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Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres buses, announced on Thursday, March 19, that it has called off its implementation of fare increases across all its routes nationwide. The VTI announcement came a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of fare hikes, “In my opinion, because we still have problems due to the war in the Middle East, I said maybe this is not the time to raise fares for our countrymen,” Marcos said. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had initially granted a provisional fare hike for provincial public utility buses effective March 14. VTI said that, in compliance with the president’s directive, it will operate at the “previous fare rates, with no increases implemented.” Jade Marquez, VTI Media Relations Officer,...

Protestors in Bacolod are calling for the removal of tax on fuel.* Richard Caballero Jr. photoA leader of a transport group that staged a protest in Bacolod City on Thursday, March 19, said they agree with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to suspend a planned fare hike because it would be insufficient to address the crippling effects of rising fuel costs. Rodulfo Gardoce Jr., chairperson of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center-Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (UNDOC-PISTON), said a measly fare hike of P1 to P2 would not provide a long-term solution. They are instead calling on the president to immediately suspend the excise tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel to bring down pump prices, he said. UNDOC-PISTON staged a protest in front of the no...

The Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (CONFED) is strongly opposing a substitute Senate Bill proposing another amendment to the Biofuels Act of 2006.  The amendment will “allow the importation of biofuel components such as bioethanol and biodiesel regardless of the supply level of locally produced biofuel components, if the price of blended gasoline and/or diesel engine fuels is higher by at least 5 percent compared to pure gasoline and/or diesel engine fuels”, a press release from CONFED said Thursday, March 19.   The approval of the amendment will cause additional damage to the Sugar Industry, which at present is suffering from the effects of low millgate prices, CONFED President Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama said in letter Wednesday, March 18, to Senate President Vicente Sot...

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and NACUSIP President Roland C. de la Cruz (l-r) during a recent meeting in Congress.*The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines–Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (NACUSIP-TUCP) on Thursday, March 19, said it stands firmly with Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) in denouncing the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for its “campaign of misinformation and baseless blame-shifting.”Benitez on Wednesday, March 18, denied claims circulating online that a congressional hearing triggered the decline in sugar prices, saying the market downturn was caused by oversupply and policy decisions, not legislative oversight.He described the allegations as baseless and irresponsible, noting that th...

A 28-year-old truck driver died after jumping off a truck that reportedly lost its brakes in Sitio Yamingon, Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, March 18.The police said the victim was driving an Isuzu truck loaded with sugarcane when the brakes malfunctioned, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.The driver jumped off but hit his head on a stone, resulting in a fatal injury, the police said.The victim was brought to the Calatrava Health Center where he was declared dead.*

Former rebels applying for amnesty*More than 900 former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its breakaway group Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) from Western Visayas and Negros Occidental applied for amnesty, the military reported Thursday, March 19. Capt. Jessie Jun Ebalan, head of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) Public Affairs Office, said the most applicants in their jurisdiction were processed through the Local Amnesty Board Bacolod (LAB Bacolod). He said their consolidated data showed that of the 598 applicants from LAB Bacolod, 294 were former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF. Additionally, 281 former CPP-NPA-NDF members and 38 former RPA-ABB members applied throug...

The police arrested three persons, including a high-value individual, and seized about P340,000 worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, Tuesday, March 17. The suspects were identified as alias “Boy,” 42, tagged as a high-value individual, alias “Kim,” 33, and alias “Mar,” 34. Operatives of Police Station 8 conducted the operation at Purok Hollow Blocks at around 11:23 p.m. following reports that the main suspect was engaged in illegal drug activities. The operation resulted in the confiscation of about 50 grams of suspected shabu, the police said. Police also recovered buy-bust money, a cellular phone, coin purses, a motorcycle, and cash believed to be proceeds of illegal drug sales. The suspects were informed of their rights and are now un...

The Land Transportation Office–Negros Island Region has issued a show cause order to a driver involved in a fatal road incident in Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City, recently.Authorities said the driver, a resident of Ilog, Negros Occidental, was involved in an incident where his vehicle struck an 83-year-old pedestrian.The victim was brought to the Bacolod General Hospital but was declared dead.LTO-NIR personnel, along with its Intelligence and Investigation Unit, served the order and explained its contents to the respondent.The respondent has already submitted a verified explanation.The agency said the case is now under review in accordance with existing rules and regulations.*

The police arrested a suspected hold-upper and gun-for-hire in Bacolod City on Wednesday, March 18.The suspect, identified as alias “Pocholo,” was apprehended by Police Station 3 and Bacolod City Police Office Intelligence Unit operatives.Authorities said the suspect was allegedly involved in a series of robbery incidents in the city, where he would meet victims through online chats before declaring a hold-up using a firearm.Police also linked the suspect to a recent shooting incident within the area of Police Station 3.The arrest was carried out by virtue of a standing warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) issued by a Bacolod court following the revocation of his probation.  The suspect is now under police cust...

A 37-year-old man was found dead in a sugarcane field in Sitio Yungho, Brgy. Poblacion 1, Sagay City, on Wednesday night, March 18. Police said the victim, a store helper and resident of the area, was discovered lying lifeless beside the road with blood coming from his mouth. The victim was rushed to Alfredo Marañon Sr. Memorial District Hospital where he was declared dead. The Sagay City police said there were no signs of foul play or struggle. Authorities said the victim was suffering from tuberculosis and had refused medical treatment.*