BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., Philippines — The Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City will conduct a public hearing regarding the petition of the Paglaum Village residents, to conduct a plebiscite and to appropriate funds to give effect and meaning to the long-enacted City Ordinance No. 37, s. of 1987 which creates the Village as a separate barangay.

Councilor Caesar Distrito, Chairman of the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government scheduled the hearing last February 16, 2012 and invited resource persons from the Commission on Elections, DILG-Bacolod, National Statistics Office, Barangay Officials of Brgy. Mansilingan and Atty. Ragem Ymballa as representative of Paglaum Village residents who filed the petition.

Also invited to attend the said public hearing were representatives from the offices of the City Government such as the Bacolod Housing Authority, Public Affairs and Assistance Division, City Planning and Development Authority, City Legal Office, and representative from the office of the City Mayor with Councilor Mona Dia Jardin, President of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

Distrito said the purpose of the public hearing was to give a definite and clear answer to the petition of the Paglaum Village residents and to check the provisions of ordinance 37, series of 1987.

Said public hearing was also seen as important since if the plebiscite is conducted successfully, a new barangay would be created in Bacolod City.

City Ordinance provides for the creation of new barangay in the City of Bacolod to be known as Barangay Paglaum. This was passed during the incumbency of Amado Parreno, OIC mayor in 1987.

According to Ordinance 37, series of 1987 which provided for the creation of a new barangay in the city, Paglaum shall be comprised of 12 haciendas and 3 subdvisions, that is, Paglaum Village, Sitio Buri, Hda. Guanzon, Hda. Hojilla, Hda. Tanalgo & Miranda and Hda. Green Farm (Gonzaga).