MIYA MANILA SAYS
Partnership proposal
with BACIWA still on
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Miya Manila Water Projects Inc. Saturday signified its intention to proceed with its unsolicited proposal to undertake the Bacolod City Water District non-revenue water and expansion project even after its business partner, Maynilad, withdrew from their partnership.

Miya legal counsel Jehremiah Asis said they intend to proceed with the proposal since Miya is qualified financially, technically and legally, and because there is a need to resolve the NRW problem of BACIWA.

Miya is independent from Maynilad and nothing can stop it from looking for a partner if it wants to continue the project, he said.

ON SONA
Guv: Let growth reach poor, too
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said that, under the Aquino administration, the economy has greatly improved with renewed investor confidence in the country.

But he hopes the President, in his State of the Nation Address today, will outline ways in which the country’s phenomenal economic growth can be felt by the poorest of the poor, too.

At the same time, Marañon stressed that the work cannot be done by the President alone, he needs the people’s cooperation.

Suit eyed vs.
oil price disparity
BY CARLA GOMEZ & ADRIAN NEMES

Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia Saturday said that he will help resolve the oil price disparity problem, wherein Bacolod and Negros Occidental consumers pay much more for their fuel compared to those in Cebu and Metro Manila.

Leonardia said he will coordinate with Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), who earlier said he would again conduct an inquiry on the price disparity as soon as the 16th Congress convenes.

“I am hoping to get connected with the (House) Committee on Energy (chairman) because the issue is so apparent and we can’t just ignore it”, Leonardia said.