Negros Occidental News August 2013

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Bacolod government center 01.jpg
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.

‘Tourism growth in WV upbeat'

BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO

The tourism industry in Western Visayas is upbeat because it registered a positive growth in tourist arrivals in all the provinces in the region, Tourism Region 6 director Helen Katalbas said during the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals Awareness seminar yesterday in Bacolod City.

Katalbas said “We had a 26 percent increase in tourist arrivals in the six provinces and the two highly urbanized cities in Western Visayas, or 3.1 million arrivals last year over 2.4 million in 2011.”

This is a very big increase of 600,000 in tourist arrivals and P57 billion in tourism receipts. This means that the expenditures of tourists in the region totaled P57 billion, she said.

Katalbas said Negros Occidental ranks second to Boracay Island in terms of tourist arrivals in Western Visayas.

Even if the beaches in Western Visayas are quite far, many still want to visit the place because of its historical value and sports tourism aside from the food and its delicacies.

Katalbas said Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are also very attractive for meetings, conventions and tourism events .

Meanwhile, Katalbas said the Department of Tourism is the lead agency in the implementation of the ASEAN 2015 Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Tourism in the country.

The seminar held yesterday was about standards of competencies that are acceptable to the ASEAN region because according to the MRA, employment for tourism professional will be ASEAN-wide, she said.

“So if you are recognized by a certification body of one ASEAN country, you can be accepted as an employee of any member country of the ASEAN, she added.

Ma. Christina Aquino, secretary of the Tourism Industry Board Foundation Inc., said the seminar aims to create awareness in the tourism industry and other sectors that are involved in tourism education or tourism professionals, of the impending implementation of the 2015 ASEAN MRA.

So by the time this will be implemented, the graduates or workers will be better prepared to qualify using the ASEAN qualification, she said.

Aquino said “There will be free movement of services, goods, investments and skilled labor by 2015. So we need to assess and certify all workers in the tourism industry especially for the six labor divisions that we have, so by the time our students or graduates decide to find employment in any ASEAN member state, they will be eligible to work.”

Otherwise, without the ASEAN assessment certification, they will just have to remain in the country, Aquino said.

She said she believes there is a need for awareness for the industry players in the country to make sure that they choose qualified employees having the certification that is necessary for the work, she said.

Aquino said that, based on the DOT and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, who have participated in various ASEAN meetings, the Philippines is a little bit above other member countries of the ASEAN in terms of preparedness.

“I think we occupy first or second place among the 10 member states in terms of tourism preparedness for the implementation of the ASEAN 2015 MRA,” she added.

Guv: Capitol reorg creating more jobs

BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

Former Budget Secretary Salvador Enriquez, who heads CPRM Consultants Inc., was in Negros Occidental yesterday for the final presentation by his firm of its recommendations on the reorganization of the provincial government.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the recommendation means the hiring of about 100 more personnel to meet the growing services offered by the provincial government, the merging of some offices, and the abolition of the Cooperative Office, which functions have become redundant.

The additional personnel will be needed for the recently established provincial blood bank that will be operating 24/7, the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care Program, agriculture laboratory, office of trade and investment promotions and the veterinarian’s office, the governor said.

Marañon also said some positions will also be dissolved for redundancy. The employees affected may apply for new job openings if they are qualified, or avail of an early retirement package that will be offered.

CPRM Consultants Inc. has been very professional in its recommendations for the reorganization, the governor said.

Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan said that among the units under the Office of the Governor that will be merged are sports and Panaad, and public information and the library.

The hiring of additional personnel recommended by the consultancy firm will bring the Capitol employees up to about 2,400.

Transport, labor groups ink pact

(APN)

The United Negros Drivers and Operators Center and the General Alliance of Workers’ Assemblies will sign a covenant today to safeguard the welfare and the rights of workers.

GAWA convenor Wennie Sancho said that, under the agreement, both UNDOC and GAWA will uphold the dignity of all workers, defend the poor, the helpless, the oppressed, and the victims of injustices in their quest for equality and social justice.

Sancho said this will guide the organizations in pursuing a militant movement relevant to their causes and also to alleviate the economic plight of the working class.

They are also demanding adequate and just compensations for laborers and expressed vehement opposition against the increases in the prices of crude oil and petroleum that resulted to the increase of basic social services, he said.

The signing of the agreement will mark a historical and mutual cooperation between the transport and the labor sectors in Negros Occidental, he added.

Sancho, who is the secretary general of Water Watch, also said their group fears an increase of P156 per cubic meter in the water rates if the proposal of Miya-Maynilad to undertake the Bacolod City Water District’s non-revenue water and expansion project pushes through.

The Office of the Government Counsel recently came out with an opinion that BACIWA can proceed with stage two of the negotiation with MIYA-MAYNILAD.

Silay, Talisay reach 100% in Text2Teach

BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

Silay and La Carlota cities in Negros Occidental will be the second and third local government units in the country to have all their public elementary schools fully connected to Text2Teach, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corp. chairman and chief executive officer, said yesterday.

Zobel was the keynote speaker at the signing by 12 LGUs of the memoranda of agreement at the Silay Civic Center in Silay City, Negros Occidental, to bring Text2Teach to 172 public schools in the Visayas that is estimated to cost P20.8 million.

LGUs in the Visayas that have signed up for the Text2Teach are the cities of Silay, La Carlota, Bacolod, Talisay, and Bago in Negros Occidental; Bayawan, Guihulngan and Bais in Negros Oriental; Naga and Talisay of Cebu, Laua-an town in Antique and the province of Siquijor.

Zobel said with the MOA signing yesterday that will cover 172 more public elementary schools in the Visayas, Text2Teach will now be in 300 schools in the Visayas, one year ahead of schedule.

The Text2Teach is a comprehensive mobile learning package that uses Nokia phones, which can download more than 300 educational video materials on grade 5 and 6 Match, Science, English and Values Education. It comes with a Globe Telecom BridgeCom prepaid SIM Card and a 32-inch LED Toshiba television set.

