Negros Oriental

A rice field in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.*Ronnie Baldonado file photoA total of 11,351 hectares of rice production areas in the Negros Island Region (NIR) have been identified as susceptible to drought, a Department of Agriculture - Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) advisory  said Wednesday, Sept.9.DA-NIR Regional Executive Director Engr. Jose Albert A. Barrogo urged rice farmers, Local Government Units (LGUs), and agricultural stakeholders to take proactive measures to prepare for potential dry spells brought by the El Niño phenomenon.Data consolidated from PhilRice-PRiSM, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) showed that  Negros Occidental accounts for the largest vulnerable footprint with 8,247 hecta...

Three individuals linked to the March 4, 2023 shooting of then Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo at his residence have been convicted in separate cases involving illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday, Sept. 9.In a news release, the DOJ said the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 40, found Joric Garrido Labrador, Joven Calibjo Javier, and Benjie Rodriguez guilty after prosecutors proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.“Labrador was sentenced to 8 to 10 years of imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition, while the two other accused were each sentenced to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years in prison) for unlawful possession of explosives,” the department said.The cases arose from t...

The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the conviction of Orville Fua, former mayor of Lazi, Siquijor, and other public officers for graft involving more than PHP4.9 million worth of fertilizer procurement.In a decision written by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, the SC’s Second Division affirmed the Sandiganbayan’s ruling that found former Lazi officials Fua, Rose Marie Tomogsoc, Natalio Bongcawel Jumawan Jr., and Sue Agnes Castillon, and private individual Merlyn Estallo Lu guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.In 2004, Fua signed a purchase request for the procurement of fertilizers or farm inputs for the town’s Fertilizer Program. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Lazi then entered into a memorandum of a...

 The Department of Health in the Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) has vaccinated 200,455 children aged six to 59 months against measles and rubella, with no further extension planned for the supplemental immunization campaign, an official said Tuesday.DOH-NIR Assistant Regional Director Adrian Hort Ramos said the figure accounts for about 45 percent of the region’s target for the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA).Ramos attributed the low turnout partly to misinformation circulating on social media about the vaccine's safety.“Sadly, many mothers and guardians were convinced against the vaccine despite the agency’s information campaign explaining that it was safe,” he said.Ramos also cited cases in which parents said their children were sick durin...

Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño*Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño has concluded his tour of duty as director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region after nearly four months at the helm, during which police reported more than P228 million worth of suspected illegal drugs and smuggled cigarettes seized across the region.Cardiño served as PRO-NIR regional director from May 8 until Sept. 6.During the period, PRO-NIR conducted 792 anti-illegal drug operations that resulted in the arrest of 1,039 alleged drug personalities.Police reported confiscating 21,552.56 grams, or more than 21.5 kilograms, of suspected shabu and 1,442.50 grams of marijuana with a combined standard drug price of P146,730,528.40.Another 590 operations against cigarette smuggling resulted in 33 arrests and ...

Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales*Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales formally assumed leadership of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region succeeding Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño on Monday, Sept. 7,The turnover ceremony was held at Camp Gen. Rafael T. Crame in Quezon City, where Reales officially took command of PRO-NIR and its personnel.Reales is a member of the Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1996 “Kaagapay.”He takes over the regional police office as it continues to strengthen its organizational structure, law enforcement operations and public safety services across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Bacolod City.PRO-NIR said Reales will focus on maintaining peace and order, preventing and solving crimes, enforcing the law, addressing security thre...

The distribution of aid in Sagay City.*The Department of Social Welfare and Development  Negros Island Region had disbursed over ₱309.6 million in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance to sugarcane farmers affected by the Red-Stiped Soft Scale Insects  as  of Friday,  September 4,  DSWD NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said Saturday.A total of 30,097 beneficiary farmers across Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental have received financial aid to date, he said.Negros Occidental accounted for the vast majority of the assistance, with ₱255,306,275 distributed among 24,727 farmers.The municipality of La Castellana saw the highest allocation in the province, where 4,643 beneficiaries received a total of ₱47,938,975.In Negros Oriental, 5,370 affected sugarcane farmers r...

The house where the couple were killed.*PNP photoThe United States Embassy in Manila has authorized the autopsy of the body of a 72-year-old American national who was shot dead along with his Filipina wife inside their rented house in Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City,  early Wednesday, September 2.Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said  on Thursday that the embassy issued the necessary certification after the victim's brother gave his consent."We are expecting the autopsy to be carried out today and we hope the results will aid investigators in their probe on the shooting-to-death of Mark Duell and his Filipina wife," Polinar said.The body of the victim's wife, 71-year-old Elsie Duell, had already un...

Roel and Janice Degamo in happier times* Congresswoman Janice Degamo FB page photoThree men linked to the March 2023 Pamplona Massacre, which claimed the life of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, have been convicted of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, Rep. Janice Degamo (Neg. Or., 3rd District) announced Thursday evening, Sept. 3.In a statement posted on her official Facebook page, Degamo—the widow of the late governor—revealed that two of the convicted individuals were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, the maximum penalty under Philippine law."Today, my heart carries both pain and hope," Degamo wrote. "For others, this may simply be another court decision. But for me, as Roel’s wife, it means so much more.”While expressing gratitude ...

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) expects to distribute over ₱1 billion in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) aid to small farmers and workers whose sugarcane crops have been damaged by Red-Striped Soft Scale Insects (RSSI) in Negros Island, Regional Director Arwin Razo said on Thursday, Sept. 3.Disbursements will continue in Amlan, Negros Oriental, as well as Sagay City, La Carlota City, Talisay City, Kabankalan City, E.B. Magalona, Calatrava, and Hinoba-an in Negros Occidental, he said.Bacolod City has also submitted its list of affected farmers and workers for inclusion in the program.As of Aug. 28, the agency has already released ₱280.8 million to 27,304 beneficiaries in the Negros Island.Small farmers in Negros Occidental have received  ₱10,325 ea...