https://www.facebook.com/364168380705643/

Barangay Connection, Dumaguete City (2026)

24/09/2026

𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇! 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍. 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐓𝐄.

The proposed new Dumaguete City Public Market is not being built for Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria. It is not being built for the current administration. And it certainly does not belong to one political camp.

It belongs to Dumaguete.

It is for the vendors who deserve a safer, cleaner and more decent place to earn a living. It is for consumers who deserve a modern public market. It is for the families whose livelihoods depend on the market. And it is for the next generation of Dumaguetnons who will inherit whatever kind of city we choose to build today.

Questioning government is part of democracy. Checking the numbers is responsible. Demanding transparency is necessary. But there is a point when scrutiny stops being constructive and becomes obstruction.

If there are weaknesses in the plans, help fix these. If there are questions about the financing, ask and demand clear answers.

If there are better ideas, put them on the table. If there are safeguards that should be added, fight for those safeguards.

But simply saying NO to everything does not build a better Dumaguete.

And let us be very clear about something -- a public project does not become the property of the administration that proposes it. Governments change. Mayors change. Councilors change. Political alliances change.

But the market will remain. Dumaguete will remain. The people will remain.

So why should today's political disagreements be allowed to determine whether the city gets the infrastructure it needs for decades to come?

The more responsible approach now is not to ask, “How do we stop this administration?”

Ask instead -- “How do we make sure this project works for Dumaguete?”

That is where everyone should be putting their energy.

Opposition leaders. Councilors. Business groups. Vendors. Professionals. Civil society. Government officials. Ordinary Dumaguetnons.

JOIN FORCES. Sit at the same table. Examine the plans. Correct what needs correcting. Strengthen what needs strengthening. Protect the public interest. Then move forward.

Because development should never be held hostage by politics.

Dumaguete has a future beyond today's mayor, today's council, today's administration—and today's political quarrels.

Stop fighting over who gets credit. Start working on what the city needs.

So enough obstruction. Enough political trench warfare.

If you truly care about Dumaguete, come to the table. Bring your questions. Bring your solutions. Bring your expertise.

And help build the city—not just build arguments against it.

24/09/2026

𝐅𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 #2: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐒

One of the most alarming claims being circulated about the proposed new Dumaguete Public Market is that the mayor will simply “pocket” the proceeds of the loan.

Let’s slow down and think about that.

The loan is not a bag of cash handed to the mayor for him to spend as he pleases. It is public borrowing for identified government projects, with the money subject to government accounting, procurement, disbursement and auditing procedures. There are documents, contracts, transactions, approvals and people involved in every step. The project will have to be procured, contracted and paid for based on actual work and documented obligations. For the mayor to simply pocket billions, all those safeguards—and all the people and institutions that monitor public funds—would somehow have to be bypassed or participate in the scheme. That is a very serious allegation requiring very serious evidence.

Yes, Dumaguetnon taxpayers have every right to demand transparency and accountability. But saying, as a matter of certainty, that the mayor will steal the loan proceeds is something else. Unless there is evidence of diversion, fictitious transactions, personal transfers, ghost projects or actual misuse of funds, it remains an unsupported allegation—not an established fact.

This is why the “mayor will pocket the loan” narrative should be treated for what it is --- a doomsday scenario being presented as though it were already inevitable.

Dumaguetnon taxpayers deserve vigilance. They deserve transparency. They deserve accountability.

But they also deserve FACTS—not fear, speculation, or a worst-case scenario presented as a foregone conclusion.

24/09/2026

𝐅𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 #1: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭🚨‼️

One of the biggest claims being peddled by the Remollo camp is that the new Dumaguete City Public Market will displace vendors, demolish their stalls, and put their livelihoods at risk. The facts say otherwise. Not a single stall, post, or portion of the existing market will be demolished until a temporary relocation site has been built. That sequence is part of the city’s contract with the contractor: build the temporary market first, relocate the vendors, then begin demolition and construction. Better yet, the temporary stalls will be provided free of charge until the new market is completed. So where, exactly, is the supposed “displacement”? Vendors are not being thrown into the streets, forced to abandon their businesses, or charged rent while waiting for the new market.

And here is another fact worth remembering -- whoever is Stall #1 in the old market will remain Stall #1 in the new market. The same applies to the vendors’ assigned stall identities. This is not a game of musical chairs where vendors lose their place and livelihood when construction begins. They are being temporarily relocated while the facility they have used for decades is replaced with a modern market designed to serve them better. Turning a temporary relocation into a story of eviction and displacement is not scrutiny; it is fearmongering.

