Negros 2010 vote count will be swift
Proclamations in less than 48 hours: Comelec
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A Commission on Elections official yesterday said that, with the use of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PICOS) machines in next year's polls, the proclamation of the winning local candidates in Negros and Bacolod will take place one day after the May 10 polls.

James Arthur Jimenez, COMELEC education and information director, assured about 1,000 Negrenses at a demonstration of PICOS machine at ShoeMart Bacolod, that poll results will be out in less than 48 hours and that the proclamation of local candidates will be done immediately.

The local candidates will be proclaimed by municipal, city and provincial board of canvassers, the Senate and partylist winners by the National Board of Canvassers, within an estimated 36 hours, and the president and vice president by Congress, he added.

Senator Manuel Roxas II and broadcaster Korina Sanchez exchanged “I do's” at a wedding attended by thousands of guests, including friends from Negros Occidental, at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.

“It was very solemn and romantic, it was like fairytale wedding,” Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, president of the Negros Association chief executives, said.

“It was grand but intimate. Mar displayed his very human side, apparently he is very much in love. As a fellow Ilonggo we wish him and Korina the best that life can offer,” said Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who was at the wedding with his wife, Elsa.

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution yesterday authorizing the mayor to sign a loan agreement with the Philippine Veterans Bank and other documents for a line of P250 million for the purpose of financing the acquisition and development of relocation sites for informal settlers in the city.

Its proponent, Councilor Dindo Ramos, yesterday said the P150 million will be for the acquisition of the relocation site while the P100 million will be for its development.

Those who voted in favor of the resolution were Ramos, Councilors Homer Bais, Greg Gasataya, Al Victor Espino, Alex Paglumotan, Roberto Rojas, Napoleon Cordova, Kevin Daniel Ramos, and Diosdado Valenzuela.