Negros Occidental Provincial Government

Awareness Conference on Organic Agriculture Act for Local Chief Executives Held

Public Information Division — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:48 +0000

Asst. Secretary Salvador S. Salacup (standing 2nd from right), and Undersecretary Bernadette R. Puyat (seated center) both of the Department of Agriculture with Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (seated 2nd from left) at the opening program of the Visayas-wide Awareness Conference on Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 for Local Chief Executives held at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel in Bacolod City yesterday. With them are DA Reg’l. Dir. Larry Nacionales, Boyet Uychiat of NISARD, and Gov. Khalil B. Mitra of Palawan, among others. /Capitol photo

Local chief executives from Region VI, VII, and VIII attended the two-day Visayas-wide Awareness Conference on Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (Republic Act 10068) at Bacolod Pavillon Hotel that kicked-off, yesterday.

According to Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup, National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) secretariat and Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) OIC-Executive Director, the primary objective of the activity is to advocate the organic agriculture act to all local government units to increase their awareness on the implementation of the program as well as promote efficient utilization of budget intended for the program.

Themed “Sama-sama nating kamtin ang kasapatan sa pagkain tungo sa mas masagana at maunlad na 2012”, the activity is jointly organized by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Gov. Marañon shared his experience on the organic agriculture initiatives of the provincial government. He said that in terms of organic agriculture, Negros is way ahead among other provinces, citing the Memorandum of Agreement signed by then Negros Occidental governor, the late Joseph G. Marañon and former Negros Oriental governor George Arnaiz in 2005 declaring Negros Island an “Organic Island”.

He also said Negros Occidental passed an ordinance banning all genetically-modified organisms (GMO) as part of its vision to become the organic food bowl in Asia.

Republic Act No. 10068 or the Philippine Organic Agriculture Act is a landmark legislation signed on April 6, 2010, for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines. It is the culmination of long years of development efforts mostly by non-government, community based organizations and private groups pushing for agriculture sector reforms around ecologically sustainable, environment friendly and safer production systems, availability of safer and more nutritious staples and food, and increased farm productivity and income opportunities for the Filipino farmers.

Also present in the activity were DA Undersecretary Bernadette R. Puyat and Palawan Gov. Khalil B. Mitra. /Capitol News

Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro “Bebot” Mirasol Filed for Certificate of Candidacy

Public Information Division — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:00:14 +0000

Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro "Bebot" Mirasol (5th from left) filed his certificate of candidacy before Comelec Provincial Supervisor, Atty. Jessie Suarez, for the Fifth District representative at the Comelec Office, yesterday. With Mirasol are Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (2nd from right), Binalbagan Vice Mayor Emmanuel Aranda, Isabela Mayor Francis Malabor, Moises Padilla Mayor Francisco Nazareno, Fifth District Board Member Melvin Ibañez, La Castellana Mayor Alberto Nicor, Jr. and Binalbagan First Lady Mary Ann Mirasol. /Capitol photo

Gov Marañon Releases Mid-Year Bonuses of Capitol Employees Today

Public Information Division — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:01:10 +0000

Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (5th from right) at the ceremonial turnover of mid-year bonuses to Capitol employees. /Capitol photo

Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. will release a total of P28,162,446 to 2,307 Capitol employees for their mid-year bonus starting today.

All employees will receive half of their monthly basic salary plus P2,500 cash gift.

Provincial Human Resource Management Office’s record shows a total of 1,804 regular employees and 503 contractual employees for a total of 2,307 employees.

Gov. Marañon advised the employees to spend their money wisely and prioritize things that they need. /Capitol News

Gov Inks MOA with PCS to Provide Quality Medical and Surgical Health Care to Indigent-Patients

Public Information Division — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:17 +0000

Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (seated 2nd from left) and PCS President Dr. Maximo H. Simbulan, Jr. (seated 2nd from right) at the MOA signing between the provincial government and PCS on NOCHP services. /Capitol photo

Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr., has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) represented Dr. Maximo Simbulan, Jr., to provide quality medical and surgical health care to indigent-patients through the Negros Occ. Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP).

The signing ceremony was held last week at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City during the PCS fellowship dinner and witnessed by Dr. Alfredo Belmonte and Dr. Carlitos Magno.

As agreed in the MOA, PCS fellow and members will provide surgical services, skills and expertise to NOCHP members and their dependents within the policy of No Balance Bill (NBB) program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

NOCHP is a priority program of the provincial government under the administration of Gov. Marañon and Vice Gov. Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr. that seeks to provide comprehensive health care to indigents. The card entitles the member and their dependents free outpatient care and subsidized in-patient care in provincial government-run hospitals and in the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

From September 2010 to March 2012, there were a total of 11, 396 NOCHP card holders have availed of the NOCHP services. /Capitol News

Negros Occidental to Host LLPDCPI 23rd Annual National Convention

Public Information Division — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:00:20 +0000

The Province of Negros Occidental will host this year’s five-day convention of the League of Local Planning and Development Coordinators of the Philippines, Inc. (LLPDCPI) that will start today until Friday in Bacolod City.

The 23rd Annual National Convention, themed “Safer Communities Through Effective Comprehensive Development and Land Use Plans Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)”, is envisioned to help address the increasing global need as a result of climate change as well as highlight the challenges facing the integration of DRR and CCA in the local plans and the strategies to address these challenges.

About 600 provincial, city and municipal planners from all over the country are expected to participate in the activity. The LLPDCPI is composed of the Municipal/City and Provincial Planning and Development Coordinators of the 80 provinces, 138 cities and 1,496 municipalities in the country or at least 1,714 coordinators, not counting their assistants.

