VIENTIANE – The government yesterday pushed its call for an international solution to overlapping claims in the South China Sea at an Asia-Europe summit, saying vital global shipping lanes were at stake.

President Benigno Aquino III raised the issue in bilateral meetings with leaders of the European Union as well as with Swiss President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in Laos.

"We noted the increasing importance of maritime security" in what Manila calls the West Philippine Sea, chief spokesperson Herminio Coloma said.

Farmers given aid

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., yesterday turned over agricultural machineries and materials worth P127,000 to the farmer-members of Kabisig Foundation at the 114th celebration of Cinco de Noviembre at the Capitol Lagoon yesterday.

Albert Barogo, agricultural engineer of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said the foundation received two collapsible dryers, 20 laminated sacks, and 60 bags of certified seeds.

The group is also a recipient of a P700,000 flatbed dryer and P500,000 for the repair of their warehouse in Bago City, he said.

Guv told to bare coal pros, cons

Green Alert Negros said it told Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday to lay down all the positive and negative facts before pushing for the coal fired power plant in Cadiz City.

In a letter to the DAILY STAR yesterday, GAN coordinator Junjun Mojica, named issues to prove the plant’s effect on the health of the people and on the environment, which, he said, Marañon should know.

The letter was a reaction to a recent statement of Marañon that the province needs additional power to attract more investors and that those protesting against the project do know what they are talking about as new technology keeps coal power clean.

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