ON WAY TO MURCIA TOWN FIESTA
Two minors killed,
ma, 5 others, hurt
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The opening ceremony of the Murcia, Negros Occidental, fiesta and the birthday of its mayor, Andrew Montelibano, was marred yesterday by a vehicular accident in Brgy. Salvacion, that claimed the lives of two minors, and injured their mother, and five others.

Inspector Celjun Nemenio, Murcia police officer-in-charge, said a tricycle driven by Sandy Sarceno with seven passengers, collided with a dump truck, that was on its way to haul sand and gravel in Brgy. Alegria, Murcia, at 6:45 a.m.

Johna Porque, 8, and her brother, Jessie, 6, died on the spot, while their mother, Maria Janet, driver Sarceno, and his wife, Maria Jenny, and their son, John Mark; Jojo Ledesma and Igmedio Medioya Jr., are now being treated at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, Nemenio said.

Martin: World Sugar may exceed demand
‘Release of P150M sugar not ok’d’
BY CARLA GOMEZ

World sugar production is forecast to reach 177 million metric tons while demand will reach only 171 million mt or a balance of about 6 million mt this crop year, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Bautista Martin said yesterday.

Martin, who chaired an International Sugar Organization seminar in London this week, told the DAILY STAR that the main sugar producer is Brazil that has recovered from its lower production the past couple of years.

India is also in surplus with exports of about 1 to 2 million mt, while Thailand will have slightly lesser production that will still allow it to export the same volume as the previous year, she added.

Education Regional Director Mildred Garay said yesterday that the Department of Education is constructing many classrooms in Negros Occidental and has increased the number of teacher positions to address shortages.

School officials reported at the hearing of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Education Wednesday that Negros Occidental public schools lack 1,137 classrooms.

The report covers only seven of nine school districts of the province.