Customs chief to act on
Coke sugar case
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rufino Rozzano Biazon has assured sugar leaders that he will follow up the case they filed against Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) for its importation of “premix” sugar, and will continue to support the fight against smuggled sugar, Luis Tongoy, director of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association, said yesterday.

Tongoy, Lucio and Enrique Barcelona met with Biazon late last week to inform him of CONFED’s fight against sugar smuggling.

They specifically cited their filing of an Informant’s Letter before the BOC Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group headed by Gregorio Chavez in March, which led to the issuance of alert orders on CCBPI’s “premix” and high fructose corn syrup imports.

A woman jumped off a moving sea vessel in an attempt to save her daughter who fell into the ocean at the boundary of Bacolod and Talisay cities Friday, but unluckily, neither of them survived.

Philippine Coast Guard-Bacolod chief, Lt. Commander Dominador Senador, yesterday identified the casualties as Michelle Tiamsing, 30, a former overseas Filipino worker, and her daughter Joemcelle Tiamsing, 2, both residents of Brgy. 1 Poblacion in Ilog town, Negros Occidental.

Reports reaching the PCG office showed that the Tiamsings were on board the St. Joseph the Worker sea vessel that was bound for Manila when the incident happened.

Bacolod City has been identified as a possible target city for the Investment Enabling Environment (INVEST) Project of the United States for International Development, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Saturday.

The two-year INVEST project that was approved by the USAID in September 2011, envisions developing model cities that can inspire other local government units to seek higher levels of economic performance.  

A team from the INVEST Project led by Ofelia Templo, chief of party, met with Leonardia and other officials Thursday to discuss the project and to request for a briefing on the economic developments of Bacolod and the future plans of the city government.