Multi-million DA plant
to increase livestock
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala yesterday said the Department of Agriculture is giving the Negros Occidental provincial government a multi-million liquid nitrogen and semen processing plant to be built at the Negros First Ranch in Murcia to boost livestock production in the province.

Alcala, who spoke at the 79th Philippine Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention and Scientific Conference held at the L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, also said his department aims to make the Philippines self-sufficient in rice by 2013.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon said he is very happy that the programs outlined by Alcala in his speech jibe with the food self-sufficiency and agriculture targets of Negros Occidental.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, who was in Bacolod yesterday, said President Benigno Aquino is serious about the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms, and remedial measures are being put in place to complete the coverage of 120,000 has. in Negros Occidental by 2014.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra called on the president last week  to do a Moses and deliver millions of landless Filipino farmers from bondage.

Negros Occidental is number one among the top 20 provinces in the country with the largest number of areas still up for coverage under CARPER, de los Reyes  said.

Two suspected hold-uppers, riding in tandem on a motorcycle, shot and killed the bodyguard of a sugar trader, and took P2 million in cash  from the secretary of his employer Wednesday in Brgy. 4, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, police said.

Celso Cari-an, a bodyguard of sugar trader Herminia Ledesma, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds  after he was shot by the suspects, Supt. Calixto Mabugat, Kabankalan police chief,  said in his report to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said.

Cari-an,67, tried to stop the two suspects from getting the bag of Cheryll Begota, 32, secretary of Ledesma,  that  contained P2 million in cash, when he was shot by the suspects,  initial investigations of the Kabankalan police showed.