Most schools suspend
classes as strike starts
Most schools suspend classes as strike starts
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The transportation strike that kicks off today in Negros Occidental triggered a two-day suspension of classes at all levels in most private schools, including the University of Saint La Salle and the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos .

But Bacolod Schools Superintendent Milagros Gonzales said yesterday that classes in public schools have not been cancelled.

The two-day transportation strike spearheaded by the United Negros Drivers Operators Center-Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide and the Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, and from 6 a.m. tomorrow to culminate with rally in front of the Bacolod City Hall in the afternoon.

SP approves P1B
budget for Bacolod
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on first, second and third reading the proposed 2008 Annual Budget of P1 billion of the city submitted by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, subject to certain colatillas, or conditions.

It also approved on first, second and third reading an appropriation ordinance augmenting the amount of P27.9 million for the extra cash gift of the regular and plantilla casual employees of the city, to be taken from the item “personal services” savings of the various offices of the city.

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson yesterday said the old employees, as well as, the members of the SP will get P12,000 each since they were earlier given P5,000 as mid-year bonus, while the new employees including the SP will receive P17,000 each.

Iloilo , Aklan transport
stay off streets, too
BY NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.

ILOILO CITY – Most public transport in the provinces of Iloilo and Aklan stayed off the streets yesterday in the first day of the two-day transport strike against oil price increases.

Public jeepneys plying routes between Iloilo City and towns of Iloilo province stopped plying their routes starting midnight yesterday.

Edgar Salarda, president of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston-Iloilo), said at least 90 percent of public jeepneys in Iloilo province stayed off the streets.