DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

The Bureau of Internal Revenue District-79 has already met its tax collection target of P1.452 billion for 2012, with more than one month to go before the year ends, its OIC assistant revenue district officer, Alfredo Tolentino, said.

He said there is an estimated surplus collection of P42 million, and projected tax collection of P1.95 billion until end of the year, or a 2.93 percent over-target.

Tolentino attributed the over-collection to the huge one-time transaction that occurred when the Gokongwei Group of companies bought the Herminio Teves Sugar Milling Corporation in Barangay Caranoche, Sta. Catalina town, Negros Oriental. Its operation was taken over by the Universal Robina Sugar Milling Corporation.

Priest wants more
interpreters for deaf
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

A Catholic priest, who specializes in sign language interpretation, is pushing for the accreditation of more court interpreters for the deaf in Negros Oriental, and for Congress to approve a bill for it.

Fr. Christian Benjamin of the Diocese of Dumaguete said that he is now the only licensed court interpreter for the deaf in the province. He said he has been an interpreter for 11 years now, starting while he was still studying at the seminary.

He said there is a need for more interpreters as there are deaf people who are not formally schooled in the sign language.

Fruit tree nursery approved
BY MARICAR ARANAS

The Negros Oriental government has earmarked P200,000 for the establishment of a fruit tree nursery, with the passage of an ordinance on Road Food program by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently.

The ordinance authored by Vice Gov. Apolinario Arnaiz Jr., aims to plant more fruit trees along the provincial roads, and contribute to the re-greening program of the national government. Arnaiz said he had implemented a similar program when he was town mayor of Pamplona.

He said the P200,000 will be distributed to local government units to establish the nursery and will be tasked to monitor the fruit trees planted within their areas. Farmer groups, civic and nongovernment organizations are being encouraged to take part in the activity.

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