Eddie Guillem, board president of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, said his group is prepared for the resumption of the hearing of NEA Administrative Committee on October 2 and 3 in Bacolod City on his alleged involvement in anomalous transactions.

"Our lawyers are prepared. We already submitted our answers," Guillem told the DAILY STAR Thursday night.

Both Guillem and OIC general manager Noriel Bermudez were placed under investigation based on the NEA audit report findings that said they "should be held liable for executing a contract with Power Star Inc. using Reinvestment Fund without prior approval from NEA" and "for deviating the mode of payment in the contract executed with Pazifik Power Inc. from that of the submitted bid proposal without Board approval."

Green shell farming eyed

Bacolod Councilor Lyndon Caña yesterday said his committee will conduct a technical workshop to discuss the possible introduction of mussel or green shell farming in the coastal areas of Bacolod City for livelihood of the coastal population.

Caña, chairman of the Committee on Environment and Ecology, said the idea was introduced during a public hearing yesterday by businessman Rodolfo Alvarez. He said his committee is very much open to the idea because of the big help it can bring to the people of Bacolod.

Alvarez said mussel is farmed in many countries in the world and some places in the Philippines. He said this is a tried and tested technology which he was able to initiate in Ilog town 10 years ago with the help of Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center and ABS-CBN Foundation.

SSS issues new policy
for compulsory retirees

A new Social Security System policy now allows members who reach 65 years of age to claim their benefits on the day they retire, a statement fom SSS said.

Processing of retirement benefit will be completed in 15 working days as the new procedure is now being implemented nationwide, it said.

Compulsory retirees may file their retirement claim six months before they leave the service.

SSS said it advises applicants should make sure their documents are complete so that processing of their claim will be faster.

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