Guv: Let’s bet on votes
Alvarez: I’m no gambler
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. cannot beat him in the race for the governorship by a margin of 200,000 votes, and he is challenging him to a bet to prove him wrong.

Alvarez, in response, said that while he believes he will beat Marañon by 100,000 to 200,000 votes, he is not a gambler and does not want to set a bad example by gambling.

Marañon said he will bet all his resources and assets against that of Alvarez, that the latter cannot win over him by 200,000 votes.

Governor seeking opinion
of DILG, DBM on budge
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he is asking the Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Budget and Management for advice on the action he can take, with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s refusal to approve the 2013 budget.

Marañon said that while legal action is an option, he is appealing to the nine SP members who voted against passing the 2013 budget to think beyond politics and consider the plight of the Capitol employees and Negrenses who will be affected by their actions.

But Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., who is challenging Marañon for the governorship, said the board members just want the governor to specify where the money is going to be used, and not just state lump sum general allocations.

Negros Occidental Board Member Emilio Yulo III yesterday debunked claims that they are opposing the release of the additional P20,000 bonus the 2,335 Capitol employees.

“If we are against it, why did we approve the P35,000 bonus to each Capitol employee during our special session Dec. 17 last year?” Yulo, the vice-chairman of the SP committee on Finance and Appropriations, asked.

Capitol employees had earlier expressed dismay over the disapproval of the SP on the 2013 budget of the province, which included the P20,000 additional bonus and the 25 percent salary increases, which mandated by the law.