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The Department of Public Works and Highway aims to start the detailed engineering design activities for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges in June.The engineering services of the 32.47-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges is covered by $56.6 million in loans from the government of the Republic of Korea, the DPWH announced during the weekend.The scope of engineering services are preliminary design covering review of the feasibility study and preliminary and basic design; detailed engineering design including estimation of detailed construction cost; and procurement assistance, it said.Composed of two-sea-crossing bridges connecting Panay Island, Guimaras Island and Negros Island in Western Visayas, the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project will shorten tra...

A 42-year-old man who reportedly went home drunk Friday evening was found dead at Sitio Lawagon, Brgy. Dian-ay, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, Saturday morning, May 13.The victim was identified as Epineto Mañego Palacios.The victim was found dead with a head injury, approximately 500 meters from his house, the police said.His forehead appeared to have been hit with a hard object, PMaj. John Ganzon, Escalante police chief, said.Ganzon said they are investigating if he was deliberately hit with a hard object by someone or accidentally tripped on his way home.*

The National Bureau of Investigation’s parallel investigation indicates that the motive for the killing of a call center agent, who was an organizer of the BPO Industry Employees’ Network, was robbery, NBI Bacolod chief Renoir Baldovino said Friday, May 12.Alex Dolorosa, 35, was found dead with 15 stab wounds at Purok Villa Rosario, Barangay Alijis, on April 24. His killing has been condemned by various groups, including the United States State Department.The United States joins the Philippine government in condemning the brutal murder of Dolorosa, a trade union leader and LGBTQI+ activist in the Philippines, a US Department of State statement issued on April 30 said.Baldovino said their investigation indicates that the killing of Dolorosa is not the work of hired killers or st...

The police discovered a marijuana plantation during a buy bust operation in Hacienda Lonoy, Brgy. Hawaiian, Silay City, Negros Occidental, at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 11.Nabbed was Leo Abellar Capablabca, 52, who sold suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer for P3,000.The police also seized two plastic containers containing suspected dried marijuana, four stems of marijuana plants, and two potted fully grown and 52 newly grown marijuana plants.Estimated weight of the seized suspected shabu was 7 grams worth P47,600 and 2,000 grams of marijuana worth P240,000, the police said.Capablabca, who is detained at the Silay Police Station, will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.*

The Bacolod City Water District-PrimeWater may have to ration water in four Bacolod barangays that are considered critical areas during the summer months.Its general manager Mona Dia Jardin admitted the lack of water during the hot summer months.The four critical areas are barangays Mansilingan, Handumanan, Felisa and Alijis.Jardin said the water utility is ready to ration water depending on the needs of the residents.*

The protest at the LTFRB regional office in Iloilo Thursday.*The assurance by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Region 6 that it will expedite the issuance of provisional authorities (PAs) to allow traditional jeepneys to continue operating in Bacolod City until December 31 is a temporary victory, Noli Rosales of the United Negros Drivers Operator Center (UNDOC) said Friday, May 12.He said their group staged a protest in front of the LTFRB regional office in Iloilo on Thursday where they aired their opposition to the phase out of traditional jeepneys.LTFRB 6 lawyer Salvador Altura informed them that they can avail of PAs without having to get the endorsement of the local government since it is a national mandate, he said.However, they will...

Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda with the Sitio Dangalon evacuees*The Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers seized two high-powered firearms and several war materials in an encounter with members of the New People’s Army in Sitio Dangalon, Barangay Hilamonan in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, 6:20 p.m. Thursday, May 11.The Kabankalan City government evacuated 62 families with 232 members from Sitio Dangalon to ensure their safety, Mayor Benjie Miranda said Friday.The encounter took place while troops were responding to reports from the local populace on the presence of at least 15 armed NPA members in the area extorting medicines for their wounded comrades, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division said in a press statement Friday.The firefight which lasted for about 20 minutes...

The remains of Liezel Demerin St. Jean bring brought out of her house.*Nico Delfin photoA Canadian national, who stabbed his wife in the chest with a kitchen knife causing her instantaneous death, also died after committing suicide in Bacolod City, Friday morning, May 12.Liezel Demerin St. Jean, 50, a call center agent, was killed at their house at Villa Mikaela Subdivision at Barangay Singcang-Airport, at 6:30 a.m., PCapt. Glenn Montaño, Police Station 8 OIC chief, said.Her husband, Ronald James St. Jean, 55, who stabbed himself on the chest and slashed his wrist after killing his wife died at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod at 10:30 a.m., Montaño, said.The couple had a heated argument over their finances prior to the stabbing incident....

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) and suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (right).*President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has advised embattled Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District) to return home after the rejection of his political asylum bid in Timor-Leste."Come home. That’s the best advice I can give him. Come home," Marcos said in a media interview Thursday, May 11.Teves' failed attempt to seek asylum was discussed during Marcos' bilateral meeting with Timor-Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak on the sidelines of the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, Thursday.Marcos said Ruak had told him that Teves could still challenge Timor-Leste's decision not to grant political asylum to the ...

The decision on whether Central Negros Electric Cooperative should enter into a joint venture agreement with Ignite Power and Energy Holdings Inc. (MORE Power) lies in the hands of its members-consumers, former CENECO president Roy Cordova said Friday, May 12.A referendum will have to be conducted for the purpose, he said. Roel Castro, More Power president and chief executive officer, said on Tuesday that a referendum is expected to be held sometime in June or July.CENECO serves the needs of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay and Bago cities, and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.The JVA between Ignite and CENECO is one of the best options for the electric distribution utility to meet present demands and challenges, Cordova said.CENECO will become a robust distri...