Lapus suspends
Silay schools division head
PO FACING CHARGES FOR GRAVE OFFENSES
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has preventively suspended Silay Schools Division superintendent, Dr. Fernando Po, for 90 days without pay for several grave offense charges that are punishable with dismissal.

Lapus, in the formal charge and order of preventive suspension dated May 13 and received Friday, ordered Po to submit his reply within five days from receipt of the order.

Po was also required to state categorically whether he wishes to undergo a formal investigation in the event that his answer is not considered satisfactory, Lapus said.

The Senate passed a bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program for another five years with a budget of P147 billion, on third reading yesterday.

Twelve senators voted to pass Senate Bill No. 2666 principally authored by Senator Gregorio Honasan, while Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Benigno Aquino III abstained. Their families own vast tracts of land.

Senator Manuel Roxas said that he voted in favor of the measure “notwithstanding a possible conflict of interest” since the Roxas-Araneta clan is also a landed family.

The Bacolod City government will distribute free school bags and school supplies to about 58,000 public elementary students in the city starting today, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday.

The school bags or backpacks contain school supplies which include five notebooks, a ballpen, pencil, eraser, crayons and ruler, he said.

Leonardia also said the free miscellaneous fees initiated by his administration and which has been supported by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, will continue to be given to all public school children in the city.