DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

Agrarian Reform beneficiaries who plant sugarcane on their awarded landholdings should consolidate their lands to plantation sizes to make sugarcane production successful, with the projected entry of tariff-free imported sugar due to the full implementation of the Asean Free Trade Area agreement.

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Gina Martin made this suggestion to Agrarian Reform beneficiaries from Tanjay, Pamplona, Bais, Manjuyod and Mabinay, Negros Oriental, in a forum at the Bais City public market recently.

The forum, held in cooperation with the City of Bais and the Department of Agrarian Reform, was the fifth organized by the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce, the Negros Oriental Business Development Foundation, Department of Trade and Industry.

Tree-planting held in
landslide areas
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Six months after the powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the 1st district of Negros Oriental, affected residents have joined hands with other groups in the reforestation of the landslide area in Brgy. Planas, Guihulngan City, by planting trees.

They were joined by the Philippine Army and other government agencies, including the departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Education and Social Welfare and Development.

Capt. Ariel Quirog, 11th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations officer, said the participants planted more than 300 fruit and non-bearing fruit trees, intended to prevent land erosion, on Aug. 6.

Low turnout in PWD
voters’ list up noted
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

Msgr. Julius Heruela of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting of the Diocese of Dumaguete has lamented the low turnout on Saturday’s special national voters’ registration day for persons with disabilities.

He said some of the PWDs claimed they have not been informed about the activity. At least 15 PWDs showed up at a temporary COMELEC registration area in Dumaguete, three in Valencia, seven in Dauin, but zero for Sibulan and San Jose, Heruela said.

The provincial Commission on Elections, headed by Eddie Aba, is expected to release today the number of PWDs who registered or validated their status.

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