Two human rights observers from the International Peace Observers Network visited sugarcane farms in Negros Occidental following persistent reports that farmer-beneficiaries in the province are being prevented from tilling their properties, the Task Force Mapalad said in a press release.

The TFM press release also said that German nationals Johannes Richter and Janina Dannenberg, both members of IPON based in Hamburg , Germany , also documented the reported cases of killings and other agrarian-related incidents in Negros Occidental.

Pay rules for
Christmas, New Year out

The Department of Labor and Employment yesterday issued the pay rules for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Dec. 24 and 31 have been declared special non-working days by virtue of Proclamation Nos. 1211 and 1353 issued early this year, while Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), Dec. 30, (Rizal Day) and Jan. 1 (New Year's Day) are national holidays.

DOLE said in an advisory that if the day is unworked, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement granting payment of wages on special days even if unworked.

Cebu Pacific to buy

MANILA – Cebu Pacific said yesterday it would acquire four more turbo-prop aircrafts from France-based manufacturer ATR to allow it to compete with rival budget carriers in Philippines tourist destinations.

The four ATR 72-500s would be on top of six orders it placed with the Tolouse-based company earlier this year, the Filipino carrier's president Lance Gokongwei said in a statement.

Gokongwei said the 10 ATRs would allow the airline to fly to more Philippine cities with runways that cannot accommodate jet aircraft, including the Caticlan airport that serves the island resort of Boracay, the country's top tourist draw.

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