Ethanol plant slammed
for water, air pollution
SCBI acts on problem, loses P15M
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The San Carlos City government is calling on the San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. to put a stop to the water and air pollution it is causing, and on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to act on the matter, Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. said yesterday.

Valmayor said he has written to SCBI to act on the matter and met with its representatives Thursday night for an explanation on measures they are tasking to address the problem.

On Wednesday, the San Carlos Sangguniang Panlungsod also passed a resolution seeking DENR action on the pollution, he added.

Guv backs
expansion at airport
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he is supporting and joining the lobby for the expansion of the Bacolod-Silay Airport terminal and the extension of its runway to boost the entry of international flights to Negros Occidental.

This will be a big advantage to the tourism industry of the province, he said.

He pointed out that Japanese officials from the Ibaraki Prefecture, who met with him early this week, are serious about opening direct flights from the Ibaraki International Airport to the Bacolod Silay Airport, and vice versa.

‘Only 60% have biz permits'
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The officer-in-charge of the Permits and Licensing Division in Bacolod City said that out of more than 18,000 business establishments in the Bacolod City, only 8,000 had secured business permits for 2013.

Marie Ann Biasca yesterday said this represents only about 60 percent of the businesses legitimately operating in the city.

They formed a joint inspection team that has started inspecting business establishments in the city to determine compliance with business permits after Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella ordered a massive inspection conducted to require those who have not applied or renewed their business permits, to comply with the law, she said.