The Metropolitan District Health System program, the first multi-million peso pilot beneficiary of the European Community’s worldwide health assistance, with a reported allocation of P80-million in several trenches, has reported the sad state of the five out of six district hospitals in the province of Negros Oriental.

No less than its chief executive officer Dr. Fidencio Aurelia who concurrently heads the Bayawan District Hospital said that the five other district hospitals outside of Dumaguete are suffering from low morale, low pay, and dwindling support services amidst increasing patient admissions and population because of what he called “emerging realities and challenges.”
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by: DEMS REY DEMECILLO

Authorities led by the National Bureau of Investigation have filed charges of syndicated estafa against the suspects who were arrested on Thursday for duping lending institutions by posing as pensioners or pensioners’ wives to obtain loans. Before the arrests, the same group allegedly managed to hoodwink Bohol Pension Finance Corporation from May 16 to June 16.

About 21 suspects including the alleged brains were nabbed by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation led by Atty. Ernie Monsanto from Cebu and Atty. Domingo Cimafranca of the Dumaguete field office while transacting their loan applications inside the Bohol Pension Finance Corporation along Hibbard Avenue, Piapi. Of them, 12 were charged in court and are awaiting trial.
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The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the sole regulator for the electricity industry in charge of rates evaluation and approval, has released the draft Rules for setting the Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSECWR). Wheeling rates means the retail rates to be charged by electric cooperatives (ECs) like Noreco 2 to its customers for electricity consumption. This is in consonance with its mandate as set forth in Sections 38 & 43 of RA 9136 also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.

by: DEMS REY DEMICILLO

Political kingmaker Meniong Teves took exception to the announcement of Board Member Butch Adanza, political kingpin of Zamboanguita, that even if he belongs to the ruling party Lakas Kampi CMD, he is now supporting Gov. Macias (NPC) for reelection.

In a statement given on Father’s Day, Sunday, Meniong Teves said all he asked from Adanza is due respect even not to him, but to the party which has nurtured his political rise to life for twenty years. Meniong Teves asked Adanza why he had to make such an announcement as if he was threatening or even daring the ruling party to put up a board member candidate to run against Adanza’s son whom the board member is allegedly grooming and endorsing, Adanza being on his final term.
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by: DEMS DEMECILLO

There is a new twist in the city political drama whereby partisan loyalty takes the center stage as former Dumaguete City Vice-mayor William Ablong might gun for the mayorship, no less, and supported by his political godfather, Mayor Agustin Perdices, who now plans to become city vice-mayor. Perdices, known to be a “political segurista,” was Woodrow Maquiling and Councilor Manuel Chiquiting Sagarbarria as both are also aiming the city’s top post.
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Consider this province lucky for being the fourth beneficiary of this novelty called the Coopreneurs Surety Fund, for Negros Oriental, with P25-Million for a starter, as a surety for member of 15 CSF-listed cooperatives who want to avail of loans as capital for their small and medium industries— minus real estate collaterals.

The Province of Negros Oriental last Friday formally joined the Credit Surety Fund (CSF) bandwagon as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental, launched of the Negros Oriental Coopreneurs Surety Fund (NOCSF) at the Luce Auditorium of Silliman University in Dumaguete City.
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by: DEMS REY DEMECILLO

For repeatedly ignoring the authority of the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to review the town’s ordinances and resolutions and for securing and disbursing with undue haste the P80 million Landbank loan despite the clear absence of legal authority, the mayor of the municipality of Guihulngan now stands accused and charged before the Ombudsman by two private citizens.

Mayor Ernesto Reyes, a seasoned politician,while denying all charges now faces multiple criminal and administrative charges for allegedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the New Procurement Act, the Revised Penal Code, Local Government Code of 1991 and Administrative Order No. 3 by Kiben C. Masicampo and Edilberto G. Divinagracia of Poblacion, Guihulngan.
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After twenty-two years of close alliance with the Teves political clan, former Zamboanguita Mayor and now Board Member Marcelo Adanza is now perceived to have parted ways with the Teveses who are closely allied with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, head of the Lakas-KAMPI CMD party. Adanza has re-affirmed his full and unqualified support to Governor Emilio Macias II of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
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