Whirlwind destroys
76 houses in towns
PONTEVEDRA, HINIGARAN HIT
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A whirlwind hit Pontevedra town in Negros Occidental yesterday afternoon destroying   73 houses in five of its  barangays, and three others in neighboring Hinigaran town, but the figures could increase as more areas that may have been hit are reached today, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia said.

Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso said the “tornado” flattened houses, toppled trees and power lines, plunging his town into darkness last night.

Food assistance was delivered  and evacuation centers were set up, he said.

New Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ruffino Rozzano Biazon has committed to fully support the drive against sugar smuggling and revamp BOC port collectors in time, National Federation of Sugarcane Planters president Enrique Rojas said yesterday.

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Bautista Martin, along with sugar industry leaders, met with Biazon at his office in Manila Monday.

“The sugar group briefed the commissioner on the cooperation between the two agencies, especially  on the need for BOC to require SRA clearance prior to issuing release of imported sugar and premixes,” Martin said.

The total loans of the Land Bank of the Philippines to its priority sectors in Region VI in 2011 has reached P4.84 billion as of September 30, with the figure expected to hit its P5.37 billion target by the end of the year, LBP Region 6 vice president Manuel Infante said yesterday.

Of the total loans in the region this year P530 million was approved for the province of Negros Occidental, Jeffrey Maningo, LPB Negros Occidental Lending Center head, said.

He said that, of the P530 million approved loans for the provincial government this year, it has so far released P189 million, bringing its outstanding loan to the bank to P276 million, with P87 million from loans made in the past.