City Celebrates 113th Philippine Independence Day

The city government of Victorias together with the City officials, employees, different government and non-government sectors and guests joined the entire country in celebrating the 113th Anniversary of the Philippine Independence at the City Public Plaza last June 12.

Vice Mayor Wantan Palanca, who gave a welcome message, raised the Philippine flag, the country’s symbol of freedom, along with PNP Chief Norberto Boston and company as everyone sang the national anthem with high spirits.

The City councilors, employees, Association of Barangay Captains, Barangay Council, Department of Education family, Knights of the Columbus, PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, Victorias Venus Lions Club, Damas de la Caridad, Senior Citizens, NESCA – Victorias faculty & staff and students offered flowers at the foot of the flag pole as KQ 2011 Jemaimah Taladico sang “Ako ay Pilipino”.

Regional Director of the Department of Education – Region VI Dr. Mildred Garay has graced the celebration and shared an Independence Day message.

The program commenced with an inspiring message from Mayor Severo Palanca, saying that the Independence Day is a day that we should all value, as Filipinos.

“Kalayaan Paninidigan ng Bayan” is this year’s theme of the country’s Independence Day celebration, a significant day of the country’s liberation and is something that the City also pays importance to, as the people joined and spent their time, even though it’s a Sunday. by: Jemaimah Taladico

Off-Shore Magnetite Sand, FARMC Orientation Held To Strengthen Victorias City Fisherfolks

An orientation on Off-Shore Magnetite Sand Mining and Fisheries Aquatic Resource Management Council (FARMC) was conducted for the fisher folks, lawmakers, and concerned stake holders at the Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Arts and Cultural Center last June 1.

This forum, spearheaded by the City Agriculture Office, tackled the effects of magnetite mining on coastal habitat and near shore areas, advantages and disadvantages of mining this type of mineral on the legal, economic and social aspects.

Magnetite is a type of iron ore which is a rock or mineral from which metallic iron can be economically extracted and can be used to make steel.

Mayor Severo Palanca told everyone that the forum was done for the people to be aware of the effects of this project while Vice Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca disclosed that the City abhors and opposes the mining project.

Councilor and Chairman on Laws and Ordinances Rene Imperial added that a public hearing on a resolution opposing off-shore mining was done last May 31 and regarded that we are all challenged to protect our municipal waters.

Other resource persons were invited to share their thoughts on this issue during the first part of the orientation.

Community Affairs Officer II of the Provincial Environment Management Office Regulatory Services Division Eriberto Madalag talked about the negative impact of Off-Shore Magnetite Sand Mining in the Province along with the legal discussion from Atty. Wilmond Peñalosa of the Provincial Legal Office.

Madalag emphasized that the mining activity will create bio-physical, socio-economic and financial damages.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region VI OIC-Regional Director had a presentation on the Mining Act of 1995 and status of minerals industry in Negros Occidental while Program Adviser of GIZ Coastal Fisheries Resources Management VI Portia Joy Kleiven reiterated that coastal resource management is very important to sustain our resources and considered the mining activity as a coastal disturbance.

Engr. Felix Querubin of the University of St. La Salle made the fisher folks more informed on the environmental impact assessment which was followed by an open forum.

During the second part of the orientation, Provincial FARMC Coordinator of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Bacolod City Ruel Almoneda has widened the understanding of the fisher folks regarding the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 196. by Jemaimah Taladico

Heads join Coaching, Team Building

To help develop right attitude and skills in good governance, strengthen camaraderie and perform better in valuable functions, nineteen managers and supervisors of the City government of Victorias attended a coaching and team building in Sipalay Suites, Sipalay City last June 2 – 4.

Human Resource Management expert and former GSIS Department Manager III of the Human Resources Services Dept. Lea Marcelino Mendiola was their resource speaker.

Activities such as team debriefs on Team Development and Cohesiveness and Team Trust and Leader Roles, Amazing Race, Self Assessment Examination and team challenges were held during the three-day coaching and team building activity.

Through these various lectures and group dynamics, the participants developed coaching and building skills, gained new knowledge and insights on how to motivate people’s productivity and morale in the workplace and they came up with an action plan in developing performing teams.

This activity is now on its third year and continues to improve the productivity and morale of the city officials and employees.

The following heads who attended were:

Ramon Ko - City Administrator

Roger Auquico – OIC, GSO

Ramsy Panes – OIC, Permits & Licences Office

Faith Bacucang - City Human Resource Officer

Evangeline Alo – City Planning & Development Office

Ma. Lourdes Silava - OIC, Budget Office

Myrna Ledesma - City Treasurer

Marilous Estilo - City Engineer

Mario Torema - City Cooperative & Livelihood Officer

Julie Ann Roa - City Civil Registrar

Mercedita Acuyong - City Assessor

Alexander Palanca - SP Member

Jipty Agreda - OIC, City Accountant

Primilo Solinap – Housing & Development Office

Jon Romeo Legaspi - OIC, Slaughterhouse

Lara Ann Garcia - Special Operations Officer IV

Alina Mary Ann Lazo - Administrative Officer IV

Cesar Moreno – OIC, Environment Office

Mary Jean Majaducon - Engineer II