PNoy promises guv
assistance for Negros
BY CARLA GOMEZ

President Benigno Aquino III yesterday assured Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. of assistance from the national government for Yolanda-hit Negros Occidental.

The President called yesterday noon to inquire about the situation in Negros Occidental and said he would see to it that assistance is provided to the province, the governor said.

The governor said he is happy that the President is concerned about Negros Occidental.

Aquino declared a state of national calamity last night in order to speed up the relief efforts in Yolanda-hit areas.

Typhoon signal No.1
up over Neg. Occ.
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administrationhoisted public storm signal number 1 over Negros Occidental at 5 p.m yesterday as Tropical Depression Zoraida approached.

Earlier in the day, storm signal No. 1 was raised only over southern Negros Occidental but was later expanded to cover the entire province.

PAGASA weather forecaster Gladys Saludes said once "Zoraida" reaches the Visayas, it is expected to make landfall in Negros provinces this evening or tomorrow morning.

Power supply interrupted
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

Power supply was interrupted yesterday in areas in Negros Occidental and Oriental where electricity had already been restored because of the load shedding being implemented by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, its corporate communications head, Elmer Cruz, told the DAILY STAR.

Cruz said that there was a need to implement manual load dropping due to the inability of the 285 megawatt Unified Leyte plant to contribute power to the Visayas grid.

Many of their transmission lines toppled by the typhoon have not yet been fixed, causing supply deficiency, he said.