PDAF loss to endanger
prov’l health insurance
For more than half a million Negrenses – guv
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund of congressmen will gravely affect the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health  Program (NOCHP) that provides health insurance to more than half a million Negrenses, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

The program is run on annual contributions of Negros solons of P10 million per district from their Priority Development Assistance Fund, he said.

Capitol records show that there are now 101,038 NOCHP cardholders covering 505,190 beneficiaries, of which about 47,636 availed of free hospital care from September 2010 to August this year, Provincial Planning and Development Office head Marlin Sanogal said yesterday.

Residents urged:
Help fight vs. illegal logging
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Gov, Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday called on Negrenses to provide information that would lead to the arrest of those responsible for the massive denudation of the remaining forests of the province, including their financier.

He appealed to residents living in areas close to where illegal logging and charcoal making are taking place, to report such incidents to authorities so action can be taken.

It will be easy for law enforcers to make arrests with the cooperation of residents, he said, pointing out that this needs to be stopped to curb climate change.

City police heighten alert status
BY SHIELA GELERA

All 10 police stations of the Bacolod City Police Office have been placed on heightened alert status because of the continuing conflict in Zamboanga City,  acting city director, Senior Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel said yesterday.

Ordaniel said the change in the alert status of the BCPO is in compliance with the order of Philippine National Police, Director General Alan Purisima, that is based on situation between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front in Mindanao.

Ordaniel said they have been coordinating with the Muslim community in the Bacolod to find out whether there are members of the MNLF who have arrived in the city.