USLS conducts poll forum

Nine of the ten neophyte candidates for councilors in Bacolod, who attended a forum at the Sanctuario de la Salle yesterday, said they do not believe in the study conducted showing, the city as the most livable in the Philippines because of the pressing problems that are not yet resolved.

Raymond Fuentes and Ann Mae Altarejos-Cueva, both of the Pamilya MKK, said life is only livable at the first class subdivisions in Bacolod but not in the squatters' area in different barangays.

Claudio Puentevella also of Pamilya MKK said life in Bacolod is not livable for businessmen because of the high taxes. His fellow Pamilya MKK candidate Mario Gerona said that a mayor with a political will is needed to address problems in the city to make the lives of Bacoleños better.

Rey Carmona, also from Pamilya MKK, said that life in Bacolod is livable in some aspects but not in general.

Former Building Official Teresita Guadalupe, who is running as independent candidate, said, development is not just the high-rising structures but there should be efficient utilization of human resources in Bacolod.

Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Frank Carbon said the city is second to Quezon City in far as illegal settlers is concerned.

Former basketball player Manuel Huelar said the squatter problem in the Bacolod is worst while businessman Hermilo Lizares said its not true that the city is the most livable in the whole country because there are garbage all around.

While most of his fellow candidates said that life in Bacolod is not livable, Jofelo Cordova stressed that the city is indeed livable only that there are changes especially in the transparency of governance should be done.

None of the neophyte councilor bets from Grupo Progreso attended the forum spearheaded by the University of St. La Salle but Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who is the Mayoralty candidate of the group, said they did not snub the event.

Sayson said, however, he is not aware whether their neophyte councilor bets Israel Salanga, Prospero Leonardia and Chito Jalandoni were invited to the event or not.

Sayson also said that the statement on the P1 billion development loan of city government is not a big deal because the money, which was much less than P1 billion, was spent for the construction of the Bacolod Government Center and the purchase of the relocation site at the Abada-Escay.

He also said life in Bacolod is not the worst, having been adjudged as the most child friendly-city andthe best Sangguiniang Panglungsod in the Philippines and in fact businesses in the city continue to boom.

The study showing that Bacolod is the most livable city was done by independent agencies, not related to the city, he added.*APN

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Army holding
outreach mission

The 303 rd Infantry Brigade in Murcia town, Negros Occidental, launched its Wellness Program yesterday, with Maj. Gen. Maximo Caro, Philippine Army chief of staff, as guest of honor.

Caro, former commanding officer of the Army's 303 rd IB, brought with him his staff from Fort Bonifacio to assist in the two-day medical mission at Camp Major Nelson Gerona in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, and led in the distribution of 26 boxes of assorted goods, medicines, grocery items, vitamins, toys and used clothing, for the dependents of members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units.

He also turned over a hospital bed, and a 42-inch LED television with a home theater to the 303 rd IB, that he headed for almost two years. Caro said this was a sentimental journey for him.

He thanked Julia Ann Ramos of the Edsa Shrine congregation, who led the collection of the items distributed to CAFGU members and their dependents at the military camp.

The company of Caro and the balikbayan boxes were transported Thursday night by an Air Force C-130 cargo plane to Negros Occidental, through the effort of Col. Oscar Lactao, also a former 303 rd IB commander, who is now assigned as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command Center at Camp Aguinaldo in Metro Manila.

The two-day medical mission is expected to benefit about 400 CAFGUs and their dependents, as well as residents of Brgy. Minoyan, Caro said.

After his assignment in Negros, Caro, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1982, was re-assigned to the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, where he was promoted to brigadier general. He was promoted to major general when he assumed as Army chief of staff.

Caro, who is retiring from the military service next month, said he feels lucky to be assigned in Negros Occidental.

He also lauded the effort of Col. Jon Aying, 303 rd IB commander, for taking care of the wellbeing of every soldier, CAFGUs and their dependents, through the Wellness Program.

“If we attend to the wellbeing of our soldiers, we also expect good output from them in extending services to the people”, Caro said.

Other PMA Class '82 members who are due for retirement next year are newly-promoted Negrense Brig. Gen. Ademar Tomaro, 602 nd IB commander, and Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 302 nd IB commander in Negros Oriental.*GPB

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Dioceses convention slated

The 27 th AIRCKABS regional conference will be hosted by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal-Diocese of Bacolod on May 24, 3 to 6 p.m., and on May 25, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the convention hall of the Bacolod Pavillon Resort Hotel and Restaurant in Bacolod City, a press release from the group said.

The AIRCKABS, or the dioceses of Aklan, Iloilo, Romblon, Capiz, Kabankalan, Antique, Bacolod and San Carlos, conference will have Fr. Bart Pastor of Tacloban City, chair of the National Service Committee Charismatic Renewal; and Bro. Daniel Cruz of Ligaya ng Panginoon, youth coordinator of NSC CCR Philippines, as resource speakers, the press release also said.

Registration fee is P150, and for more details, those interested may contact Ma. Lina Eusebio of the CCR-DOB at 446-0841, or 476-2688, the press release added.*

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