAD/PIA-Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- Himamaylan-based Tara Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Barangay Carabalan with about 130 agrarian reform beneficiary members received a 6-wheeler, P4-million worth hauling truck from the Department of Agrarian Reform-South.

DAR, a week prior also turned over to TARA ARC a 90-horsepower farm tractor, as part of the Common Service Facility particularly on the Climate Resilient Farm Production project while the hauling truck is part of the Sugar Block Farm project.

Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) Edna Villaruel said the truck is seen to boost the income of the farmers through lessened hauling cost of their produce.

“The truck will also serve as a business asset of the organization where they can earn additional income through rentals,” Villaruel added.

Both TARA ARC Manager Pacita “Nene Decs” Decatoria and TARA ARC chairman Edwin Calma said the hauling truck will be of great help to the farmer members of the cooperative because of its lower rental fee compared to other private rental trucking services.

Calma, also expressed his gratitude to the government for the awarded landholdings and for all the support services that have been extended to them by the DAR.

Sugar block farming is a system where small sugarcane farmers consolidate their small farms into blocks of 30-50 hectares for cost efficient production thereby ensuring productivity and income.

San Carlos City PDLs get skills training

By Liez’l Marie Lamasan

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- A two-day skills training on abaca fiber knotting was conducted among 22 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) of the San Carlos City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Jail Officer III Richard Go expressed his appreciation to the Cooperatives and Livelihood Development Office (CLDO) for spearheading the training which harnesses the skills to help these PDLs start anew when they go out of prison.

Go likewise encouraged them to do well at the training to come up with quality output.

Participating PDLs were experienced in making souvenir items and have attended a related training on abaca, a city press release said.

Meanwhile, Production Supervisor and Assistant Designer of Cebu Interlace Weavers Corporation John Rey Sanchez, who also served as trainer, shared that their company will be buying their knotted fibers for P600 per kilo as raw materials for products such as bags, upholstery, curtains, placemats, garments, among others.

CLDO Cooperatives Development Specialist I Grace Nequinto conveyed that the BJMP PDLs were recognized as partners in the abaca development program.

Nequinto added that the CLDO intends to conduct more trainings to these inmates in the future. (LML/PIA-Negros Occidental)

NegOcc releases P483K to barangay insurance beneficiaries

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- The provincial government here released PHP483,333 worth of checks to beneficiaries of insured barangay personnel in Negros Occidental on Thursday.

Acting Provincial Administrator Lucille Gelvolea led the turn-over rites held at the Provincial Capitol.

The checks were personally received by the family-beneficiaries accompanied by their respective barangays officials from cities of Cadiz, Silay, Himamaylan and the municipalities of Pulupandan, Valladolid, Hinigaran, Ilog, and Candoni.

For accidental death of a barangay tanod or official, the beneficiaries can receive up to PHP100,000 while for natural death, up to PHP50,000.

The Barangay Insurance Program is being implemented through the Special Programs and Concerns Division of the Provincial Administrator’s Office.

In February this year, the provincial government released PHP410,000 in benefits to various beneficiaries.

As of February, 8,575 barangay tanods and 6,471 barangay officials in Negros Occidental have been enrolled in the insurance program.

Last November, the Capitol released PHP360,000 worth of checks to beneficiaries from the cities of San Carlos, Sagay and Kabankalan, and municipalities of Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Isabela, and Ilog.

In June 2017, the provincial government released PHP700,000 worth of insurance claims to beneficiaries from various towns and cities while in March last year, a total of PHP850,000 were also turned over to another set of family-beneficiaries.

BCD hosts OFW film screening

By Liez’l Marie Lamasan (LML/PIA Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- The Pinoy Dreams Media International (PDMI) recently gathered Bacoleños in a special screening of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) inspired film entitled “Forced to Let Go” at the Bacolod City Government Center.

A media release from the City Public Information Office said that the short film, which is then produced by then caregiver Judith Gonzales, is based on a true-to-life story of a Filipina caregiver and her struggles while working in Canada.

According to Bacolod City native Maria Sherry Lacson Tan, the film’s talent coordinator and marketing officer, the film was produced by caregivers and OFWs in Canada to share to the OFWs’ families in the country.

Tan added that the film likewise aims to give awareness on the OFWs struggles and experiences living and working in a foreign land.

National scientist advocates for Bacolod-Iloilo twinning

By Easter Anne D. Doza (EAD/PIA-Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Apr. 26 (PIA) -- National Scientist, Academician and Bacolodnon Raul V. Fabella, during his recent engagement here in this city, said that he advocates for the twinning of the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo.

