Senate to investigate
Baciwa, Ramos says
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Director Marichi Ramos of the Bacolod City Water District yesterday said BACIWA will be the first water utility to be investigated by the Senate and she is happy that, at least, the justice system in the Philippines is working.

This was her reaction to a resolution introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino “directing the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the implementation of local water districts of their projects and the participation of the Local Water Utilities Administration in the water supply provision in the countryside to protect consumers.”

The resolution said there is a need to inquire into the loans given by LWUA to a number of local water districts, like the Bacolod City Water District, which it had granted a loan of P537 million. Reports that here said it was haphazardly implemented, to the detriment of the consuming public.

2 fugitives captured
BY SHIELA GELERA

The two fugitives of the Negros Occidental District Jail in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, who broke out of jail Thursday, were recaptured Saturday.

Senior Insp. Jose Maria Algara, jail officer-in-charge for provincial administration, however, told the DAILY STAR yesterday, that he cannot give further details as to how and where the escapees were recaptured.

Jimmy Sablon, 35, of Hacienda Hamandri in Brgy. Robles, La Castellana in Negros Occidental, who has been facing illegal gun charges, was rearrested at about 6:30 p.m., Algara said.

Fishermen join 143 volunteers
paint boats for Yolanda victims
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Hermie Yusay and 28 other fishermen of Barangay Gargato, Hinigaran in Negros Occidental gave up a day’s work at sea Saturday to help build and paint boats for victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

The 29 fishermen were themselves recipients of free motorized bancas from the Peter Project 1 of the Negrense Volunteers for Change earlier this year, which Yusay said has changed their lives.

The fishermen were joined by 143 other NVC Peter Project 2   volunteers from various parts of the province, who painted bancas mostly set to be sent to northern Panay fishermen.