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Negros governor's remains brought home; wish to give workers a bonus granted


Residents of Negros Oriental province gathered Wednesday to pay their last respects to their late governor-elect Emilio Macias II, whose "last wishes" include giving bonus pay to government workers. The governor died of liver cancer last Sunday in Manila. He was 76. His children and other family members brought his cremated remains to the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport from Manila at 8:30 a.m., Visayan Daily Star reported Thursday A large crowd of provincial officials, employees, military and police personnel, and supporters watched in silence as Dr. Mark Macias, the late governor's son, stepped down from the plane carrying the urn, the report said. Military plane-side honors were accorded but many in the crowd wept as Macias' widow Melba walked to the urn being carried by son Erwin, and wept quietly while hugging the vessel. Granted wish One of Macias' last wishes was to give some 1,700 provincial government employees an additional bonus. The provincial capitol will soon give the extra bonus for its employees, provincial administrator Marilou Kho said. While the amount of the bonus has yet to be decided on, the report hinted it may be at least P30,000 each. Macias also asked officials to see to it that his projects will be continued even after he is gone. These include the central block building of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, the boardwalk in Tanjay City, the Provincial Health Insurance of Negros Oriental, a high school in Linantuyan in Guihulngan City, and some infrastructure projects. Provincial workers, capitol employees, students of the Negros Oriental High School and civilians threw flowers at the governor’s car where Board Member Erwin Macias sat in front with the urn on his lap, with Rep. George Arnaiz accompanying him. At the provincial capitol, where the Philippine flag flew at half staff, a red carpet ceremony took place with acting governor Jose Baldado, Vice-Governor Mariant Villegas and other officials receiving the urn and marched up the steps to the old session hall where a three-day wake will be held. - LBG/RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV

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