It allows teachers even in remote areas to access educational materials to supplement their lessons and provide innovative ways of learning, and to date has reached 736 public schools all over the country.

Next year, Text2Teach will celebrate its 10 th year anniversary in the country, Zobel said.

“Our goal is to mainstream the program and eventually provide access to Text2Teach to all our public elementary schools,” he added.

The secret to the success of mainstreaming Text2Teach is our partnerships with the local governments, schools and teachers, Zobel said.

The Department of Education runs the teacher training component of the project, he said.

Local governments, on the other hand, provide 38 percent of the cost of the program.

Zobel thanked the Text2Teach Alliance partners – the DepEd, Globe Telecom, Nokia, Pearson Foundation and Ayala Foundation – that have, through the years, supported the project, and Toshiba Corp., represented by Fumio Otani, for the donation of 850 32-inch LED television sets.

Maria Lourdes Heras-de Leon, Ayala Foundation president, said education is one of their main program pillars, and they are very happy of the reach of Text2Teach.

Aside from education, the foundation's other program pillars include youth leadership, sustainable livelihood and arts and culture, she said.

“We are putting more focus in integrating our programs into the numerous communities we are present in. By an integrated approach and bringing our projects to our specific communities, we envision communities to be productive, creative, self-reliant and proud to be Filipinos,” she said.

Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano said they brought Text2Teach to 12 upland schools, and with the signing of the MOA, the innovative way of learning will now be in all 32 public elementary schools of his city.

La Carlota City Mayor Juliet Marie Ferrer said the Text2Teach in her city will be in all 24 public elementary schools and in a special education school after the MOA signing.

Education is our priority, La Carlota City elementary schools' performance is now number two in Western Visayas, and hopefully, the Text2Teach will make it number one next year, she said.

Mangrove festival to mark opening of Silay City tourism month

(PNA), FPV/NLG

SILAY CITY, Aug. 27 (PNA) -- The city government of Silay in Negros Occidental will kick off the tourism month celebration in September with the staging of the 9th Pagatpat Festival (Celebration of the Mangrove).

The festival, themed “Tubi, Aton Kabuhi; Katunggan, Aton Amligan,” will start with a motorcade around the city on September 1. The opening program will be held at Baragay Balaring Social Court.

“This is a unique celebration because the advocacy campaign is for the preservation and conservation of mangroves on the shoreline of Silay considered a cultural heritage and an award-winning eco-tourism site,” Mayor Jose Montelibano said.

The World Tourism Month celebration is themed, “Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future.”

The mangrove festival is jointly sponsored by the Silay City Tourism Office, IKAW-AKO Japan-Negros Partnership for Environmental Protection, Japan International Cooperating Agency, and Barangay Balaring Council.

It highlights the collective efforts for the total environment protection project dubbed “Bukid, Ciudad, Baybay” (Mountain, City Proper, Shoreline).

Activities will include the eco-challenge at the mangrove, sand art contest, and cooking competition. All the events will maximize the utilization of resources coming from water.

Mari Kurata, IKAW-AKO coordinator and project manager, said that since the event is based on the world tourism month theme, the events will be participated by visitors coming from United States, Japan, France, Vietnam and Korea.

The festival will be capped with the planting of mangrove propagules by 500 participants.

Bacolod-based food expo eyeing more events next year

(PNA), CTB/NLG

BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 26 (PNA) -- More events will be added to the Sabor Bisaya food expo and culinary competition next year after another successful staging of the three-day event last weekend.

Roberto Magalona, president of Hotel and Restaurants Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO), said the plan is to expand the event next year to include a food festival at night.

“The food expo aims to make it more fun so that people will come here not only for the competition but to also enjoy the food,” he said.

This year, about 30 food products and equipment exhibitors participated in the expo held at the Bacolod Pavilion Resort and Hotel.

Magalona said that aside from competitors from Bacolod, participants in the culinary contests also came from Cebu, Dumaguete, Kabankalan, Iloilo, Roxas and Aklan.

“I think it shows that Sabor Bisaya has become the premiere food event in Western Visayas,” he said.

Magalona added that the culinary competition is important because it enables participants to raise the level of skills of both the students and professionals in the hotel and restaurant industry.

The winners of the Regional Chefs Wars will represent the Visayas Region in the National Food Showdown Competition in Manila in September.

The third edition of Sabor Bisaya also included the Regional Tourism and Hospitality Summit organized by Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Educators in the Philippines Western Visayas and Tourism Educators Movers Philippines Western Visayas.

Conceptualized in 2011 by Juan Miguel Gaston, general manager of the Bacolod-based Gruppo Uma Food Corp., Sabor Bisaya has partnered with HRANO in its aim to, among others, expose the local hospitality education, and tourism sector to the international standards of the food industry and to provide a venue for international and local suppliers to showcase their high quality products and technical equipment.

Expect bigger ‘Sabor'

(APN)

Culinary professionals and students in the Visayas should expect a bigger Sabor Bisaya Food Exposition in 2014 following the success of its third edition this year, Roberto Magalona, president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Negros Occidental, said yesterday.

Magalona said that, from a simple food fair, two years ago with only culinary experts and students from Western Visayas as participants, Sabor Bisaya this year, had drawn more crowds from outside the region.

Aside from culinary professionals and students in Region 6, this year's food fair was also attended by members of the hospitality, management and tourism sectors from Manila, Cebu and Dumaguete.

"The fact that we have a lot of teams from Negros Occidental winning the culinary skills competitions nationwide and some well known chefs in Manila from Negros Occidental, show that we have a good HTM industry here", Magalona said.

The two-day food expo was capped by a supreme fried rice, dessert flambé and flair bartending contests, quiz bee and tour guiding competitions and the Regional Chefs Wars event.

The winner of the chefs wars will represent the Visayas Region in the National Food Showdown Competition on September in Manila.

As of press time yesterday, however, the list of winners of the event was not available yet.