The vendors of Dumaguete deserve better than political scare tactics. They deserve facts, clear explanations, and the opportunity to judge the project based on what is actually being done—not on frightening stories repeatedly dressed up as truth. To those scaring the people, do not manufacture a crisis where none exists simply because the facts do not fit your political narrative. The old market may soon be demolished—but first, let us be clear about what should not be demolished in the process -- the TRUTH.

24/09/2026

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐃𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐓

The proposed new four-storey public market is not simply another government building; it is an overdue investment in the people who use the market every single day --- vendors who earn their living, consumers who buy their food, and families whose daily lives are tied to this essential economic hub. Public consultations on the proposed project have been held, underscoring that this is not an idea pulled out of thin air but a project that has already been subjected to public discussion.

And perhaps it is time we stop treating development as something to be feared simply because it is ambitious or expensive. A modern market means a cleaner, safer, more efficient place to trade—a facility capable of supporting the city's continuing growth. In fact, the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry has described the proposed market as an opportunity to strengthen the local economy and improve public services.

Dumaguete has waited long enough. The new public market should be built—not as a monument to any administration, but as infrastructure for generations of Dumaguetnons.

NOW is the time to build. Not someday. Not when the next administration comes along. NOW—while we still have the opportunity to build the market Dumaguete and its people have long deserved.

24/09/2026

𝑵𝑬𝑮𝑹𝑶𝑺 𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑳 𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑹𝑬𝑺𝑺 𝑩𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑨🚨‼️

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 300 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬

Mayor Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria led the distribution of cash incentives to over 300 local student-athletes on September 10, honoring their remarkable dedication, hard work, and achievements in competitive sports.

The initiative recognizes the sacrifices of young athletes who represent their respective schools and the city in various sporting events while maintaining their academic responsibilities. Mayor Sagarbarria highlighted the city government’s steadfast commitment to fostering local youth talent, praising their discipline and perseverance.

By offering financial support, the city aims to inspire excellence both on the field and in the classroom, encouraging Dumaguete’s youth to pursue their athletic and educational goals.

24/09/2026

𝑵𝑬𝑮𝑹𝑶𝑺 𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑳 𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑹𝑬𝑺𝑺 𝑩𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑨🚨‼️

Mayor Manuel "Chiquiting" Sagarbarria met with Khan Academy Philippines executives Atty. Myrish Cadapan-Antonio and Lea Sicat to discuss a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing local public education.

In collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the local government unit (LGU) will provide 100 Mbps Wi-Fi connectivity to all 26 public schools across Dumaguete City. Additionally, the LGU is allocating ₱1.5 million to purchase learning gadgets for four selected schools.

This joint initiative aims to bridge the digital divide, integrating Khan Academy’s learning platform to ensure Dumaguete students gain better access to quality, technology-driven educational resources.

16/09/2026

𝑵𝑶𝑬𝑩: 𝑭𝑳𝑨𝑺𝑯 𝑹𝑬𝑷𝑶𝑹𝑻🚨‼️

Local vendors and residents in Dumaguete City have voiced strong support for the proposed ₱1.948-billion Dumaguete City Public Market redevelopment, viewing the long-awaited project as a major development that directly benefits the community.

The overwhelming local support was highlighted by Carlos Ayala, Executive Director of the National Institute for Transparency and Accountability (NITA), following an independent investigation and community interviews conducted separately from the city government.

According to NITA’s assessment, daily stakeholders, including vendors, consumers, and residents strongly back the modernization effort, citing the desire for visible and impactful local governance.

The market modernization is a flagship infrastructure initiative of the Dumaguete City Government under Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria.

The project went through standard local development processes and was formally endorsed by the City Development Council in a 9–3 vote before progressing to national review mechanisms.

NITA noted that the proposed financing package has undergone comprehensive evaluations by key government institutions, including the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of Finance (DOF), to assess the city's borrowing capacity, fiscal sustainability, and overall compliance.

𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬.

In addition to state-level reviews, a comprehensive feasibility study was conducted to examine expected revenues, expenses, debt servicing, and long-term economic viability. The project is currently undergoing further evaluation by an independent body to guarantee financial prudence and strictly enforce governance safeguards before moving into implementation.

16/09/2026

𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗔: 𝗗𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗧𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗧, ‘𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗩𝗜𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘,’ 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗚𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘

ITINUTURING ng National Institute for Transparency and Accountability (NITA) na financially viable at suportado ng mga vendor at residente ang planong ₱1.948-bilyong Dumaguete City Public Market.

Ayon kay NITA Executive Director Carlos Ayala, nagsagawa ang grupo ng independent investigation at community interviews na hiwalay sa city government upang alamin ang pananaw ng mga residente hinggil sa proyekto.

