Bridge collapses,
4-year-old missing
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The pre-war Talubangi bridge in Kabankalan City, collapsed and crashed into the river at about 1:40 p.m. yesterday, bringing with it a 4-year-old child who remained missing as of press time, despite efforts of various search and rescue groups to locate him, the police said.

The missing child was identified by the police as Jemar Cachupa.

Cachupa's sister, Jenli, 8, survived, as she managed to cling to a railing of the steel and concrete bridge before she was rescued, while their mother, Jenalyn, was unhurt but was shaken by the incident, Chief Inspector Calixto Mabugat, Kabankalan police chief, said.

Guv proposes P1.1B
budget for Neg. Occ.
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday said he is proposing a P1.127 billion budget for Negros Occidental in 2008, an increase of P108 million from this year's budget, to meet the increase in salaries of Capitol employees, benefits of health workers, and the rising cost of gasoline.

The proposed P1,127,882,636 budget for 2008 that needs the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will be composed of P102,570,000 in local income and P1,025,312,636 from the Internal Revenue Allotment, he said.

The budget increase is needed to cover the 10 percent salary hike of Capitol employees totaling P27,210,092 and the subsistence, hazard and laundry allowances for health workers under the Magna Carta for Health Workers totaling P50,310,855, he said.

ON GOV'T CENTER
2 more cases filed
vs. city officials
BY ROLLY ESPINA & CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

A retired former police officer filed two more complaints against several officials of Bacolod City and officials of the Philippine National Bank involving the construction of the government center project aside from the two others he filed earlier.

Victor Eduardo filed the complaints against Mayor Evelio Leonardia, members of the city council and PNB executives for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when both parties entered into a P400 million loan agreement for the construction of the new government center in February.

Among the PNB executives implicated in the case are senior vice-president Victorino Sison and vice-president Leonardo Dimaranan.