P15M CAPITOL LOAN SAVES BANTAYAN POWER FIRM
A P15 million loan will be extended by the Cebu provincial government to the Bantayan Island Power Corp. to help defray payment of its diesel fuel bill with Petron.
The amount is equivalent to the reduced subsidy of National Power Corp. of P5 million a month for three months, which was enjoyed by the Bantayan Island Power Corp. (Bipcor).
An unpaid P30 million fuel bill threatened to cause a power blackout in Bantayan.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who met with Napocor officials, said Bipcor’s cash flow has been off balance since the subsidy was reduced by the financially troubled state-owned firm.
Petron gave Bipcor until May 31 this year to pay its debt or they would stop delivering diesel ful for its power plants. The deadilne was extended to June 15 after the Capitol intervened to avoid disrupting Bantayan’s poultry, aquaculture and tourism industries.
The P15 million loan will be paid in two years. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus
BAYAN MUNA DOLES OUT SCHOOL BAGS
Hundreds of school children in selected barangays in Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue cities received bags and school supplies from Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño yesterday. morning in Norkis Park Looc, Mandaue City.
Casiño, whose term ends next year, plans to run for the Senate in 2013.
As part of his scholarship program “Batang Mag-aaral” Casiño also gave out scholarships and financial assistance to some high school students and elementary pupils from Mandaue City.
Barangays Tipolo, Centro, Labogon and Alang-Alang each received P100,000 while barangay Subangdaku received P200,000 for the scholarship program.
Around 600 bags with school supplies were distributed in the Norkis Park in Loog, Mandaue City. Another 800 bags will go to Lapu-Lapu City, with ll selected barangays also receiving P20,000 each for scholarships. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza
POLS,FRENCH ENVOY IN SUROY-SUROY
A French ambassador and some potential candidates will join the Suroy-suroy sa Sugbo: Exploring the Midwest towns on June 11 to 12.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said Sen. Loren Legarda, former senator Miguel Zubiri, Rep. Teddy Casino, and PDP-Laban secretary general, Jose “Joey” De Venecia III have confirmed their attendance in the event.
The newly installed French Ambassador Gilles Garachon accepted her invitation to join after his courtesy call yesterday at the Capitol.
The tour will take visitors to heritage and tourist spots in Toledo City and the west coast towns of Aloguinsan, Balamban, Tuburan, Pinamungajan, Asturias and Tabuelan.
The caravan will end in Toledo City for the Hinulawan Festival in honor of its patron saint, St. John of Sahagun on June 12./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus
‘GARCIAS WON’T EVICT 93-1 DWELLERS’
Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña said he belives Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia would not dare evict any ocupants of 93-1 lots in the city because she would lost votes in an election for a Senate seat.
“My feeling is that Gwen is scared to order any demolition if she were to run for senator. Even Pablo John Garcia who is seeking the gubernatorial post will not do that because they will lose votes from the poor,” said Osmena.
Governor Garcia gave a six-month grace period to negotiate, set new prices of lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1 and allow occupants to buy the property .
The grace period will end on Nov. 16, 2012.
There are no applicants yet more than two weeks after five homeowners associations signed an agreement to buy the lots from the Cebu provincial government.
Engr. Randolph Librando, regional director of the Social Housing Finance Corp. told the City Council during a public hearing on Wednesday that none of the 5,000 affected occupants have applied for a loan under the Community Mortgage Program./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac