Negros Occidental News May 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.

DTI allocates P350-K for Silay City coffee processing project

By Erwin Nicavera (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has allocated PHP350,000 to fund the coffee processing project in Silay City, Negros Occidental under the agency’s shared service facility (SSF) initiative.

The amount is part of DTI's almost PHP6.2 million allocation under its regular fund for various SSFs in Western Visayas.

Lea Gonzales, provincial director of DTI-Negros Occidental, said on Monday the Silay project aims to enable coffee farmer-producers in Barangay Patag to improve the quality of their crops so they can sell at a better market price.

Through the SSF project, the agency assists micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing them machines and equipment to improve product quality and increase productivity, which will result in more income.

Gonzales said enterprises which cannot afford to buy equipment are being grouped with cooperators to avail of the SSFs.

Meanwhile, three state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Negros Occidental are also recipients of separate SSF fund allocation for all provinces in Western Visayas.

These include the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP)-Visayas, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC), and Central Philippines State University (CPSU).

Projects being funded under the allocation include research and extension programs of SUCs, school of living traditions to preserve the culture of indigenous people, those managed by the youth sector, and projects proposed by non-government organizations and local government units, among others.

TUP-Visayas will receive equipment for metal works while CHMSC and CPSU will be provided SSFs for food processing and engineered bamboo production, respectively.

Gonzales said these projects are scheduled for implementation this year.

NegOcc to get share of P100M in Shared Service Facility

By ERWIN P. NICAVERA (with reports from PNA)

NEGROS Occidental is getting a share of about P100 million allocated for the implementation of the Shared Service Facility (SSF) project in Western Visayas this year, the top official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the province said.

Lea Gonzales, provincial director of DTI-Negros Occidental, confirmed to SunStar Bacolod that the agency under its regular fund has apportioned almost P6.2 million for various SSFs in the region including the coffee processing in Silay City.

This project along with engineered bamboo production in Capiz and loom weaving in Iloilo are already evaluated, DTI Western Visayas Regional Director Rebecca Rascon earlier said.

Gonzales said SSF project aims to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by a provision of machines and equipment mainly to improve quality of their products as well as increase productivity and income.

“There are enterprises which cannot afford to buy equipment thus, they are being grouped with cooperators to avail of the SSFs,” she said, adding that the coffee processing project in Silay City worth about P350,000 is seen to enable farmer-producers of Barangay Patag to improve the quality of their products and demand better market price.

Aside from the P6.2-million fund, Western Visayas was allotted P93 million from out of the P800 million that was apportioned to the DTI through Senator Loren Legarda.

Rascon said projects to be funded using the budget include research and extension programs of state university and colleges (SUCs), school of living traditions to preserve the culture of indigenous people (IP), those managed by the youth sector, and other projects proposed by non-government organizations and local government units (LGUs), among others.

Of the figure, the big chunk is for Antique with P61 million while Iloilo has around P18.5 million. The remaining funds will be shared by other provinces in the region, she added.

For Negros Occidental, Gonzales said three SUCs are among the recipients of the fund. These are Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC), and Central Philippine State University (CPSU).

Gonzales said TUP will be getting equipment for metal works while SSF projects for CHMSC and CPSU are for food processing and engineered bamboo production, respectively.

“It would be a big help to these SCUs particularly in their respective extension works,” she said, adding that these SSF projects are already pipelined for implementation this year.

NCF launches summer concert series

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

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- The Negros Cultural Foundation launches the Summer Concert Series in order to continue its tribute to the culture and arts in the province through art and cultural initiatives.

This June 6, at 6:00 p.m. at the Santuario de La Salle, the concert series will feature New York-based Hayk Arseyan for “A Night of Romantic Classics with Hayk Arsenyan.”

Arsenyan who hailed from Armenia and has since extensively spread his artistic works in the world over from Armenia to Paris and New York.

This world class pianist and composer has made notable artistic marks and performances at the Carnegie Hall and Palais d’UNESCO.

The concert will showcase various repertoire composed of diverse works from Baroque era to Contemporary times.

“Hayk Arsenyan, A Night of Romantic Classics” is the first show from the “Summer Concert Series” initiated by the foundation spearheaded by Lyn Gamboa, Cristina Montelibano and Lilia Villanueva to continually support the on-going renovation of the Negros Museum.

The Summer Concert Series of the Negros Cultural Foundation will have two other major concerts until the month of August.

For inquiries and ticket reservations, you may contact the GLOVEN at Negros Museum with telephone numbers (034) 708 – 5080, (034) 433 – 4764, or email at negros_museum96@yahoo.com.

Bacolod City as top location for blockchain technology pushed

By ERWIN P. NICAVERA

VARIOUS partners in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry are pushing for Bacolod City to be one of the pioneering cities in the country to use blockchain among its industries.

Also, the city is being positioned as among the first to integrate such technology in the academe and training to produce talents.

Ethereum World Business Development Director Chris Thompson, who spoke at the Bacolod Blockchain Initiative at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in Talisay City yesterday, May 24, said the concept of blockchain can be described as the “chain” of blocks.

