The National Electrification Administration has disapproved the implementation of a resolution by the Central Negros Electric Cooperative board of directors to withhold the per diems of Raul Alvarez Jr.

In a letter to the CENECO board, NEA Deputy Administrator for electric distribution utilities services Edgardo Piamonte said they find no legal basis for withholding the allowances of Alvarez because these concern his attendance at board meetings.

Alvarez had served as representative for CENECO’s Bago City district but lost to Jacinto Torres in the last election for the power firm’s board of directors.

ANP opens 21st
Bulawan Awards

The Association of Negros Producers has opened its 21st Bulawan Awards, an annual product-design competition participated in by 45 members that brings out the manufacturers’ creativity and craftsmanship in developing new designs, Christine Marie Gaston, Bulawan chairperson, said yesterday.

Gaston said the highlight of ANP this year is the focus on materials like coffee for the food sector competition, moringa (balunggay) for organic and natural sector, and bamboo for hard goods like fashion accessories, garments, furniture, and gifts, toys and house wares. 

She said ANP organized the Bulawan Awards to prepare and develop new products to be brought to the Negros Trade Fair on Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 at Rockwell, Manila.

Solon seeks moratorium
on ‘revenue-eroding’ laws

A lawmaker has urged for a moratorium on what he called as “revenue-eroding” measures that have resulted in government losses amounting to P112 billion from 2008 to 2010 alone, a press release from Congress said.

Rep. Winnie Castelo (Quezon City, 2nd District), author of House Resolution 1602, identified seven measures which he said make the government lose needed income.

These include the Real Estate Investment Trust Law, the law providing VAT exemption of selected goods and services purchased by senior citizens, the law restructuring the documentary stamp tax; and the law on the reduction of premium tax on insurance policies.