Coral reefs in Apo Island
impress Australian scientist
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

Prof. Terence Hughes, convenor of the 12th International Coral Reef symposium to be held next month in Cairns, Australia, commended yesterday the state of coral reefs in Apo Island, the renowned dive destination in Dauin town, Negros Oriental.

Hughes was at Silliman University in Dumaguete City for a lecture on “Scale, Stock-Recruitment Dynamics and the Global Decline of Coral Reefs” as part of the Scientist in Schools program of the Australian Embassy in Manila.

He said he was impressed by the “incredibly beautiful”, vibrant and diverse coral reefs in Apo Island during a dive visit there Thursday. He also lauded the 60 to 80 percent coral cover in Apo Island, and said it was “incredibly diverse as I’ve ever seen in other parts of the Coral Triangle”.

RTWPB 7 hears
wage hike plea
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Region 7 heard yesterday representatives of management and labor sectors on the pending petition for a salary increase in Dumaguete City.

Jose Tomongha, labor representative to the wage board and chair of the Alliance of Progressive Labor, said they petitioned for a P121.84 across-the-board increase.

He said the high price of petroleum products is one factor in determining a supervening condition. “After several rollbacks in the prices of petroleum products, the cost of basic commodities remains high”, he said.

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