In his presentation, Thompson said blockchain technology is immutable, meaning the data once added into the block cannot be changed.

“The benefits of blockchain technology include transparency, reduction of transaction costs, faster transaction time and having user-controlled networks, among others,” he added.

The Bacolod Blockchain Initiative aims to implement a series of trainings and workshops to advocate blockchain technology in education and healthcare.

Aside from Singapore-based incubator and blockchain integrator company Ethereum World, the activity is initiated by Manila-based firm DynaQuest Technology Services and software development firm based in Bacolod HYBrain Development Corporation.

The initiative, which is a major interface between local industry practitioners and academe, also aims to introduce blockchain technology which has been in the mainstream media due to the popularity of one of its applications known as the cryptocurrency.

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, executive director of the Bacolod Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (Bnefit), said the future of the digital revolution is blockchain.

Many applications required by many industries will run in blockchain in the coming years, Batapa-Sigue said.

“We are willing to be the catalyst of entry of knowledge in blockchain technology by facilitating trainers training and continuous meet-ups,” she said, adding that “we want to make Bacolod City as one of the top locations for blockchain-driven companies.”

Bnefit President John Dave Dueñas, also the founder of Hybrain Development Corporation, earlier said more than cryptocurrency, blockchain is a technology that introduces a new wave of the internet; secure sharing of data; and effective integration of data among processes.

“It is high time that we have to embrace the fact that blockchain is the future technology on software development. There is more to it than cryptocurrency,” Dueñas said.

“What we have to do is to prepare our academic institutions to prepare the manpower pool for it,” he added.

Meanwhile, also present during the activity were Ethereum World Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Daniel Adams and Dynaquest CEO Randy Knutson.

Visiting PMA cadets plant 3K acacia seedlings in Bacolod City

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- The 269 visiting cadets of the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) “Masidlawin” Class of 2020 planted 3,000 acacia mangium seedlings in this city on Monday as part of the activities during their tour in Negros Occidental.

The cadets, together with six PMA officials, including Navy Captain Salvador Lavapie Jr., were joined by City Administrator John Orola and Environment and Natural Resources Office-Bacolod head Maximino Sillo during the tree-growing activity at Arao Relocation Site in Barangay Vista Alegre.

Lavapie expressed his thanks to Mayor Evelio Leonardia for the assistance of the city government.

Orola received the plaque of appreciation for the mayor from Lavapie.

The cadets started their tour last Thursday, visiting the Bacolod City Government Center where they initially met with Orola.

Lt. Col. Reynaldo Balido, chief of PMA Public Affairs Office, said the cadets are touring selected cities in Visayas and Mindanao to learn about the various military units in these areas, and be oriented about local customs and traditions.

On Friday, the cadets proceeded to neighboring Bago City, where they laid a wreath at the monument of General Juan Araneta, and some of them performed silent drills at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Complex.

They also set up a recruitment booth, and conducted a coastal cleanup in Barangay Sampinit.

On Saturday, they launched the Host Parents Program at Bago’s Bantayan Park at 5 p.m. They also held performed silent drills at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon and Park in Bacolod.

The “Masidlawin” Class includes two cadets from Bacolod City, one from Bago City, five from Iloilo City, and two from Antique.

DAR, Arbos ink P2M in productivity project

By ERWIN P. NICAVERA

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-South has signed a memorandum of agreement with agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (Arbos) in Ilog and Valladolid for the launching of P2 million worth of productivity project.

The project aims to enhance the production technology and develop alternative marketing system towards higher productivity and income of member-farmers.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I Enrique Paderes, in a press statement Friday, May 18, said the agency has conceptualized, designed and approved the Major Crop Based Block Farm Productivity Project-Establishing Specialty Rice Block Farming Enterprise project.

Paderes, who led the agreement signing held at Zayco Land Resort in Kabankalan City Thursday, said the government-led initiative targets to provide professional services and expertise on rice farming and introduce new technologies to improve rice production.

“The total project cost divided for two Arbos include provisions of capability enhancement trainings and farm machineries such as rice thresher, water pump, hand tractor and farm tools,” he added.

The recipient Arbos are Balicotoc Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Association (Balicarba) and Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Negros (Arcon) located in towns of Ilog and Valladolid, respectively.

The productivity project is seen to benefit at least 200 agrarian reform beneficiaries from the said localities.

Pres. Duterte groundbreaks housing project for AFP-PNP in Negros Occ.

By Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr. (Lljr/PIA-Negros Occidental)

TALISAY CITY, NEGROS OCC. (PIA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte led the groundbreaking of a housing project for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Sunday at Dos Hermanas, Talisay City, this province.

He said the project is a commitment of the government to meet the housing needs of the people particularly the men in uniform who fought for the country with courage.

He said owning a house gives a person a sense pride and morale and the houses will be a place where soldiers and police will build their future and memories of their family.

The president thanked the National Housing Authority (NHA) and other housing agencies and hoped that they will build more similar projects.

He assured the PNP and the members of the AFP of his administration’s resolve in promoting their welfare, including the pursuit of an AFP modernization plan.