Negros Occidental provincial gov’t to launch 'Bantay Dagat' team

(PNA), PDS/NLG/TDE

BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 23 (PNA) --The provincial government of Negros Occidental will launch its "Bantay Dagat" team this month as part of the intensified efforts of the province to address concerns on illegal fishing and territorial disputes.

Jose Maria Valencia, provincial legal officer and chief of staff of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., said Friday they are now organizing the enforcement team composed of personnel from the Philippine National Police Special Action Force and representatives from local government units (LGUs) and non-government groups.

Bantay Dagat will be a parallel organization of the existing Task Force Ilahas under the Office of the Governor.

In Negros Occidental, illegal fishing activities are still rampant in Manapla town in the north and in Cauayan town in the south.

Both municipalities are recent recipients of "Bantay Dagat" patrol boats from the provincial government with assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Valencia said that "Bantay Dagat" operatives will be tasked to apprehend those engaged in illegal fishing activities. Those apprehended will be endorsed to the LGUs.

If the LGUs fail to act on the apprehension, the "Bantay Dagat" will file the appropriate charges against those involved in the illegal activities.

Valencia said the creation of "Bantay Dagat" can be done through an executive order, adding that the governor is also planning to institutionalize the organization to be part of the Capitol.

He said he has been meeting with the non-government organizations and individuals willing to assist the government in the endeavor.

Drive against illegal wildlife trading in Negros Occidental stepped up

(PNA), PDS/NLG

BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 22 (PNA) --The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in this city is working closely with the Bacolod-Silay Airport and the Police Center for Aviation Security (PCAS) in its intensified campaign against illegal wildlife trading in Negros Occidental.

The CENRO here said that chief Edgardo Rostata recently met with assistant airport manager Ofelia Leonardo and Sr. Insp. Rommel Ybañez of PCAS.

The officials discussed their respective agencies’ compliance with the terms and conditions of the memorandum of agreement signed between the PCAS, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on the monitoring of wildlife trading at the airport.

Personnel of CENRO will be assigned at the Bacolod-Silay Airport to monitor wildlife trade and enforce Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.

They will ensure that protocols and proper documents to support the movement of wildlife and its by-products are in place.

In the past months, the CENRO here had made a series of apprehensions of individuals engaged in selling of various wild animals and wildlife by-products.

DTI training scheduled

(Visayan Daily Star)

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Association of Negros Occidental Food Processors Inc. will hold a training on Dehydrated Fruits and Vegetables in Bacolod City on August 27, a press release from DTI said.

The activity is aimed at helping food processors, farmers, academic institutions, Local Government Units' Livelihood Coordinators, non-government organizations, and potential entrepreneurs acquire skills on food processing and possible business with the utilization of locally-available raw materials with appropriate technology, the press release said.

The trainers are experts from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, School of Technology, who will discuss topics on dehydration principles and concepts, drying equipment (with operational techniques), and hands-on/demo on drying tomato, mango, pineapple, banana, kangkong and malunggay.

They will supervise and guide participants during the hands-on/demo session, the press release said.

A participation fee of P900 per participant will be collected to defray expenses for food (lunch and two snacks), training hand-outs and certificate.

Prospective participants must also bring apron and hairnets to be used during the hands-on sessions.

For confirmation of attendance, those interested may call the Romel Amihan, on or before August 23 at tel. nos. 433-0250, 704-2203 or 434-7920, the press release said.


Negros Occidental among pilot areas for World Bank’s $ 500-M rural dev't. program

(PNA), DSP/NLG/TDE

BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 20 (PNA) -- Negros Occidental is among the provinces that will avail of the US$ 500-million rural development program fund from the World Bank, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Tuesday.

The projects will be implemented in 2014 under the Philippine Rural Development Program.

The governor said the exact amount of the projects that will be implemented in the province will be determined later.

“We are in the process of preparing the project proposals and other documents for submission to the World Bank,” Marañon said, adding that World Bank executives are coming to the province next week.

Most of the projects identified for funding include farm-to- market roads, water systems, irrigation projects, and income generating-projects that will help improve the economy of the province and alleviate poverty.

Marañon said the province will provide a 10 percent counterpart fund while the Department of Agriculture will also release another 10 percent.

Two towns get patrol boats

(Visayan Daily Star)

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. renewed his call yesterday for coastal communities to band together and police their territorial waters together with uniformed men deputized by the Provincial Bantay Dagat Coordinating Council, a press release from the Capitol said.

Marañon, who was in the coastal village of Punta Mesa in Manapla town that celebrated its 143rd Charter yesterday, turned over a Bantay Dagat patrol boat to be stationed in Manapla complete with life jackets, rain coats, fire extinguisher, life ring and megaphone amounting to P769,999.

“We are better equipped now. We will run after you,” Marañon warned illegal fishers.

The patrol boat would have included a GPS system but the governor told deputized Bantay Dagat fisherfolk that it was among those stolen at the PEMO office weeks ago, and that he leaves it to the National Bureau of Investigation to determine who stole it.

A Bantay Dagat patrol boat, with similar features as the one issued to Manapla, will also be delivered to Cauayan town late this week, the governor said.

The regional BFAR office allocated P2 million for the acquisition of the two patrol boats at P750,000 each, or a total of P1.5 million with the balance of P500,00 intended to purchase support equipment.

Marañon and Manapla Mayor Ma. Lourdes Socorro Escalante entered into a memorandum of agreement stating that the LGU will handle the maintenance and operation of the patrol boat.

Marañon, together with BFAR chief, Asis Perez, committed to intensify fishery laws enforcement in coastal LGUs of Negros Occidental with the acquisition of new patrol boats for seaborne operations.

Studies made by the world’s 100 marine scientists, show that the wealth or total worth of the bounty of our seas are no match to other natural or God-given resources, Marañon said.

The Philippine seas are among the richest, if not the richest of all, in the whole world because the heart of the coral triangle is the Visayan Sea, he added.

“But I am saddened by the fact that, we abuse our seas, our rich fishing grounds, our natural resources. We are overfishing the Visayan sea,” he continued.

He reminded Bantay Dagat members that they have a big responsibility ahead of them.

