Three hydroelectric power plants with  combined production of 67 megawatts are expected to be built in Negros Occidental on top of the 80-megawtt coal-fired power plant Global Business Power Corp. plans to construct starting this year, Jose. Ma Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., said yesterday.

Expected to be constructed is a 40-megawatt hydroelectric power plant in Bago City, a 15-megawatt plant in Carol-an, Kabankalan City, and a 12-megawatt cascading plant in Sagay City, he said.

However, no specific dates for the start of their construction are available yet.

The United  Negros Drivers  Operators Center will spearhead a two-day transport strike in Bacolod City on May 16-17, to call on the government to take steps to address the disparity in fuel prices in Negros Occidental compared to Metro Manila.

The move was supported by representatives of multi-sectoral groups during a forum yesterday in Bacolod convened by UNDOC, PISTON, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bayan and Bayan-Muna.

IBON Foundation head researcher Sonny Africa, who was guest speaker, said the monopoly of Petron, Shell and Caltex has resulted in the high prices of fuel. He said other private oil companies are also part of the monopoly, he said.

Both the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and the Bacolod City Police Office will be on heightened alert as Negrenses flock to different venues in the province and in the city to watch the match of Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and American boxer Sugar Shane Mosley Saturday night (Sunday morning, Philippine time).

In Bacolod City, free live viewing of the fight will be available at the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports Center at the downtown area that will be sponsored by the city government.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who once again, was personally invited by Pacquiao to join the “Team Pacquiao” is expected to be up in the ring on Sunday to hoist one of the championship belts of the Filipino boxing icon.