Meanwhile, NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada during the program said the total housing package would cost a client from P1.7 to P1.9 million each.

But the NHA version will only cost the beneficiaries P800, 000 to P1million per housing package.

Each recipient will also get a P100,000 discount chargeable to the Office of the President, he added.

Furthermore, the lot area was increased from 40 square meters to 80 sqaure meters and the floor area from 22 square meters to 60 square meters complete with two bedrooms.

The project, Vista Alegre, has a total land area of 15 hectares to contain 1,000 duplex type units and is expected to be completed in 2020.

Among those who joined the president in the activity include 3rd District Representative Alfredo Benitez, Talisay City Mayor Neil Jesus Lizares, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and other chief executives from the province.

San Carlos PNP leads first medical mission

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

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- The San Carlos Philippine National Police (PNP) successfully conducted its first ever medical mission that benefitted about 152 children of Barangay Bagonbon, San Carlos City.

PSupt D’Artagnan Katalbas Jr. of the San Carlos PNP together with partners went up to the mountain barangay to give free consultation, vitamins and other medicines for common ailments.

Dr. Genalyn Katalbas of Pagamutan ng Dasmariñas and Dr. Roa Fuentespina of Doctor’s Hospital in Bacolod City assisted by Nurses Bartolome Fajardo and Leonesa Dacoma of San Carlos City hospital led the medical consultation.

The Give-A-Text (GAT) Book Foundation based in Melbourne, Australia with its founder Samantha Bonney provided for the vitamins and medicines, a release from the San Carlos Information Office said.

Bonney said it was also the very first time that her foundation engaged in medical mission here in the Philippines since her group focuses mainly on book giving.

“I look forward to more outreach programs in the future and thanked the San Carlos Police through PO2 Jessica Malata for making her and her foundation a part of said activity,” Bonney said.

PO2 Jessica Malata, a San Carlos City Women and Children’s Protection Desk Investigator also has her self-initiated program Project 18, a feeding/lecture program for children.

Meanwhile, Katalbas said the medical mission was a joint undertaking with PO2 Jessica Malata, San Carlos City Women and Children’s Protection Desk which they hope would bring them closer to the communities they serve.

A feeding program, zumba dance exercise and free haircut for boys capped the medical mission activity.

Study-now-pay-later Japanese language training up for nurses

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

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- Nurses who are residents of the 31 towns and cities of the province may grab the opportunity of a study-now-pay-later Japanese language training in Japan.

Nurses who are 22 to 29 years old and single, aside from the language training will also undergo vocational caregiver training for 3 years and 3 months in Japan starting January 2019, a release from the Capitol Information Office said.

A four-month Japanese language training will be conducted at OISCA Bago Training Center as part of the assessment and screening process prior to the final selection by the Japanese teachers.

Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Head Karen Dinsay said, nurses who will pass the selection process will be given a scholarship to study at Houshin School of Healthcare and will be allowed to work part-time as caregiver in a nursing home facility.

Interested applicants may call or visit PIO office at 434-9039 (Dit-Dit), PEDIC at 431-3165 (April) or NOSP at 7070534 (Thea).

An orientation will be conducted on May 30, 9 am at the Provincial Capitol.

BCD gets P3.6-M bus

(LML/PIA-Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, May 18 (PIA) -- The Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC), famous for its Ceres Liner operations, has turned over a P3.6-million bus to the Bacolod City government.

Along with the bus donation was YGBC’s restoration of a tourist bus owned by the city government.

The donated 55-seater bus and the refurbished 66-seater bus were painted red, bearing the photos of MassKara Festival dancers and tagline, “Smile! You’re in Bacolod.”

Business Diversification manager Casey Olive Yanson said, “I hope that this donation of a 55-seater bus becomes a symbol of the harmonious relationship that we have and I hope that it would be of help to the city and to the community.”

Yanson narrated how Bacolod City has been important to her as it played a major role in her life.

Receiving the buses were Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Councilors Cindy Rojas, Em Ang, Elmer Sy, and Bartolome Orola, and former councilor Roberto Rojas.

In response to Yanson’s message, the city mayor conveyed his appreciation to the company, adding that he wants to continue the robust and productive partnership between the government and the private sector.

PMA cadets arrive for southern tour 2018

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

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, May 17 (PIA) -- About 269 Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadets from class 2020 arrived in the province for the PMA Southern Tour 2018.

The Cadets tour here in the province and key cities of Bago and Bacolod include recruitment booth activations, community development activities, silent drills and the launching here of their Host Parents Program.

Bago City will host these cadets who will lay wreath at the monument of General Juan Araneta, set up recruitment booth, and do coastal clean-up at Barangay Sampinit.

Meanwhile, on May 19, these cadets will also launch their Host Parents Program at the Bantayan Park in Bago City at 5:00 p.m.

The PMA’s Host Parents Program started in 1979 with PMA Class 1982 as the first class to benefit from the program.

In line with the Academy’s mission, the objective of the Host Parent Program is to give the cadets their second home away from home and give them the opportunity to socialize with other people in order to enhance their social and cultural development.

