Guv warns vs. buying
S. Benedicto property
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday warned the public to be careful about buying land in Salvador Benedicto town as it could be part of the Northern Negros Natural Park, which is owned by the government and cannot be sold.

We will file cases against those who bought land inside the NNNP and are occupying the area, he said.

Marañon said he is calling on the Environment regional director to look into the claim that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources gave permission to some individuals to occupy areas within the NNNP.

Redistricting word
war continues
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella yesterday said he is questioning the real motive of Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia in running for a congressional seat in Bacolod City, whether it is for the sake of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or to legislate laws.

Puentevella raised the question after Leonardia said they needed to rethink the proposal to split Bacolod into two districts because there is no more PDAF.

He said the situation of Bacolod now is “the perfect example of why an additional congressman for the city is needed, so if one does not agree, the other one might agree.” So, if one is not concerned about the welfare of the city, the other might believe otherwise, he also said..

We’re not afraid of 2015 - PSMA
Approve Sugarcane Act, millers urge
BY CARLA GOMEZ

“We are not afraid of 2015, we are confident that the Philippine sugar industry will survive,” Francisco Varua, president of the Philippine Sugar Millers Association and the Philippine Sugar Research Institute, said yesterday.

Under the Asean Free Trade Area agreement, the tariff on imported sugar entering the Philippines will drop to a nominal 5 percent next year.

“We have been preparing for 2015,” Varua told the DAILY STAR, citing sugar mills retrofitting their facilities to produce ethanol and to co-generate power, and efforts to increase production in farms and mills.