Renewed military offensives against New People's Army guerilla fronts in Negros are expected to resume today, as the 22-day unilateral ceasefire observed by government forces peacefully ended yesterday, Col. Honorato de los Reyes, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, said.

De los Reyes admitted that their focus for 2008 is to start dismantling the six guerilla fronts in Negros, which is the priority for clearing by the 3 rd Infantry Division in Western and Central Visayas .

Lt. Col. Erwin de Asis, 3 rd ID Public Information Officer, had earlier said that other guerilla fronts in Region 6 and 7 will be considered a second priority, after Negros .

House bill to boost
reforestation: solon
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Rep. Genaro Alvarez delivering his sponsorship speech for the Billion Trees Bill in the House.*

House Bill 375, known as the "Billion Trees Act of 2007," recently approved in the House sets a national reforestation program that aims to plant one billion forest and fruit trees in the Philippines in five years, Rep. Genaro Alvarez Jr. (Neg. Occ., 6 th district) said yesterday.

Alvarez, chairman of the House Committee on Reforestation, is among the principal authors of the bill, along with House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Its counterpart bill is pending deliberation and approval in the Senate, Alvarez added.

De la Cruz
recovering well – doc
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Board Member Nehemias de la Cruz, 57, suffered from a mild stroke but is recovering well and is expected to return to the provincial Capitol for work soon, his doctor, Board Member Melvin Ibañez, said yesterday.

He could be back this week, Ibañez said.

De la Cruz's son, Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Laurence Marxlen de la Cruz, said his father was hospitalized on Dec. 28 after suffering from a mild stroke but was released on Dec, 31. He is recovering well at home, the mayor said.