Philex Mining Corp. will not lay off its employees despite the temporary closure of a mining site in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, contrary to the apprehension of Mayor Oscar Montilla of a mass layoff.

This is because only the exploration and drilling activities have been suspended, while works on environment care and maintenance continue, Philex marketing and communications officer Rochelle Hilario told the Daily Bulletin yesterday. "No impact on current headcount. Environmental programs and community projects since health, edu-cation, and livelihood con-tinue," Hilario added, in stressing that no employee will lose his job at the mining firm.

Philex’s assurance came even as Montilla said Monday that about 100 Workers from Sipalay stand to lose their jobs with the temporary closure of one of the project sites of Philex in that city.

Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (left) administers the oath of office of re-elected Mayor David Albert R. Lacson of the Municipality of E.B. Magalona at the town’s covered court yesterday, in the presence of his wife, Risa Lacson and his children.* (Capitol photo)

The situation in the provincial government has returned to normal, with advancement in agriculture, sports, infrastructure, con-struction of medical facilities and tourism taking place, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., declared in an interview with radio station DYRL’s Tungkaron Ta Ini program yesterday morning.

Waxing enthusiastic, the Negros Occidental chief executive said there has been a perceptible increase in the production of rice, with the province now showing surpluses and which it has sold outside of the province. A ricemill in Tabunan Village in Bago City and costing millions has been built, three more are to be constructed in strategic areas of the province. The rice mills are vital factors in rice production because it is cost-efficient and could save thousands of sacks of grain once it starts operating.

In a letter signed June 14, 2013, Bacolod City College (BCC) Administrator Johanna Bayoneta was asked by Atty. Rolando Villamor, Chairman of the Mayor-elect Monico Puentevella Transition Team, to submit certified true copies of pertinent documents "to aid in assessment and evaluation of the City’s current state of affairs."

BCC is a department of the City Government which is deemed vital and among the audit priority areas in the transition process together with the Budget Office, Accounting Office, City Treasurer’s Office and City Assessor’s Office.

Villamor’s letter to Bayoneta read, "We intend to conduct a comprehensive audit of all agencies once the new administration takes office in order for us to know, among others, our strict compliance to established government accounting and auditing rules and procedures, especially in the remaining weeks prior to the turnover of leadership."

Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz - After serving the Armed Forces of the Philippines for 56 long years, Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, Jr., retires as commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army, at Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz.

Mrs.Gigi Mabanta (center) assists Maj. Gen. Essel Soriano, (back to camera), vice commander, Philippine Army, in giving the medallon and other awards to her husband, Maj. Jose Mabanta, Jr. as outgoing division commander of the army’s 3rd Infantry division.* (EBC)

Brig Gen. Jonas Sumagaysay was appointed general officer incharge of the Division, with Maj. Gen. Essel D. Soriano, vice commander of the Philippine Army. The turn-over ceremony yesterday held at Camp Peralta, was witnessed by top officers of the Division, including brigade commanders, battalion commanders, men and women in the army, fellows from the Police Regional office 6, Iloilo Vice Governor Raul Boboy Tupas and Salvador Divinagracia, all graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), and civilian partners in peace and development efforts of the AFP.

Sachets of suspected shabu and a firearm were confiscated from an alleged peddler during a raid about 12:45AM, Tuesday at corner Bonifacio-Mabini Highway, Brgy. Zone 6 in Talisay City.

The raid was jointly conducted by the local police operatives led by PInsp. Bonifacio Aral Jr with Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) PSInsp. Jomarie Occeño and busted Ramil Mationg, 29, of Purok Punaw, Brgy. Zone 5.

COPS-ON-THE-BIKE. Forty police officers undergo a 10-day training in Camp Delgado as Bike Patrollers to conduct police visibility in tourist spots and places of convergence in highly urbanized cities of Region 6.* (PO3 Ryan Orleans)

Police officers in Murcia are further investigating to determine the identity of the male body left along PNOC Road in Brgy. Blumentritt.

The body was discovered about 5:30AM, Tuesday by Brgy. Blumentritt tanod commander Gimel Sioting who described the victim to be about 25-27 years old, fair complexioned and stands about 5 feet and two inches. He was wearing black-colored denim pants and brown t-shirt.

Another pedestrian was killed when accidentally hit by an oncoming bus in Cadiz City about 4PM, Tuesday.

Traffic police identified the victim as Rene Alayon, 43, of Hacienda Luisita, Brgy. Caduha-an who was declared dead by attending physician at Cadiz City District Hospital.

Initial investigation said Alayon was crossing the street at Sitio Ceferencia, Brgy. Daga national highway when bumped by the Ceres bus with plate number FWY 956, body number 50033 and driven by Jessie Badonasa Jr., a resident of Brgy. Caduha-an, also of Cadiz City.