While, the Host Parents shall monitor the performance of their cadet wards at the Academy and give them advice and moral support to ensure their successful completion of the PMA course.

During their tour here, these 269 cadets will also treat Negrenses to Silent Drill Performances on May 18 at the Manuel Y Torres Sports Complex and on May 19 at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon and Park in Bacolod City, both at 10:00 a.m., for free.

On May 21, aside from the Bacolod City Tour, the cadets will render community development activity – tree growing in Barangay Alangilan, an upland, rural barangay in Bacolod City.

NegOcc veterinary office to generate P93,000 through Liquid Nitrogen Plant

By ERWIN P. NICAVERA

The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental is expected to generate about P93,000 in sales through the province's Liquid Nitrogen Plant during the first four months of the year.

PVO Tuesday, May 15 said that out of P93,000, only P13,875 was paid. The remaining P79,125 are yet to be collected.

From January to April this year, PVO has catered to seven clients, from government and private sectors, which purchased 29 mother tanks or 93 liters of liquid nitrogen.

The plant, located at Negros First Ranch in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia town started its operation last January.

This is a joint project between the provincial government and the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 6.

Placeda Lemana, chief of the farm management division of PVO, said the plant addresses the need to saturate areas with frozen semen of farm animals used for breeding and upgrading, and to produce quality stocks with higher milk and meat yield in shorter time.

"This is also to increase the food animal population in the province especially cattle, carabao, and sheep," she said.

Implemented under the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Project, PVO sells the liquid nitrogen at P75 per liter or P3,000 per mother tank as provided by Provincial Ordinance 17-001.

More retirement facilities in Negros Occidental pushed

By ERWIN P. NICAVERA

THE Negros Occidental Tourism Division is pushing for more retirement facilities in the province accredited by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), its top official said.

Cristine Mansinares, provincial supervising tourism operations officer, said the initiative of increasing the number of accredited retirement facilities should come from the private sector.

Mansinares said the government will just provide an enabling environment to allow such investment to come in, and prepare the necessary utilities and infrastructure support.

“The province has been doing these measures with the help of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as well as some private groups especially with investments in the province like in energy generation,” she added.

The PRA earlier said they are positioning the province especially its capital Bacolod City to become one of the country’s retirement destinations.

The agency said the city is actually ready as a destination for foreign retirees especially in terms of infrastructure.

Its records, however, showed that there is only one accredited retirement facility in Negros Occidental. It is the Sanko Mambukal Life Care Home in Murcia town.

In terms of the number of retirees staying here, the agency reported “a few” for now.

Most of them are living in the city near the entertainment establishments including malls, among others.

The agency further reported that Western Visayas only hosts one percent or 500 of about 53,000 foreign retiree-holders of Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV).

In terms of nationality, most retirees in the region are Europeans, who are looking for natural attractions, it added.

“More retirement facilities would further attract foreign tourists especially retirees to come to the province,” Mansinares said, adding that one of the measures to increase tourist arrivals is ensuring that facilities are ready to cater to their special needs.

2.818-M voters in NegOcc, Bacolod troop to poll centers

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- Almost 2.818 million voters in Negros Occidental, including its capital Bacolod City, are expected to cast their votes during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Monday.

Commission on Elections data showed that in Negros Occidental, the total number of registered voters is 2.431 million, including 1.751 million regular voters and 680,467 SK voters.

In Bacolod, there are 386,403 registered voters, including 294,854 regular voters and 91,549 SK voters.

The regular voters are those who are 18 years old and above while the SK voters are those who are 15 to 30 years old.

A total of 14,672 barangay candidates and 8,876 aspirants for SK positions are running for posts in 662 villages in the province.

In the capital city, more than 2,300 candidates are vying for various barangay and SK positions.

The manual voting started at 7 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office has deployed a total of 1,811 personnel to secure Monday’s elections.

These include some 1,394 policemen from all city and municipal stations in Negros Occidental; 177 from the provincial headquarters; 160 from the Regional Police Holding Assistance Unit; and 80 from the Bacolod City Police Office.

Additional personnel were also deployed by the Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, Special Action Force, and the Regional Mobile Battalion Force-6.

The Bacolod City Police Office dispatched 517 police officers to secure the 45 voting centers and man the seven strategic points here.

Assistance is also provided by 84 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection and 585 people from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and other rescue units.

Bacolod welcomes DOT nod as ‘must-experience’ destination

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- City officials here welcomed the recommendation of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas to visit Bacolod as a “must-experience” destination.

The DOT-6 suggested eight tourist destinations each in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, and Iloilo, and the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo while Boracay Island is undergoing a six-month rehabilitation until the last week of October.

Topping the list of recommended places in this city is the Bacolod City Government Center situated along the Circumferential Road.

The structure is popularly known as the “NGC” or the New Government Center among Bacolodnons.

It’s a surprise but it comes with much pride when the NGC was included in the DOT tourist advisory, said Mayor Evelio Leonardia in a statement over the weekend.