Negros Occidental is this year’s host following the election of its Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, Ma. Lina P. Sanogal as LLPDCPI president for 2011-2013, during last year’s convention in the Province of Pangasinan.

The convention’s opening ceremony is scheduled on May 15, 9 a.m. at L’Fisher Hotel with Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. as the keynote speaker and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia to give the welcome address. Regional Directors of the NEDA, DILG, HLURB, HUDCC and OCD are also attending the opening ceremony. Gov. Marañon, Vice Gov. Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr. as well as all the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members along with the congressmen and city and municipal mayors of the province are supporting the convention as an opportunity for tourism and investment promotion.

In the afternoon of May 15, starting at 1:30 p.m., Dr. Andreas Lange of the German Society for International Cooperation will talk on the “Integraton of DRR and CCA into the CDP and CLUP”; Geodata’s executive vice president Francisca N. Dayrit will talk on “LGU Geospatial Data Infrastructure for Planning”; and Jose Mari Vargas of the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office will share the city’s “Best Practices in DRRM”.

On the third day, May 16, the participants will have an educational tour of organic agriculture, and cultural and industrial sites in the province. They will visit the Peñalosa organic farm in Victorias City and Fresh Start organic farm in Bacolod, OISCA silk factory and showroom in Bago City, the Balay Negrense and other museums in Silay City, the Ruins in Talisay City, the ANP Showroom, Provincial Capitol, Negros Forest, Negros Museum, Dizon-Ramos Museum, John Paul II Tower and other Bacolod landmarks. The delegates will also visit and have lunch at the provincial tourism flagship, Mambukal Resort, and will try the Bacolod chicken inasal for dinner at Manokan Country.

On day four, May 17, there will be an info sharing on AIDFI Technology by Management Committee chairman Engr. Auke Idzenga who won the BBC World Challenge and the Ashden and Ramon Magsaysay Awards; followed by an inspirational talk by Atty. Alex Lacson, chairman of the Kabayanihan Foundation and author of the book: “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country”; and info sharing on Integrated Natural Farming System by known organic “agripreneur” Ramon Peñalosa.

The rest of the time until Friday will be devoted on business matters of the league. /Capitol News

View LLPDCPI 2012 Annual National Convention Program of Activities

WVRAA Taekwondo Secondary Girls Medalists for Palarong Pambansa 2012

Public Information Division — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:03:32 +0000

MEDALISTS. Sophomore Irene Therese Bermejo (2nd from left) of Trinity Christian School bagged one of the gold medals in Taekwondo Secondary Girls for Western Visayas (Region VI). Jessa Marie Espada (2nd from right) took home a silver medal while Nove Mae Delos Santos (left) and RJ Bless Joy Mallorca each earned a bronze medal during the 6th day of the 2012 Palarong Pambansa at the Divine Word Academy Gymnasium in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. */Capitol photo

Western Visayas Elementary Softbelles are the Champions for 2012

Public Information Division — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:01:22 +0000

CHAMPIONS. Western Visayas Elementary Softbelles pose for a souvenir shot after they triumphed over MIMAROPA during the teams’ championship match at the Capitol Beach Front in Lingayen, Pangasinan. The team is led by Coach Teresita Himpolaran (2nd from right) and Lagrimas Ciocon (right). */Capitol photo

2012 Western Visayas Softball Secondary Girls Won the Championship

Public Information Division — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:00:07 +0000

CHAMPION. Western Visayas Softball Secondary Girls in action during the championship game against Region VII. The WVRAA softbelles nabbed the championship crown against Cebu's selection in a sweet victory with a score of 4-0 at the Capitol Beach Front in Lingayen, Pangasinan during the 2012 Palarong Pambansa. */CAPITOL PHOTO

Five Western Visayas Athletes Break Records

Public Information Division — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:41 +0000

Five extraordinary athletes from Western Visayas broke six records in athletics during the Palarong Pambansa 2012 in Lingayen, Pangasinan, following the announcement of Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. to give incentives to all medalists.

They are Richee Joy Cabanyog of Negros Occidental, Lorenzo Capaso and Ronald Lacson of Iloilo, Angelica de Josef of Aklan and Joneza Mie Sustituedo of Iloilo.

Cabanyog, broke the record of Ralph Ephraem Gesulgon last year in Shot Put secondary boys with 13.90 meters while Capaso equaled the record in High Jump secondary boys set by Paulo Martinez in 2002 with 1.90 meters.

De Josef, on the other hand, broke two records in the 800-meter run set by Joneza Mie Sustituedo and 1,500-meter race elementary girls. Although, de Josef broke the record of Sustituedo in 1,500-meter race with 4:49.9 seconds, she only came in second to Northern Mindanao runner Jie Anne Calis of Northern Mindanao who cut the distance in 4:48.9 seconds.

Meanwhile, Lacson excelled in Javelin Throw breaking the record set by Jonah Robles of Southern Tagalog while Sustituedo broke the record in 3,000-meter run set by Mary Jane Campos of Cagayan Valley Region in 2000, with 4:34.1 seconds.

Palarong Pambansa 2012 will culminate at 5 p.m. today with a closing and awarding ceremony at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Cultural Civic Center. */Capitol News

US Agricultural Attache Philip Schull Pays Courtesy Visit to Governor

Public Information Division — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:33:09 +0000

US Agricultural Attache Philip Schull is welcomed by Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (left) during his courtesy visit at the Capitol, Wednesday. They have discussed collaboration efforts on agricultural development. The provincial government also plans to purchase frozen cattle semen from the US for the breeding of livestock in the Semen Processing Plant that will be built at the Negros First Ranch in Murcia. /Capitol photo