BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said the provincial government needs to secure permission from President Benigno Aquino III to purchase a light plane.

"We have to get a permit from the Office of the President. We'll try to have it approved. That's the procedure now," the governor told reporters.

Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr., a pilot himself, has proposed that the provincial government acquire a Cessna 206 aircraft to be used for aerial surveys, cloud-seeding operations, and emergency evacuations.

The provincial government usually hires private planes for its cloud-seeding operations and requests assistance from the Philippine Air Force to conduct aerial assessments.

Last month, Marañon said that the plan to purchase a second hand light plane is "good as approved" and a budget has already been set aside for the purpose. It is "not a luxury, but a necessity," he added.

A second hand Cessna 206 is estimated to cost between P12 million and P15 million while a brand new one costs about P20 million.

On Wednesday, Alvarez told reporters the provincial government also received an offer from a manufacturer of Hawker GA8 Airvans, but the vice governor said he still prefers a Cessna 206 because it could serve the purpose of the province.

Besides, the cost of a Hawker is almost double the price of a second hand Cessna plane, he added.

Alvarez said the budget for the purchase of the aircraft will be taken from the calamity fund.

'NOT A TITAN'

Meanwhile, Marañon dismissed the claim of defeated Fifth District congressional candidate, Board Member Emilio Yulo III, that "a whole assembly of political titans" joined forces to help his uncle, former Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, win in the June 2 special election.

Yulo, in a privilege speech on Wednesday's session, said he battled "not against one particular candidate, but rather a whole assembly of political titans, who came not just from our district, but from far and beyond."

"I'm not a titan, I'm just a small fry. I'm just an ant among the elephants," the governor quipped.

Mirasol, a Liberal Party member who was backed by the Marañon-led United Negros Alliance, got 81,982 votes, 13,103 more than Yulo's, to succeed the late Rep. Ignacio, who passed away last January.*NLG