‘Northbound terminal
to create growth area’
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The opening of the new Northbound terminal in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City, Sunday has achieved their objectives of creating a new growth center in the area, and to decongest traffic along Lacson Street and La Salle-B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod Councilor Dindo Ramos said yesterday.

Ramos, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Transportation and Traffic Management, said the northbound terminal has given Bacolod another landmark, and better income to jeepney drivers, especially in Bata and Mandalagan.

A 45-day experimental period was implemented starting Sunday and his committee will collate all recommendations and come up with a final resolution, he said.

Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel Cardinal of Branch 49 ordered the lawyers of the southbound public utility vehicle operators and the respondents to submit their position papers within two days during the preliminary hearing yesterday of the civil case filed by the petitioners.

The petition was filed Thursday before the RTC by Nenita Peters, Rizalina Alon, Noel Moncay and Jovito Gahataon against Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Police Chief Inspector Luisito Acebuche of the Bacolod Traffic Authority, City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan, and Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz.

Also included in the complaint were Belly Aguillon, Josephus Cerna, Silvino Emilio Gallardo and Rogelio Giganan, head of the City Engineer’s Office, Department of Public Services, Public Order and Safety Office, and Public Information Office, respectively.

Following the lifting of the Temporary Restraining Order on the sale and lease of  the 7.7-hectare prime property  of the Negros Occidental provincial government in Bacolod City to Ayala Land, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday advised the SM Prime Holdings Inc. to look for other areas to invest in, in Bacolod City.

“Bacolod is so wide… they can look for other areas,” Marañon said and he even mentioned the area of BREDCO.

On Sept. 6, the Twentieth Division of the Court of Appeals in Cebu lifted the 60-day TRO it issued on Marañon and  other Negros Occidental  officials sought by SM Prime Holdings Inc. that  had opposed the awarding of the negotiated sale and lease of Ayala, claiming it was the winning bidder to the property.