BACOLOD CITY – The whole island of Negros was generally peaceful during the conduct of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections Tuesday. In Bacolod City, Police Supt. Celestino Guara said he has nothing to report because the conduct of election was really peaceful and no election-related/violent incident was reported except for some petty incidents. For his part, Lt/Col Isabelo delos Reyes, Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade in Negros Occidental said no insurgency-related incident reported by their troops assigned in reported and identified areas in the watchlist of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). There was some disappointment, however amongst the electorate in Pontevedra and Isabela towns because of Comelec’s failure to deliver election paraphernalia on time. The election in said two areas have been moved to October 28. Delos Reyes peace prevailed during the election with rebels refraining from committing violent moves “because it will be a bad strike on their part, considering that they also fielded their own candidates” in the polls. In Negros Oriental, Major Eduardo Amores, Public Information Officer of the PA’s  302nd Infantry Brigade also said there were no untoward incidents in their area. (Edith B. Colmo)

LGU WINS BAHAL AWARDS

TACLOBAN CITY – The local government unit (LGU) of  Guiuan in Eastern Samar reaped four  major prizes during the 3rd Octubafest held over the weekend at the Leyte Park Hotel gym here. The event was participated in by 21 LGUs in Region 8.  Cynthia R. Nierras, Regional Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 8, assisted by Philip Jude Acidre, Regional Chairman of An Waray Party-list, handed over four major prizes to Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan who represented the Guiuan LGU during the awards night.  Among the top prizes Guiuan won was the first prize award in the Best Booth Competition. The town also won in the Best Kuracha Dance and Best Bahal and Bahalina (pure tuba and seasoned coconut wine product) competitions. Kwan said she will donate the cash prize Guiuan won to the Guiuan Integrated Microfinance Association, particularly for the latter to increase its capital and improve its products which are now being sold in Manila trade fairs. Guiuan Municipal Tourism Officer Aurora De los Reyes said Guiuan’s Bahalina product now features a bar code and is being marketed in various trade fairs organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Metro Manila. (Nestor L. Abrematea)

TEACHERS LECTURED VS. CORRUPTION 

ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Santiago recently lectured Iloilo National High School teachers on how to help fight corruption in the bureaucracy. She delved on anti-graft laws during a seminar at the school and cited ill-effects of engaging in corrupt practices. Corruption negatively affects the bureaucracy's efficiency and slows down delivery of government services, she underlined. Over 100 teachers from the school attended the seminar. Santiago particularly cited the importance of paying taxes and the consequences of incurring debts. She expressed the hope that other schools will also hold similar seminars in addressing corruption so that such institutions can help government eradicate this scourge.