Lumabas umano sa assessment ang malakas na suporta sa modernization ng public market dahil araw-araw itong gagamitin ng mga vendor, consumer at residente.

“Gusto ng mga tao ng development na nakikita at nararamdaman nila,” ani Ayala. “Mas malinis, ligtas at maayos na public market ang matagal na nilang hinihintay.”

Ang proyekto ay bahagi ng infrastructure program ng Dumaguete City Government sa ilalim ni Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria.

Dumaan umano ito sa local development process at inendorso ng City Development Council sa botong 9-3 bago sumailalim sa iba pang government review.

Ayon sa NITA, dumaan din ang proposed financing sa mga applicable review mechanism na kinasasangkutan ng Land Bank of the Philippines, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF) at iba pang kaukulang ahensya upang masuri ang borrowing capacity, fiscal sustainability at compliance ng lungsod.

Sinabi ng grupo na mababa rin ang interest rate ng proposed financing, na mahalagang factor umano sa long-term affordability ng proyekto.

Isinailalim din ang proyekto sa feasibility study na tumingin sa projected revenues, expenses, debt servicing at long-term sustainability. Dumaraan pa umano ito sa review ng isang independent body upang masuri ang financial prudence at safeguards bago tuluyang umusad.

“Hindi ibig sabihin na kapag may concern ay dapat nang ihinto ang development,” ani Ayala. “Palakasin ang safeguards at protektahan ang public funds. Sa aming assessment, financially viable ang proyekto at mas matimbang ang long-term benefits nito sa publiko.”

Binanggit din ni Ayala ang Medical City hospital na kasalukuyang itinatayo sa lungsod.

Ayon sa kanya, may iba pang mga proyektong naisulong sa lungsod, probinsya at distrito na aniya ay nakatuon sa public welfare at long-term development.

“Kapag ang development ay nakikita, nagagamit at napapakinabangan ng mamamayan, doon tunay na nasusukat ang halaga ng proyekto,” ani Ayala.

(https://saksingayon.com/nita-dumaguete-market-financially-viable-suportado-ng-mga-residente/)

16/09/2026

"𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗔: 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀

MANILA, Philippines — Suportado ng mga vendor at residente ang planong P1.948 bilyon na Dumaguete City Public Market, na itinuturing nilang long-awaited project at development na direktang mapapakinabangan ng mamamayan.

Ito ang sinabi ni National Institute for Transparency and Accountability (NITA) Exec. Director Carlos Ayala nang makapanayam ang grupo ng independent investigation at community interviews na hiwalay sa city government.

Lumabas sa assessment ang malakas na suporta sa modernization ng public market dahil araw-araw itong magagamit ng vendors, consumers at residente at gusto ng mga tao ang development na nakikita at nararamdaman.

“Mas malinis, ligtas, at maayos na public market ang matagal na nilang hinihintay. Para sa marami, rito nila makikita kung saan napupunta ang kanilang buwis,” wika ni Ayala.

Ang proyekto ay bahagi ng infrastructure program ng Dumaguete City Government sa ilalim ni Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria.

Dumaan ito sa local development process at inendorso ng City Development Council sa botong 9-3 bago sumailalim sa iba pang government review.

Ayon sa NITA, ang proposed financing ay dumaan sa applicable review mechanisms involving the Land Bank, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance at iba pang relevant government authorities upang masuri ang borrowing capacity, fiscal sustainability, at compliance ng lungsod.

Mababa rin ang interest rate ng proposed financing, isang mahalagang factor sa long-term affordability ng proyekto.

Isinailalim din ang proyekto sa feasibility study na tumingin sa revenues, expenses, debt servicing at long-term sustainability. Dumadaan pa ito sa review ng isang independent body upang masuri ang financial prudence at safeguards bago tuluyang umusad."

- philstar Global

16/09/2026

𝑵𝑬𝑮𝑹𝑶𝑺 𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑳 𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑹𝑬𝑺𝑺 𝑩𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑨

DUMAGUETE CITY — A casual morning gathering highlighted the enduring personal bonds behind government work when Dumaguete Mayor Manuel "Chiquiting" Sagarbarria hosted a breakfast with current and former colleagues on September 5, 2026.

The meeting served as a space to share updates, reminisce, and celebrate friendships forged through public service. While political positions, assignments, and administrations inevitably change, Sagarbarria emphasized that the human connections built while serving the community remain permanent.

Beyond personal camaraderie, reconnecting with former officials preserves crucial institutional memory and governance lessons. Ultimately, the true legacy of public service lies in shared relationships, not temporary titles.

Barangay Connection

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

16/09/2026

16/09/2026

16/09/2026

16/09/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request