According to Fabella, there is tremendous growth here, referring to both cities which will counter the attraction to the National Capital Region as a growth pole for jobs and lower costs of power.

“I am a strong advocate to make Bacolod and Iloilo twin West Visayan cities to make it as a growth pole. These two cities will have lower power costs because of the outcomes of investments in the area,” Fabella added.

Fabella further enumerated investments on solar power, coal and co-generation energy produced by the sugar mills that make Negros and Iloilo power-surplus provinces.

“Power surplus attracts a lot of investors. Prices will stabilize, supply will stabilize and prices will actually go down” Fabella explained.

One of the 13 living National Scientists in the country today, Fabella urges Negrenses to advocate for the upgrade of submarine cables and to push the Department of Energy to prioritize this, so that if submarine cables are able to accommodate the surplus energy, power deficit in certain regions can be addressed.

“Cebu in the future will have to buy power from Negros. So in the future, Negros will not be known as the sugar bowl, Negros will be known as the source of power…cheap power,” Fabella added.

Bacolod to host Micecon 2018

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

BACOLOD City will host the Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibitions Conference (Micecon) in August this year.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Sunday, April 22, that actor Cesar Montano, head of Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), informed him that after their evaluation between Bacolod and Clark, Bacolod was chosen to host the Micecon 2018.

“In the tourism world, this is a specialized program that is prestigious and very lucrative. This is something that is very prestigious ad our hosting will mean that we are also now in the league of big players in tourism,” he said.

TPB is tasked to formulate and implement an integrated domestic and international promotions and marketing program for Philippine tourism. The TPB is responsible for marketing and promoting the Philippines domestically and internationally as a major global tourism destination.

Mice also refers to business events that entail a large convergence.

“This will give us that experience and we are supposed to learn a lot from this. Mice is a program in tourism where we will say that making something out of nothing because we do not have a Boracay, Mt. Mayon or whatever,” Leonardia said.

He said one of the prime movers of tourism in Bacolod is the SMX Convention Center.

Leonardia noted the tentative opening of Micecon will fall on August 8, which is the 10th anniversary of the Bacolod Government Center.

Councilor Em Ang, chairperson of the City Council committee on tourism, said Micecon is the biggest gathering of the country's influential professionals and practitioners involved in Mice.

She said at least 600 participants from the Mice industry are expected to attend such as the airlines, hotels, resorts, convention centers, event organizers and exhibit organizers.

Ang said the event is also expected to help boost and promote tourism in Bacolod and Negros as Micecon showcases Bacolod and nearby areas travel destinations including the province local products.

DAR turns over climate resilient projects in NegOcc

By Easter Anne D. Doza (EAD/PIA-Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- Three units-90 Horsepower McCormick Tractors and Solar Pump Irrigation facilities worth P13,500,000 from the Department of Agrarian Reform II were turned to three agrarian reform cooperatives as part of the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Project (CRFP).

Three ARCs namely: Sta. Rita Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Barangay Dulao in Bago City, TARA Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Isabela town and the Bajay Patol Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Cauayan town, each received P4.5-million worth of tractor and farm machineries that is seen to boost their agrarian reform beneficiary-members.

The tractor, farm machineries and equipment will become part of the Common Service Facilities of the ARCs which will be maintained and operated by member ARBOs.

Aside from the farm machineries and equipment, the three ARCs also underwent Agri Extension Services (AES) and Business Development Trainings courtesy of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

DAR Assistant Regional Director Antonio del Socorro said the CRFP is for the newly installed beneficiaries to prevent them from engaging in “Ariendo” system as well as improve their production and sustain the income of the ARCs.

The Climate Resilient Farm Productivity (Support) Project shall be implemented in ARCs and Non ARCs having identified vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

The goal of the project is to enhance and to sustain the agricultural productivity being primary means of livelihood in agrarian communities as adaptation towards resiliency and impacts of climate change.

Representatives of the three ARCs also signed the Memorandum of Trust Agreement with DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Luc Taberna in a ceremonu held at the Barangay Dulao Covered Court in Bago City.

Panaad Festival 2018 product sales up by almost 30%

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- Product sales during the nine-day 25th Panaad sa Negros Festival held from April 14 to 22 increased by 29.7 percent to PHP23.908 million from the previous year’s PHP18.434 million.

