LITERACY ORDINANCE Approved!

Literate people make a great nation
Source: (by: P. Esleyer, VDS)



WE WANT to thank President Arroyo for issuing Administrative Order No. 324, directing “all local government, government agencies, and government units to adopt the Literacy Coordinating Council blueprint for action as framework or guidelines, developing policies, implementing programs and projects related to literacy.”
This is a landmark decision by the President to strengthen our educational system. No nation can be great unless its people are literate.

Last week the city council also approved the literacy ordinance proposed by Councilor Greg Gasataya. We trust both Mayor Bing Leonardia and Councilor Gasataya and other city officials will make it work. The result will be felt later. Politicians think of today. Statesmen think of tomorrow. We need statesmen.
This country does not only suffer from the hunger of the stomach. It suffers more from the hunger of the mind. We need intellectual nourishment.
We have the basic three R’s, “Reading,” “Riting,” and “Rithmetic.” Are these enough? No! It depends on the quality of what we read and the quality of how and what we write. Every year there have been conferences on promoting literacy. Last year, it was held here at La Salle.

Let us produce literate people in Bacolod and Negros. The ball is in the hands of Councilor Greg Gasataya, chairman of education committee. Read more...

Literacy council pushed (source: VDS)

The City government of Bacolod is pushing for the creation of a Local Literacy Coordinating Council, a press release from the Sangguniang Panlungsod said.

Councilor Greg Gasataya, chairman of the Committee on Education, endorsed to the council the proposed ordinance “Adopting The Literacy Coordinating Council’s Blueprint For Action And Implementing Guidelines And Thereby Establishing The Bacolod City Local Literacy Coordinating Council.”

The creation of the council is aimed at setting plans and integrating literacy in all ongoing community based literacy development programs, among others, the press release said.

Its main function will include research, planning, management, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy and social mobilization, resource generation and institutionalization of city-initiated programs and projects, the press release said.

The literacy council will also be responsible for the formulation of necessary policies, implementing rules, regulations and guidelines responsive to literacy and continuing education development.

Gasataya is also the author of the city ordinance on the Comprehensive Scholarship Program of Bacolod City, the press release added.*

PBA All-Star Weekend 2008

Active stars top Shootout
Source: INQUIRER.net April 28, 2008

BACOLOD -- The active players got enough contributions from everyone to turn back the old-timers in the Legends Shootout that preceded the annual Smart PBA All-Star Game Sunday night at the West Negros University gym here.
Coca-Cola hotshot John Arigo and Magnolia ace Dondon Hontiveros scored 18 points each and newly crowned three-point king Renren Ritualo chipped in 13 for a 49-45 victory over the Legends.
Sta. Lucia Realty coach Boyet Fernandez carried the fight for the Legends, who were also backstopped by former Alaska gunslinger Ruehl Gomez and one-time All-Star Game MVP Elmer "Boy" Cabahug.
Fernandez, a streaky shooter during his time, scored 17, while Gomez had 15 and the University of Visayas coach Cabahug, who won the All-Star MVP in 1991, added 13.
The victory marked the second straight year that the active players won the event. Last year in Baguio City, Hontiveros led a squad that humbled a trio made up of Fernandez, Ato Agustin and Pido Jarencio.
"Nakadalawa na sila, hindi na maganda ito," said Fernandez.
In the Shooting Stars event, the team of Ronald Tubid, Jason Webb and Councilor Greg Gasataya triumphed with a time of one minute and 34 seconds, beating two other teams led by Ronjay Buenafe and Nelbert Omolon.

Bacolod's waste segregation to start in 3 public markets with Japanese NGO's help

BACOLOD CITY, May 4 (PNA) - The City of Bacolod will be starting the implementation of waste segregation in three public markets soon.
Bacolod Councilor Greg Gasataya, Chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment and Chairperson of the Clean and Green Coordinating Action Team, said that the waste segregation will be started in the public markets of Libertad, Central and Burgos where the vendors have shown willingness to cooperate.
Gasataya further said this is part of the city's compliance with RA 9003, an act providing for Ecological Solid Waste Management program and creating the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives.
The councilor, in relation to this, has also met Toshido Maeda and Koji Takakura of the non-government organization Kitakyushu Initiative Network who expressed willingness to help the city in garbage composting at no expense on the local government unit.
The waste segregation project will be started off at the public markets and will be expanded to cover the barangays depending on the success.
Councilor Gasataya added that the program is not expected to succeed overnight. But it will be observed little by little for this will involve a change of attitude by the public towards proper waste disposal. By implementing the project, the city government intends to adopt waste reduction scheme rather than waste collection. (PNA) Source:Positive News Media

Purchase of dumpsite

The Clean and Green Coordinating Action Team of Bacolod City is recommending that the city prepares to purchase property to be developed into a waste disposal facility, Bacolod Councilor Greg Gasataya said yesterday.

