Ayala to invest more
in Negros, Bacolod
Commits to Capitol dev't
BY CARLA GOMEZ & CHRYSEESAMILLANO

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman and chief executive officer of Ayala Corp., yesterday reiterated the commitment of his firm to proceed with its multi-billion peso development project on property owned by the Negros Occidental provincial government in Bacolod City as soon as possible, and to invest in other big projects in the province.

This was disclosed by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who met with Zobel, AyalaLand president Antonino Aquino, and senior vice presidents Jose Emmanuel Jalandoni and Emilio Tumbocon over lunch yesterday.

Zobel said his firm is also interested in investing in other big projects in Negros Occidental, including tourism, the governor added.

Support for mayor promised
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman and chief executive officer of Ayala Corporation, yesterday promised to contribute to the vision of Mayor Monico Puentevella for Bacolod City, during the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the Text2Teach program in 10 public elementary schools in Bacolod, yesterday.

“We look to many years of engagement in Bacolod and Negros Occidental,” Zobel said.

A P1.2 million Text2Teach memorandum of agreement was signed between Zobel, AFI president Ma. Lourdes Heras-de Leon, Senior Director Rowena Lopez, Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Gemma Ledesma for the Department of Education and Puentevella for the local government of Bacolod, in the presence of the members of the City Council yesterday.

DOE, solons to meet;
Fuel prices changing
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia yesterday said a six-man delegation from the Department of Energy will conduct a briefing on the disparity of oil prices between those in Bacolod and Negros Occidental and other places, at his office at the House of Representatives in Quezon City 2 p.m. today.

Leonardia said he has also invited the congressmen of Negros Occidental to attend the briefing, “so we can speak with one voice on this issue.”

Those who confirmed attendance are Neg. Occ. Representatives Leo Rafael Cueva (2nd District), Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (3rd District), Jeffrey Ferrer (4 th District), Alejandro Mirasol (5 th District) and Mercedes Alvarez (6 th District), he said.