Figures released by the provincial government on Sunday night showed the consolidated sales raked in by the local government units (LGUs), Eco-Garden Show, Organic Market, Livestock Dairy Fair, Food Park, and concessionaires and kiosks.

During the first day on April 14, the sales totaled PHP2.188 million; April 15 -- PHP2.254 million; April 16 -- PHP2.010 million; April 17 -- PHP2.597 million; April 18 -- PHP2.934 million; April 19 -- PHP2.710 million; April 20 -- PHP4.305 million; April 21 -- PHP3.132 million; and April 22 -- P177.3 million.

For the entire festival, the LGU sales amounted to PHP12.292 million; Eco-Garden Show -- PHP1.958 million; Organic Market -- PHP683,142; Livestock/Dairy Fair -- PHP2.915 million; Food Park -- PHP1.349 million; and concessionaires and kiosks -- PHP4.708 million.

The festival is being held every April for the past 25 years at the Panaad Park and Stadium here in Barangay Mansilingan.

The annual event was participated in by all 19 towns and 13 cities of Negros Occidental, including its capital, Bacolod City.

Panaad sa Negros Festival showcases the distinctive Negrense skills, talents, and creativity in the unique theme pavilions of the participating LGUs.

NegOcc unveils one-of-a-kind bamboo furniture, decors

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- The provincial government-run Bamboo Innovation Center has introduced to the market, during the 25th Panaad sa Negros Festival, a collection of uniquely-designed items using bamboo as the primary material.

Dubbed the “Asian Wood,” the collection comprises furniture, home decors and accessories, luminaries and gifts displayed at the center located inside the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan in this city.

Rafael Coscolluela, provincial consultant on investment promotions, export, and trade development, said Capitol tapped the Philippine Design Development Center, through regional designer Carlos Lanuza, for the project.

The designs were executed by the Tumandok Crafts Industries based in Negros Occidental, he added.

Lanuza, in a note posted at the showroom, said the product presentation combined the skills of traditional bamboo craftsmen on Negros Island, contemporary design ideas using modern machineries for bamboo processing, and modern technology to come up with almost customized and one-of-a-kind products made from bamboo.

“We will refer those who want to order these items to Tumandok. The prices for now may seem a bit expensive because these are one-off pieces, not mass produced. Most likely the first people who will buy these items will have exclusive and unique items,” Coscolluela said.

He added that eventually, when the designs and manufacturing process will be improved, the prices can go down.

“Our intention here is to promote the bamboo industry,” said Coscolluella, who was also former governor of Negros Occidental.

He said that when the province decided to promote its bamboo industry about three years ago, they learned that Negros Occidental was not included in the national bamboo industry development plan.

“The assumption was, people there who designed the program probably thought ‘let’s not concern ourselves with Negros Island,’ because they only have sugarcane. We were always suffering from this image that all we’re good for, is sugar,” Coscolluela shared.

He said that with enough potential bamboo supply on the island, Negros Occidental decided to develop its own bamboo industry as part of the province’s diversification program.

The Provincial Enterprise Development and Investment Center then came up with the Provincial Bamboo Industry Development Program.

Engineer Jose Maria Amugod, Provincial Project Development Officer III, said that after the Panaad Festival ends on Sunday, the Bamboo Innovation Center will be opened daily to entertain clients who want to place orders similar to the displayed items.

The bamboo center was established using funds from the 20-percent Provincial Development Fund amounting to PHP6 million and the 2015 Performance Challenge Fund given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government worth PHP4 million.

The funds were used for the construction of a showroom and marketing center; completion of the Bamboo Innovation Center; purchase of processing equipment including bamboo dryer; and promotional, information and educational component.

The Department of Science and Technology also provided PHP1 million worth of equipment such as bamboo splitter, twin rip saw, plainer and laminating press.

3 NegOcc ARB organizations get P7.1-M in farm facilities

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- Three more agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in southern Negros Occidental have received PHP7.1 million worth of common service facilities (CSFs) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The turnover rites, held in Barangay Dulao, Bago City on Friday, was led by Assistant Regional Director for Support Services Antonio del Socorro and Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Lucrecia Taberna.

Under its Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project, the department presented a farm tractor each to the Sta. Rita Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Barangay Dulao, Bago City; Tara Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City; and Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Barangay Caliling, Cauayan town. These ARBOs are under DAR-Negros Occidental II.

Last March 22, the DAR, through Agrarian Reform Undersecretary for Support Services Rosalina Bistoyong, also turned over almost PHP17 million worth of CSFs to four ARBOs in southern Negros -- the Minaba Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Kabankalan City, Hacienda Esperanza ARB Association in La Carlota City, Hacienderos Agrarian Reform Cooperative and Binubuhan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, both in Bago City.

