In line with the Presidential Proclamation No. 115-A, the Silay City Fire and Rescue Team will be conducting "Ugnayan sa Barangay" for the adherence of the 2013 Fire Prevention Month this month of March.

The Office of Civil Defense donates personal protective and firefighting equipment to the City of Silay. Mayor Jose L. Montelibano (standing, 8th fr. left) turns over these facilities and equipment to Silay Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Coordinator Jesus Oppus (standing, 9th fr. left) and to the Silay City Fire and Rescue Team last year 2012.* (Photo by Aldwin Dalpatan)

2013 Fire Prevention Month has the theme, "Sunog at Sakuna Paghandaan, Kalikasan ay Pangalagaan nang Matamasa ang Pag-unlad ng Bayan." "This year’s observance focuses on fire prevention, disaster preparedness and preservation of the environment," Fire Inspector Vincie Jojo Aldeguer, Silay City fire marshal, said.

Insp. Aldeguer reported that their office will be initiating "Ugnayan sa Barangay" to Barangays I, III, Lantad and Rizal starting March 11-14, 2013. The team will teach the residents first aid and basic life support.

Ma. Rina Amacio of the Gabriela Women’s Party calls on women in various sectors to unite and uphold the People’s Agenda which is based on Justice, Equality and Genuine Freedom of the Filipino People. "The People’s Agenda should unite the people in our pursuance of peace, freedom and democracy - this will also be the basis on how voters should qualify candidates running for various posts in government come election time," Amacio said.

GABRIELA WOMEN’S PARTY. Ma. Rina Amacio in a pressconfab yesterday at the ABC Hall for the upcoming International Women’s Day.* (Owen S. Bayog/NDB photo)

Amacio also told members of the media who are in attendance during the press confab yesterday that they continue to lead the campaign on violence against women and various causes concerning the women sector. They had also been successful in holding a nationwide action of women "1 Billion Rising" which culminated last February 14 and has gathered the attention of the people on the issues that confronts the women and how could other sectors of society be of help to them.

Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENECO) is committed to support the Commission on Elections in the monitoring of campaign materials violations and consequent removal of illegally posted paraphernalia hung in the electric posts.

Through a Commission letter addressed to CENECO Pres. Atty. Arnel Lapore dated February 11, 2013, Atty. Mavil V. Majarucon-Sia, Election Officer IV of Bacolod city, sought the help and cooperation of CENECO in its orderly and effective implementation.

As stated in Section 7 (g) no. 3 of Comelec Resolution No. 9615, posting of candidates of their campaign materials are prohibited in public places which include: "3. Waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signages and other signboards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers and underpasses, bridges, main thoroughfares, center islands of roads and highways."

The 13th Negrense Professional (Degree Holders) Individual Chess Tournament will go on as scheduled even without the sanction of national chess Federation of the Philippines starting on March 10 to 31, 2013 at the lobby of Top’s Bowling Lanes along 10th-Hilado streets, Capitol Shopping Center, Bacolod City.

This was the statement of Dodz Felisilda, of Game Royal Aficionados of Negros that organized the tournament and will officiate the tournament in cooperation with Top’s Millennium Plaza Bowling Lanes, Inc., claiming the tournament had been conducted almost 20 years now, with years it was not held, but does not need sanction from NCFP.

Foodman and Mang Inasal defeated their separate opponents to move closer to clinching the top two spots in Class B action of the 13th Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup at Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

Foodman needed an extra period to dispose of Appliance Centrum/LA Gasoline Station, 110-103 while Mang Inasal easily deposed undermanned Fox Shox, 89-79.

With the wins, the two teams are tied at 4-1 win-loss card, while Shox and Centrum have the same record at 1-4 in the 8-team Class

Centrum missed on an opportunity to get the victory in regulation as Foodman Arvin Gustilo assisted Ralph Richard Tan for a triple with 4 seconds left to force the extension.

I am referring to unscathed Alaska (5-0 win-loss), second running Petron Blaze (5-1) and Rain or Shine (4-1), three teams having better imports thus giving them a number of winning moments and a share of the early leadership in the Second Conference. The Aces will be tested by the San Mig Coffee Mixers this Wednesday though.

Alaska has won five in a row with import Robert Dozier leading Coach Luigi Trillo’s charges. The Aces won over Rain or Shine, 83-81, bested Meralco, 85-81, scored a 77-73 victory over Barako Bull, another 84-69 thumping of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a road game in Tubod followed by a convincing 92-69 thumping of Talk ‘N Text last March 1.

After dominating the 2012 Negros Closed Chess Championship last December, Ellan Asuela and National Master Carlito Lavega are scheduled to leave on April 13, 2013 in company with Marvin Ting to compete for the 13th Bangkok Chess Club Open 2013 slated April 14-21 at the Dusit Thani Pattaya Resort in Bangkok, Thailand.

This was disclosed yesterday by sponsor Antonio Ivan Aguirre, stating that the team from Bacolod had already booked their tickets and paid their tournament registration fee.

Based on the tournament website, Asuela and Lavega are registered at 127 and 129, respectively, in the tournament.

The Bangkok Chess Club Open is one of the most prestigious chess tournaments in Thailand, by which around 250 woodpushers from 40 countries are expected to vie for the top prize of Thai Baht 100,000 (Php 136,684.00).

BCC Open prizes are for the top 10 finishers in the tournament and 5 best Thai players, while certificates will also be awarded for the best 3 juniors and the best lady competitor.

Eligible Triathletes are invited to show their ability, endurance and power for the 2nd National Age Group Triathlon Series 2013 on March 23, 2013 at Negros Occidental’s "Jewel of the Sugar Island", Sipalay City.

This year, it was once again fully supported by GMA network, with a bigger event sponsorship, as the event’s Official TV Media Partner. To formalize the partnership Mr. Francis Campos, race director and organizer of TRIATHLON Association in Island of Negros (TRAIN) signed a memorandum of agreement with GMA TV -13 & 30 Western Visayas represented by its Station Manager Cristina L. Poblador–Magbojos.

Two hearings conducted by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) had passed here in Bacolod City regarding a net amount of P192 million for a seven-year recovery period grant of Iloilo based Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) to Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENECO). "Questions here, questions there" were thrown in the hearing itself and some in various media outlets.

Sunset view of the PEDC in Barangay Ingore, La Paz District says it all. Interestingly, the plant’s water system heated the surrounding seaside area thus favoring the growth of marine life. Fish pens are harvesting more which is a big help to the nearby community.* (Gil Severino photo)

Was it forgotten that there is a bigger picture beyond and above the "Electric Power Purchase Agreement" (EPPA) signed between PEDC and CENECO for the said supply of 24 megawatts from December 26, 2010 to August 16, 2011, net amount of P192 million. PEDC is an Iloilo based "embedded generator" therefore conceptually, "it reduces transmission losses, reduces construction cost of transmission towers, reduces environmental concerns attached to these constructions, reduces or avoids excessive amounts of electricity to the grid (systems loss concerns which included the supply to Negros), stability and reliability as against long distance supply, supply and demand matching," among others.

Employees, tenants and agency personnel of SM City Bacolod will join the annual fire and earthquake drill at the mall’s premises on Tuesday morning as part of the company’s commitment to ensure preparedness inside the establishment and surrounding premises in the event of a calamity.

Mall employees and members of Emergency Response Team demonstrate their firefighting skills in last year’s disaster preparedness drill.*

This undertaking will be held by the mall in partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bacolod City Disaster Coordinating Council.

SM City Bacolod public relations manager May Castro said that the drill is conducted annually to ensure the preparedness of all employed in the mall in responding to disaster situations.