The property will be developed to comply with the standards required by Republic Act 9003, Gasataya said. He said they are requesting Mayor Evelio Leonardia to consider the six criteria they have created for choosing the property to be purchased.
These are suitability, social acceptability, cost, location, area capacity and availability, he added.
He said the property should pass the geological assessment conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, should be accepted by the community or barangay for use as a waste disposal site and will allow continuity of operation.

The three sites they are recommending are the Moya 63-hectare property in Brgy. Cabug, the 6-hectare Gallespin property between Brgys. Felisa and Cabug, and the 7-hectare Lopez property in Brgy. Felisa, Gasataya said.
The barangay council of Cabug had previously opposed the use of the Moya property as a landfill site, he said, while the Gallespin property, has an endorsement from Brgy. Felisa, but no official stand has been made on the Cabug side of the property.
The Lopez property has a favorable endorsement from Brgy. Felisa, he added.
Gasataya said the three properties have been declared by DENR as suitable for a waste disposal facility and geological studies have been conducted in the past.

He said the Moya property has a distance of about 12.5 kilometers from the city, the Gallespin property - 14 kilometers and the Lopez property - 15 kilometers.
The Moya property is being offered at P150 per square meter, the Gallespin property at P400 per square meter, and the Lopez property at P600 per square meter, Gasataya said.
The Lopez property has been issued a notice to proceed, he said, and the city allowed it to be used for a controlled dumpsite.

Gasataya said they will submit their recommendation to the mayor soon. He said the city has a budget of about P20 million for landbanking in the annual budget which had been approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.Source: VDS

P20 Million for Bacolod City Students..

The Bacolod City school board has approved a total of P20 million from the supplemental budget for payment of miscellaneous fees of about 90,000 public elementary and high school students in Bacolod City and for other expenses, Councilor Greg Gasataya said yesterday.
The budget includes free school bags and school supplies that will be provided by the city government to about 60,000 elementary students in Bacolod, he said.
The city has allocated about P3 million for the miscellaneous fees of about 60,000 elementary and about 30,000 high school students and P1.2 million for the construction and repair of classrooms, he added.

Gasataya said part of the budget will be allocated for the scholars of the Bacolod City National High School Arts and Science class under “Project BING”, or the Building, Intelligence for Growth program of the city.
The scholars will be given additional financial assistance of P200 a month each, he said, and this will cover those from the first year up to the fourth year.

Gasataya said that last year, the city gave the BCNHS scholars P500 every grading.
Meanwhile, the local school board of Bacolod City passed a resolution Friday seeking the retention of Milagros Gonzales as Schools Division Superintendent of Bacolod City, Gasataya said.

Gasataya said the resolution was addressed to Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz, undersecretary Ramon Bacani and regional director Victoriano Tirol Jr.
Earlier, the officers and members of the Bacolod City Public School Teachers’ and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative composed of more than 1,700 elementary and high school teachers, and the Bacolod City Public School Teachers Association, and National Organization of Professional Teachers composed of 2,600 elementary and high school teachers, also manifested their strong support for the leadership of Gonzales, in response to the moves of Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella for her transfer or promotion.. Source: VDS

Church dismayed over OK of Bacolod lottery

By Carla Gomez Visayas Bureau

BACOLOD CITY -- THE CATHOLIC CHURCH here expressed dismay over the passage of the Bacolod City Council resolution endorsing the operation of small town lottery (STL) in the city. The councilors were tied 5-5 when they voted on Wednesday on STL but it was broken by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson who cast his vote in favor of the government lottery. Those who voted in favor of STL were Councilors Dindo Ramos, Al Victor Espino, Roberto Rojas, Alex Paglumotan and Arturo Parreño. Councilors Celia Flor, Reynold Iledan, Catalino Alisbo, Homer Bais and Greg Gasataya voted against it. Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., while present during the session, abstained. Those who were not present were Councilors Napoleon Cordova, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue and Marx Louie de la Rosa. Sayson said they would submit to Mayor Evelio Leonardia the resolution endorsing STL. He said the city government would institute safety measures that would ensure transparency in the operations of STL in Bacolod. Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, who heads the Social Action Center of the Bacolod Diocese, said they were very disappointed that Sayson and five members of the city council voted in favor of STL. He said their only hope is for Mayor Leonardia to exercise his veto power against the SP resolution. All priests in the Diocese who signed the petition against STL will confer with Bishop Vicente Navarra to plan their next move, Buenafe said. He said the Church remains firm in its stand against STL as a way to generate funds for the government since “it will be like robbing the poor to feed the poor.” Buenafe congratulated the five councilors who voted against the STL for their vigilance against gambling and for following the dictates of their conscience. Earlier, Bishop Navarra asked the city officials not to allow a scenario where “only the few from the already well-off enjoy more money because of STL.” =================================================================

Literacy council pushed in Bacolod

Bacolod City -- The City government of Bacolod is pushing for the creation of a Local Literacy Coordinating Council.

