Management groups in Negros Occidental are set to offer a P7 Emergency Cost of Living Allowance to labor at a Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board hearing to be held at Tingting’s Native Foods restaurant at BS Aquino Drive, Bacolod City, 9:30 a.m. today.

The P7 ECOLA is being offered by the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bacolod Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, RTWPB employers’ representative John Peter Millan said yesterday.

At a RTWPB hearing in Iloilo Wednesday, Iloilo business groups offered an ECOLA of P8 and Aklan businessmen offered a P5 ECOLA, Labor Regional Director Manuel Roldan said yesterday.

The administrative complaints for serious neglect of duty with less grave misconduct, and simple neglect of duty, filed against Supt. Santiago Rapiz and 14 policemen assigned in Escalante City has been dismissed by the Summary Hearing Board of the Police Regional Office 6, on the grounds of forum shopping and loss of jurisdiction.

The charges had been filed by Analie Urbano before PRO6, Napolcom and Office of the Provincial Director, in connection with the death of her husband, PO2 Johnny Urbano, last year against Rapiz, then police chief of Escalante City, and his men – Senior Police Officers 1 Manuel Liguaton, Godfrey Benignos, Danilo Antones, Ludovico Pabuaya and Homer Polanco, PO3 Booby Tambolero, PO1 Mercenario Tupaz, SPO4 Rogelio Pasinio, PO3 Rudy Olorga Jr., PO1 Alcon Mendoza, PO1 Teofisto Aburido, PO1 Mario Jarina, SPO4 Luisito Magalona and PO2 Jojit Ruiz.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday reported on his meetings with various Bacoleño groups and representatives of other Filipino Communities during his 15-day promotional campaign and sales blitz for the Balik Bacolod Program 2011 in the United States.

Leonardia, who went straight to his office from the airport yesterday, said he met with Bacoleños living in the West Coast area particularly in Burbank, Las Vegas, Summerlin, Lake Havasu, San Jose, Penngrove, Carson and Encino and invited them to come home for a family reunion and to enjoy the privileges and amenities of the Balik Bacolod for the 2011 program.

He also said he expects a lot of returning Bacoleños during the 2011 MassKara Festival in October.