PENDING HEARING
Solon seeking halt to
airport fees hike
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Wait for a hearing first.

That was the reaction of Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella to the announcement of Bacolod-Silay Airport manager Antonio Alfonso that they are pushing for the a proposed 300 percent increase on all the air service fees of the airport in Silay City to increase its revenues and avoid further deficit in its overall operational expenses.

Puentevella said he will ask the Transportation and Communications Secretary to impose a moratorium on the proposed increase on all the air services fees of the Bacolod-Silay airport until a hearing is conducted on the matter. .

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he believes that Sugar Regulatory Administrator Rafael Coscolluela and Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella are using the Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance for their political agenda for 2010.

Leonardia said this became apparent during the flood consultative meeting at the Planta Centro Bacolod Hotel Friday in Bacolod City, when Coscolluela publicly instigated the people there to either sue or recall the mayor.   

Coscolluela said he has no plans to run for any position in 2010. “If only they knew the whole story. Politics has nothing to do with that,” he said.

The Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition team is batting for the use of geothermal energy and other clean sources of energy to power the needs of Negros Occidental, warning that the threat of global warming is real and worsening.

The team was in Negros Occidental over the weekend to practice their endurance in preparation for a May 29 Mt. Everest marathon and to continue advocating actions to further prevent global warning.

The members of the team were Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon, Pastour Emata, Dr. Ted Esguerra and Negrenses Art Valdez – team leader and Fred Jamili.