Albee files bill to save
PH sugarcane industry
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez yesterday filed House Bill 6113 or the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2012 that he said is geared towards revitalizing and strengthening the industry through a diversification, development and financing program.

Benitez told the DAILY STAR it in incumbent upon policy-makers to institute measures, both by legislation and executive implementation, to cushion if not counter the possible destabilization effects of the tariff lifting on imported sugar entering the Philippines by 2015.

The neglect of the development of sugar by-products has further aggravated the uncertainty in the future of the sugarcane industry, he said.

A barangay captain of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, who is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by slain Executive Judge Henry Arles surrendered to the Police Regional Office-6 Intelligence Unit and the Criminal Investigation Detection Group at about 11:45 a.m. Monday.

RIU-6 chief, Insp. Julio Turcolas identified the barangay captain as Captain Samuel Carrera, 46, of Brgy. Pinaguinpinan, Kabankalan City.

Turcolas said Carrera is facing charges for robbery with violation against or intimidation with force filed by a resident of Brgy. Pinaguinpinan in January this year.

Politicians yesterday were asked not to use the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to gain votes during the June 2 special election in the fifth district of Negros Occidental.

Dionela Madrona, social welfare provincial grievance officer, said they have received complaints from residents of La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Binalbagan who said they were told that their names would be removed as 4Ps recipients if they do not vote for a certain candidate.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a human development program of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0-14.