Escalante said that because of the LGU’s consistent drive against illegal fishing, which include hulbot-hublot, use of trawl, compressor, likos, fine mesh nets and the like, she even faced defeats in the villages of Punta Salong and Barangay 2A in the last May 2013 polls.

But she said her loss in these two barangays did not rock her strong resolve nor deter her from enforcing the provisions of the Fisheries Code, the press release said.

For Chambry Small Fisherfolk Association chair, Luzviminda Dianos, the new patrol boat is a dream come true for its members, who sometimes have nothing to harvest at all because of the activities of illegal fishers residing in two other neighboring coastal communities, the press release said.

First solo exhibition

(WDJ)

For the first time in the country’s art history, two emerging Filipina artists who have never met personally held solo exhibitions back to back Tuesday at the Negros Museum, Bacolod City. Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, chairman of the Committee on History, Arts and Culture, cut the ceremonial opening ribbon.

Joan Honoridez of Bacolod City and Bisai Ya of Cebu City have come together in their double solo show entitled “As It Is”, which is going to be a traveling exhibition visiting three key cities in Bacolod, Cebu and Manila between August to December this year.

“Our show was borne out of endless nights of online discussions, lectures, critiquing and hands-on application of learning from our online art mentor, Australia-based Filipino leading painter Arturo Cruz,” shares Bisai Ya.

“Since January 2013, we both went into serious art workshop under the close supervision and tutelage of master painter Arturo who has been selflessly giving out all 30 years of his art expertise to guide us in our quest to be considered as serious abstractionists,” remarks Joan Honoridez.

The three of them having only met and brainstormed on Facebook, their eventual meet up is also something to look forward to – a historical feat in the Filipino artscape.

The art tour dates are August 13 to Sept 13 at the Negros Museum in Bacolod, then October 1-17 at the Qube Gallery in Cebu. The Manila leg of the tour will be sometime in mid November.

PRC to put up Bacolod office

BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO

The Professional Regulation Commission will establish a satellite office in Bacolod City within the year as there are more professionals in the city, and even overseas workers who need its services, PRC chairman Teresita Manzala said yesterday.

Manzala paid a call on Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Maranon, Jr., Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia and Mayor Monico Puentevella yesterday.

She said an indicator that PRC has to open its satellite office in Bacolod is that even during their partnership with Shoemart and the Bureau of Treasury for the acceptance of application for renewal at the mall in Bacolod, about 3,016 applicants processed the renewal of their PRC licenses.

The PRC earned P2,039,864.00 which went directly to the Bureau of Treasury, she said, adding that there are 600,000 PRC examinees every year.

They also need to open their doors to engineers who plan to work in ASEAN countries, Manzala said.

Manzala told Leonardia that she welcomes the bill he filed seeking the creation of a PRC office in Bacolod, during their meeting in his congressional office in Bacolod yesterday.

She said Leonardia’s bill will ensure that a budget is set aside for the Bacolod office, including the possible construction of a building for the PRC.

“We are very happy with this development,” she added, and promised to work closely with the congressman.

Manzala said they need space that could meet their requirements, preferably government owned.

She was also offered by Puentevella a space at the City Hall, the Bacolod Government Center or at the city owned property at Reclamation area near the Senior Citizens' building.

Marañon also offered a space at the Negros First Cyber Center which is more high tech and also accessible.

Manzala said the creation of a Bacolod PRC office will be of great help as the country is entering an ASEAN professional regulatory system, where those who pass the Philippine examinations will now be qualified to practice their profession in ASEAN member countries.

A PRC office located in the city, Leonardia said, will hasten the processing of licenses for local professionals and ease up the work load of the regional office.

Leonardia filed last week House Bill 2361, which seeks the establishment of a Bacolod PRC Office.

He said that 40.94 percent of the total population of Western Visayas – 2.9-million out of 7.1-million – comes from Negros Occidental.

A PRC Bacolod office will help a great number of graduates and licensing applicants. It will also be more convenient and cheaper for people not to travel to Iloilo anymore, he noted.

“The PRC is here now in the City of Smiles, and this is very good news for us,” Puentevella said.

“We are here to find a place that will fit our requirements. We have the necessary resources and we are ready,” Manzala said. She also emphasized that both she and PRC chairman and Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture chief Rolando Cordero prefer that the Satellite Office be on a government-owned space and is, more or less, situated on the ground floor with an anteroom or a lobby.

Manzala also relayed PRC’s intention to have most of their examinations computerized – another reason why they are considering a government space, rather than being in a commercial establishment, further adding that they are now “improving their organization, manpower and staffing”.

PRC Supervising PRO Blesilda Masangcay and PRC Executive Assistant Shano Lo were also present during the courtesy call to Puentevella.

Food consultancy consortium seen to help Neg. Occ. more

(APN)

The Negrense Food Consultancy Group created by the Association of Negros Producers in partnership with AFOS Foundation, a German Foundation for Enterprise Development and the Department of Science and Technology was launched at the L’ Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City yesterday.

The initiative is expected to help the food industry of Negros Occidental.

In his message read by Board Member Alain Gatuslao, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said that the creation of NFCTG hopefully can contribute to the economic development of the province.

Marañon said the creation of the group signals a start of another important undertaking of empowering Negrenses to become highly-competitive and at par with other food entrepreneurs in the country and even abroad.

He noted that Negros Occidental is one of the food capitals in the Philippines that is rich with natural resources and this puts the province on the top in as far as the food and agriculture industries are concerned.

Marañon added that he is looking forward for NFCTG to assist many Negrenses to further improve and develop their crafts so they may continue to stir the country’s food industry for the better.

The governor also lauded the ANP, AFOS and DOST for working to create NFCTG.

Ana Maria Isabela Salacata, team leader of NFCG, said that they will help the food manufacturing industries in Negros Occidental especially the small, micro and medium size entrepreneurs so they could improve their processes.

Salacata said that they will conduct assessments on the manufacturing practices of the local food producers to see if they conform to the Bureau of Food and Drugs Executive Order number 153 and Presidential Decree 856.