Councilor Greg Gasataya, chairman of the Committee on education, endorsed to the council the proposed ordinance "Adopting the Literacy Coordinating Council's Blueprint for Action and Implementing Guidelines and Thereby Establishing the Bacolod City Local Literacy Coordinating Council."
The creation of the council is aimed at setting plans and integrating literacy in all ongoing community based literacy development programs, among others.
Its main function will include research, planning, management, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy and social mobilization, resource generation and institutionalization of city initiated programs and projects.
The literacy council will also be responsible for the formulation of necessary policies, implementing rules, regulations and guidelines responsible to literacy and continuing education development. (PIA/cad) source:

Gasataya seeks 'Green Lane' in stores

BACOLOD Councilor Greg Gasataya, Chair Committee on Environment, proposed a resolution urging malls, supermarkets, grocery stores and other establishments to provide a green lane counter to exclusively accommodate and prioritize consumers who use biodegradable/environment friendly containers. more stories.. (source: Sunstar)

Dumpsite Update

ACTING Bacolod Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and acting Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, chairman of the SP committee on environment admitted on Monday that they are still uncertain on the status of a private lot in Barangay Feliza being used by the city government as a dumpsite, and added that they don't know yet what to negotiate with its owner. MORE STORIES...

Bacolod to regulate plastic use by stores

THE use of plastic bags and plastic cellophane as packing or baggage materials may soon be regulated among all supermarkets, grocery stores and commercial stalls in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
This was contained in a proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Greg Gasataya, which was recently approved on its first reading by the City Council of Bacolod, which also calls for the institutionalizing of the use of biodegradable containers, instead of plastic bags. more stories...

SP to regulate use of plastics in Bacolod...

An ordinance regulating the use of plastic bags and plastic cellophane as packing or bagging materials, and institutionalizing the use of biodegradable containers within Bacolod City was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on first reading Wednesday.

Proposed by Councilor Greg Gasataya, the ordinance cited R.A. 9003, Section 48 (10-11) that provides that the manufacture, distribution or use of non-environmentally acceptable packaging material; and the importation of consumer products packed in non-environmentally acceptable materials, are strictly prohibited.

It said one of the waste materials clogging the waterways or strewn on streets or roads in the city are plastic materials like plastic bags and food wrappers.

It also said the use and sale of plastic as bagging material must be regulated, if not entirely prohibited, to protect the environment. A resort to the use of biodegradable bagging containers such as paper or cloth bags, woven baskets, carton boxes, among others including reusable bags except plastic sando bags, must be institutionalized, it added.

The ordinance shall cover all supermarkets, grocery stores, retail outlets or stores and other commercial stalls and manufacturers in all areas in Bacolod City .

It also said households disposing of waste material through the city's garbage collection system shall utilize paper bags, sacks or other biodegradable containers in packing their waste materials.

Otherwise, the city shall have the right to refuse collection, it added.

The ordinance also provides that violators will be meted penalties of P1,000 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense; P2,5000 and suspension of Business Permit for three months for the third offense; and cancellation and non-renewal of business permit for the fourth offense. Source: VDS

Business Database in Bacolod

SP proposes creation
of business database

A resolution urging the Mayor through the Permits and Licensing Division to come up with a database of all the businesses in Bacolod City was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.

Proposed by Councilor Greg Gasataya, the resolution said the database will be utilized in promoting trade, commerce and industry within the city.

It said Bacolod City has been adjudged as one of the Most Competitive Mid-size City in the country and the Most Business Friendly in the Visayas.

The resolution further urged the Mayor, through the Local Investment Board, to come up with more aggressive projects or programs to promote the city as an investment area. more stories...(source VDS)

69th Charter Day Celebration

69th Charter day Celebration!!

Mayor Bing Leonardia asked the Bacolod Society in America to embark on a project "Bring Home a Friend" so that by next year a bigger delegation from the U.S. will arrive in the city.
He has also requested former Bacolod Rep. John Orola and Councilor Greg Gasataya to start organizing a trade mission to Long Beach three to six months before the next MassKara Festival.more stories...

Trade Mission!!!

69th Charter day Celebration!!

Mayor Bing Leonardia asked the Bacolod Society in America to embark on a project "Bring Home a Friend" so that by next year a bigger delegation from the U.S. will arrive in the city.
He has also requested former Bacolod Rep. John Orola and Councilor Greg Gasataya to start organizing a trade mission to Long Beach three to six months before the next MassKara Festival.more stories...

Dengue Alert.

The Dengue Task Force of Bacolod City is launching an intensified campaign against the spread of dengue in the city. more stories...(source:VDS)


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RESOLUTION NO.__
June 20, 2007
by: Councilor Greg Gasataya

Proposed resolution respectfully requesting the city mayor thru the city health office to undertake fogging operations and information dissemination drive in public schools regarding dengue in the city.

Inauguration

(L- R) Councilor Greg Gasataya, First Lady Mrs. Leonardia, Mayor Bing Leonardia and Guest Speaker Senator Bong Revilla jr.