“It strengthened the image of NGC as an icon of Bacolod and validates its reputation as a tourist destination,” the mayor said.

We can say “you have not been to Bacolod if you have not have been to NGC,” he added.

Also listed as “must-experience” destinations in Bacolod are the Negros Museum, Negros Forest Ecological and Biodiversity Foundation, Bacolod Public Plaza and Bandstand, San Sebastian Cathedral and Bishop Palace, Barangay sang Birhen Chapel, Panaad Park and Stadium, and Pope John Paul II Tower.

Councilor Em Ang, who chairs the City Council committee on tourism, said that now is a good opportunity to highlight and showcase the other beautiful destinations in Western Visayas, including Bacolod.

“While we may not have Boracay’s white sand beaches, Bacolod is one of the country’s best places to visit for a heritage, art, culture and food trip,” she added.

Ang noted that it is the task of the neighboring localities to attract the would-be Boracay visitors and show them that other towns and cities in the region are just as worthy of their visit.

NegOcc MSMEs pushed to be digitally competitive

By Erwin Nicavera (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- Owners and representatives of at least 100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Negros Occidental attended the #Ready Economic Growth, Education and Awareness forum in this city on Thursday.

The activity was initiated by telecommunications giant PLDT, Inc., in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Lea Gonzales, provincial director of DTI-Negros Occidental, who spoke at the event held at O’Hotel, said they have been pushing for the development of digitally competitive entrepreneurs in both the local and global markets.

“Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is the current trend, (it is) easier, and less expensive,” she said.

Gonzales added that “using online platform is more competitive as it provides worldwide access to local MSMEs.”

Voyager Innovations, the digital innovations platform arm of PLDT and Smart Communications, said the campaign aims to give channels to Filipino entrepreneurs to go into e-commerce, and provide them the platform where they can widen or grow their businesses.

The activity covered lectures and workshops on e-commerce 101, online store creation through TackThis! application, lending solutions, and other service packages offered by PLDT.

Gonzales said the DTI also has a program on online marketing to encourage more entrepreneurs to use the digital platform in promoting and selling their products.

Last year, DTI-Negros Occidental conducted training courses on expanding market through e-commerce geared towards improving MSMEs’ digital literacy, such as navigating websites, or even using Facebook and other social media sites.

“We also have interventions on equipping entrepreneurs with skills and knowledge on product development and presentation online,” Gonzales added.

Bago mayor eyes to develop three sites as tourism enterprise zones

By ERWIN P. NICAVERA

Recognizing the potentials in terms of boosting the local economy, the top official of the City Government of Bago is eyeing to develop three of their sites as tourism enterprise zones (TEZ).

Mayor Nicholas Yulo, said Monday, he is planning to "fuse" Buenos Aires Mountain Resort and Rafael M. Salas Park and Nature Center, all in Barangay Ilijan, making it one zone for tourism enterprise development.

These are on top of the 15-hectare portion of Bantayan Park at Barangay Poblacion, which is being positioned to become the city's new commercial growth area.

Yulo, who attended the Tourism Investment Forum in Bacolod City recently, is amenable that they might be able to attract more locators if these sites are developed into TEZs.

"It will make our tourism sites more attractive to tourists as well as investors," he said, adding that developing these areas into TEZs "will enable us to source funding for additional structures and amenities aside from incentives from the government."

The designation of TEZs is under the Tourism Investment and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza).

There are two kinds of TEZs, the private and the public or flagship zones.

For private TEZs, or areas with private individual owners, the owners are the ones presenting their development plan. The Tieza then check whether it is feasible and sustainable.

For flagship TEZs, meanwhile, the agency is doing the master development plan for the areas identified through an inventory created by the DOT and local government units (LGUs).

Through the revenue regulations implemented in 2016, the Tieza was able to provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to investors with TEZ designated properties.

The Department of Tourism in Region 6 earlier said the development of more TEZs in Negros Occidental will contribute to improving the province’s economy mainly through the creation of more employment opportunities.

For Bago City, the local government has earlier opened the development of Bantayan Park to interested investors.

The idea is for the investor to develop the whole 15 hectares, and then a portion of it will be granted to them for commercial operation.

The development with an indicative cost of at least P1 billion includes commercial and open spaces, playground, permanent structures for 24 barangay booths, and small fish landing port and market, among others.

Yulo said there are already investors who expressed interest to develop Bantayan Park, however, he has yet to wait for the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to pass an ordinance providing for public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the city.

Also, the mayor has yet to discuss with the members of the SP his plans to develop Bantayan Park and two other sites into TEZs.

"This PPP Ordinance will not only cover Bantayan Park but other developments as well," Yulo said, adding that it will serve as a mechanism for the city to be more ready for future developments.

City vet vaccinates 21K dogs

By Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr. (Lljr/PIA-Negros Occidental)

BACOLOD CITY (PIA) -- The Mass Rabies Vaccination Campaign of the Bacolod City Veterinarian Office has vaccinated about 21,000 dogs from January to April of this year.

