RoxasCity.Gov.Ph – Roxas City Official Website is Down

It’s 2011.  Happy New Year to All!

Roxas City has a lot of changes now and improvements.  Since the City Mayor Alan Celino assumed his office last year, there are major changes implemented in the City.  This  is part of his platform of Government which is “4AC: 4 A Change”. Some of the notable physical changes and improvement in Roxas City are:

• Palm Trees within the center island along the Arnaldo Boulevard Road
• Reconstruction of the Rotunda Fountain Landmark
• The implementation of Coding Scheme for Tricycles
• The construction and repairs of drainage system of major streets and barangays in Roxas City
• Roxas City Auxilliary Police (Traffic Enforcer) and Sanitary Health Workers
• Fence barriers within the intersections along Gaisano Blvd and Pres. Manuel Roxas Mem. School to avoid traffic.
• and many more …

But as of the beginning of year 2011, one of the major changes I’ve noticed online is the website of Roxas City Government. http://roxascity.gov.ph.  As I visited the site to be updated about Roxas City, I’d noticed that the official website of Roxas City is down.  I am thinking that their hosting or domain expired, but as I asked my friends from Roxas City Hall, according to them, there will be a major

PPCRV Capiz prepares for barangay polls

by A. Lumaque

Roxas City (27 September) — The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) – Capiz Chapter has conducted an orientation to its members last Sept. 25 at the Mass Communications Production Room of the Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion here in preparation for the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 25.

The orientation also reminded the participants on the calendar of events as well as the prohibited activities to watch out towards election day.

A similar activity was also conducted by the Chapter last Aug. 28.

Recently, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has announced that those aspiring for village and youth council seats may file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) from October 1 to 13.

Lists of Winning and Losing Local Candidates in Capiz

(1st District – Congressman)

Del Rosario, Antonio (LP)                  77,584

Barredo, Felipe(UKC)                         45,859

Dadivas, Rodriquez (Ind)                   41,205

Tinsay, Conrado III (Ind)                   1,397

(2nd District-Congressman)

Castro, Jane (UKC)                             109,147

Lastimoso, Roberto (LP)                    47,885

Governor

Tanco, Victor, Sr. (LP)                        189,501

Bolante, Jocelyn (UKC)                      121,176

Amoroso, Zenon (Ind)                         2,329

Vice Governor

Contreras, Esteban Evan (LP)          170,340

Ortiz, Mark Anthony (UKC)              123,210

ROXAS CITY – Mayor

Celino,Angel  Alan (LP)                      33,122

Bermejo, Vicente (UKC)                     32,436

Vice Mayor

Dadivas, Ronnie(LP)                           39,940

Altobano, Dennis (UKC)                     21,365

Acat, Isagani (PMP)                            1,090

Why Mar Roxas Lost the Race? (A View From Capiz)

By Sarreal Discaya Soquiño

Most probably, allies and avid supporters of former Senator Mar Roxas have not yet fully understood why the candidate they supported for the vice presidential race last May 10 national polls lost against former Makati  Mayor Jejomar Binay, who consistently lagged behind in the poll surveys conducted by reputable pollsters. Certainly, various factors came into play during the campaign period that eventually influenced the outcome of the first automated election held in the country.

Despite Roxas’ strong showing in the poll surveys leaving behind comfortably Loren Legarda who was viewed by the Liberal Party (LP) as a closest contender of the man from Cubao in the contest for the vice presidential post, everybody was caught off-guard when Binay from the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) suddenly threatened Roxas’ chance to clinch the VP post. It was viewed by many observers that the 289 sister cities and municipalities of Makati Binay had established while he was the local chief of the wealthiest city in the country played a vital role in securing massive votes for him which Roxas failed to matched. Manila Standard columnist Emil P. Jurado wrote that those sister cities and municipalities have been receiving from Makati Php 1 million a month and other forms of assistance like ambulances and police patrol cars. Example, it was reported that the town of Malay, Aklan received two multi-cab vehicles in 2009 from the city of Makati.  These fortunate LGUs will certainly throw its support to a candidate who have delivered concrete assistance it badly needed than to a senator who had spent his time and energy enhancing for years his public image as the man in blue who loves to mingle with ordinary people in the marketplaces.

