GMA visits Bacolod for Vice Mayors’ League

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived in Bacolod yesterday noon for a limited three-hour talk with the League of Vice Mayors. GMA, however, stayed only until after lunch as she had another official engagement at Malacañang at 3 p.m., according to Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, the convention chairman.

She was received at the Bacolod Airport by City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon and other local officials. Also on hand was Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes and Western Visayas Presidential Adviser Rafael Coscolluela. Also present were members of the Presidential Management Staff.

As of press time, it was not clear whether the President would take a little time out to visit the ongoing Panaad Festival, the top tourism drawer of the province.

Security was tight, one thing sure, although Bayan Negros secretary-general Felipe Levy Gelle said the anti Charter-change caravan would take off at 5 p.m. and go around Bacolod.

No permit had been issued for any protest action in front of the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel where the Vice Mayors’ League was holding its convention, pointed out Bacolod police chief Superintendent Pedro Merced.

Incidentally, Mayor Leonardia earlier corrected the impression that Bacolod has no "Freedom Park." He pointed out that the Bacolod Plaza and the Foundation of Justice in front of City Hall had been confirmed earlier by the city government as areas for demonstrations and protest actions.

Aside from the President, Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamasaki was invited as guest speaker of the convention. GMA was the keynote speaker. She was introduced by Secretary Puno.

The VMLP national president is Mandaluyong City Vice Mayor Jesus Cruz. Novero, the convention chairman, is vice president for the Visayas and president of the league’s Negros chapter.

The theme of the convention is "The Vice Mayor: A Catalyst for Solidarity, Renewal and Development."

The other officers handling the convention are Sagay Vice Mayor Joseph Gerard Marañon, Silay City Vice Mayor Francisco Joseph Jalandoni, chairman, gold tournament; Manapla Vice Mayor Agnes Garcia, chairman of the food committee; and D.S. Benedicto Vice Mayor Marlene de la Cruz, chairwoman of the transportation committee.

I will write about the President’s visit there later. I just got word of my younger brother’s demise in Cebu City. That was followed by the announcement that my father’s younger brother, Florencio Espina, also died yesterday in Manila.

But these have nothing to do with this column. Just side comments.

Tribute from foreign sugar experts

The International Sugar Forum’s second phase was held here in Bacolod with the foreign experts paying a visit to various research and development and extension projects of the Philippine Sugar Research Foundation (Philsurin) in Negros Occidental.

Philsurin director-general Leon Arceo accompanied them, so with Philsurin chairman Bernardo Trebol.

But there was something very elating in their reaction. This was confirmed later by both Arceo and Trebol that several countries inquired whether they could send people to train in the Philippines.

Their focus was Canepoint, an innovative database designed by Philsurin. This is considered the first in the global sugar industry. It makes possible complete information on sugarcane, arranged for easier research, retrieval and navigation, as Arceo explained.

But the most striking insofar as the foreign experts are concerned is the fact that Philsurin carried out its varietal distribution system with only 49 coordinators and technicians. This was made possible through the Mill District Development Councils (MDDCs), which are made up of sugar producers, mill officials and Philsurin coordinators.

Actually, the Philsurin acts more as the R&D arm of the Sugar Regulatory Administration.

During last Thursday’s cocktails at the L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod, the foreign delegates gushed over their findings and, not surprisingly, also heard the Brazilian representative discuss his country’s experience with ethanol.

Trebol said he was gratified by the response of the foreign participants in the CFC/ISO/20 sugarcane variety improvement projects in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

The projects actually boosted to a large degree the rapid turnaround of the local sugar industry, resulting in surplus production of sugar.

The main topic of discussion today will be the accomplishment of the CFC/ISO/20 program.

Aklan Day

I always have a soft spot for Aklan. Not only because it was the home province of my late wife, Dr. Lourdes L. Espina, but also because the "Father of Aklan," Rep. Godofredo Ramos, was a close personal friend.

Thus, my failure to be present at the 50th anniversary of the province was truly heart-rending for me. Still, I would like to pay tribute to the Outstanding Aklanons of 2006 who included, among others, my bosom friends, former Assemblyman Jose (Soning) Tumbokon and PAPI president Johnny Dayang.

Another province close to my heart is Antique. This is one province, which I have always admired. It boasts a lot of picturesque spots, including the town of Libertad, which used to be an alternative gateway to Aklan, especially Ibajay, my wife’s hometown.

Lately, I discovered that Sen. Franklin Drilon has appointed a new provincial chairman for the Liberal Party there. He is senior board member Silvestre Untaran Jr.

Drilon granted Untaran the authority to recognize the LP down to the precinct level as acting chairman of the party.

He replaced Antique Gov. Sally Zaldivar-Perez who was deemed expelled because she sided with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza in ousting Drilon as party president, although that remains contested.

Gov. Perez, on the other hand, shrugged it off, pointing out that the March 23 convention deliberated and approved it.

Untaran was replaced by board member Zoilo Bernardo Tabionosa as majority floor leader.

Provincial information officer Eric Otayde said the appointment of Untaran as chairman no longer means anything since the LP roster of the province continues to recognize Gov. Perez as provincial LP chairman.

Speaking of Untaran, he pointed out that he is "chairman of himself" and "does not have the followers of the party that he is claiming."

Well, that’s the opening salvo of another political square-off.

Health and education aids

It was not only Aklan that received a major boost in its health facilities with the newly inaugurated Dr. Tumbokon General Hospital in Kalibo. I learned from Gov. Perez of Antique that GMA also turned over an ambulance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to the Gov. Leandro Fullon General Hospital.

This, after the President inspected the progress of the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing 25- to 50-bed hospital. The project will ultimately cost P10 million, Gov. Perez disclosed.

For the moment, these are just among the many ongoing benefits received by Western Visayas from the President. I’ll write about the others later. As soon as I finish with the cremation of my brother in Cebu on May 1.