Legarda: CPSU should receive higher subsidies

REELECTIONIST Senator Loren Legarda promised on Thursday to push for higher government subsidies for State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) in Negros Occidental.

Legarda made the statement during the 63rd commencement exercises of the Central Philippine State University (CPSU) in Kabankalan City.

Vice guv denies link to grenade attack

NATIONALIST People's Coalition (NPC) gubernatorial bet Genaro Alvarez labeled as “black propaganda” the reports linking his group to the firing of two M203 grenades at the house of Manapla Mayor Lourdes Escalante last Wednesday night.

No one was hurt in the said incident.

Zubiri pushes biofuels to save sugar industry

ILONGGO senatorial bet Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri reiterated the relevance of the use of biofuels which, he said, is the top saving grace for the sugar industry in Negros by 2015 when tariffs for sugar will reach the lowest level.

Zubiri, who is now in a campaign sortie in the province, said that Thailand has a huge excess of sugar supply because they produce 10 million metric tons (MT) of sugar annually and that they consume less that is why bulk of the imported sugar that comes to the Philippines is from Thailand.

Leonardia: Retired cops backing MKK are not Bacolodnons

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said that the police retirees, who are linked with the Negros Occidental Constabulary Police Retirees Association, Inc. which has expressed its support for the candidates of Pamilya Magbinuligay Kita sa Kauswagan (MKK), are not Bacolodnons.

He said they are from different towns and cities and that, in their communication, their address is Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.

Power coop consumers to enjoy P3.2M dividend

JOHN Peter Millan, chairman of Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco), revealed that their consumers will enjoy a refund of P3.2 million, because of net surplus in 2012.

Millan said that the refund will be reflected as discounts on the future electricity bills of Noceco consumers.

Susan Roces campaigns for Grace Poe

ACTRESS Susan Roces, mother of senatorial bet Grace Poe-Llamanzares, visited Wednesday the Burgos Public Market and Central Market in Bacolod City.

“I am happy to see the people in the market. Thank you so much that you have made me feel so welcome. I miss all of you. I am here to ask for your support for my daughter Grace Poe. She will continue the plans of her father Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) for the people, especially the less fortunate individuals. Her number in the official ballot is No. 28. Please vote for Grace Poe for the Senate," she appealed to the public.

Impasse continues at Provincial Board

THE Provincial Board of Negros Occidental failed anew to hold its regular session on Wednesday, because of lack of quorum.

During the session, only six members of the SP were present. They are Board Members Miller Serondo, Helen Zafra, Emilio Yulo III, Pedro Zayco, Renato Gustilo and Mae Javellana.

Pace files raps vs SP for non-passage of budget

THE Executive Board of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (Pace) approved Wednesday the filing of charges against the members of the Provincial Board, including Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, for the non-passage of the 2013 budget.

Pace president Ruben Diamanté said that after the approval and ratification of the Executive Board for the filing of charges, a signature campaign will be held to get the consensus of the Capitol employees about the legal move.

NPA attempts to rescue arrested leader

NEGROS Occidental Police Office (Noppo) chief Celestino Guara said the New People's Army (NPA) rebels attempted to rescue their top leader including other rebel members who were nabbed in Barangay Dancalan, Ilog last week.

The rebels were arrested during a checkpoint in the said barangay in relation to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.

Lacson clarifies stand on Capitol loan issues

VICE gubernatorial bet Eugenio Lacson reiterates his stand with his running mate Vice Governor Lim-ao Alvarez that they are against loan.

Lacson invoked that the resources of the Provincial Government is actually sufficient to deliver health services that includes construction of hospitals and building of classrooms that can directly benefit the people.

Metrowaste: We are improving on our work

THE Metrowaste Solidwaste Management Corporation operations manager Manuel Baal said Wednesday that they are improving on their work performance in the collection of garbage in the city of Bacolod.

He said that they are still on the familiarization stage and need to adjust more. He appealed to the public for understanding because they are doing their best to normalize and attain efficiency in their work.

Ex-Pulupandan cop chief faces admin raps

SENIOR Inspector Edfiel Balibadlan, the relieved police chief of Pulupandan Police Office, will be facing administrative charges for Serious Irregularity in the Performance of Duty, a police official said Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Celestino Guara, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo), said the charges are in line with the presence of Balibadlan and two other police officers when Mayor Magdaleno Peña arrived at the Provincial Capitol for his debate and boxing match challenge against Atty. Jose Maria Valencia.

‘Baywalk should be fair to all businesses’

BACOLOD City Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the City Council Committee Chair on Laws and Good Government, said that Baywalk Restaurant and Entertainment Center should be fair to all businesses in the city that comply with the requirement of a business permit before they operate at the Bacolod Reclamation Area.

He said the city is assisting Baywalk on their needs for permits but as they still process their permits, they need to voluntarily close down.

Paduano: RPA transformation underway

STEPHEN Paduano alias “Carapali Lualhati,” former National Chair of the Revolutionary Proletarian Armg-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA- ABB), revealed the ongoing transformation conference held by his former comrades.

Paduano has already resigned from the RPA-ABB after he decided to join in the political system of the country. He is now the number one nominee of 136 Abang Lingkod Party-list group.

NPC-Grupo Progreso eyes landslide victory

THE Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) Grupo Progreso is eyeing a landslide victory in the coming May 13, 2013 polls.

