Wellness Program for Progress 2014 serves Victoriahanons

   The City of Victorias, in celebration of Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca’s birthday, catered to the needs of its constituents, safeguarding health and wellness through its various activities under the Wellness Program for Progress (WPP) this February for the 9^th consecutive year.

             Last Feb. 14, about 111 volunteers donated blood during the bloodletting activity at the Victorias City National High School. It was followed by a feeding program in the afternoon at the Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Arts & Cultural Center which catered to 1,052 pre-school children.

               In time for Mayor Palanca’s birthday last Feb. 15, the annual WPP Medical and Dental Mission at Victorias Arts and Cultural Center granted free services to the poor Victoriahanons; such as, dental/tooth extraction (462 beneficiaries), primary eye care (217 beneficiaries), circumcision (146 beneficiaries), general medical consultation (786 beneficiaries) , therapeutic massage (158 beneficiaries), fasting blood sugar monitoring (53 beneficiaries), ear piercing (200 beneficiaries), giving of free reading glasses with eye check-up (800 beneficiaries), and slippers (260 beneficiaries). All beneficiaries of the consultation and dental services received free medicines.

   Last Feb. 16, the continuing medical mission which benefited 34 patients for the minor surgeries, and 100 beneficiaries of free circumcision, was sponsored by the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Hospital, Dr. Pablo O. Torre Foundation and LTC Nelson L. Gerona Crusade, Inc. at the Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Arts & Cultural Center.

   In the afternoon of the same day, the 2^nd Mayor Wantan P. Palanca Dog Show, an All Breed Fun Match and Pitbull Show Competition, took place at the Victorias City Coliseum.

           The Kadalag-an Queen 2014 candidates supported the noble cause with their attendance to the series of activities, carrying this year’s theme, “Beauty Towards Health and Wellness”.

               WPP 2014 has been a success because of the partnership and cooperation of the following:

Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Foundation

Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital

LTC Nelson L. Gerona Crusade, Inc.

Hon. Alfredo Abelardo B. Benitez

Hon. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr.

Hon. Eugenio Jose V. Lacson

Hon. Patrick Lacson

Hon. Johnna D. Ko

Hon. Manuel Frederick Ko

Victorias City Sangguniang Panlungsod Members

Victorias City Association Of Barangay Captains

Victorias City Employees

BBB Foundation

Doña Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital

Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital

One for All, All for One Movement

Nelson Gerona Foundation

Victorias City Health Office

Victorias City Nutrition Council

Provincial Health Office

Kaayong Lawas Foundation, Inc.

Negros Occidental Provincial Police Health Service Office

Regional Public Safety Batallion 6

303^rd Brigade Philippine Army

Victorias City PNP

Philippine Dental Association-Negros Occidental Chapter

Private Doctors and Dentists

Venus Lions Club Victorias City Chapter

Victorias Rotary Club

Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc.(PGBI)-Victorias Chapter

Federation of Victorias Associations of Tricycle Drivers and Operators (FEVATDO)

TESDA Therapeutic Massage Treatment/Susan Gomez

Muslim Entrepreneurs Group of Victorias City

Past Pupils of St. Mary Mazzarello School

Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca Celebrates 54th Birthday

Mayor Francis Frederick “Wantan” Palanca celebrated his 54^th birthday with the city and barangay officials, department and school heads, city employees, special guests, family and friends at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center last Feb. 15

The mayor was more than happy to spend his birthday with the people who are dear to him.

A thanksgiving mass was done before the meaningful celebration and was followed by a short dinner tribute and program in honor of the Mayor.

As he made his birthday wish while blowing the candle from his cake, the guests sang their birthday song and extended well-wishing for him.

Special performances were rendered for Mayor Wantan by the VNHS and VES students and pupils, Disaster Risk Reduction Team, city employees and celebrity guest Daryl Shy, finalist of the Voice of the Philippines.

On behalf of Cong. Albee Benitez, Hon. Sulpicio Montinola extended his birthday greetings for the Mayor.