The reported infigthing between the Coryistas – the yellow Aquino group – and Roxas Camp during the campaign period may have caused

Capiz Politics: Liberal Party vs Ugyon Kita Capiz

Capiz election has been peaceful for the past years since it was dominated and controlled by the united Liberal Party (LP) headed by Senator Mar Roxas and his mother Judy Araneta-Roxas.

But due to some unavoidable circumstances happened in Capiz politics especially the arguments between Capiz Governor Victor Tanco and 2^nd District Congressman Fredinel Castro; and Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo and 1^st District Congressman Antonio del Rosario, this calm condition of Capiz turns to be tense and agitated.  The situation was worsen when former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc joc Bolante” declared to run as Governor in 2010 election.

Congressman Castro together with Joc joc Bolante formed a local political party named Ugyon Kita Capiz (UKC).  Some of the local leaders of the Liberal Party (LP) had joined UKC which was chaired by Castro, with Bolante as the Vice-Chairman.

This scenario affected the previous peaceful and united situation of Capiz politics.  As the 2010 election is approaching,

Party loyalty? Tell that to the marines!

The so-called political season in Capiz has practically begun with some reports that this or that politician is planning to run in 2010 against an incumbent official who, ironically, also happens to be a party-mate at the Liberal Party.  And not to be outdone, the opposition in Capiz  led by former Roxas City vice mayor and defeated first district congressional candidate Alan Celino and the  group of former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante (which includes former  Capiz Gov. Jose “Ting”Borda, Tabby Blanco, former board member Henry Reyes, among others),  has lately become visible as if trying to send a urgent  “political message” that something is awash in 2010 insofar as the opposition ranks in Capiz are concerned.

Bolante is reportedly seriously considering running either for  congressman of the first district of Capiz or for governor.  But since Celino’s original plan  is to run against Del Rosario for their much-awaited second bout, Bolante may yet  opt for the governorship.  But this may depend on the decision of last term second district congressman Fredenil Castro, who is also believed to be eyeing  the top Capitol post. Will Castro give up his gubernatorial ambition in favor of Bolante?   And, is Castro now willing to severe his ties with Senator Mar Roxas by going against the perceived reelection bid of incumbent governor Tanco who, it is believed, remains to be “pet” of the Roxases?

Indeed, will the senator and his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, “give” the Capitol post on a silver platter to a non-LP supporter?   I can almost imagine them protesting  in unison: “over our dead bodies!”

But what is surprising is the reported plan of former Panay mayor and now Vice Gov. Felipe Barredo, an LP stalwart,  to run for  congressman of the

Are Capiceños ready to ‘gamble’ on Joc Joc Bolante?

Okey.  We, Filipinos, in general, and Capiceños, in particular, have very short memories. We easily forgive and forget. But will this kind of mentality  work in favor  of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, believed to be the architect of the P728-millon fertilizer scam, when the controversial Capiceño from Dao, Capiz  finally decides to throw his hat into the political ring?

As of presstime, the buzz was that Bolante is  all set to run for governor in Capiz in  next year’s election.  Should this happen, he will face the likely candidate of the powerful Roxas clan — incumbent Gov. Victor Tanco,  who is expected to seek a second term under the Liberal Party.   Of course,Tanco alone could make himself win the election.  Though he  is popular and has charisma, still it boils down to such factors as enough  campaign funds and greater political influence.   And this is where the role of Sen. Mar Roxas ll and his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, comes in.

Bolante’s latest saga could actually be interpreted as a challenge not to Tanco but to the leadership of the Roxases in Capiz. Which means that any Bolante victory could be

Joc Joc Bolante: A Capizeño

 

Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, former Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture, was a native of Dao, Capiz. Born on August 27, 1951. His parents are Vicente Bolante, Sr. and Salvacion Isada (both deceased).     His siblings were Vicente Jr., Anabelle  and Cecilia.  Anabelle and Cecilia live in Iloilo, while Vicente Jr. stayed at their family’s ancestral home at Poblacion, Dao, Capiz. Joc joc resides at Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.

 

In the year 2001, Joc-Joc Bolante was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Agriculture Undersecretary for Finance and Administration.  Performed his duty for nearly 3 years and then decided to resign on September 6, 2004.  In his letter he stated that he is unable to give his full allegiance to the Department of Agriculture (DA) post because of his function as elected Board of Directors of Rotary International for Asia and Pacific Region. He was also connected to GSIS as one of the boards after his resignation.

 

 Bolante is tagged as the brains of the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.