Spare disaster summit
from politics – Pimentel
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said no government money was wasted in holding the Western Visayas Summit on Risk Reduction and Multi-Hazard Awareness at West Negros University in Bacolod City Saturday.

“I do not see any reason why, instead of focusing on the value of this activity, we focus on the expense,” Pimentel said.

One good reason why a summit like this should be held in all the regions of the country is that, for 2011, the Philippines is No. 1 in the number of reported natural disasters, with 33, he said.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said fuel prices are so high nationwide that he is urging the government to look for ways to bring it down.

Pimentel said an immediate solution is to reduce the taxes imposed by the government on the prices of fuel.

There are two types of taxes imposed on oil - the excise tax and expanded value-added tax, he said, and the government should see which tax it can afford to reduce, or let go.

There is no political alliance between Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez Jr. and Jewel May Lobaton-Pimentel, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Saturday in Bacolod City.

 Pimentel had been asked if his wife, Jewel Mae, is running for vice mayor in Bacolod  City in 2013.

“She is not running,  so there is no political alliance to talk about,” he said.

Jewel Mae was not present during the Western Visayas Summit on Risk Reduction and Multi-Hazard Awareness at West Negros University  in Bacolod City Saturday that was organized by Pimentel.