Victorias hosts DOE Downstream Oil Industry IEC

    

In line with the simultaneous and massive focused inspection of LPG and liquid petroleum products of the Department of Energy (DOE), an Information Education Campaign (EIC) was conducted at the Victorias City Livelihood Development and Training Center last Oct. 5.

                The activities aim to ensure compliance both in quality and quantity standards as these also pave the way for stakeholders to air their concerns and consider their recommendations to the problems they also encountered in the retailing business.

DOE Assistant Director Rodela Romero and Supervising Science Research Specialist of DOE – Visayas Field Office in Cebu City Jose Rey Maleza conducted presentations on the Retail Rules of Liquid Petroleum Products and DOE Rules and Regulations on LPGs, respectively.

Officers from the Bureau of Fire Protection also presented topics such as the Safety on Handling Petroleum Products and Actions that Must be Done During Fire Emergency by Cadiz City Acting Fire Marshall SInsp. Nelson De La Cruz ; Fire Code Fees Collection by OIC Victorias City Fire Marshall SFO2 Eduardo De La Paz;  and the Conveyance Clearance Fees of Petroleum Products by Cadiz City Fire Code Fees Assessor FO2 Rainer Parcon.

Barangay captains and representatives, LPG and gasoline dealers, Bureau of Fire and LGU representatives attended the forum.

Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Councilor Joseph Andrei Garcia and Councilor Teresita Bartolome were also present.

An open forum took place after the presentations of the resource speakers.

By: Jemaimah N. Taladico

MAYOR REMEDIOS BANTUG, you will always be remembered

“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die to the Lord. 

So then whether we live or we die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:8

       Former Mayor Remedios Palanca – Bantug was a loving mother, grand mother, sister, friend and a woman whose presence touched lives, born on May 26, 1919 and reunited with our Creator last September 11, 2011. Then Mayor “Idiong”, as she was fondly called, was always known as a soft-spoken, kind-hearted and hard working Mayor of Victorias. At the age of 92, Mayor Idiong has lived a life of grandeur that has blessed so many and her positive influence will always remain with the people she lived with and encountered.
           On September 14, family, friends, loved ones and Victoriahanons came together to bid goodbye to Mayor Idiong as they recall her life and reminisce her good and resounding works and efforts in her different roles as their beloved mother, grand mother, sister, friend and mayor. Three masses have been offered for        Mayor Idiong and a necrological service was done at the Our Lady of Victory Parish Church in Victorias City.
         The tribute to former Mayor Bantug was given by Mrs. Eliza Dela Cruz in behalf of the Ikaayong Lawas Foundation, Inc.; Asst. Sister Superior Marie Ann Rosoeamandimby of Holy Trinity Sisters; Mrs. Pilar Mendezona in behalf of her close friend Mrs. Violeta de Luzuriaga; and former Cong. Edith Villanueva. The DepEd family in Victorias City and Jemaimah Taladico in behalf of the City employees also offered hymns during the necrological service. While the 3rd District Cong. and grandson Hon. Alfredo Abelardo Bantug Benitez gave the expression of gratitude in behalf of the family. Mayor Bantug’s interment took place around 5pm at the Bacolod Memorial Park.
         With her faith, genuine love to her family and fiends, generosity and service to the Victoriahanons, Mayor Bantug will always have a place in our hearts and will always be remembered.

PHO Confers Award To Victorias CHO Nurse

            The Provincial Health Office (PHO) awarded Victorias City Health Office Nurse I and Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI)  Coordinator Mary Ann Salar for being a top performer in the implementation of the EPI activities of the province at the Governor’s Hall, Bacolod City last Sept. 12.

         The awarding of EPI Coordinators and Midwives was done to recognize the commitment and dedication of the health workers in uplifting the lives of Negrense children through the implementation of good practices in the EPI.

         The recognition was spearheaded by Medical Officer IV Jessica Fama, M.D. and Provincial Health Officer II Ernell Tuminbang, M.D. of the PHO.

      Salar was among the other nine awardees from the different cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental.

     Other awards were Best TCL (Murcia); Clean and Organized REF (Murcia, Escalante City, Calatrava, Isabela) ; Most Innovative (Bago City); Always on Time in Submission of Report (Toboso); Gives Feedback Regularly to Midwives (Cadiz City) and Best Recording and Updated Vaccine Stock Card (Kabankalan City).

By: Jemaimah N. Taladico

City Strictly Imposes Smoking Ban in Public Areas

Victorias City imposes smoking ban as stated in the City Ordinance, prohibiting any person to smoke cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and all other smoke emitting paraphernalias in public areas of the City which was also stipulated in Section 5 of Republic Act 9211 known as the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.

The City’s areas of jurisdiction where smoking is banned are inside the public buildings; public utility vehicles and other means of transportation; enclosed public places such as movie houses or cinema theatres, hospitals, clinics, schools, etc. and other enclosed areas outside of one’s private places of work or any duly designated smoking area.

Violators of this ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of P100 for first offense, P200 for second offense and P500 or an imprisonment of five days or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court for third offense.

The City has ordered those people in-charge of operation and administration of a movie house, cinema, theatre, hospital, clinic, schools, colleges and other educational institutions, other public places or government offices, to be responsible in putting up a “NO SMOKING AREA” sign in their particular designated places.

The City currently conducts an extensive information drive on this activity to increase awareness of the people of Victorias regarding the smoking ban and its adverse effects on the health of a person. by: Jemaimah Taladico

City Health Office Conducts Voluntary Blood Letting 2011

In compliance with Republic Act 7719 or the National Blood Services Act, the City Health Office (CHO) of Victorias is conducting the Voluntary Blood Letting Activity on all of its barangays from February to November.

The blood letting activity is spearheaded by the CHO of Victorias in collaboration with Provincial Health Office and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

This has been an ongoing service and has even awarded four barangays as Sandugo Awardees and acclaimed Brgy. XIII as Hall of Famer in the blood letting campaign.

National Voluntary Blood Services Program Medical Coordinator Dr. Jerry Pahamtang along with Medical Technologist Coordinator Florence Bravo, Nurse I Jasmine Sudario, and Administrative Officer II/HEPO Designate April Golda Acuña are the persons in-charge of the activity in the CHO.

The activity targets blood donors to reach at least one percent of the City’s total population composed of healthy male and female whose ages are 16 – 65 and weighs at least 50 kilos.

Blood donors are being screened by the doctors, nurses, midwives and other health personnel before conducting the actual blood extraction, making sure that they are qualified.

Here are the remaining schedules of the blood letting activity for 2011:
Date Barangay
June 9......................XIII
July 8.......................V
August 23................X & XV
September 27..........VIII
October 25...............XII, XX & IX
Nov. 9.......................XXI
Nov. 29.....................VI – A and VMC Area

23 Indigent Senior Citizens Avail Social Pension from CSWD in Victorias City

Twenty three indigent senior citizens were granted social pension by the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) in Victorias City in August.

These seniors are all 77 years old and above; are not receiving any pension from SSS, GSIS and etc., or any monthly allowances/allotment from the family; and are living alone and sickly.

Social Pension for Indigent Filipino senior citizens is in-line with the fulfillment of the obligation of the government to protect the most vulnerable sector through social protection, and for the full implementation of the Republic Act No. 9994.

Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010” amended the previous RA9257 “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003”, institutionalizes social protection by providing monthly stipend to indigent senior citizens and supports family to provide care to their sick and disabled senior citizens.

The program intends to improve the living condition of eligible indigent senior citizens through the release of stipend @ P500.00/month; to augment capacity of indigent senior citizens to meet their daily subsistence and medical requirements; to reduce incidence of hunger among indigent senior citizens; and to protect indigent citizens from neglect, abuse or deprivation.

Regular cash transfers also increase poor older people’s access to services, particularly health care. As older people live and share resources with younger family members, social pensions have a substantial impact on child well-being and the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 1-6 social pensions contribute to increased school attendance and better nutrition among children. They can play an important role in breaking intergenerational poverty cycles (Help age 2009).

This is designed in such a way that the poorest senior citizens are covered and protected from loss of income and underemployment as a result of illness, injury, disability, harvest failure, etc. (ADB 2006).

                There are estimated 6.3 million elderly Filipinos aged 60 years old and above as of CY 2010 based on the National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB) Medium Assumption Population Projection.

Older persons comprise a little over six percent of the total population, but this proportion is expected to higher than 10 percent by 2020 as the number of older person’s doubles by that time (NEDA, Philippines Population projection 1980 – 2030).

Based on the National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB 2006) poverty estimates the basic sectors, the magnitude of the poor senior citizen is 1,297,159 and it posted the second largest percentage points of 1.9% increase next to the children sector.

The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao posted the highest poverty incidence of senior citizen which is at 46.6% and the most number of poor senior citizens are from Regions V, VI and VII (NCSB 2006).

The Philippines has made great strides in promoting the welfare of its people and has ensured the continued participation in development by legislating national policies in response to the emerging needs of the Filipino senior citizens. By: Gari Policarpio/DSWD

City Celebrates Mayor Vero’s 78th Birthday

The City of Victorias joined Mayor Severo Palanca and wished him all the best in celebrating his golden and 28 birthday with a “Wild, Wild West” theme at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center last July 18.

The celebration started with a mass followed by a tribute for Mayor Vero’s profound leadership, dedication and service to the City made by his family, friends, constituents and people close to him.

During the event, a ceremonial turn-over of school supplies was done by Mayor Vero along with provincial and local government officials to the DepEd representatives, District I Supervisor Nelda Demegillo, District II Supervisor Laila Fronda.

Mayor Vero was happy that 11, 469 Grade I to VI pupils of District I and II will benefit from the project and that it will help solve the parents’ burden of additional expenses for their children’s school supplies.

Among the special persons who graced the occasion in the life of Mayor Vero were Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr.; Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr.; Cong. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez; Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko and Patrick Leonard Lacson; mayors Eric Saratan and David Lacson; former Cong. Jose Carlos Lacson, former Mayor Manuel Escalante III; former Mayor Edilberto Vocal; members of the provincial government heads and city government officials.

The birthday theme had the employees and guests dressed as cowboys and cowgirls in a rodeo-type party filled with songs and dances from the employees and guests namely the City Health Office Selection and Kadalag-an Queen 2011 Jemaimah Taladico plus different performances from celebrities such as the Pinoy Dream Academy grand winner Laarni Lozada, Jack ‘n Poy comedy duo, JC Parker, Katya Santos and Zarah Lopez of the Viva Hot Babes and the Negrense Band, Kulay Pikata. By: Jemaimah Taladico

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