Each received a four-wheel-drive tractor, trailing harrow, disc plow, and trailer, for a total of 16 units of service facilities. These were distributed under the department’s sugar block farm project.

Last April 11, the DAR released more than PHP23.5-million worth of similar facilities to five ARBOs in northern Negros.

At least 200 member-beneficiaries benefited from the farm machinery distributed under the department’s Sugar Block Farm and Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support programs.

More new coins circulate in NegOcc

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- More New Generation Currency (NGC) coins have been circulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in Negros Occidental province this April.

Joanne Marie Castelo, deputy director and head of BSP Bacolod Branch, said in a press conference on Wednesday they have released through banks a small quantity of five of the six coins in the series.

These are the PHP10, PHP5, PHP1, 25-centavo, and five-centavo coins. The one-centavo coin has not yet been circulated in the province. Since December last year, a limited number of new PHP5 coins have been circulated by the BSP in Negros Occidental.

“We are taking this (information dissemination) initiative to cascade to our local stakeholders the characteristics of our newly-designed coins and inform the public that these coins are now being released by the BSP Bacolod Branch,” Castelo said.

She noted that these new coins can now be used to purchase goods and services, meaning these coins should be accepted alongside the old-design coins.

“We believe that after this event, we can work together to spread the knowledge and the characteristics and the security features of our New Generation coins,” Castelo told the BSP’s media partners.

She urged Negrenses to learn to appreciate the value of these coins as these are national symbols of Philippine heritage.

Castelo said that as of April 18, the BSP has released nationwide at least 137.9 million pieces of NGC coins -- 10 million pieces of PHP10 coins; 77 million of PHP5 coins; 19 million of PHP1 coins; 9.5 million of 25-centavo coins; 10.9 million of five-centavo coins; and 11.5 million of one-centavo coins.

Dori Mae Cañeso, bank officer II of BSP-Bacolod, urged Negrenses to be patient with the change introduced by the government through the NGC coins.

“You are trying to adjust, we understand that. We know in Bangko Sentral that we Filipinos can adapt to this change in the newly-designed coins,” she added.

The NGC Series coins feature the new BSP logo, three national heroes (Apolinario Mabini in the PHP10 coin, Andres Bonifacio in the PHP5 coin, and Jose Rizal in the PHP1 coin), a stylized three stars and a sun in the 25-centavo, five-centavo, and one-centavo coins, and endemic flora consistent with the design of the NGC Banknote Series that highlights Philippine fauna.

The BSP said the differences between the NGC coins and the existing BSP Coin Series can be best appreciated through visual means and tactile familiarization.

The NGC Coin Series features enhanced the aesthetics and security, with metallic composition aimed at discouraging the illegal practice of hoarding large quantities of coins for the extraction of their metal content.

The two highest denominated coins, the PHP10 and PHP5 coins, have micro-printed details using laser-engraved technology that makes it difficult for these coins to be duplicated using traditional coin counterfeiting methods, according to the BSP.

More new retail space in Bacolod City in next 3 years

By Erwin Nicavera (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- About 140,000 square meters of new retail space is expected to be available in this city in the next three years, according to global real property services firm, Colliers International Philippines.

As of April 16, Colliers reported that Bacolod’s retail stock reached almost 318,000 square meters by the end of 2017.

By 2020, Colliers projected the city’s retail space to reach by as much as 462,000 square meters, higher by 43 percent than the 2017 stock.

In Negros Occidental, SM City Bacolod’s north and south wings have a combined 107,000 square meters of leasable space, which accounts for more than 30 percent of the retail space here.

Colliers said the remaining 65 percent are accounted for smaller district and neighborhood malls owned and operated by local developers.

This year, Ayala Land Inc. is scheduled to complete a 70,000-square meter mall within its Capitol Central township across the Provincial Capitol in this city.

Megaworld Corp.’s Northill Town Center, a horizontal retail development with a central plaza that will host many amenities, is tentatively set to open next year.

Meanwhile, retail vacancy slightly increased from 1.7 percent in the second quarter of 2017 to 2.3 percent by the end of last year.

Colliers said this can be attributed to the recently-opened neighborhood malls’ difficulty in filling vacant space.

“We expect Bacolod City’s vacancy rate to hover between 1.5 percent and 3 percent this year as we see additional take up from foreign retailers planning to occupy space in SM City Bacolod and improved absorption in recently opened nearby malls,” the report said.

