DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

Marichu Alpuerto, provincial treasurer of Negros Oriental, cited this en banc decision of the Supreme Court, to remind department heads, whose offices were assigned vehicles, that they cannot claim transportation allowances.

Some officials argued during the regular monthly meeting of department heads that they be allowed to claim transportation stipends because the motorcycles assigned to them are used by their messengers, and not by themselves.

QUAKE
Infra damage reaches P700M
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE

The Provincial Engineering Office yesterday said the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that recently struck Negros Oriental destroyed an estimated P700 million in government infrastructure.

In his report to Gov. Roel Degamo, he said inspections done by field engineers, Franco Alpuerto, showed that damage to bridges was initially placed at P208 million; P85 million to public works; P130 million to waterworks; and P242 million to roads from Bindoy to Guihulngan.

Degamo had said that Negrenses are very resilient and will be able to rise from the rubble and surpass these trials.

Rockslide renders
road impassable
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

Hundreds of commuters were stranded yesterday for several hours after a rockslide in Himampangon, Barangay Balaas, Manjuyod in Negros Oriental rendered a portion of the national highway impassable.

Police investigation showed that at around 8 a.m. Tuesday, a large chunk of the cliff side gave in and sent big boulders and rocks rolling down to the national highway, sealing it off and sending some debris down to the sea.

The rockslide was believed triggered by continuous rains the previous night, Manjuyod police Chief Insp. Gualberto Arinaza said.

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