After the 2013 Annual Budget of the provincial government was approved last Wednesday, the 2,339 employees of the Provincial Capitol expect to get their P20,000 extra bonus and the fourth tranche salary increase by the end of the month, or May 31.

Provincial administrator Enrique Pinongan made this announcement in an interview yesterday, adding that they are only awaiting the transmittal of the or-dinance from the Sang-guniang Panlalawigan (SP) on the approved budget to the Office of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

In their regular session last Wednesday, the SP unanimously approved the Annual Budget for 2013 amounting to P2.6 billion, comprising the P1,912,059,008 for gene-ral fund and P690,149,879 for the Economic Enterprise Development Department.

Many positive programs and projects are being planned, under the new city government administration of newly-elected Chief Executive Monico Puente-vella, which include among others, a review of the Tax Revenue Code, which earned lots of brickbats during the period the previous administration held sway. This include the disposition of job order and plantilla casuals of the previous administration, the improvement of basic services, implementing better deals for public schoolteachers in the city, tackling seriously the problem bedeviling the urban poor and tourism, are among developments, envisioned by the new city administration under Mayor Monico Puentevella, Wilson "Jun" Gamboa, one of the winning councilors said during an interview over radio station DYRL’s "Tungkaron Ta Ini" program.

Mayor-elect Monico Puentevella recently sat down with two business tycoons and talked about a joint cooperation venture that will benefit the city of Bacolod in the future.

(l-r) Lance Gokongwei, Monico Puentevella and Frederick Go

Lance Gokongwei, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cebu Pacific Air, Inc. took time out of his busy schedule to address Puente-vella’s vision of having direct flights from Bacolod to other parts of Asia - a constant thrust of the former three-term Congressman that could be a potential game changer for the City.

"Bacolod needs to have these flights in order to draw foreign investors and tourists into the City. If Iloilo can do it, if Cebu and Davao can do it, so can the City of Bacolod," Puentevella said as he recalled this matter as one of the highlights of Pamilya MKK’s Master Plan for Bacolod during their election campaign.

D.C. CRUZ TRADING CORPORATION in cooperation with agriculturist Santiago Tadifa and Sugar Planter Ildefonso "Nonong" Monfort recently sponsored a Free Organic Farming Seminar which was held at the Farmers Organic Market along Magsaysay Street (near Luxor Hotel) in line with their corporate social responsibility as well as part of their public relations program.

Visitors from Metro Manila at the farmers organic market. In the picture are: Alan Gensoli, former DOT Secretary Mina Gabor and Hazel Andrea Stuart from England.*

Agriculturist Santiago Tadifa explained the advantages and benefits of engaging in organic farming. He averred that the continuous usage of commercial fertilizers have seriously depleted the micronutrients present in the soil. He stated that our ecology and environment is being endangered with the continuing use of fertilizers whose basic ingredient is oil. These fertilizers eventually end up in rivers which have depleted the presence of snails and fish which are prevalent in our rivers. Also, that these rivers which often end up along the seashore also affect the presence of snails and fish along our coast lines. He added that the use of commercial pesticides also affect our ecology.

The inevitable rise of electricity to be paid by residential consumers for this month of May, total equivalent P10.16/kWhr, is to ensure stable power supply and compliance to orders of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) press release reads.

These increases in electricity cost to be charged this May 2013 billing were all announced by Ceneco earlier and that they clarified, these charges will be entered in Generation System Charge of P1.0416/kWhr and the PSALM-NPC Stranded Cost of PP0.1938/kWhr.

The increase in charges was due to the Preventive Maintenance Schedule (PMS) of KEPCO-SALCON Power Corporation’s Plant Unit number 2 in Naga, Cebu, earlier announced by Ceneco last April 3, 2013.

Almost all units of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army are participating in the Brigada Eskwela campaign of the Department of Education (DepEd) which started Monday, May 20.

The army is one of the stake holders in this program which has been a consistent participant in cleaning and repairing the classrooms of public schools.

The 302nd Infantry Brigade led by Col. Francisco Patrimonio, com-manding officer, joined the Brigada Eskwela in the hinterland barangay schools like La Libertad, Negros Oriental.

Master Teacher Grace D. Carreon of ABES II supervises the members and families of the 4Ps joining the ABES II Brigada Eskwela 2013 yesterday.* (Jun de los Reyes/NDB photo)

The only academe that is deeply involved on environmental concerns is the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Bacolod City. For one year now, the University Community Development Program Office that supervises the Heritage Tree Museum, it has transformed the university campus into a more cozy and soothing environment.

UNO-R Heritage Tree Museum Day

The Philippine Heritage Tree Museum and Sustainable Mini Eco-Park spreads 14 hectares within the school campus. It is a school-based reforestation project started on May 23, 2012 with 50 trees of 25 species to symbolize the University’s golden jubilee year celebration. Now, it has 63 trees from 28 species, a result of the school’s Tree for the future program, participated in by the employees of the school. They tend to the trees they planted until they grow, not only to restore Philippine biodiversity, but as living legacies and witnesses of UNO-R’s continuing journey to the Cradle of Excellence.

Personnel of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) headed by Police Senior Superintendent Edgardo O. Ordaniel, Acting City Director conducts "Brigada Eskwela" and feeding program at JR Torres Elementary School, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, this city on May 23. The activity is in preparation for the forthcoming "Balik Eskwela 2013".*