Still, vacancy should rise to between 4 percent and 6 percent per year from 2019 to 2020 with additional space in major townships by Ayala Land and Megaworld.

Negrense entreps avail packaging, labeling assistance

By Liez’l Marie Lamasan (LML/PIA-Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- In light of boosting the competitiveness of local goods through packaging, the Negros Occidental Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) has turned over food packaging and label prototypes to 76 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) during the opening day of the 25th Panaad sa Negros Festival.

Dubbed as “Packaging Assistance for Micro Enterprises in Region VI”, it provides services such as label design development, initial printing of developed label design, and initial volume of packaging and label prototypes.

The project is expected to pave the way for micro enterprises to penetrate better markets with enhanced product presentation, and longer shelf-life.

Science Research Specialist II Glady Reyes shared that the initiative is being implemented under the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Grants-in-Aids (GIA) program aimed to maximize scientific and technological measures that contribute to the country’s socio-economic growth.

Reyes noted that these beneficiaries have undergone basic food safety seminar as well as orientation on mandatory labeling requirement.

Since the project’s implementation in 2015, the Negros PSTC was able to distribute packaging and label prototypes to a total of 218 MSMEs in the province.

For inquiries about the DOST’s Packaging Technology Assistance Program, contact (034) 707-0170, or visit Negros Occidental PSTC at Cottage Road, Bacolod City.

Sipaway Island residents get 2 MPAs

By Easter Anne D. Doza (EAD/PIA-Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- Two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – the Camotes and St. John reefs – in Sipaway Island, San Carlos City were recently turned over to the care of the island residents.

The city government of San Carlos with its partner RARE Philippines, with its project dubbed FishForever program entrusted the management of the MPAs to the community after three years of rehabilitation efforts to help the sea around the island recuperate from over fishing and pollution.

Isaac Abello, Program Implementation Manager of RARE said that entrusting to the fisher folk the management of MPAs and its protection was just an initial step for members of the Sipaway Island Managed Access Area (SIMAA) working committee since they still need to undergo series of workshops and capacity building to enhance their potential in delivering their tasks.

Abello underscored the concern of the local government and the fisher folk of Sipaway about its marine resource which made the FishForever program successful within the three year scope, a release from San Carlos City Information Office said.

“RARE would still continue to extend help to the island community even if the management of the two MPAs was already turned over to them,” Abello assured.

City Mayor Gerardo P. Valmayor Jr. urged residents of Sipaway to cooperate and contribute or even show concern as support to the FishForever program whose main target is to protect marine resources in Sipaway including solid waste management and tourism since it holds the future of the next generation.

City Councilor Criston Carmona referred to the FishForever mascot Molway as a reminder that everybody has the obligation to protect the sea and its marine resources especially in Sipaway Island.

A fun run, “Dagan Alang sa Kadagatan” (Run for the Sake of the Seas) precedes the formal turn-over of the management of MPAs where SIMAA members took their oath before Valmayor.

First day Panaad sa Negros Festival sales breaches P2-M mark

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY – The combined sales of various pavilions, booths and fairs at the 25th Panaad sa Negros Festival breached the PHP2-million mark during the opening day over the weekend, figures released by Capitol late Sunday showed.

This year’s Day 1 sales of PHP2.188 million is higher by almost 12 percent compared to the previous year’s PHP1.960 million.

The nine-day festival, which runs from April 14 to 22, features various products of Negros Occidental sold in the local government unit (LGU) pavilions, organic agriculture fair, livestock and dairy fair, trade fair and exhibit, eco-garden show, food park, and food kiosks.

The LGU pavilions posted highest sales totaling PHP1.035 million. The food kiosks earned PHP536,368; Eco-Garden Show, PHP275,700; Livestock and Dairy Fair, PHP127,300; and Food Park, PHP124,700; and Organic Market, PHP88,823.

The pavilions, fairs and kiosks are located inside the festival site at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan in this city.

Starting this year, the Organic Village occupied a permanent location beside the Bamboo Village where more organic products are sold.

The annual celebration, dubbed “Festival of all Festivals, is participated by all 19 towns and 13 cities of Negros Occidental, including its capital Bacolod City.

Panaad sa Negros Festival, which was elevated to the Pearl Awards Hall of Fame last October after topping the Best Tourism Event – Provincial Festival category for three straight years, showcases the distinctive Negrense skills, talents and creativity in every unique LGU pavilion.