Salacata stressed that in order to get a license to operate, food manufacturers should comply with these laws.

She said that they will also look as to how materials are received, processed and stored and at the same time provide trainings for the hygiene and basics of food safety for personnel of the food manufacturers.

Food consultancy consortium seen to help Neg. Occ. more

(APN)

The Negrense Food Consultancy Group created by the Association of Negros Producers in partnership with AFOS Foundation, a German Foundation for Enterprise Development and the Department of Science and Technology was launched at the L’ Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City yesterday.

The initiative is expected to help the food industry of Negros Occidental.

In his message read by Board Member Alain Gatuslao, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said that the creation of NFCTG hopefully can contribute to the economic development of the province.

Marañon said the creation of the group signals a start of another important undertaking of empowering Negrenses to become highly-competitive and at par with other food entrepreneurs in the country and even abroad.

He noted that Negros Occidental is one of the food capitals in the Philippines that is rich with natural resources and this puts the province on the top in as far as the food and agriculture industries are concerned.

Marañon added that he is looking forward for NFCTG to assist many Negrenses to further improve and develop their crafts so they may continue to stir the country’s food industry for the better.

The governor also lauded the ANP, AFOS and DOST for working to create NFCTG.

Ana Maria Isabela Salacata, team leader of NFCG, said that they will help the food manufacturing industries in Negros Occidental especially the small, micro and medium size entrepreneurs so they could improve their processes.

Salacata said that they will conduct assessments on the manufacturing practices of the local food producers to see if they conform to the Bureau of Food and Drugs Executive Order number 153 and Presidential Decree 856.

Salacata stressed that in order to get a license to operate, food manufacturers should comply with these laws.

She said that they will also look as to how materials are received, processed and stored and at the same time provide trainings for the hygiene and basics of food safety for personnel of the food manufacturers.

Organic drive featured at retailers’ confab

(Visayan Daily Star)

Organic farming advocate Ramon Uy Jr. of Negros Occidental was among the resource persons at the recent 22nd National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo held Aug. 7-8 at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, a press release from the Capitol said.

Uy, president of the Organic na Negros! Organic Producers and Retailers Association, showcased before Asia’s top retailers the growth of the local organic farming movement during the session on competitive edge of socially-responsible businesses.

The NRCE had Busaba Chirathivat of Central Retail Thailand, one of the biggest in Thailand; Ian Wade, former chair of the world’s largest health, beauty and lifestyle retailer A.S. Watson Group; and, Bienvenido Tantoco III, president of Rustan’s Supercenters, Inc., comprising the pool of retail industry experts as resource speakers.

During the plenary, Uy shared insights on the changing demands and tastes of consumers from retail entertainment, use of store design to improve shopping experiences, consumer and technology trends that change the game of the industry, and how home—grown retailers can be inspired by the world’s leading retail brands, were provided, the press release said.

DENR holds “Araw ni Bosing”

By Easter Anne D. Doza (JCM/EAD/PIA6, Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Aug. 14 (PIA) -- To enhance environmental awareness and promote environmental protection and conservation, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) held “Araw ni Bosing” Day in Barangay Tomongtong this province.

The Araw ni Bosing concept is a localized version of Peoples’ Day in the barangays as an offshoot of the principle of President Aquino where the people are the bosses.

This activity aims to bring DENR services closer to the people and promote the programs of the Department to the grassroots level in the communities in partnership with other concerned government agencies and the local officials.

Barangay Tomongtong is a provincial awardee as an environment-friendly barangay with almost over a thousand residents.

During the presentation and interaction, the questions of residents were answered or clarified.

Representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, Municipal Assessor’s Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Department of Public Works and Highways were present.

SP to okay P148 million add’l budget

BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will approve the P148,103,481 supplemental budget sought by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. in their regular session tomorrow.

At a hearing presided over by Lacson yesterday, the SP summoned Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado, Economic Enterprise Development Department head Japhet Masculino, and Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa to answer questions on the supplemental budget.

Supplemental Budget No. 2 contains the priority projects of the governor, there is nothing controversial in it, Lacson said.

He said they also learned from Salado yesterday that the provincial government still has P62 million that can be declared as savings and used for future projects this year.

Salado also said that at the end of the year, they will again establish how much savings the provincial government will have to use for more projects, the vice governor said.

Lacson denied that projects had to be sacrificed because of the SP’s insistence that a portion of the P180 million needed for the completion of the Negros First CyberCentre not entirely be in the form of a loan, and that P22.5 million for it be taken from provincial government funds.

There are so many projects that need to be implemented, we just have to prioritize, Lacson said.

Of the P148 million, Marañon, in his request to the SP, said P114,384,651 of the 2013 Supplemental Budget No. 2 will be sourced from the retained earnings of the provincial government as of Dec. 31, 2012 and its Internal Revenue Allotment differential.

Among the items sought to be funded under the P114.3 million are the construction of the Negros First CyberCentre Phase 2 – P22.5 million, grants and donations – P19 million, counterpart for Negros First Rice Processing Center – P10 million, Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program – P10 million, construction of seven cottages – P9.4 million;

Counterpart fund for irrigation development – P6 million, separation pay of jail guards – P6.6 million, repair of the Cadiz District Hospital – P6.2 million, peace and order fund – P5.5 million, leave benefits – P5 million, additional works for Cadiz District Hospital – P4.4 million, purchase of vehicle – P2 million, as well as allocations for various supplies and services.

The governor is also asking for SP approval of a P33,718,830 allocation for the Supplemental Budget No. 2 of the EEDD of the provincial government to be sourced from the retained earnings of the provincial government as of Dec. 31, 2012 and the Mambukal Resort income from catering services as of July 10, 2013.

Of the P33.7 million, P7.3 million is being sought for the personnel services of the Merceditas Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay City, P5 million for hospital equipment, P5 million for medical, dental and laboratory equipment, while the rest is being sought for consultancy services, overtime pay, supplies, travel and training services, repairs and allowances.

