REP. LEONARDIA SAYS
No more pork in 2014

“No more pork for 2014.”

This was announced by Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia who said the Congressional Appropriations Committee yesterday cut out the P25-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund, otherwise known as the pork barrel fund, from the 2014 budget.

Leonardia, a member of the CAC, deemed to be the most powerful committee of Congress, also said P25-billion will now be distributed to different national agencies, namely the Education, Health, Labor and Employment, Welfare and Development and Public Works and Highways departments.

Dismissed prov’l
accountant back
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Three years after she was ordered dismissed by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Merly Fortu returned to work  as Negros Occidental provincial accountant Tuesday.

The Civil Service Commission ordered her reinstatement with finality and with payment of her back salaries and benefits corresponding to the period of her termination.

Fortu yesterday said this amounts to about P3 million, which she intends to use to pay the debts she accumulated in the three years that she has been out of work, that began on July 6, 2010.

Ponsica apologizes
for poaching claim
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

No malice intended.

That was how Negros Occidental Board Member Rolando Ponsica apologized yesterday for what he described as an “inconvenience” to some individuals, brought about by his revelations on timber-poaching activities in Brgy. Marcelo, Calatrava.

Ponsica had earlier alleged that Albert “Ali” Divino, son-in-law of Perfecto Marañon, who is the executive assistant of Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr., spearheaded the cutting of trees at the forest reserve of Brgy. Marcelo, Calatrava. He cited the claims of Jeremias Diotay, the barangay chairman of Marcelo in Calatrava.