IN BACOLOD
CSC orders mayor:
Reinstate dep’t head
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Civil Service Commission Regional Office VI has granted the appeal of Mary Jean Ramos, department head of the Bacolod City Planning and Development Office, against Mayor Monico Puentevella for assigning her to another office, called it “not in order,” and directed the mayor to restore her to her original position.

At the same time, the CSC also granted the appeal of Ramos for payment of her backwages and other damages.

CSC Director IV Rodolfo Encajado, in a decision promulgated January 15, directed Puentevella to restore Ramos to her original station and allow her to perform the duties and responsibilities as a City Government department head.

Bizmen hail ruling
paving Ayala entry
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Business leaders yesterday welcomed the court’s decision junking the case filed by SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) against the provincial government, which paves the way for AyalaLand Inc. (ALI) to proceed with its multi-billion peso development of the 7.7-hectare Capitol property in Bacolod City.

Negros Occidental Branch 50 Regional Trial Court Judge Estefanio Libutan Jr. denied the petition of SMPHI for it to be declared the winning bidder of the 7.7-hectare property of the Negros Occidental provincial government in Bacolod, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. announced Monday.

SMPHI did not issue a statement yesterday on the RTC decision, and it is not known if it will file a motion for reconsideration.

Labor group wants
hike in helpers’ pay
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A workers group is calling for an increase in the salaries of domestic workers in Western Visayas by P10 a day, or P300 a month.

Wennie Sancho, executive officer of the General Alliance of Worker’s Association and labor representative on the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, said he will raise the call for a P300 increase in the salaries of domestic helpers in the region, from the current P2,000, at a RTWPB meeting on February 14.

Republic Act 10361, or the Domestic Workers Act, or Batas Kasambahay, was passed into law on Jan. 18, 2013, he said.