Negros Occidental barangays to form anti-terrorism task-force

TALISAY CITY -- Local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental province were told by authorities on Wednesday, August 23, to establish their own anti-terrorism task force to deter threats.

Some mayors and village leaders of 31 cities and towns in the province attended the Task Force Buglas orientation at the Nature’s Village Resort here to learn to replicate the programs initiated by the Provincial Government to thwart terrorism risks.

Major General Jon Aying, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the total infrastructure coming from Western Visayas Region and the province will be copied in the cities and municipalities down to the villages.

He said there will be capacity building across all levels.

 “The links, convergence, lines for cooperation, collaboration and integration” are being strengthened, he added.

One of the government programs that can be used as a framework is the Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga (Masa Masid), he added.

Aying said it’s important for the local chief executives to have “political will” to “initiate, organize, and operationalize” these programs “to secure and make their localities peaceful.”

He added that the government leaders’ political will make the program effective and sustainable.

The military official also said that local leaders who refuse to follow the template should blame themselves if there are terror attacks.

It’s their accountability and liability, the Army official said.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the Capitol’s efforts to stop possible terror attacks continue even if the Negros Island Region was already abolished.

“We have to make this province peaceful, livable, and ready for further development,” he said.

The governor said the local chief executives, barangay leaders, and the community must be vigilant, hence, the preparation.

“There can never be progress without peace,” Marañon said, as he urged local leaders to cooperate and help each other.

He added that it’s important to have cooperation and coordination in the fight against terrorism.

The governor said the Philippine Coast Guard is looking to establish a training academy in southern Negros.

Marañon added that it would help the province in terms of security.

“If there is a Coast Guard academy, there will be patrol boats. It would be a big help,” he said. The governor also urged Negrenses to work together to make Negros as one state once the country shifts to federal form of government. (SunStar Bacolod)

20 Negros Occidental barangays get P5.9M for various projects

The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental released a total of P5.9 million in financial assistance Tuesday for the implementation of various projects in 20 barangays.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. turned over the checks to officials of recipient-barangays from four municipalities and cities in rites held at the Provincial Capitol.

The recipients were 10 barangays in Silay City, including Barangays I, II, III, V, Guinhalaran, Balaring, Mambulac, E. Lopez, Patag, and Bagtic, which received a total of P2.8 million in assistance.

The fund will be used for the rehabilitation of canals and drainage systems, repair of footwalks, riprap project, purchase of multi-purpose vehicles, and clean and green projects.

A total of P2.05 million were released to eight barangays of Talisay City, including Barangays Zone I, Zone 5, Zone 7, Zone 14, Zone 14-A, Zone 15, Concepcion, and Matab-ang.

Their projects will include construction of communal toilets, rehabilitation of drainage systems, de-clogging of canals, rip rapping of the riverbank, and purchase of multi-purpose vehicle.

Other recipients were Barangay Refugio, Calatrava with P500,000 for electrification project and Barangay Maquiling, Sagay City with P600,000 for road concreting project.

Last July 26, the Provincial Government also released P2.725 million worth of project assistance to 11 villages of Isabela town.

The recipients were Barangay 2 Poblacion, Barangay 7 Poblacion, Barangay 8, Amin, Banogbanog, Cansalongon, Cabcab, Lima-lima, Maytubig, Riverside, and Sebucauan.

Among the projects were the rehabilitation and improvement of water supply systems, improvement of barangay hall, and flood control projects.

Before this, the Provincial Government also released checks totaling P11.15 million to officials and representatives of 11 barangays in various local government units.

Photo credit:  Photo of Alfredo Marañon Jr., SunStar Bacolod

Bacolod barangay opposing garbage transloading facility

PHOTO CREDIT: SunStar Bacolod

AT LEAST 100 residents of Purok Gaisano, Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City have expressed strong opposition to the plan of IPM-Construction and Development Corp. (IPM-CDC) to put up a garbage transloading facility in the purok nearest to them.

In their letter dated August 7, 2017 addressed to Councilors Em Ang and Cindy Rojas, they said they are opposing the plan of IPM-CDC to move its material sorting facility to Purok Maanyag because their purok (sub-village) will suffer the foul smell and contamination which will necessarily result from the proximity of the waste materials to them.

“There are not so many people in Purok Maanyag, but we in the next purok will be exposed to so much waste materials,” they said.

IPM-CDC is the contractor for garbage collection and hauling of the City Government.

Alijis village chieftain Vemver Ray Buenafe had earlier sought the intervention of the City Council on the operation of the IPM-CDC garbage transloading station in their village.

Buenafe said the transfer station is not suitable for the area because it is surrounded by houses, medical supply factory, and eateries which can be very hazardous to health.

Last week, the village officials, along with the officers of City Health Office and Environment and Natural Resources Office (Enro), held a public hearing with the personnel of IPM-CDC and the residents in the area.

Buenafe said they are only a host barangay, but in terms of the technicalities, the CHO and Enro should be in-charge.

He said several suggestions have been discussed and it is up to the IPM-CDC to follow these or not.

Buenafe said another public hearing will be held within the month. (SunStar Bacolod)