PACE filing raps
vs. SP, Alvarez
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees is filing charges against the members of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan, headed by Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., for dereliction of duty and mandamus before the Ombudsman, its president, Ruben Diamante, said yesterday.

Mandamus, also called a "writ of mandate", orders a public agency or governmental body to perform an act required by law when it has neglected or refused to do so.

The PACE Board unanimously yesterday approved its Resolution 07-13 Series of 2013, authorizing the filing of the charges to protect the interest of their members with the non passage by the SP of the 2013 annual budget of the provincial government, it said.

Lack of quorum
stalls budget again
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Deliberations on the provincial budget for 2013 were stalled anew as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental failed to muster a quorum during its regular session yesterday, with only six board members present.

The resumption of the budget hearing of the Committee on Finance and Appropriations also did not push through, as three of its members, Board Members Salvador Escalante, Manuel Frederick Ko and Raul Rivera, were absent.

Board Member Miller Serondo, a member of the Finance committee, however, said he and other SP members have agreed to submit their questions in advance to any of the departments, so they could be answered immediately during budget deliberations.

Poll body conducts
PCOS demonstration
BY CHYRSEE SAMILLANO

The Commission on Elections in Bacolod City will be ready for the May 13 elections once the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines are delivered, acting Bacolod Election Officer Salud Milagros Villanueva, said during the PCOS demonstration and voters' education conducted by her office yesterday.

Villanueva said they have finished the PCOS training of technicians and election supervisors so they, as well as the COMELEC in Negros Occidental, are ready for the elections.

There are 311 clustered precincts in Bacolod City for a voting population of about 259,000 while there are 933 Board of Election Inspectors, she said.