DTI helps NegOcc city produce, market coco crafts

By Erwin Nicavera (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is assisting San Carlos City in Negros Occidental in the production and marketing of coconut crafts.

The DTI, through its Negosyo Center, trained 24 members of two farmers and fisherfolk associations in the northern city on the last week of March to produce various products using coconut and its byproducts as major raw materials.

Engiemar Tupas, senior trade and industry development specialist and Negosyo Center coordinator of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the handicrafts would be sold during the Panaad sa Negros Festival this month and to the city government as souvenirs for tourists.

At least 100 German tourists will visit the city’s Sipaway Island this year.

The souvenir items include key chains, necklaces, anklets, baskets, and candle holders.

Members of the Self Help Group from San Carlos City's Barangay Ermita and the Sipaway Coconut Farmers Association from Barangay San Juan joined the DTI skills training on Sipaway Island.

Tupas said the DTI is looking at the possibility of exporting the coco crafts of San Carlos through continuous product development and craftsmanship improvement.

He added the agency is making sure there is sure market for these products.

“We will also work on linking them with other resorts,” Tupas said.

The coco crafts production in San Carlos City is the first skills training conducted by the Negosyo Center in Negros Occidental for 2018.

US researcher to present old guerilla records in Bacolod forum

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- United States National Archives head researcher Marie Vallejo will present the digitalized version of old records of Filipino war guerillas in a lecture on Philippine heroes at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday, April 10.

The lecture is still part of Bacolod City government's yearly commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), which falls a day earlier, April 9.

Parts of the Philippine Archives Collection, to be presented in the lecture are "Finding Our Heroes: The Brigadier General Francisco Licuanan Jr. Memorial Collection, Philippine Guerrilla Files from the US National Archives” and “Memories of our Heroes from World War II.”

Vallejo said in a press statement the project is being undertaken to preserve crumbling documents and to make known the heroic exploits of Filipino guerrilla fighters and disseminate the records as research and teaching materials.

“Above all, we want to install a sense of nationalism through the untold stories in these records,” she added.

Vallejo pointed out that 280,000 records have been extensively scanned, uploaded, and made available to researchers, history teachers, and libraries.

This is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to know more about the history of the Philippines, she said.

The project's lead sponsors are the Philippine Veterans Office, the Filipino War Veterans Foundation, and Geo Estate Development Corporation, with the Philippine Veterans Bank-Bacolod as the local sponsor in partnership with the City of Bacolod.

10 Negrense senior high scholars studying in Japan

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- Ten incoming senior high students from various public schools in Negros Occidental arrived in Japan on Tuesday to study General Health and Automotive under a three-year scholarship at Miyakonojo Higashi High School in Miyazaki Prefecture.

The scholarship grant is being implemented through the provincial government’s Negros Occidental Scholarship Program (NOSP).

The grantees include Johanna Rica Lorenzo, Nicole Marie Bersales. Joanna Marie Villanueva, and Leah Marie Encabo of Sagay National High School in Sagay City, Al Edmar Abad of Dr. Antonio Lizares Memorial High School in Talisay City, Krizzel Mae Do-oma of Doña Montserat Lopez Memorial High School in Silay City, Megumi Cleo Gelogo of Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City, Anthony Esteban of Murcia National High School in Murcia town, Darlyn Blancia of Sofronio Carmona Memorial National High School in Salvador Benedicto town, and Reynaldo Victorama, Jr. of Ramon Torres Dulao National High School in Bago City.

The group were chaperoned by NOSP Head Karen Dinsay and April Duran of the Negros Occidental Investment and Promotion Center during the trip.

They were sent off by Governor Alfredo Marañon and Organization for Industrial Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA)-Bago Training Center Director Shigemi Watanabe with their parents and other family members during a farewell dinner on Monday.

Watanabe told the students to study hard and not give up as he assured their parents that Japan is a safe place to study and to gain good experience.

For his part, Marañon urged the scholars to cherish the great and unique opportunity given to them.

The students attended a week-long Japanese language and culture live-in training at the OISCA Training Center in preparation for their departure.

In June last year, Marañon signed a memorandum of understanding with Miyakonojo Higashi High School, stating that the school management and the Provincial Government share the same vision of providing educational opportunities to motivated and deserving Negrense high school students who aspire to study in Japan.

The provincial government screened, selected, recommended qualified students and provided financial support for their other expenses while the school will shoulder the full tuition, provide three-year full accommodation, ensure the scholars' safety and security, and provide opportunity for further study after graduation.