City Veterinarian Ma. Agueda Trinidad F. De la Torre said there is no shortage of rabies vaccines in the city as vaccination activities in the different barangays continue. The city has about 54, 000 dog population, she added.

The veterinary office had already visited Barangays Taculing, Singcang- Airport, Tangub, Pahanocoy, Sum-ag, Pta. Tay-Tay, Cabug and Alijis.

Brgys. Handumanan and Felisa have on-going vaccination schedules while the office will soon reach Brgys. Felisa, Mansilingan, Vista Alegre and Alangilan.

Tentatively next month, the vaccination team will be in Brgys. Granada, Estefania and Villamonte

On July, the team will be in Brgy. 7 Montevista, Mandalagan, Bata and Banago. To confirm and to get the exact dates of mass vaccination in other areas, they may call the City Veterinarian Office at 435-8081.

De la Torre is appealing to residents to take note of the schedules and to be in their house to assist the team in vaccinating their pets.

She further reminded pet owners to provide their pets access to water anytime as well as adequate food. She also urged per owners to avoid playing with their pets as most bites come from owners who were in playful contact with the animals.

GSIS revalidates San Carlos pensioners

By Easter Anne D. Doza

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) -- About 74 pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) from San Carlos City need not travel two hours and go to Bacolod to be revalidated as GSIS-Bacolod held the Annual Pensioners Revalidation (APIR) in San Carlos City.

Together with the San Carlos City Accounting and Internal Audit Services Office, the activity held at the San Carlos City Hall targets to revalidate pensioners aged 79 years old and below, while those 80 years old and above are scheduled for house to house visitation by GSIS personnel in coordination with the Philippine Postal Authority.

Allen Bacay, GSIS Acting Staff Officer III led the team of six GSIS staff in the APIR caravan who conducted the revalidation of pensioners’ status and queries pertaining to pensions, a release from San Carlos City Information Office said.

Pensioners whose birthdays fall between January 1-June 30 need to have a once a year validation while those within the months of July 1-December 31 will undergo two validations.

Bacay disclosed that aside from their monthly pensions, pensioners aged 90 will be complimented with cash gift amounting to P20,000; P30,000 for those aged 95; and P50,000 for those that reached 100 years.

The APIR is the previous known as Annual Renewal Active Status (ARAS) of the GSIS which calls on pensioners to have their status validated annually. (EAD/PIA Negros Occidental)

Bacolod, Silay to create sisterhood ties with 2 Pampanga cities

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- The cities of Bacolod and Silay in Negros Occidental are gearing up for sisterhood ties with the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat in Pampanga, respectively.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Monday said he proposed an agreement with Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan when they met during the National Executive Board meeting of the League of Cities of the Philippines in Clark, Pampanga last week.

“I told Mayor Ed Pamintuan that we should have a sisterhood agreement. We already have flights between Bacolod and Clark so it’s very convenient. He is also a personal friend. We were mayors together as early as 1995,” he said.

“It will create more traffic between the two destinations,” the mayor added.

Leonardia shared the plan as Bacolod hosted a lunch for officials from Mabalacat led by Vice Mayor Christian Halili at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday.

The vice mayor headed a group of more than 100 officials, department heads, and guests from Mabalacat who are visiting Negros Occidental until Wednesday.

Halili said he and Silay City Mayor Mark Golez met Monday morning when they had a verbal agreement to establish sisterhood ties between their cities.

“Mabalacat is the gateway to Luzon. Ninety-three percent of Clark air base falls within the territorial jurisdiction of Mabalacat. If you’re going to Subic, Tarlac and Baguio, you would usually pass by Mabalacat,” he added.

Both the Clark International Airport and the Clark Freeport Zone are located in Mabalacat.

Halili further said that like Bacolod, they wanted to build a government center to bring all their city government offices together.

“We can do the same… so that the people will have a one-stop-shop,” he added.

Halili noted that as an official of the legislative department, he was impressed by the session hall of the Bacolod City Council and the individual offices of the city councilors.

“We hope could do the same to our city,” the vice mayor added.

The partnership between Negros Occidental and Pampanga was formalized last December when their respective Governors Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Lilia Pineda signed a sisterhood agreement to strengthen economic and trade relations.

The event coincided with the maiden flights of the Bacolod-Pampanga-Bacolod route of the Philippine Airlines.

Bacolod City: A potential retirement destination

By Erwin Nicavera (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) sees Bacolod as a potential retirement destination with the city’s infrastructure in place, especially for foreigners.

“We are looking at Bacolod and other cities like Dumaguete and Iloilo to develop as retirement destinations outside the National Capital Region (NCR),” said Ketslynn Quiletorio, information officer III of the PRA’s Client Relations Division, who was in the city on Thursday for the Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) Investment Roadshow.

She said Bacolod has an ideal landscape with its amenities, including entertainment venues, shopping malls and hospitals, near the sites with natural attractions.

Figures from the PRA showed that Western Visayas hosts only one percent, or about 500, of the 53,000 foreign retiree-holders of Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV).

Majority of the retirees in Region 6 are Europeans, who prefer the region’s natural attractions, while Chinese and Koreans are mostly staying in the NCR.