Re-electionist Councilor Caesar Distrito made the declaration who considered himself as the lawyer of the poor.

War vets ask for P2,000 pension hike

AS THE country celebrated the “Araw Ng Kagitingan” or National Heroes Day on Tuesday, war veterans asked for a raise of P2,000 to P5,000 in their monthly pension.

A wreath-laying program was held Tuesday at the Monument of the Unknown Soldiers at the Bacolod City Public Plaza to honor the heroes of World War II. The event was attended by the veterans who were also given the honors during the celebration.

2013 Panaad sa Negros Festival opens

THE 20th Panaad sa Negros Festival formally opened Monday with around 10,000 Negrenses and visitors, including a 32-man contingent from Korea at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. formally opened the “festival of all festivals” in Negros.

Alvarez denies politicking during Panaad

VICE Governor Genaro Alvarez denied that his camp is employing politics even in the celebration of the Panaad sa Negros Festival that opened on Monday at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Alvarez said that he sent on his behalf his daughter, Sixth District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, who gave the opening message during the opening ceremonies.

Peña welcomes new police force

PULUPANDAN Mayor Magdaleno Peña on Monday said that he welcomes the assignment of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Provincial Safety Company personnel in Pulupandan in lieu of the previous police personnel assigned in the town.

“It is usually a standard operating procedure during election period,” said Peña in a statement Monday.

Escalante sees budget approval after May polls

PROVINCIAL BOARD Member Salvador Escalante sees the passage of the 2013 provincial budget after the May 13 elections.

“We may see the budget approval after the May elections. How I wish I am wrong this time. That is my fearless forecast,” said Escalante, a re-electionist under the United Negros Alliance headed by the tandem of Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Dr. Melvin Ibañez, concurrent SP Member representing the Fifth District.

Capitol loans ‘tool for development’

BOARD Member Melvin Ibañez of the Fifth District on Monday defended the need for the Provincial Government to avail of loans for its flagship programs that will redound to the benefit of most number of Negrenses.

Ibañez, runningmate of re-electionist Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. under the United Negros Alliance, justified the ongoing construction, expansion and modernization of district hospitals and building of more classrooms using approved loans because they are the right investment.

Puentevella pushes for scholarships

PAMILYA MKK’s Monico Puentevella-Vladimir Gonzalez tandem vowed to provide more scholarship grants to deserving students as the party outlined its priority agenda for education when it held its nightly sorties in Barangays Pahanocoy and Punta Taytay late last week.

Speaking before jam-packed crowds in separate events, the standard bearer of the Pamilya Magbinuligay Kita sa Kauswagan (MKK) stressed the value of education, especially among young Bacolenos.

Baywalk asks for 90 day extension

THE management of Baywalk Restaurant and Entertainment Place has asked the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government of the Bacolod City Council for a 90-day extension to make the necessary compliance and to remedy the defect/s on their permit to operate.

Baywalk, through its legal counsel lawyer Dennis Cortes wrote Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia on April 2, 2013, that they have obtained beforehand the necessary mayor’s permit.

Sayson: It was not a gag order

VICE Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson clarifi1ed that he did not issue a gag order to the late Sanggunian Secretary Atty. Nilo Alejandrino as claimed by the camp of his opponent MKK mayoralty bet Monico Puentevilla regarding an Ombudsman case.

He said they have misled the public since the Ombudsman has directed both parties to submit their verified position papers and was not about a gag order.

Support for Enrile crosses party lines

SUPPORT for United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Jack Enrile crosses political party lines, as Liberal Party (LP) provincial chairman Representative Albee Benitez threw his all-out support for him during a campaign sortie at Murcia last Saturday.

Broad daylight hold-up hits Bacolod anew

ABUNDANT Marketing located in Narra Extention, Hervias 1, Bacolod City, was attacked by about five suspects who introduced themselves to be New People's Army (NPA) members in another broad daylight robbery incident last Saturday.

Helen Uy, owner of Abundant Marketing, said the suspects arrived at her store on board a tricycle around 8 a.m. of Saturday. The suspects, who were carrying short firearms, entered the corn and soybean store and introduced themselves to be customers.

Benitez implements ‘more than P2B’ projects

THIRD district Representative Albee Benitez said he was able to implement more than P2 billion worth of various infrastructure projects, which are probably the biggest budget in the entire Western Visayas.

"I came in middle part of 2010. I implemented more or less P60-P100 million, P200 million in 2011, P400 million in 2012 and P800 million in 2013," he said.

TUCP to file wage hike petition

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is filing a petition for wage increase for this year.

Roland dela Cruz, of TUCP, said they are now preparing the final draft of their wage petition to be filed before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas.

Sayson ordered to explain gag order vs Alejandrino

THE Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas has directed Bacolod City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson to explain in 10 days why he issued a gag order prohibiting former City Council secretary Nilo Alejandrino from entering the council’s premises.

Mayor passes to CLO recommendation to close Baywalk

MAYOR Evelio Leonardia will pass to the City Legal Office (CLO) Councilor Caesar Distrito’s recommendation to temporarily close down the operation of Bacolod Baywalk Restaurant and Entertainment Place at the Reclamation Area while Baywalk processes its new business permit.

Leonardia said he wants the CLO to take one more look on the matter. "We do not assume that their action is necessarily automatic on our part."