Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said about P90 million in medical equipment for provincial government-run hospitals and assistance to boost the livestock and agriculture industries of Negros Occidental were committed by President Benigno Aquino and Health Secretary Enrique Ona yesterday.

The president and Ona yesterday joined Marañon at the groundbreaking of P102.16 million expansion program for the Teresita  L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, the bed capacity of which will be increased from 100 to 250.

Ona said the Aquino administration will provide P90 million in medical equipment, P50 million of which will go to an MRI machine for the provincial hospital.

President Benigno Aquino yesterday instructed Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras to conduct further dialogs with Negros business leaders to ensure that their economic route is sustained by the availability of reasonable  power rates that hopefully can have a significant mix of renewable sources.

Aquino, spoke at a Philippine economic briefing attended by Negros business leaders at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, where he was asked to help address the power needs of the province.

Frank Carbon, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, told the President the greatest threat to the sugar industry as well as the whole economy of Negros Occidental is the lack of reliable and adequate fuel supply at reasonable prices.

President Benigno Aquino III yesterday said he will bring up the case of Flory May Talaban of Bacolod City during his scheduled state visit to Thailand this month.

Talaban, 28, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and is now jailed at the Ngam Wong Wan Central Women’s Institution in Bangkok, Thailand after she was arrested May 3, 2009 for alleged possession of illegal drugs.

Her parents have asked the President to help their daughter seek royal pardon.