Honors set for youngest FIDE master from Negros Occidental

(PNA), FFC/PTR/NLG/CMG

BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 12 (PNA) -- The provincial government of Negros Occidental will bestow a recognition for seven-year-old Alekhine Nouri, the youngest FIDE master, who traces his roots to Escalante City.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. will welcome the chess prodigy at the provincial capitol when he arrives in the province on Aug. 21, Negros Occidental Sports Coordinators president Benzon Fernandez said.

Nouri won an outright Fide Master title by virtue of his excellent showing at the 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013 Standard competition at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand last June.

Alekhine is the son of FIDE Master Hamed Nouri, who married a Negrense from Escalante City.

Hamed himself coaches his son who represents Taguig City, where their family is based. Alekhine is a grade one pupil of FEU-FERN in Quezon City.

The younger Nouri, who was featured by Wall Street Journal Southeast Asia as the youngest FIDE master at 7, shone in the Open Under-8 class and tied with Ganzorig Amartuvshin of Mongolia. Both tallied six points to go home with the gold medal in the rapid individual event.

He defeated Nguyen Hoang Hiep of Vietnam in the eighth round then subdued Luvsandorj Orgilbold of Mongolia in the final round to finish with 8.0 points and ruled the Open 8-under category.

His father named him after Russian Alexander Alekhine, one of the best ever to play the sport.

P6-M rice processing center to rise in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental

(PNA), JBP/NLG

BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 11 (PNA) -- Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. led Saturday the groundbreaking rites for the construction of a P6-million integrated rice processing center in Hinoba-an, the province’s southernmost town.

Marañon, together with Mayor Ernesto Estrao, Vice Mayor Jane Cubid and the town councilors, laid the time capsule for the facility in Barangay Asia expected to be completed this year.

The project, a joint undertaking of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), is the second in Negros Occidental. The construction of the first rice processing center in Bago City is ongoing.

The Hinoba-an facility, to be managed by an organic farmers' group, will include a multi-pass rice mill and a 300-square meter warehouse.

During a program over the weekend, Marañon also turned over P13.669 million worth of projects to Hinobaan farmers, including pre and post-harvest facilities such as combine harvester, rice transplanter, hand tractor and thresher.

Marañon said the projects in Hinoba-an are expected to assist hundreds of small farmers in improving their harvest efficiency and contribute to the province’s rice self-sufficiency target for 2013.

“The province is right on track in its rice self-suffiency campaign with a 23 percent rise in harvest last year compared to the 2011 production, bringing our sufficiency level to more than 97 percent,” the governor said.


24th Mid-biennial Conference of Soroptimist International of the Philippines

By Luci Lizares

THE Silay Soroptimists hosted the recent 24th Mid-biennial Conference of Soroptimist International of the Philippines Region held at the L’ Fisher Hotel, Bacolod. Being an election year, it was doubly hard for this twenty member club to organize such a big event. Nonetheless, it was a success, with more than five hundred delegates attending.

As early as February, the hotels were booked. History was made when five guests from the Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) came. The contingent was headed by the SIA president Cheri Fleming, past chairperson of the SIA Fundraising Council, Sandy Shultz, Suzanne Sullivan, Chris Blacey and Carmen Flor, SIA Federation Director.

Every moment counted so upon the arrival of the guests, the party proceeded to unveil the Soroptimist Marker at the junction of Talisay and Silay cities followed by a Soroptimist Leadership seminar, a press conference and an Soroptimist Internation of the Philippines Region (SIPR) board meeting at Amrei Hotel.

The plenary sessions started at exactly 8:00 with the ringing of church bells. This is a religious tradition carried on religiously before the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass. Doxology was more meaningful as it was accompanied by a dance from students of Jeanette Garcia Sanchez of Silay Institute.

For the conference, the guest speakers included Cheri Fleming and Carmen Flor from Soroptimist International of the Americas, Marivic Anonuevo, of the Millenium Development Challenge, Amina Rasul, a stalwart of the Muslim Community, Gen. Lina Sarmiento of the Philippine National Police and Gertie Tirona of the Commission on Overseas Filipinos. Two mayors, Mayor Bing Leonardia and Mayor Oti Montelibano honored the attendees with their presence.

In the afternoon, workshops were conducted.

“Celebrating Our Cultural Heritage”, was the theme of the evening events. Balay Negrense opened its doors to the Soroptimists, with a Barrio Fiesta complete with the century old orchestra, popularly called “Banda ni Siok” and the multi awarded Kabataang Silay Rondalla plus the participation of street dancers “Hugyaw Silay” meaning Rejoice, Silay.

Myra Abubakar and Marilou Jiao were chosen Muses of the Night. Mayor Jose Montelibano and SI Silay president Marissa Montelibano headed the reception. Despite the rains, the spirits of the guests were euphoric. Another event that wowed the guests was when the famous “Ruins” of Talisay was converted into a veritable 20th century garden with sparkling lights, grandiose tents and chandeliers. Guests in fashionable Filipiniana ternos, kimonas and baro’t saya converged.

The program started with a Violin Quartet, playing music of the last century bringing back memories of yesteryears. Ayer, Hoy Y Mañana was the theme of the evening. Liela Salgado gave brief remarks on how we were a century ago. A treat for the guests was sung—an original, soulful rendition of “Ahay Kalisud”, said to have been composed by well known soprano, Jovita Fuentes, pining for a love lost.

Silay Institute San Rafael presented a Maria Clara dance number reminiscent of the Bulakeños love for music and dance in that bygone era. Chit de la Cruz provided a “binalaybay” or a monologue in Tagalog this time, in praise of women. SI Silay members, with four guests from Manila, Gov. Minda Garcia, Naty Agra, Marisol Tugade and Rita Aznar danced the Tanda de Valse, whose music was composed by Silaynon Don Pitong Ledesma, for a lady love in the early 20th century. Legend has it that she never became his wife. The dance was choreographed by Medy Locsin Garcia, of the Ledesma and Locsin clans.

