Senator Sergio Osmeña III Saturday lauded the public-private partnership effort to build more classrooms in Negros Occidental at much lower costs than those undertaken by government.

Osmeña joined the ceremonial groundbreaking at the Adela Elementary School in Silay City of the 62 “Mga Daang Matuwid Silid Aralans” to be built in the 31 towns and cities of Negros Occidental with P22 million he allocated from his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

The construction of the buildings will be supervised by the Negrense Volunteers for Change.

Senator Sergio Osmeña III Saturday said the redistricting of Bacolod City will definitely be passed before the 2013 elections.

Osmeña, whose mother is from Bacolod City, said he is voting in favor of the redistricting measure that will enable Bacolod City to have two congressional districts.

“I already took an informal survey three months ago. I asked various people -- civil society, politicians , media -- they are all in favor of having another district so we are just following their will,” Osmeña said.

The Philippine Coast Guard during the weekend began siphoning bunker oil out of MV Asia Malaysia that sunk in Manapla, Negros Occidental, waters on July 31, Manapla Mayor Lourdes Escalante said yesterday.

She said the Coast Guard was siphoning the oil out during low tide but this would be stepped up with the arrival yesterday of a salvor barge hired by Trans Asia Shipping Lines equipped with siphoning equipment and oil dispersants.

PCG Bacolod chief, Lt. Commander Godofredo Vagilidad, said on Saturday they manually siphoned 145 liters of oil mixed with water out of MV Asia Malaysia and 260 liters yesterday.