News Bits

Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte frankly denied any blood relation to DILG Sec Jesse Robredo. According to Gov. Villafueste, the secretary only borrowed the family name, his father having Lim as family name. Wilson Flores of Phil Star reported few days ago such revelation by the multi-awarded, 41 year-old, head of the biggest province in Bicol. Camarines Sur has already overtaken Metro Manila and Boracay in number of tourist visitors. Very soon, Hollywood stars are expected to shoot films in the province. The governor is presently the chairman of the league of provinces in the Philippines.

Further, Gov. L-Ray said that while studying at La Salle University, Sec. Robredo resided at the Villafuerte residence. It was Luis Villafuerte, the congressman of the third district of Camarines Sur who lobbied for Robredo to become the Bicol River Basin Development Corp Program Manager and who also campaigned for him to become the mayor of Naga in 1988, a power he held up until 2010.

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To bring it closer to real business, and to boost its development in Naga and nearby towns in Camarines Sur, the office of Metro naga Chamber of commerce and industry is being transferred to downtown Naga. From Panganiban Ave., the office is transferred to 3rd floor of Lindez Hotel building owned by the family of de Guzman, corner of Hernandez Ave (former Igualdad St.) and P. Burgos St. in front of the famous Universtiy of Nueva Caceres. This is the first project of the new president of the Chamber of commerce, Philip Imperial.

Imperial proposes to amend the by-laws to make it responsive the present needs and to lobby for the proposed Naga Power Commission whose objective is to lower the tariff of electricity, and to make CASURECO 2's services efficient. The Chamber is hopeful that the City Hall will support said plans, according to Engr. Melvin Del Puerto, Corporate Secretary of the Chamber and Project Proponent.

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Francisco "Toto" MIlla, former provincial environment and natural resources director of Camarines Sur, is promoted as Regional Technical Director (RTD) of DENR beginning yesterday. Unfortunately, not in Bicol, but in Region 4 or Calabrazon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) which is bigger by population compared to Bicol.

Due to politicking, a non-Bikolano was appointed to replace him as RTD in Bicol. Also, according to reliable sources, this is training for Milla to become Regional Executive Director in a short while.

Milla is missed at DENR Bikol, in Albay and Camarines Sur. He was also a PENRO Director in Albay. From Bula, he finished High School in Ateneo de Naga, and college at UP College of Forestry in Los Banos, Laguna. Gen. Jaime Milla of PNP Central is his older brother. Milla’s present office is at Calamba City, Laguna.

The new PENRO of Camarines Sur, Luis Loyola, is from Masbate. RED Marcus Fragada expressed his joy over Milla's new post.