Other clubs rendered dance numbers too, among them were SI Bacolod, Alfonso, Makati, and Kalibo. SIPR officers courageously danced the cha cha to the tune of Love Music with the help of choreographer Jeanette Garcia Sanchez.

Adjudged Most Outstanding Club of the year was SI Sta. Maria, Bulacan with SI Malabon a close second. Congratulations to both clubs for their passion, commitment and dedication for Soroptimist Service.

An interesting feature of the conference was a Photo Gallery at the lobby of L’ Fisher, chronicling the programs and projects of Soroptimists which center on the mission of improving the lives of women and girls through education and training. It also focused on SIA grants received by the various clubs, a great help in the implementation of its programs. Most notable of Soroptimist programs is the establishment and support of Women and Children’s Protection Desks nationwide. The Photo Gallery was designed by Ichay Lizares, a Soroptimist from Silay.

The ladies gave thanks to the master of ceremonies and the emcees of the evening who added glamour to the affair. Rida Aznar, a member of the Gatuslao family of Negros Occidental, Ichay Lizares, Aimee Quevenco, Cyd Marquez, Marisol Tugade, Bombing Coo, Patsy Aguilar and and Liela Salgado.

The Tourism Ladies of Silay with multi-awarded Tourism chief Ver Pacete, were indeed a welcome assistance at the airport. Kudos to the Silay Soroptimists, especially Elaine Montelibano, Maida Jison, Lyn Gamboa, Virgie Virata, Liwayway Javelona , Mila Araneta, Tess Jalandoni, Rose de la Paz, Gloria de Oca, Lily Lopez, Carmen Flor and of course, Marissa Montelibano, the First Lady of Silay, who made this all happen.

Fun run, walk set Aug. 18 in Bacolod City

(PNA), LAM/NLG/CMG

BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 9 (PNA) -- The “Run Ko, Pag-asa Mo-Hua Ming Fun Run/Walk 2013” will be held Aug. 18 at Ayala North Point in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

The fund-raising project is organized by the St. John’s Institute Alumni Association for the benefit of the Alumni Association Scholarship program.

The event is open to everyone and will have five categories for fun run and two categories for walk.

In fun run, distance categories are 10K, 5K, 3K, 1K and 500-meter kids' dash. Walk categories are 4K Batch Group Walk and 4K Individual Fitness Walk.

Assembly time will be at 5:00 a.m.

Registration fees are P400 for 10K; P300, for 5K, 4K (walk) and 3K; P150, for 1K; and P100, for Kids’ Dash.

Last year, more than 1,300 participants joined the fund-raising event.

Medals, prizes and gift certificates will be awarded to the winners.

Registration is ongoing at the Run Club in Robinsons Place Bacolod, Chris Sports at The District, and at the SJI Alumni Office.

For inquiries, call the Alumni Secretariat at 476-9433 or (0917)3000735.

Pushes ethanol, power ventures

BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

The huge, barely tapped potential of the sugarcane industry to produce much needed bioethanol as a gasoline additive, and biomass power, should be harnessed to enable local stakeholders to survive beyond 2015 when tariff on cheap imported sugar entering the country drops to a nominal five percent.

This was stressed by JoseLayugJr., SRA consultant and former Department of Energy undersecretary, in a briefing for Negros Occidental officials and sugar leaders at the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters headquarters in Bacolod City, yesterday.

Four firms in the country currently produce 131,000,000 liters of bioethanol (Leyte Agri Corp. in Leyte - 10,000,000, San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental - 37,000,000, Roxol Bioenergy Corporation in Bgy. Roberto S. Benedicto, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental - 30,000,000, and Green Future Innovations in Isabela province - 54,000,000), he said.

The current production serves only 25 percent of 400 million liters per annum requirement of the country, or 10 percent ethanol blend for gasoline, he said.

Layug also noted that while there is a 250-megawatt installation target for biomass, only 164 MWs of existing biomass renewable energy contracts exist, so far.

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Martin said her office is finalizing the guidelines for the allocation of a portion of next crop year’s sugarcane production for bioethanol.

It will be known as F, or Fermented sugar, she said.

We are doing this to let the world know that the country is serious about its bioethanol production, she said.

She said a Universal Robina Corp. bioethanol plant, expected to produce 40 million liters a year, is also set to be operational in Negros Oriental soon.

Fund turned over for food processing sector

(APN)

The Department of Science and Technology turned over a total of P365,000 in checks to the Technology and Livelihood Development Center in Negros Occidental recently for the purchase of a printer that will be used to print food labels for locally-made products.

DOST Provincial Director Francis Allan Daraug said yesterday that this is part of its grants and aid project to support facility for the food processing sectors being assisted by TLDC.

Daraug said that with the purchase of the printing machine, the 61 food processors being assisted by TLDC will no longer need to have their food labels printed by commercial printing firms which is expensive, as they can do it at TLDC for a lower price.

He said that, aside from the purchase of the printing machine, DOTC also helped in the training of a lay-out artist who will design the labels of local food product producers that do not have labels yet.

Menzi Joy Rojo, food sector in-charge, said once the printer has been purchased, they will print food labels on paper or on stickers and the income from it will be used to purchase printer ink and other materials needed for food labeling.

She said this will be an additional service to be offered by TLDC aside from venue and equipment rentals, photocopying, and trainings on product packaging and labeling.

SP to summon oil firm reps; Ethanol production pushed

BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is inviting representatives of oil firms to shed light on the oil price disparity in the province.

The SP wants an explanation on why fuel prices in Negros Occidental are more expensive than in Manila and Cebu, he said.

But he admitted that the SP has limited powers to act on the matter, and it is really up to the congressmen of the province to work for lower prices.

Lacson said he will support a move of Negros businessmen to file a complaint to demand lower prices for fuel as long as there is basis.

Meanwhile, he welcomed the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s plan to set a sugar allocation for the production of ethanol, which is used as blend with gasoline.

We must take a serious effort to sustain the ethanol program of the country, he said.

‘No red tide in Neg. Occ.’

