The Negros Occidental government turned over about P10 million for projects and purchase of medicines of various local governments recently, a Capitol press release said.

Gov. Joseph Marañon gave out P5.3 million to 25 barangays of Cauayan - P1.7 million, 40 barangays of Calatrava - P1.4 million, and San 18 barangayas of San Carlos City - P2.2 million.

Present at the turnover were Rep. Rafael Genaro Alvarez III (6th district, Neg.Occ.), Rep. Tranquilino Carmona (1st district), Mayors Eugenio Jose Lacson of San Carlos, Samuel Fabroz - Calatrava, Mary June Cubid - Hinobaan, and Jerry Tabujara - Cauayan, with barangay captains and officials.

Talisay City which has 27 barangays received P1.5 million. Meanwhile, the governor also turned over provincial-funded projects worth almost P5 million to the cities of Victorias and Silay, and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto, the press release said.

A total of 26 barangays of Victorias received P1.5 million, 23 villages in Murcia - P1.1 million, 16 barangays of Silay - P2.2 million, and seven barangays of Don Salvador Benedicto - P324,000.

Present at the turnover rites were Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco, Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (3rd district), Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, and Mayors Esteban Coscolluela of Murcia, Carlo Gamban - Silay, Severo Palanca - Victorias, and Cynthia de la Cruz - Don Salvador Benedicto, the press release added.*

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3-year-old needs help

3 YEAR OLD JOHN MARK CABALLERO.*

Three of her children had died of a common ailment, and she doesn't want to lose another.

For 38-year-old Alma Caballero of E.B. Magalona town, in Negros Occidental, hope is the last thing she would give up as she is fighting yet another uphill challenge in her life: seeing her 3-year-old son John Mark battling possible renal tubular acidosis.

This ailment, she was made to understand, had claimed the lives of her three other children.

Now she is seeking the help of DAILY STAR readers to help her with the medication of John Mark who has been confined at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City since February 15.

He is very pale and weak, Alma said yesterday of the boy's condition at the Pediatrics ward of the CLMMRH.

She said her income as an ambulant vendor and that of her husband, Rizalde, 39, as a sugarcane worker, are not sufficient even to buy the medicines needed by John Mark Medical records revealed that the patient was admitted to the hospital due to nose bleeding.

Three days before he was taken to the hospital, he had low-grade on and off fever, with no other signs or symptoms. Nose bleeding was thereafter noted for three consecutive days.

John Mark is set to undergo several laboratory tests, medical records added.

Ana said she had received help of P1,000 in cash from Aksyon Radyo, and some tests on the boy was made possible courtesy of the La Consolacion College-Bacolod Health Service Center. Any help for the patient may be coursed through the DAILY STAR office.*GCT

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COMELEC SAYS
Brgy. officials
banned as BEIs

More than 335,000 barangay officials and the tanods are banned from serving as board of election inspectors or as watchers of political parties and political candidates in the May 14 election.

Executive Order No. 94 dated March 2, 1987 provides that no barangay official shall be appointed as BEI member or as official watcher of each duly registered major political party or socio-civic, religious, professional or any similar organization, a press release from the Philippine Information Agency said.

"In fact, they are not allowed to stay inside the polling precincts," Provincial COMELEC supervisor Jessie Suarez said.

Barangay chairmen, kagawads, officials and tanods are only allowed to enter the polling precints to cast their vote and should leave the area immediately after. Only public school teachers are allowed to serve as board of election inspectors.

Suarez said that, based on a COMELEC resolution, private school teachers, government employees duly registered in the civil service commission or private individuals with integrity - all should be registered voters - can serve as BEI in the absence of the public school teachers.

The implementation of the ban applies to 41,951 barangays throughout the country.

Meanwhile, in line with the pronouncement of COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos, the provincial COMELEC requires the drug-testing certificate as part of the requirement to validate the certificate of candidacy.

Provincial COMELEC supervisor Jessie Suarez said that drug-testing certificates are required of the candidates in the province.

"These certifications should be issued by accredited drug test laboratories or government-run laboratories," Suarez said.*

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Low water supply today

The Bacolod City Water District announced yesterday that low water pressure to no water supply will be experienced at the Bacolod-Murcia Road, Barangay Alijis and areas along Negros Metal to Araneta Street, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, a BACIWA press release said.

This is due to the interconnection of waterline extension at Purok Lote, Barangay Alijis, the water company said. Residents and consumers are advised to take necessary measures to avoid undue inconvenience, it added.*

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