Neg. Occ. rice farmers
get multi-million boost
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala announced the release of about P46 million in projects and farm equipment to rice farmers of Negros Occidental, and launched a P98.9 million crop insurance program at rites held in Barangay Bagroy, Bago City, yesterday.

He also promised to give the rice farmers a P6 million rice mill, and dryer with operating capital, to be set up in Barangay Bagroy, a liquid nitrogen plant for artificial insemination of livestock, and free aerial spraying of organic micro nutrients on about 1,000 hectares of rice lands in Negros Occidental in October.

Alcala said all these were being done to uplift the lives of farmers and ensure that the Philippines becomes self-sufficient in rice next year, as directed by President Benigno Aquino.

The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office in Region 6 yesterday denied the claims of some World War 2 veterans in Negros Occidental that the reason for the delayed release of their pensions and other benefits was lack of budget.

PVAO Region 6 Director Janet Paderan told the DAILY STAR that their office has the budget for the veterans’ pensions and there could be other reasons for the delays.

Paderan said World War 2 veterans who have not received their pensions yet may have failed to show proof of identity, or have no military service records.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who is seeking re-election, yesterday confirmed that he has invited La Carlota City Mayor Juliet Marie Ferrer to be his running mate in 2013, and said that their tandem would be “unbeatable”.

The governor said he is running under the United Negros Alliance and will also join a national party he did not name. He had been chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition but was recently replaced by Kabankalan Mayor Isdiro Zayco without being informed by the party.

Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., who is also running for governor with the support of the NPC, said he has no problem with Ferrer running for vice governor with Marañon, “The more candidates there are, the more choices the people will have,” he said.