Education Secretary Armin Luistro yesterday said the return by the Department of Education of the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City to the provincial government of Negros Occidental will further boost its sports programs and its thrust towards becoming the football capital of the country.

Luistro and Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. finally signed a compromise agreement at the Capitol in Bacolod City yesterday afternoon, in which the provincial government committed to build for the DepEd a two-story 24-classroom building to be used by the Negros Occidental Provincial High School, which is adjacent to the sports complex.

The relief of 31 police chiefs in Negros Occidental takes effect today, and special orders were issued yesterday by Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director, designating officers-in-charge for the vacated positions.

The sweeping reshuffling of all Negros Occidental police chiefs raised objections from Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco and Valladolid Mayor Romel Yogore, who said their police chiefs are performing well.

President Benigno Aquino is expected to join an economic managers meeting with the business sector, meet with local government executives and multi-sectoral representatives, and attend groundbreaking rites during his visit to Negros Occidental Friday.

Aquino is set to join the groundbreaking for the expansion of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City Friday, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

It will be expanded from a 100 to a 250-bed hospital, and this will be funded by the provincial government at the cost of about P102 million, Marañon said.