In Negros Occidental alone, retirees are living within the city, which is near the entertainment establishments and shopping areas.

Quiletorio said that since these retirees, who are mostly in their 50s and 60s, came from developed countries, they want the supermarket, hospital, and other amenities more accessible to them.

“The local government should make the city a retirement-friendly place, which means the community should be ready to welcome and accept foreign retirees,” she added.

The PRA has only one accredited retirement facility in Negros Occidental - the Japanese-developed Sanko Mambukal Life Care Home in Murcia town.

The PRA positions the Philippines as a retirement destination through the SRRV, which is a special non-immigrant lifetime visa given to foreign nationals planning to retire and rest in the country.

NegOcc Palaro medalists get P882K in cash awards

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- Athletes from Negros Occidental who won medals during last month’s Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, received a total of PHP882,000 in cash incentives from the provincial government.

The cash incentives show the province’s gratitude to the athletes for their hard work and their determination to win, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said, as he congratulated them and their coaches during the awarding of the cash prize at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center here Thursday.

Negrense athletes brought home a total of 26 gold, 25 silver, and 25 bronze medals. Gold medalists for both individual and team events received PHP6,000 each; silver medalists, PHP4,000; and bronze medalists, PHP2,000.

The awarding of cash incentives was witnessed by 2nd District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr., Provincial Sports Coordinator Angel Verdeflor, and Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Portia Mallorca.

Negros Occidental returned to the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) during the regional meet held last February after competing separately last year under the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Following the abolition of the NIR in August 2017, Negros Occidental again competed as another province during the WVRAA meet.

Western Visayas placed third over-all in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.

Last March, Negros Occidental’s provincial government also distributed PHP736,600 in cash incentives to medalists of the regional meet held in Iloilo City.

Negros Occidental gov’t funds 215 new scholars

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY – The provincial government signed up 215 new grantees under the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program (NOSP) in rites held at the Business Inn hotel here Wednesday.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. led the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the scholars, in the presence of 6th District Board Member Pedro Zayco, chairman of the committee on education, and 2nd District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr., chairman of committee on finance.

Marañon said in his message that the provincial government will continue to provide equal access to education to children of the poor and the marginalized sector.

He said education could reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

“Negrenses are intelligent and skillful people. We just need to properly develop and motivate them,” the governor said.

During the program, the new grantees received certificates of scholarship. Scholars who recently graduated with honors were given certificates, medals, and cash incentives.

In her report, NOSP head Karen Dinsay said 1,373 students have already graduated with assistance from the Capitol’s scholarship programs.

At present, 310 are enrolled while 419 are incoming scholars.

Under Project Free (Flagship to Reach Educational Excellence), 1,560 public school teachers have already completed their master’s and doctorate degrees. A total of 1,121 are currently enrolled at the University of St. La Salle.

The NOSP has various scholarship categories, among them the Pagkaon Scholarship with Food Technology, District Educational Scholarship, Indigenous Peoples’ Scholarship, Negros Occidental Provincial Medical and Nursing Scholarship-Medicine, Degree Completion Scholarship, Provincial Educational Assistance for Capitol Employees, and Best of Negros for winners of Panaad sa Negros Festival’s Lin-ay sang Negros beauty pageant.

The province also funds the Educational Assistance for Indigenous People’s Basic Education for elementary and high school IP students and the Miyakonojo Scholarship Grant for Senior High School students in Japan, as well as the Maritime Scholarship, Bridging Program from Mechanical to Marine Engineering, Japanese Language and Culture Training Program, Northern Territory, Australia Scholarship, and Project Free for public school teachers.

NegOcc seen as next top tourist destination in west Visayas

By Cindy Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The province of Negros Occidental is seen to be the next top tourism destination in Western Visayas, replacing Aklan province where Boracay island is located, said the Regional Director of the Department of Tourism 6 (Western Visayas).

“With Boracay, Negros (Occidental) is still the second most visited area in Western Visayas so, without Boracay, it is going to take the first place,” said Helen Catalbas.

Based on the 2017 data of DOT-6, a total of 5,852, 937 tourists visited the region, higher than the 5,517, 761 target.

Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City as its chartered city, contributed 1,723,886 foreign and local tourist arrivals. The province is second to Aklan which recorded 2,220,821 arrivals -- 2,001,974 of them visited the world-renowned island of Boracay.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City contributed 1,076, 976; Iloilo province; 310, 878; Capiz, 229,195; Antique, 162, 925; and Guimaras with 128, 256.

Catalbas said that among popular tourist destinations in Negros Occidental are Mt. Kanlaon, ancestral houses, sulfur springs of Mambukal Resort, white sand beaches and dive sites in Sipalay, snorkeling at Carbin Reef Marine Reserve in Sagay City, Danjugan Island Marine Reserve, 18-hole Golf courses, and farms.

But at this point, Catalbas said the number of tourists has become “secondary to us with the lessons brought about by this Boracay closure and degradation, which resulted to its closure.”

