Negros officials air
SONA expectation
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental and Bacolod officials said yesterday they hope President Benigno Aquino III presents a road map for economic growth in his State of the Nation Address at the opening of the 15th Congress at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City this afternoon.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who is attending the SONA with Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, said: “We expect the president to summarize the gains and momentum created by his administration, which continues to enjoy a high level of support from the general public.

“The road map to an accelerated and sustained economic growth would be a good cap to his SONA. The people of Bacolod hail P-Noy on another milestone of his administration. After all, on the record, after Tarlac, Bacolod registered the second highest in terms of percentage of the votes in his presidential elections victory n 2010,” Leonardia said.

Policemen will be on alert as militant groups stage a protest in Bacolod City at 1 p.m. today to coincide with President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address, City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said yesterday.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros Secretary General Christian Tuayon said they expect 500 to 1,000 participants in their protest.

De la Paz said the protestors can air their sentiments but should not disrupt other people, especially motorists, and should police their own ranks, otherwise the police will use reasonable force against them.

MANILA – The coalition of the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party for the 2013 elections is a done deal.

NP president Manuel Villar yesterday said they are now threshing out the expected problems in the local level, as a result of LP-NP coalition.

“Basically, we agree on rules. But we are not inclined to believe that there should be a big problem,” Villar said, adding that he expects both parties to exert their best efforts on any problem that may arise.