GUV SAYS
Sale, lease of Capitol
property to Ayala can now push through
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he is elated and very excited over the lifting of the Temporary Restraining Order on the provincial government by the Court of Appeals, saying the sale and lease of its 7.7-hectare prime property in Bacolod City to Ayala Land can now push through as planned.

"We are very happy, it is a vindication of our position," the governor said.

The Twentieth Division of the Court of Appeals in Cebu on Sept. 6 lifted the 60-day TRO it issued on Marañon and  other Negros Occidental  officials sought by SM Prime Holdings Inc. that  had opposed the awarding of the negotiated sale and lease of Ayala, claiming to be the winning bidder to the property.

The soft opening of the north terminal in Bacolod City was held yesterday and it was observed to have eased traffic congestion in several areas in the city, Councilor Dindo Ramos said.

Ramos, Sangguniang Panlungsod chairman of Committee on Transportation, said the traffic situation at the La Salle Avenue, the Shopping Area and Lacson Street especially in front of Robinson’s Place is now better compared to when the north terminal was not yet operational.

The operations of the north terminal will undergo a 45-day adjustment period and, if necessary, amendments will be made on City Ordinance 480 series of 2009 governing the establishment and use of the north terminal, Ramos said.

 DAVAO CITY – Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin yesterday said she has issued Sugar Order No. 1 series of 2011-2012 that sets sugar allocations for the new crop year.

The order states that sugar production for the Crop Year 2011-2012 (Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug.  31, 2012) is expected to be 2.4 million metric tons and should be quedanned by the sugar mills in the following percentages: “A” or U.S. Quota Sugar – 8 percent, “B” or Domestic Sugar – 72 percent and “D” or World Market Sugar – 20 percent.

"In order to promote the effective merchandising of sugar in the domestic, U.S. and World markets, it is necessary to allocate the Crop Year 2011-2012 sugar production to such proportions as to place those engaged in the sugar industry on a basis of economic viability," she said.