7 Mos. to Deliberate, Only 10 Minutes to Approve it

By Danny B. Dangcalan

After more than four months, the Annual Budget for 2013 of the Negros Occidental provincial government amounting to P2.6 billion was finally approved during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) yesterday.

The approved budget represents P1,912,059,008 for general fund and P690,149,879 for the Economic Enterprise Development Department.

The budget was unanimously approved on third and final reading upon "mass motion" by Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr., chairman of the SP Commit-tee on Finance.

Is there a rift between the lawyer and the family of slain Kabankalan regional trial court judge Henry Arles?

This question cropped up among local media circles since Tuesday after lawyer Frank Britanico, who had been the legal counsel and spokesman of the Arles family since last year, disclosed that he has already withdrawn from the case. Britanico, brother-in-law of the murdered judge, sent a text message to the media Tuesday morning informing them that the judge’s daughter, Ma. Estelita "Ria" Arles, a lawyer, was expected to file a motion for partial reconsideration of the case before the Department of Justice (DOJ) that afternoon.

In the same text message, he disclosed that he had withdrawn from the case even before the DOJ released its decision.

Police Regional office (PRO) 6 Regional Director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr. said, although some Filipinos have reportedly experienced harassment in Taiwan after the fatal shooting of Taiwanese fishermen off Batan Is. on May 9, no tension is monitored between Filipinos and Taiwanese tourists in Boracay Island and other parts of Western Visayas.

University of St. La Salle welcomes visitors from Kongju National University. From left: USLS Center for External Relations Director Rhoderick K. Samonte, Kongju National University Head of International Affairs Gongho Yoo, English for Global Communications Program Staff Marli Catalan, Kongju National University Director for International Affairs Ji Hoon Park, PhD, Lasallian Student Exchange for 2013-2017 Julian Diego Mapa, Lasallian Faculty Exchange for 2011-2013 Eda Mae Arcilla, Kongju National University Dean of the Division of International Studies Mooyul Huh, PhD, and Phil-Korea Educational Services, Inc. CEO Jae Yong Oh.*

Cruz said in a press conference that he already directed all police unit commanders to closely monitor the situation, especially in tourist destinations in their area of responsibility.

"Kailangan po natin sila babantayan kasi di rin tayo makakasiguro (We have to be on guard because we cannot really be sure of the situation)," he stressed.

Dr. Erlinda Gelveson-delos Reyes, received the grand slam awards from the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) during the 106th annual convention and scientific meeting held at the Manila Hotel, over the weekend, in partnership with the United Laboratories.

Left photo, two-foot trophy of the image of Dr. Jose P. Rizal with 3kilo medallion, for community leadership and service; at right, plaque of recognition with medallion, as governor of PMA for Western Visayas 2012-2013, are grand slam awards for Bacolodnon anesthesiologist Dr. Erlinda Gelveson-delos Reyes, during the 106th annual convention and scientific meeting of the Philippine Medical Association held at Manila Hotel over the weekend.* (EBColmo)

The first award she received was the highest award in the medical profession - the Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Award. The 2-foot trophy with engraved image of the national hero Dr. Jose Rizal declares that Dr. delos Reyes is awarded the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Trophy of Honor, whose life and works embody the ideals of excellence and service as the Filipino physician of Distinction in community leadership category.

Signatories of the award are: Dr. Margarito Hernandez, over all chair, 22nd Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Awards, PMA Governor - Southern Tagalog region; Mrs. Jocelyn Campos Hess, chairman of the Board, United Laboratories, Inc.; Dr. Modesto O. Llamas, president, PMA; and Hon. Enrique T. Ona, secretary, Department of Health (DOH), and over all chair of the board of judges, 22nd Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Award.

The Riverside College Learning Center recently held its summer culminating rites which was held at the institution’s quadrangle attended by parents and relatives. Fifty-four students, ranging from 3 years old and up, completed the requirements of the summer course which will qualify them for regular courses starting June, 2013.

Students with family and volunteer-teachers

The closing exercises was actively punctuated by dance and song numbers to the delight of parents and relatives.

The students were: Pre-Nursery: Espinas, Cristal Bianca; Gamboa, Travis Iago; Jallorina, Kaleb Emmmanuel; Lozada, Breanne Abrillo; Torres, John William; and, Torres Perle Trisha. Nursery: Dublar, Ma. Andrea Zaira; Garcia, Moises Julian; Macadaya, Raine; Magtulis, Efren Benedict; Pregil, Rexyl; Ravina, Vince Nathan; Salcedo, Chris Cholo Nicholi; and, Santillana, Arthur Samuel. Kindergarten I-A: Agapin, Zack Martin; Balbastro, Anton Raphael; Demonteverde, Larisa Ullyana; Perez, Neuwen Amithiel; Perez, Zanthe Rihanna; Posa, Isaac Mikael; Sori, Kerzou Katou; and, Santillan, Mikhaela Bella. Kindergarten I-B: Ayson, Philippe Mariya; Berina, Jarden; Magallanes, Hermione Unna; Martelino, Caleb Tristan Jacobi S.; Montesino, Japeth Shem; Perez, Matthew Bastion; and, Torres, Joh Evan. Kindergarten 2: Ayson, Alia Laine; Castor, Eugenio III; Fernandez, Shaun Duane; Gustilo, Clarisse; Lacson, Keisha Chien Jr.; Opao, Zoe Sandrino Reese; Palacios, Algene Tonel; Pomada, Al Benedict; Pomada, Al Martin; and, Sotomil, Brion Silvest. The teachers and their assignments were: Ms. Clarie C. Emilio for Pre-Nursery; Ms. Mimi Ariell F. Baylo for Nursery; Ms. Apple Green S. Dua for Kindergarten I-A; Ms. Jolo Mae C. Labor for Kindergarten I-B; Ms. Lovely Celeste T. Gamboa, teacher-in-charge of Kindergarten 2.

A Japanese national at the OISCA booth cooks this popular Japanese snack called okonomiyaki with a local trying her hand at the Negros  Farmers Weekend Market held every Saturday.*

Silay City Health Educator Alan Rojo reported that there were only 76 dengue cases and no reported deaths of dengue since 2012 in Silay City.

Rojo said that in preparation for the rainy season, Mayor Jose L. Montelibano has allocated a budget and nurses to facilitate dengue patients in the city. "Mayor Montelibano also purchased larvicidal powder (Kitikitiks) to kill larvae on stagnant waters. This is an ongoing program of the city government," he added.

Aside from that, he announced that the city health office is giving free medicines and I.V. fluids and the office is also offering free Complete Blood Count (CBC) test in order to detect early stage of dengue.

Bacolod City Councilor Jose Carlos Lopez has set the plebiscite of Barangay Paglaum on July 26, 2013 which was noted by the Commission on Elections en banc through Resolution No. 13-0096 dated January 22, 2013.

Anent this, the counsel for the petitioners of Barangay Paglaum reiterated their appeal to the Commission on Elections to make the conduct of the plebiscite of Barangay Paglaum a reality.

A transition committee has been created by outgoing Mayor Evelio Leonardia in preparation for the turn over of administration in Bacolod City.

According to Moises dela Cruz, secretary to the Mayor, and vice chairman of the transition committee, the said committee was actually formed before the May 13 elections, to ensure a smooth turn over from the present administration to the incoming one, and there will be no disruption between the administrations of Leonardia and Mayor-elect Monico Puentevella.

De la Cruz also said, there are about 2,000 plantilla and job order casual employees who will be affected by the transition, and 912 plantilla casuals have already started to process their terminal pay.