Officials of 2 provinces meet  
on island-region move today
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental and Oriental officials will hold a consultation dialog on the proposed creation of a one-island region at the Nature’s Village Resort Hotel in Talisay City this morning.

Negros Oriental Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias yesterday said his province supports the move for a one-island region, but while the lengthy process for its creation is being pursued, they can, in the meantime, already broaden areas of cooperation with Negros Occidental.

The creation of a one-island region will require a congressional act and Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. had earlier said he believes the congressmen of both provinces will support the move.

Organic  agri will
help WV in 2015: guv
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

The agri-business sector, especially organic agriculture, will help Western Visayas prepare for the upcoming implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community integration 2015, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., said yesterday.

Marañon, who spoke at the opening of the Regional Agri-fair at the Panaad Park in Brgy. Mansilingan in Bacolod City, said organic agriculture has come a long way since its inception nine years ago.

He said that, indeed, Negros is already an organic island, not only in the Philippines but in Asia, as envisioned by then Negros Oriental Governor George Arnaiz and the late Governor Joseph Marañon of Negros Occidental, when they signed a memorandum of agreement in Tanjay City in 2005.

San Carlos Panaad winner;
DOT pledges tourism roads
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Pintaflores Festival performers of San Carlos City again won the first prize in the best of festivals dance competition of the Panaad sa Negros Festival that kicked off at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City yesterday.

Marlin Sanogal, festival executive director, said 21 festivals from the towns and cities of Negros Occidental joined the competition, with the MassKara Festival performers of Bacolod City as guests.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. declared open the festival, that he said has grown by leaps and bounds since it first started 21 years ago. The festival that runs until Sunday drew thousands of local and foreign spectators yesterday..