Widowed food vendor’s daughter top graduate of Bacolod City College

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- The daughter of a food vendor led the 907 graduates of the Bacolod City College (BCC) who received their degrees during the 18th Commencement Exercises at the SMX Convention Center Wednesday afternoon.

Chrisma Jane Manalo, 20, who obtained a degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics, was the lone Magna Cum Laude of Class 2018.

Manalo and her two siblings were raised by their mother, Christine, a widow, by selling native food just outside her school campus. Her father died when she was in grade school.

“I’m very blessed to have achieved this award. I’m thankful to God,” the top graduate said in an interview on the sidelines of the graduation rites.

Manalo, a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) scholar, said her academic achievement is a result of hard work which she dedicates to God and her parents, and to her school, which molded her to become what she is now.

In his commencement message, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, chairman of the BCC Board of Trustees, exhorted the graduates to be proud of being educated by the city college and show that they can compete with graduates of other colleges and universities.

“If you can make it in BCC, you can make it anywhere,” the mayor told them.

Leonardia, who founded the BCC during his first term as mayor in 1997, said the tuition has remained at PHPP30 per unit in the past 21 years.

He added that once the BCC obtains an accreditation from the CHED, tuition and other fees will also be free under Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

As of 2018, the BCC has produced a total of 10,056 graduates.

“Many of our graduates are now productive members of our society. BCC has played a major role in the growth and development of our city,” Leonardia said.

During the ceremony, Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya awarded the honor graduates who are CHED scholars with the “Kampeon sa Edukasyon” Academic Excellence Award.

BCC Class 2018 also produced 28 Cum Laude graduates and 45 academic excellence awardees.

This year’s number of graduates is the second highest recorded by BCC. Last year had 976 graduates.

K-12 program has 12,500 pioneer graduates

By Carla N. Cañet

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL has produced 12,500 Grade 12 students who completed their Senior High studies for this school year, said Department of Education (DepEd) Negros Occidental acting Schools Division Superintendent Gladys Amelaine Sales.

They are considered as the first or the pioneer batch of learners of K to 12, using the Enhanced Basic Education curriculum, which was enacted into law in 2013 and implemented in the country in 2014.

Sales said these graduates are capable of working already as Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will issue a National Certificate (NC) II for those who completed their Technical Vocational studies with specialized training.

They can also pursue a college education, she added.

She said the K to 12 studies has prepared the students to be globally competitive as learners have already earned the basic skills of having a “critical thinking.”

“If they have these skills, they can easily adapt from training and orientations at work. In fact, they are very lucky and fortunate to undergo the K to 12 Program,” she added.

Furthermore, out of the 116 public and private schools in the province, there are 77 which offered Junior and Senior High studies and 24 schools offered Junior High studies.

Sales said: “We see to it that all the clusters in the province provide Junior and Senior High studies.”

“The K to 12 Program was successfully implemented in Negros Occidental. In 2015, the national government through the DepEd has set aside a huge budget for the implementation of K to 12 and was also increased by the present administration. Our government has fully supported the Enhanced Basic Education Program in the country,” she said.

It was learned that the 12-year program was found to be the best period for learning under basic education and a recognized standard for students and professionals globally, she said.

With the successful implementation of the K to 12 program, there will be no more turning back or stopping for this program because this is now the standard in the world, she said.

“We can assure that our students who completed their Senior High studies have level up their learning. Those who will graduate in college who have Senior High studies can be assured to be at par with the world standard on basic education,” she stressed.

She also pointed out that education is not just the role of the educators. It takes the entire community to educate a child.

“The parents, our government, our teachers and even our community have a role to play in educating our citizens,” she said.

She also recognized the support of the local and provincial governments and Department of Public Works and Highways that construct a school building and other learning facilities on K to 12 program.

As to the employment of teachers, they have employed an additional of 1,300 senior high school teachers and 500 for the junior high school.

The K to 12 program has created job opportunities for our teachers, she added.

Their hiring has become competitive because they select the best teachers for junior and senior high schools, she also said. “The applicants are gauged based on rankings, specializations, and localizations.”

She also urged the teachers to embrace the noble job of teaching.

“Teaching is a very challenging job. If you don’t love teaching, you will easily give up. But she believes that teachers are God-appointed, thus we must love our job so we can easily handle challenges that come our way while we do the noble job of teaching,” she said.

