The Bacolod City Sanggunian approved Thursday an ordinance declaring April 22 of every year as "Earth Day" in Bacolod City, in line with the worldwide celebration, a press release from Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, an ordinance co-author, said yesterday.

The measure, co-authored by councilors Lyndon Caña and Homer Bais, stresses the responsibility of the local government, civil society, the private sector especially the business and academe, to protect and preserve the environment, it also said.

It also calls for tree-planting or clean-up activities, and consultations or symposia on environmental issues; partnership between the city and the private sector; giving of commendations to entities whose activities are supportive of environmental efforts; and the designation of the Environment and Natural Resources Officer to act as coordinator or secretariat for the activities, among others, the press release said.

The "Earth Day" worldwide celebration started in 1970, when its founder, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson, called on millions of Amercians to take to the streets to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment, the press release added.*

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Worship service slated

An Easter Sunrise Worship Service open to everyone will be celebrated by the Baptist Conference Church of Bacolod, at 5 a.m., on Easter Sunday, April 16, at the Bamboo Cathedral of the Ikthus Equipping Center, 66th Lacson Street, in Bacolod City.

Those interested may contact Henryto Babaran at 441-3343, the group said.*

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JCI joint induction today

The joint induction of officers of four Jaycees International chapters in Negros Occidental, the Bacolod Jaycees, Cadiz Whales, Sagay Sigay, and Escalante Manlambus, will be held, 7 p.m., today, at the Plantazionne of Ayala North Point Clubhouse, in Talisay City, a Jaycees press release said.

The presidents are Caesar Distrito for Bacolod, Barbara Ann Tolentino - Sagay, Fel Ballesteros - Escalante, and Lovella Alfon - Cadiz.

Guest speaker at the joint induction will be Jaycees national president Ismael Penado, while mayors Evelio Leonardia (Bacolod), Salvador Escalante (Cadiz), Leo Rafael Cueva (Sagay) and Santiago Barcelona (Escalante) will give messages, the press release said.

The affair will coincide with the national board meeting of the Philippine Jaycees, and the Visayas Area convention meeting, which started yesterday and will end tomorrow, both in Bacolod, it also said. Supporting the induction are Gov. Joseph Marañon, Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco and Talisay Mayor Eric Saratan as host mayor, the press release said.

A tribute to Jaycees member Hinston Zaragoza and 1955 past national president, the late Ramiro Garcia Sr., will be the highlight, the press release added.*

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Charismatic
conference set in Bacolod

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement of the Diocese of Bacolod will host the 21st CRRM Regional Conference, April 21 to 23, at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Auditorium, in Bacolod City, a press release from the group said.

Participants will be from the dioceses of Antique, Iloilo, Romblon, Capiz, Aklan, San Carlos, in Negros Occidental and the host diocese.

The main speaker will be Fr. Bart Pastor, chairman of the CCRM National Service Committee with Frs. Ronald Quijano, Mitch Guadalupe and Casim Batalla of the Diocese of Bacolod, the press release said.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra will officiate at the Mass on April 21, the press release added.*

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