Fuel price gap narrows;
Rollback set today, too
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Two days after the Visayan Oil Price Watchdog was created, the Caltex, Petron and Shell fuel price gaps between Bacolod and Metro Manila were from P2.29 to P4.25 yesterday, from a previous high of P8 per liter, with prices expected to drop further with a nationwide rollback.

Shell and Petron have announced a nationwide price rollback of  P1.60 per liter for gasoline and  80 centavos for diesel effective today.

Businessman Ed Alunan, who has been championing the campaign to reduce the price disparity, said the price difference between Manila and Bacolod has narrowed, but it is still too high. The gap should only be 50 centavos, he said.

More Negros
troops sent to Zambo
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

More government troops from Negros Occidental were dispatched to Zamboanga – this time a company-sized unit of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion, stationed at Camp Aniceto Lacson in Victorias City.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Deputy Regional Director for Operations of the Western Visayas police, said yesterday that the 120 men of 6th RPSB were transported Friday evening by an Air Force C130 cargo plane to Zamboanga from the Bacolod-Silay airport.

Two days earlier, the Army’s elite 1st Scout Ranger Battalion,which is composed of about 500 men, was also pulled out from Negros island.

Alminaza bishop of San Carlos
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Pope Francis has appointed Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza as the new bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental, the Vatican announced Saturday.

Alminaza, 54, who was born in Barangay San Jose, Sipalay, Negros Occidental, told the DAILY STAR yesterday he is excited about his new assignment and is looking forward to collaborating with the clergy there, some of whom were his students.

The San Carlos diocese has been in a period of “sede vacante” since January 2012 when its bishop, Jose Advincula, was installed archbishop of Capiz, he said.

Uy couple boosting
Negros organic drive
BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

The blessing of the Puro Organic processing plant, RU Botanical Insecticide and May’s Organic Garden at Barangay Pahanocoy in Bacolod City, that have boosted the income of more than 1,000 organic farmers, was held Saturday morning.

The blessing also coincided with the birthday of Ramon Uy Sr., who, along with his wife, May, owns the facility.

It  was officiated by Fr. John Cardinal and Fr. Pio Eugenio.

May’s Organic Garden has a restaurant that serves organic food and a pavilion in the middle of a man-made lake for weddings, birthdays, business meetings, training seminars, christenings, family gatherings and anniversaries.