Neg. Occ. SP denies
P2B budget for 2013
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

With a 9-5 vote, the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan turned down the proposed P2.02 billion budget of the province during its regular session that lasted more than three hours yesterday.

“They say that there is no politics involved, but I say, ‘Tell that to the Marines',” said Board Member Salvador Escalante, chairperson of the SP Committee on Finance on Appropriations, who was bombarded with questions and clarifications from his colleagues opposing the passage of the budget, and other related items.

Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko, Renato Gustilo and Patrick Lacson took turns in questioning details of the proposed 2013 budget, 20 Percent Provincial Development Fund of P368 million, and bank amortization payments of P170 million, among others.

Salary hikes,
bonuses endangered
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The disapproval of the proposed P2.02 billion Negros Occidental budget for 2013, could mean that more than 2,400 Capitol employees will not receive their 25 percent salary increases next year, and their remaining P20,000 bonus, Board Member Salvador Escalante said yesterday.

This is because the budget for the last tranche of salary increases and their performance cash incentives had been included in the 2013 budget, Escalante, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Finance and Appropriations, said.

Capitol employees, who were holding their Christmas party in front of the Provincial Capitol Building, while the Sangguniang Panlalawigan was deliberating on the proposed 2013 budget, expressed dismay upon learning about the decision of the SP.

Chartered flights from the Incheon International Airport in South Korea to the Bacolod-Silay Airport will resume in January next year, Bacolod City Administrator John Orola yesterday.

Orola said the test for the nine chartered flights will be from January 10 until February 7 and is expected to bring in 1,400 to 1,500 South Korean nationals.

There will be five chartered flights every Thursday to Incheon South Korea, beginning January 10 and four during Sundays, he said.