The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Western Visayas yesterday approved an Emergency Cost of Living Allowance of P12 a day for a period of three months, John Peter Millan, employers’ representative on the RTWPB, said.

He said the implementation of the P12 ECOLA will take effect 15 days after its notice is published.

Labor regional director Manuel Roldan, RTWPB chairman, said the hike granted to minimum wage earners was implemented based on supervening conditions citing the increase in fuel prices that caused basic commodities’ rates to go up. The P12 ECOLA could be subject to review after its three-month period of implementation ends, Roldan added.

Two passengers were killed and 10 were injured when a cargo truck and an overloaded tricycle collided on the highway in Brgy. Pacol, Valladolid, Negros Occidental, Tuesday night.

Declared dead on arrival at the Valladolid District Hospital was Romualdo Yanos, 50, while Peter Louis Ferrera, 11, died, while being treated in the same hospital, Police Officer 3 Julieto Oebanda, Valladolid PNP traffic investigator, said.

A man arrested nine years ago for allegedly selling shabu to a police poseur buyer in Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday.

Regional Trial Court Branch 47 Judge Edgar Garvilles found Marlon Conrade Abetong, 40, of Purok Sigay in Brgy. 2 guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or the sale of prohibited drugs.

The court also ordered Abetong to pay P500,000 in penalty, while the shabu recovered from his possession was forfeited in favor of the government.