'Scheduled oil exploration
may affect tourism of Bais'
BY MARICAR ARANAS

Bais City Mayor Hector Villanueva yesterday said he is disgusted with the scheduled offshore oil and gas exploration at the Tañon Strait starting next month.

Villanueva said he is afraid that the project might affect the existence of whales and dolphins at Tañon Strait, particularly at the Bais Bay.

The Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. and the Department of Energy will conduct offshore oil and gas exploration along the Tañon Strait, located within the municipal waters of Pinamungahan and Aloguinsan in Cebu province, which is opposite the waters of Bais. The mayor said the disturbances coming from the exploration activity might affect the habitat of dolphins and other marine species.

NOCC hotel, resto
not priority projects
BY MARICAR ARANAS

Gov. Emilio Macias II promised Thursday to continue the construction of the hotel and restaurant building using the surplus funds, and allocations from the priority development fund of Negros Oriental congressmen.

Macias said finishing the hotel and restaurant at the Negros Oriental Convention Center is not urgent, even with the expected influx of tourists.

He said the private and business sectors can cater to the tourists, with the new hotels and restaurants within Dumaguete City. Macias said he intends to finish the building, but as of this time, the province has other priority projects such as the legislative building at the Capitol grounds. He said he hopes to finish the building within his term but not through a loan.

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