Deles aiming for 2012
end to gov’t-RPA talks
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles yesterday said she is hopeful about the closure of the peace agreement between the government and Rebolusynaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas, Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade next year.

The OPPAP recently completed the socio-economic profiling of 358 RPA-ABB members in Negros Occidental, 50 in Negros Oriental, and 87 in Panay island, which is a prelude to the closure of peace agreement, which was signed in Don Salvador Benedicto in year 2000.

Deles, who met with members of the Negros Association of Chief Executives of Negros Occidental, said there is now an ongoing matching of livelihood options and identification of projects that will go to the identified communities.

The Revised Revenue Code passed recently by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod conforms to the provisions of R.A. 7160 or the Local Revenue Code, Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino said yesterday.

City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos said the old Local Revenue Code of Bacolod is now outdated and all the taxes and fees contained in it are obsolete and no longer attuned to the economic condition of the city.

She said R.A. 7160 was passed by Congress so local governments will have a uniform implementation in all cities.

Negros Occidental Acting Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. yesterday said Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao should think of retiring and concentrating on politics instead.

Manny Pacquiao's struggle to a controversial victory over Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez has raised concern over whether he can keep up his winning streak, although many Filipinos remain jubilant over his recent feat.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, in an interview in La Vegas, dismissed Marquez's statement that he might retire, saying the likely $10 million payday for a fourth fight could change his mind and that he would try to stage a fourth Marquez-Pacquiao fight next May.