“I think the number should become secondary with more focus on the sustainability of destinations,” she said

DOT here is strengthening their promotion of other tourist destinations in the region, especially this summer season.

Russian envoy to witness 1st Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev will be the special guest during the 1st Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival on Saturday.

Khovaev is visiting Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, with First Secretary Dmitry Larionov for three days starting Thursday.

The festival of Bacolod’s famous grilled chicken is part of the envoy’s itinerary during the visit, which includes courtesy calls on Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

On Friday, the city government will hold a welcome dinner for Khovaev, who was designated Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Philippines in March 2015.

The envoy will also visit tourist spots in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, and Silay.

The 1st Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival, which is one of the events in the city’s 80th year celebration, will feature a grilling ceremony on Saturday afternoon along Araneta St. -- from the Diamond Jubilee Tower towards San-Sebastian St.

A total of 300 meters of grilled chicken will line up the major thoroughfare.

About 25 chicken inasal vendors, including 12 from Manokan Country, will join the grilling of about 3,000 chickens.

The city government has requested about 200 police personnel and 100 traffic enforcers to secure the festival venues.

2.5K join ‘Walk for a Cause’ for NegOcc child laborers

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- About 2,500 people joined the “Walk for a Cause for Child Laborers in Negros Occidental”, a Labor Day event spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) office here on Tuesday morning.

“We are happy for the successful activity aimed at raising awareness that each one of us has the responsibility to stop child labor,” said Mary Agnes Capigon, head of DOLE’s office in Negros Occidental, in an interview after the program, which was held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.

The walk, which started at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon at about 6 a.m., was participated in by employees of various government agencies, police personnel, students, and representatives of the partner groups.

Capigon said that during the program, they launched the “Project Angel Tree” to recognize sponsors who helped provide education to child laborers.

The PHP50 walk registration fee will be used to buy school supplies for 100 child laborers, to be distributed during the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12.

However, with the higher turnout of walk participants, up to 300 recipients could be reached, she added.

As part of the event, DOLE-Negros Occidental and its partner non-government organizations signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the profiling and consolidation of child labor data in the province.

Capigon signed for DOLE 6 (Western Visayas) while other signatories were Neneng Mirasol, on behalf of Fr. Christopher Entrata, board chair of the Christian Advocates for Justice and Development-Negros Inc. (CAJDEN), and Imelda Villacin, executive director of Quidan Kaisahan.

The partnership was initiated by DOLE, which leads the network of mutually enabling social partners under the Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL) and as chair of the National Child Labor Committee through its banner program the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) in working towards the prevention and progressive elimination of child labor through protection, withdrawal, healing and reintegration of child workers into a caring society.

Under the agreement, the labor department will be responsible for consolidating data from its social partners on the progress towards achieving the Philippine Development Plan Target, which shall be submitted annually to the National Economic and Development Authority.

For their part, CAJDEN and Quidan Kaisahan formally agreed to be DOLE’s social partners in the profiling and consolidation of CLPEP data to effectively monitor the progress of child labor in Negros Occidental and Western Visayas.

The MOA signing was followed by the turnover of PHP1.914 million worth of livelihood projects to 207 beneficiaries, including 72 parents of child laborers, under the CAJDEN, an accredited co-partner of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.

The projects included rice trading, basic commodities store, fish cage, and bakery.

Megaworld to develop Bacolod City Welcome Park

By Nanette Guadalquiver (PNA)

BACOLOD CITY -- Property giant Megaworld Corp. has allotted 6,000 square meters on its development site along the airport access road, bordering the cities of Bacolod and Talisay in Negros Occidental, for the establishment of the Bacolod City Welcome Park.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia announced in a press conference on Monday that the proposal was finalized during his meeting with Megaworld executives in Manila last week.

He met with Harold Geronimo, senior assistant vice president and head of public relations and media affairs, and Rowena Sansano, assistant vice president for architectural planning.

The mayor said he suggested the project to Megaworld as he was inspired by the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, a landmark in Nevada, United States. The 25-foot sign is located south of the Las Vegas Strip.

Leonardia said the city’s contribution is just the idea or the concept based on his suggestion, and it will be the property firm that will execute and eventually manage the project, which will be positioned as a tourist attraction of Bacolod.

It will have parking spaces to provide visitors photo opportunities as well as souvenir shops and restrooms, he said.

“They will spend for all these. It was just my idea. They will run the souvenir shops. To be fair with them, they should run that as a business,” the mayor said.

“Can you imagine? We will be the only city in the Philippines to have something like this,” he added.

Leonardia said the groundbreaking is scheduled on June 18, which is the 80th anniversary of the signing of the charter of Bacolod, and the opening of the welcome park is set during the MassKara Festival in October.

Currently, the Suntrust Properties Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Megaworld Corp., is developing a 24.52-hectare mid-cost residential project called The Fountain Grove in Talisay’s Barangay Matab-ang.

The Fountain Grove is part of the 53-hectare Northhill Gateway, a township development that will rise along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road.

Also part of the Northill Gateway is the Forbes Hill, a 15-hectare upscale residential development of Megaworld, which is a first outside Metro Manila.

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