(APN)

No red tide incidence has been reported in Negros Occidental, Ruel Almoneda, coordinator of the Provincial Coastal Fisheries Resources Management,said Saturday.

Almoneda said they tested the sea waters of Cadiz and Bacolod Cities and the towns of Pulupandan and Valladolid this month and found no presence of the harmful algae that causes shell fish poisoning.

He also said red tide is actually called the harmful algal bloom phenomenon that usually occurs during the rainy season after the long period of drought.

Alomoneda said the term “red tide” is used to describe the harmful algal phenomenon because the sea water turns red, indicating the presence of the algae but there are also instances where the sea water color also turns yellow or brownish.

The last harmful algal bloom phenomenon outbreak in the province occurred in 1988 where about 200 people were hospitalized and many died after eating shell fish.

The effects of sea shell poisoning can sometimes cause paralysis, amnesia and death, Almoneda said.

He said eating shellfish is the most common cause of red tide poisoning because it is a filter feeder and, unlike fish, its intestines are not removed before it is cooked.

Silay City sets various activities in observance of History Month

(PNA), FPV/NLG

BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 4 (PNA) -- The city government of Silay in Negros Occidental has scheduled various activities in observance of the History Month this August.

City Tourism Officer Ver Pacete said that by virtue of Proclamation No. 339, President Benigno Aquino III cited the need to extend the observance of the nation’s history from a week to a whole month given its richness and diversity.

Also, major events occur in the month of August, concluding with National Heroes’ Day on Aug. 30.

The month-long celebration in Silay is being supported by the Ramon Hofileña Museum, Jalandoni Lifestyle Museum, Balay Negrense Museum, and Silay City Museum.

Pacete said there will be spot lectures at the Carobcob Encomienda in Barangay Balaring and at the memoirs of Second World War in Barangay Patag.

Upon request, the Silay City Tourism Office also offers lecture-series on overview of Philippine history with focus on the socio-cultural history of Negros.

The Department of Education in Silay City is also integrating History Month activities into its Social Studies classes. Area coordinators and teachers will choose important topics in Philippine history for class discussions or presentations in forms of drama, song or poem.

In terms of food, the famous El Ideal Bakery will showcase the evolution of hometown delicacies.

The history tour will include visit to heritage houses, San Diego Pro-Cathedral, Cinco de Noviembre Marker, Hawaiian Philippine Company, Plaza Olympia Severino, Silay Port Ruins, Japanese pill boxes, and Hacienda Adela Folklore Village.

Briefing on agri extension providers set

(APN)

A regional briefing on accreditation of extension service providers will be held on Thursday at the Governor’s Hall of the Negros Occidental Provincial Building, Dina Genzola, senior agriculturist of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said yesterday.

Genzola said the briefing is required under the Department of Agriculture Administrative order number 11 series of 2007, that directed wherein the Agricultural Training Institute to issue guidelines and rules and regulations for the accreditation of private extension service providers for extension grants.

Genzola said it will also cover all fully-funded agriculture and fisheries extension activities in line with the Department of Agriculture’s commitment to importance to the modernization of Philippine Agriculture.

DAR Administrative order number 24, series of 2008, stated that the grants shall cover extension services provided by the accredited extension service providers and shall be utilized to cover the expenses in providing training services, demonstration services, information/communication services, and farm/business advisory service.

Genzola said the extension grants may be categorized under the four major agriculture and fisheries extensions services that includes training, techno-demo, production/development of information, education and communication and the farm business advisory.

In line with the establishment of organic trading post in different provinces of the regions, a training workshop on good organic retailing practices for the OTP projects will be held to be attended by local government units from Regions 6, 7, and 8.

Kabankalan City airport ready for landing, awaiting CAAP clearance

(PNA), PDS/NLG/EYA

KABANKALAN CITY, Aug. 2 (PNA) --The airport in this city in southern Negros Occidental is ready for landing, but still needs clearance and permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) .

Mayor Isidro Zayco said Friday the compacting of the one-kilometer runway using the city's funds is already finished.

"It already has a perimeter fence and soon we will be concreting it and will begin the construction of a small terminal," Zayco said.

The construction is done based on whatever fund is available from the city, he said.

The 104-hectare airport being built in Barangay Hilamonan is projected to have an about 1.5-kilometer runway.

Once operational, the airport can accommodate a 30-to 50-seater planes.

With the airport, Kabankalan, situated almost 93 kilometers south of Bacolod, is poised to become the gateway to tourist sites in the Sixth District that includes the neighboring Cauayan town and Sipalay City famous for their white sand beaches, dive sites, and rich marine life.

During the term of the late Gov. Joseph Marañon, the provincial government appropriated P30 million for the airport construction, Zayco said.

“We welcome any additional funds from Capitol,” he added.

Zayco said the city government has already spent up to P120 million for the airport project using equipment of the city and provincial governments as well as that of the Philippine Army’s 542nd Engineering Construction Battalion.

The area surrounding the airport has already been acquired by the city at P120,000 to P140,000 per hectare, he added.

Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. said the airport will be a "big boost to the economy in the area."

DAR distributes 455 has to 90 ARBs

(APN)

Ninety farmers from northern Negros Occidental received a total of 455.95 hectares of land recently under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, Teresita Mabunay, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer-1 of the Department of Agrarian Reform in the province, said yesterday.

Mabunay said 35 of the farmers are from Brgy. Bulanon, 22 from Brgy. Tadlong, and 57 from Brgy. General Luna, all in Sagay City, while the rest are from Brgy. Mabini in Cadiz City.

She said the lands were acquired through voluntary offers to sell and compulsory acquisition.

Enrique Paderes, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer for northern Negros Occidental, and not Igmidio Tabianan, as reported earlier, said Monday that DAR in Negros Occidental is hitting only about 10 percent of its targeted land distribution by the end of this year.

He said their target is to distribute at least 17,000 hectares of land to these beneficiaries by the end of 2013 but, as of this month, they have only distributed about 1,700 hectares.

There are at least 5,000 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the province and some of them are yet to receive their Certificate of Land Ownership Awards as of this year.

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