Negosyo Center in Kabankalan trains IPs on entrepreneurship

By Erwin P. Nicavera

THE Negosyo Center in Kabankalan City has trained 80 aspiring entrepreneurs, mostly indigenous people (IPs) belonging to Bukidnon Tribe, on basic entrepreneurship development aimed at enabling them to efficiently manage their respective enterprises.

Business Counselor III Victor Ed Anthony Alamon, who conducted the one-day training at Barangay Camingawan on March 28, said the activity has also equipped entrepreneurs with proper entrepreneurial mindset.

Alamon said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) targets to cover IP communities in the locality in the provision of its services, including those through the Negosyo Center.

“The Negosyo Center aims to assist clients including those outside the borders,” he said, adding that the agency adheres to the concept of “entrepreneurship for all” to promote enterprise development in the countryside.

During the seminar, participants were thought of the meaning of entrepreneurship, especially its salient features compared to the typical business.

“We always underscore that in entrepreneurship, we innovate something new,” Alamon said.

Also, among the topics discussed include personal entrepreneurial competencies like opportunity seeking, confidence, and risk-taking, among others.

They also gained knowledge on the “4Ps of Marketing” such as product, price, place, and promotion.

Alamon stressed that availability of market is one important component of enterprise development.

“Despite the quality of the products and abundance of resources, the enterprises will not succeed without a sure market,” he added.

After the basic entrepreneurship seminar, the Negosyo Center will then conduct a follow-up skills training, which is in collaboration with the Local government unit (LGU).

Alamon said they have yet to schedule the activity and identify the kind of skills training to be provided.

“This will fully optimize the potentials of local entrepreneurs,” he said, adding that the skills training activity should really suit the need of the clients and the market they serve.

In the first seven months of 2017, the Negosyo Center in Kabankalan City has assisted a total of 3,775 clients that placed it in the 16th spot in the country.

It ranked 17th in terms of the number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) served with 2,595 clients.

AboitizPower announces rooftop solar venture

By Ma. Cristina Arayata (PNA)

MANILA -- AboitizPower on Monday announced that it will enter the rooftop solar business, further expanding the firm's renewable energy portfolio under the Cleanergy brand.

The new business was named AboitizPower Distributed Energy, Inc. (APX). To date, AboitizPower has 1,272 MW of net sellable capacity through the Cleanergy brand.

AboitizPower has a vast portfolio of renewable energy plants under Cleanergy, including its geothermal, solar, and hydropower facilities.

In a statement, AboitizPower said APX is already looking at completing several projects in Luzon and Visayas this year, "with a target to integrate it closely with the firm's existing open access customers."

APX General Manager Ping Mendoza said the APX's edge will be the AboitizPower's experience in the industry.

Being in the power industry for more than 80 years gives the firm both knowledge and technical capability to cater to customers who may want to shift to solar energy, remarked AboitizPower president. Antonio Moraza.

AboitizPower first entered the solar power business in 2016, via its 59-MWp San Carlos Sun project in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

Distributed energy technology such as rooftop solar panels complement existing products and services of AboitizPower, added Moraza.

Asian leaders to gather for climate workshop in Bacolod

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- About 35 participants from various Asian countries, including the Philippines, will gather at the O Hotel here for a three-day workshop on climate pollutants reduction on April 2-4.

The gathering, dubbed the “First Regional Training-Workshop on Measuring and Mitigating Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) from the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Sector,” is a project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), in collaboration with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).

Other delegates will come from Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Japan.

Five representatives from Bacolod will join the participants from the Philippines.

Engr. Eligio Ildefonso, the executive director (OIC) of the National Solid Waste Management Commission and chief of the DENR Solid Waste Management (SWM) Division, asked Mayor Evelio Leonardia to welcome the delegates and to send participants to the workshop.

“This is both an honor and opportunity for us in Bacolod. It is flattering that we were chosen as venue of this international gathering among the many other possible cities, and this is a chance to learn, on a first-hand basis, the latest trends in the care of the environment,” the mayor said in a statement Sunday.

Keynote messages will be given by DENR Undersecretary for Environment and Field Operations Juan Miguel Cuna, and Commissioner Crispin Lao of the National Solid Waste Management Commission.

Currently, the DENR-EMB, CCAC and IGES are developing a national strategy for the reduction of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the Philippines.

During the workshop, participants will discuss how to reduce the SLCPs from MSW with focus on policy, technology, and financial aspects.

Ildefonso said the project hopes to address the emission of methane, black carbon, and other air pollutants across the MSW sector by working with cities and the national government.

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