Results of the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Meet at San Jose Antique last February 9 – 15, 2014

Elementary Athletics Girls

Claire Abellano                                                                    4 x 400 m relay                                
gold medalist

Vicmico Elementary School                                                  4 x 100 m relay                                          silver medalist

Vicmico Elementary School                                                  100 m                                                     bronze medalist

Vicmico Elementary School                                                  400 m                                                     bronze medalist

Elementary Athletics Boys

John Timoteo Asparen                                                        4 x 100 m relay                                             gold medalist

Vicmico Elementary School

Secondary Basketball Girls

Jan Marini Zabala

Brgy. Estado National High School                                                                                                             silver medalist

Secondary Athletics Girls

Kim Cyra Pedriña                                                             100 m hurdles                                             bronze medalist

Victorias National High School                                          400 m hurdles                                            bronze medalist

Victorias Passes Organic Agriculture Ordinance

                          By Samson Garzon, Victorias City Agriculturist

              The Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Victorias, on its Feb. 5, 2014 Regular Session, has passed its rookie ordinance known as the “Victorias City Organic Agriculture Ordinance of 2014”.

Ordinance No. 01-2014 is “AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTIONALIZING, PROMOTING AND DEVELOPING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN THE CITY, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND MAKING VICTORIAS CITY AN ORGANIC CITY OF NORTHERN NEGROS”. 

                        The wisdom behind its passage is explicitly stated in Chapter 1, Section 2 of said Ordinance which says: “It is the duty of the Local Government to protect life and advance the rights of all citizens to food sufficiency, sovereignty and safety, sustainable livelihood and social equity in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 

Towards this end, the local government of Victorias City shall mainstream organic agriculture as the main agricultural practice in the area, in line with the Provincial Government’s “Organik na Negros” program, that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of the natural resources, further protect the health of farmers and consumers, and have program for the promotion of community-based organic agriculture systems which include, among others, farmer-produced organic fertilizers, pesticides and other farm inputs, organic feeds for poultry, livestock, and fish, together with a Citywide educational and promotional campaign for their use and processing, as well as the adoption of organic agriculture system as a viable alternative, shall be undertaken.

          The promotion and implementation of Organic Agriculture in the City will be in support to the present administration’s priority development agenda, particularly on Agri-Eco and Sports Tourism. 

The Ordinance further supports the development of organic farms, organic markets and restaurants, as future destination of foreign and domestic tourists, as well as for the benefit of the health - conscious Victoriahanons and Negrosanons. 

          This First Ordinance passed by the City Council on Feb. 5, 2014 was sponsored by Councilor Abelardo Bantug III (SPM, Committee Chairman on Agriculture) and was unanimously approved by all members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.  

 

It was finally signed into a local law last February 2014 by Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca to help usher Victoriahanons “sa matuod-tuod nga pag ASENSO!” 

TIEZA, DOT Conduct Assessment, Evaluation In Victorias’ Tourism Sites

Department of Tourism (DOT) and Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) representatives conducted product assessment relative to the preparation of the Master Development Plan (MDP) on Tourism of Victorias City last Jan. 22-24.

Marie Recarro and Ezra Nicole Basto, representatives of DOT and Nemensio Duran and Efren Resoso of TIEZA evaluated the different areas in Victorias as they would also assist in the identification of possible tourism investment opportunities and give technical assistance in the preparation of the City’s MDP.

                Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca had a meeting with them and discussed possible improvements in facilities and tourism activities to be held at the tourist destinations to entice visitors and encourage them to stay longer in the City.

The City aims to be regarded as a major sports and eco-tourism destination in the country, particularly Gawahon Ecological Park, part of which is included in the Northern Negros Natural Park.

                The survey and report of DOT and TIEZA will be sent to the head office as they will come up with their recommendation to be carried by the City.

Victorias Holds First Graduation Of Farmers’ Field School For 2014

                           By Samson Garzon, Victorias City Agriculturist

           A graduation of Farmers’ Field School (FFS) - Palay Check System was held for the first time this year at Hda. Mimi in Brgy. X last Jan. 28.

