Newsbriefs

FISCALS FIGHT FOR PERKS FROM MANDAUE

Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane and five other prosecutors insist that they are entitled to allowances from the Mandaue City government which auditors have questioned.

Though not stationed in Mandaue City, the prosecutors said there was nothing improper in receiving monthly stipends from the city.

In a pleading filed in court, the prosecutors said the law allows them to receive these allowances along with other local governments included in their areas of assignment.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) said all prosecutors are entitled to allowances from local government units (LGUs) in amounts not exceeding 50 percent of their basic salaries.

But the OSG said the six prosecutors from the Regional Prosecution Service would violate this provision if they continue to receive monthly allowances from Mandaue City where they are not actually stationed./Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

RAMA HEADS TO CHINA

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is leaving for China tomorrow to attend a celebration in Xiamen, a sister city.

Until his return on Tuesday, Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young is designated acting mayor..

The 15-man city delegation will include five barangay captains, a vendors organization leader, and some City Hall department heads.

They include barangay captains Jerome Lim (Sta. Cruz), Domingo Lopez (Tinago), Jose Navarro (Punta Princesa) Ramil Ayuman (Apas) and Jingoy Reformina (Zapatera).

Also travelling with Rama are Collin Rosell who heads – head of the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, Ryan Echaveria – Protocol Officer, Noel Artes of Cosap, Dodong Viola of the city drainage program, Dennic Jabonero of the mayor’s office and Maria Pino Buanghug of the Cebu City United Vendors Association.

Rama said a Fil-Chinese group will be paying for their travel expenses while their accommodation and meals will be hosted by Xiamen city. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

BIDDING FOR PUJ FRANCHISES PUSHED

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas is pushing for the bidding of franchises to businesses.

Ahmed Cuizon, LTFRB regional director, said he is hopeful the new secretary of the Dept. of Transportation and Communication will continue policy reforms to issue public utility jeepney franchises to parties with proven financial capability.

As many as 90 percent of PUJ franchises in the region are single unit operators. Most of these operators he said, lack financial capability resulting in poor maintenance of their units.

Cuizon said he hopes Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Abaya will continue the reforms started by Mar Roxas who was recently appointed Secretary of the Dept. of Interior and Local Government./Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

KING COBRA TRANSFER

Cebu City veterinarian Alice Utlang said that the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) will process the transfer papers of the King Cobra captured near the Cebu City Zoo to a research facility in Metro Manila.

She was advised by PAWB National Director Mundita Lim to coordinate the transfer of the snake through their Cebu city office.

The snake which bit zoo keeper Ronaldo Aventurado last Aug. 14 is set for transfer to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for use in the research and development of cobra venom antidote.

Experts have become interested in how Aventurado was successfully treated using Philippine Cobra venom antidote which was flown in from Camiguin Island./Correspodent Jessa J. Agua