DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

The amended National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 is waiting for the approval of President Benigno Aquino III, Rep. Pryde Henry Teves (Neg. Or., 3rd District) said yesterday.

Teves and Rep. George Arnaiz (Neg. Or., 2nd District) have been pushing for the automatic retention of the 75 percent share of local government units where protected areas are located.

In Negros Oriental, these include Apo Island in Dauin, the more than 8-hectare Balinsasayao Twin Lakes in San Jose, and the Mount Kan-laon National Park in a 24-hectare lot at the boundaries of Oriental and Occidental Negros.

Mayor defends giving
rice to job order workers
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria yesterday defended his administration in the practice of giving rice to job order employees of the local government at Christmas time.

He questioned why it took the Commission on Audit only now to call his attention about it when it has been the practice for the past 20 years.

Last December, the city government gave rice to job order employees since, under the law, they are not qualified to receive cash gifts and other benefits allowed for regular and casual plantilla employees.

Water bottling plant opens
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE

The first water bottling plant in Negros was blessed and inaugurated in Brgy. Calabnugan, Sibulan town, Negros Oriental, recently.

The Wade Purified Drinking Water of Greenlife Ice and Water Corp. is owned by Wade Ortega of Cebu, and its products will be available soon in Dumaguete and the province at cheaper prices because these are locally produced, Farolito Aton, assistant vice president for Corporate Affairs and Marketing, said.

There will also be a purified ice and water refilling station, and the plant is more sophisticated than the ordinary refilling station since all its machineries and equipment were imported, plant manager Dante Sibi said.

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