The occasion was graced by the presence of Councilor Abelardo Bantug, III (SP Committee Chairman on Agriculture), Councilor Sulpicio Montinola, Representative of Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, Red Palanca, and Provincial IPM Coordinator and representative of OPA & ATI. Carlito Indencia.

          The FFS-Palay Check System is a national training program of the Department of Agriculture designed to transfer updated technologies to farmers for increasing local rice production. 

Farmers meet once a week for a period of 16 to 18 weeks, or an equivalent of one rice cropping season from pre-planting to harvesting. 

As an off-shoot of the training, the FFS graduates organized themselves into an association known as the Mimi Organic Farmers’ Association (MOFA) to ensure further development of their rice farms as government assistance is usually channelled through people’s organizations. 

        On the same occasion, the officers of the MOFA were inducted by Councilor Montinola, while the 28 rice farmers were confirmed graduate of FFS-Palay Check by Indencia. 

The newly concluded training held at the farm residence of Mr. Aujero was sponsored by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), and the City Government of Victorias. 

Same trainings will be replicated in other rice-producing barangays this year, as part of the priority development agenda of the present administration under the leadership of the Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca with the battle cry, “Sa Pag ASENSO Sang Victoriahanon!”

47 Members of Victorias City Rescue Team Completes Red Cross Training For Healthcare Providers

Forty-seven members of the Rescue Team under the Victorias City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office successfully completed the Philippine Red Cross Training for Healthcare Provider on Standard First Aid, Basic Life Support – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation with Automated External Defibrillator Course and Ambulance Operation Course this January.

Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca commended the City’s rescue team as he considered them as the group ready to safeguard the lives of many Victoriahanons.

All trainees earned a certificate of proficiency from the Philippine Red Cross after they passed the evaluating examination last January 20-26, 2014 at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Complex.

The second training will be on water rescue in order to make then more equipped in their field and line of work and save lives of Victoriahanons in times of crisis, particularly on water disaster.

The team will also undergo additional trainings on fire, flood earthquake, emergency crash and urban and mountain search and rescue.

Victorias City Officials, Employees, Cops Undergo Random Drug Test

With the aim of keeping Victorias City drug free, Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca and officers of the Victorias City PNP implemented a surprise random drug test last Jan. 20.

The City officials, heads, employees, and police participated in the test at Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Arts and Cultural Center after the city’s flag ceremony.

Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca desires for the city to be free from drug addiction starting with the public servants.

In the event that the drug dependents and users are determined they will be catered at the Negros Occidental Drug Rehabilitation Foundation (NODRF) to be treated.

The city will assist in the rehabilitation of those positive with substance abuse as it believes that the victims who are into drugs and their families will need support.

Victorias City Opens One-Stop Shop For Permits, Licensing Processing

         The City Government of Victorias will put up a one-stop shop at the City Hall Lobby for the renewal of business permits and licenses last Jan. 20.

       The Engineering Office, Sanitary Inspection, Bureau of Fire and Protection, City Health Office along with the City Treasurer’s Office and City Permits and Licenses Office will set-up their respective stations at the one-stop shop to help enhance and expedite the processing of business permits and licenses and will be open for transaction on weekdays on its regular working hours.

     This initiative of the City is intended for the convenience of its constituents and business owners from application to appraisal, assessment, payment and releasing of permits in the shortest possible time.

    Business owners who will exceed the deadline will pay surcharges deductible and to be carried every quarter, thereafter.

Victorias City Councilor Alexander Palanca Is New Provincial Liga Ng Mga Barangay Vice President

        Councilor and Liga ng mga Barangay Victorias Chapter President Alexander Palanca is the new vice president of the Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay, Negros Occidental.

        The election took place at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol last Dec. 18, 2013.

Palanca along with Mark Cui, President of the provincial league from San Carlos City and other board members took oath before Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. at the Governor’s Office last Jan. 8.

        He is the son of former Victorias City Mayor Severo Palanca and is now on his third term as the Liga ng mga Barangay Victorias Chapter President.