Marañon, Ferrer
tandem in 2013?
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Will La Carlota City Mayor Juliet Marie Ferrer run for vice governor in tandem with Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. in 2013 instead?

Mayors of Negros Occidental last week endorsed Ferrer as a common candidate for governor of the United Negros Alliance to prevent a showdown for the post between Marañon and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., EB Magalona Mayor David Lacson, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, said.

Alvarez, however, has said he is determined to run for governor with former San Carlos Mayor Eugenio Jose Lacson as his running mate.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala will launch the P98.9 million project of the Department of Agriculture for rice farmers practicing third cropping at Brgy. Bagroy, Bago City, Negros Occidental, today.

Jose Ma. Torres, of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, said the DA-PCIC-National Irrigators Association 3rd Cropping Project is a nationwide project of the department that gives premium subsidy allocation to farmers who will plant in the third cropping.

Planting season for this is from August to September and farmers will be entitled to free crop insurance this season, he said, adding that this is one of the programs of DA to attain rice sufficiency in the country by next year.

The Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office has approved the filing of charges for eleven counts of libel against broadcaster Donard Nojas and the station manager and administrative officer of Smile TV, as co-principals before the Regional Trial Court, on the complaints filed against them by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Ramon Rydum Viva Sr., the spokesperson of former Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, is the station manager of Smile TV, while Ramonito Lastima is its administrative officer.

The resolution dated July 30, 2012, was penned by Assistant City Prosecutor Montano Medel Jr. and approved by City Prosecutor Armando Abanado.