PNoy, Cabinet men
in Neg. Occ. today
BY CARLA GOMEZ

All is set for the visit of President Benigno Aquino III to Negros Occidental today for the inauguration of the country’s first commercial scale solar plant in San Carlos City, and a bridge and access road in Sagay City, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

The President will be accompanied by secretaries Mar Roxas of Interior and Local Government, Carlos Jericho Petilla of Energy, and Rogelio Singson of Public Works and Highways, the governor said.

Also expected at the San Carlos affair are Senator Loren Legarda and members of the diplomatic corps, including the German Ambassador to the Philippines, Thomas Ossowski.

Army, police go on full alert
BY SHIELA GELERA

The police and Army in Negros Occidental are on full alert status for the visit of President Benigno Aquino III to San Carlos and Sagay cities today.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, Negros Occidental acting provincial police director, said yesterday that all policemen are on duty and all their units on standby.

Lirazan said the security preparations are all set and they are ready for Aquino’s visit.

Bishop asks Aquino:
Act on pollution
BY CARLA GOMEZ

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said last night that he is calling on President Benigno Aquino III to compel the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure that San Carlos Bio-Energy Inc. strictly complies with its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to prevent it from causing further air and water pollution in San Carlos City.

While SCBI says it is taking steps to address its pollution problems, the DENR must ensure that they are finally implemented and do not remain empty promises again, the bishop said.

In a letter to the president who is arriving in San Carlos City today, Alminaza said that when SCBI, which produces ethanol, started operations in San Carlos City in 2009, “the city and its people welcomed this development especially that it was the first of the many renewable energy source generation projects.”