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The CPSU campus in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.* photo courtesy of CPSU president Aladino MoracaThe Negros Occidental provincial government has formally terminated its negotiations for the purchase of the 2-hectare property where the Central Philippine State University (CPSU) Moises Padilla campus is located, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz confirmed Friday, August 8.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in a July 28 letter informed Francisco Nazareno Jr., owner of the property, of the provincial government’s decision to terminate the purchase of the 20,000-square-meter property in Barangay 7 Poblacion. Moises Padilla, which had been appraised at P25 million.On the recommendation of the Provincial Legal Office and following a comprehensive review of the circumstances surro...

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. says Colmelec needs to focus on the BARMM polls.*photo courtesy of Presidential Photojournalists AssociationPresident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday, August 8, said he will sign the measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) .The president said this will allow the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to focus on the first-ever regular parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Philippine News Agency reported.Meanwhile, the Comelec registered 11,119 new voter applicants for the BSKE in the Negros Island Region (NIR) on Friday.That brought the total number of new registered voters in the NIR on Day 8 to 80,471, with more than half from Negros Occidental, NIR Regional Electio...

The League of Municipalities of the Philippines - Negros Occidental chapter officers take their oaths before Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.*Carla Cañet photoPulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña was re-elected president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines - Negros Occidental chapter at Luk Foo Palace in Bacolod City on Friday, August 8.The newly elected officers took their oaths before Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.The other elected officers are:• Vice President: Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco• Secretary General: Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara• Treasurer: Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso• Auditor: Hinoba-an Mayor Daph Anthony Reliquias• Public Information Officer: Murcia Mayor Gerry RojasThe members of the Board of Directors are:• Mayor Nehemiah dela Cruz...

Seven people, including three minors and a 9-month-old baby, were injured in a collision between a motorcycle and a tricycle along the national road in Sitio Kalasag, Brgy. Mansablay, Isabela, Negros Occidental, Thursday evening, Aug. 7.Police identified the motorcycle driver as Alenmar Lindayao, 20, who was traveling from Isabela proper to Brgy. Mansablay with his 18-year-old wife, Rudilyn Lecasio, and their infant daughter.The tricycle, coming from the opposite lane, was driven by 34-year-old Gene Mark Dela Torre, who was with 36-year-old teacher Rona Fuentes and her two minor children.Police Lt. Idelfonso Leonardo, Isabela deputy police chief , said the tricycle veered into the opposite lane and collided with Lindayao’s motorcycle.All victims were rushed to the Ignacio L...

The Mambukal food court*Tourists and visitors can now enjoy a variety of food and authentic Negrense delicacies with the opening of food concessionaires at the food court area of the provincial government–run Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia, Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Rayfando Diaz said Friday, August 8.The four concessionaires are Ikeas Seafood Restaurant, Mahens by Ramos Grille, Amigos Mambukal, and EL Grill of Enting's of Sagay City.Provincial Administrator Rayfrnado Diaz (left) led the opening of the food court*Diaz said the wide array of food are being sold at affordable prices.Diaz led the blessing of the food court area, along with the staff and personnel of the Provincial Government’s Economic Enterprise Development Department o...

Officials of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and Negros Occidental Coffee Council lead the opening of the three-day Negros Occidental Coffee Fiesta at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Friday.* Nanette L. Guadalquiver photoThe Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the creation of a coffee council in Negros Island Region (NIR) to strengthen the development of the coffee industry in the country’s newest administrative region.“I would like to encourage you or to consider creating the coffee council for NIR. We’re looking forward to see it happen. We have projects and programs lined up for that,” DAR-NIR Regional Director Albert Barrogo said in his message at the opening of the second edit...

A 32-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash after suffering from acute coronary syndrome in Brgy. Suay, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday night, Aug. 7.The victim, a resident of Brgy. Gargato, Hinigaran, was driving from Kabankalan City toward Hinigaran when he suddenly swerved to the right and crashed on to the shoulder of the road in Sitio Naga, Barangay Suay, at around 7:45 p.m., the police said.Emergency responders rushed him to the Governor Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital, where the attending physician declared him dead, citing acute coronary syndrome as the cause of death.*

The police arrested a high-value target and seized over P363,000 worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Boloc-Boloc, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, early Friday, Aug. 8.The suspect, known by the alias “Awing,” was caught in Purok 6 around 4:09 a.m. by operatives of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) and Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), Sibulan Municipal Police Station and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.Authorities confiscated approximately 53.5 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P363,800, along with a black pouch, a light green sling bag, a mobile phone, and the P1,000 marked money used in the sting.The suspect was informed of his rights in a dialect he understood and is now under poli...

The SGS Hardware and Simplicio Gamboa Sr. Foundation Inc. turnover of a two-classroom building to the Andres Bonifacio Elementary School in Bacolod City.*The Filipino-Chinese community has donated new school buildings and essential supplies to communities in Negros Occidental in an effort to address the shortage of school infrastructure and provide relief to victims of recent natural disasters.These initiatives were spearheaded by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) and its local chapters.Two new two-classroom school buildings were recently turned over to elementary schools in Bacolod City.The donations were part of the FFCCCII's long-running "Operation Barrio School" project, which has now provided over 6,838 school buildin...

The police arrested the 8th most wanted person in the Negros Island Region in Purok Kahirup B., Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, on Thursday evening, Aug. 7.The suspect identified as 29-year-old John Whel Gordoncillo, a hardware helper from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, was apprehended around 6:40 p.m., the police said.Gordoncillo was wanted for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Chloe Hope B. Trinidad-Abastillas of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 in Dumaguete City on March 6, for service of sentence.Police records showed the suspect was previously arrested in a buy-bust operation in Dumaguete City and was released on probation.His probation was later revoked, prompting the court to order his arrest...