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The CENECO rate for September.*The Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) power rates have slightly decreased in September.CENECO announced a P0.22 per kilowatt-hour decrease in its electricity rates for September.Its September rate is P11.0767/kWh from P11.3016/kWh in August, a CENECO press release said Friday, September 15.NOCECO also announced a P.0542 per kWh drop in its rates for September .The NOCECO September rate is P11.5621 from P11.6163 in August, the cooperative announced.CENECO attributed the drop in its rates to the generation charge that decreased by 3.60 percent due to a lower Wholesale Electric Spot Market (WESM) price.CENECO also noted a decrease in Palm Concepcion Power Corporation’s fue...

The drug testing at the La Carlota City gym on Thursday.*MyLa Carlota FB page photoFour employees of the La Carlota City government tested positive for drug use on Thursday.However, three of the four tested negative when subjected to confirmatory tests at accredited Department of Health laboratories on Friday, September 15, Mayor Rex Jalando-on said.The four were among 674 permanent, contract of employment, and casual plantilla employees of the La Carlota City government who underwent surprise drug tests at the city gymnasium on Thursday.Jalando-on said the employee who tested positive again will be have to undergo rehabilitation.If the employee refuses to undergo rehabilitation it will be grounds for administrative sanctions and possible dismissal, he said.Drug tes...

The Bacolod City government has started releasing financial assistance to hog raisers in the city affected by the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).There are 269 Bacolod hog raisers who lost their pigs to ASF who have been identified as recipients, city public information officer Carmela Gamboa said.She said the hogs raisers will receive P7,000 per breeder head, P5,000 per fattening head and P3,000 per piglet.The first batch of recipients are seven hog raisers for three breeder heads, 10 fattening heads and 31 piglets, Gamboa said.*

The 23rd Negros Occidental Tourism Week with a focus on sustainable and green investments as the provincial government positions Negros as a green island opens at Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Saturday, September 16.Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena said this year’s provincial Tourism Week theme is “Tourism and Green Investments”, which focuses on sustainability while showcasing “green” components in all the activities of the event that runs until September 23.She said that they will be adhering to the provincial executive order that bans single-use plastics during the weeklong celebration to be participated in by all local government units of Negros Occidental.The Provincial Tourism Office has partnered with the Provincial Environment and Management Off...

An unidentified man was found dead in Hacienda Otilla, Brgy. Efigenio Lizares in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, September 15.The unidentified man who was about 60 years old and 5 feet and 3 inches tall was wearing a black jacket, maong pants and black shoes, the police said.The victim was found by a farmer lying on his belly with bended knees and had an injury on his forehead.PMaj. Wilfred Benoman Jr., Talisay City deputy police chief, said residents in the area disclosed that the victim was mentally challenged and was usually seen walking alone and talking to himself.The police are calling on individuals who know the victim to help in his identification.*

A land conflict and personal grudges are being eyed as the possible motives for the shooting and hacking of two Negrenses in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, September 14.Capt. Joelan Vinson, Kabankalan deputy police chief, said killed were Ranel Letigio of Brgy. Hilamonan, and Alejandro Blanco of Brgy. Pinaguinpinan in Kabankalan City.Letigio, a farmer from Sitio Dangalon, Brgy. Hilamonan, was shot to death by three individuals, two of whom were still unidentified due to an alleged land conflict, the police said.Letigio was killed in a rice field.Meanwhile, siblings Alejandro, 61, and Bella Blanco, 53, from Purok Asoc, Brgy. Pinaginpinan, were hacked by three of their relatives, Thursday night.The victims’ cousin Raffy, brother Rene, and their nephew Ja...

The Bacolod City government will resume its distribution of free rice to registered Bacolod residents on Saturday, September 16.Those who were unable to claim their 2 kilos of rice last weekend will be entitled to their share at distribution centers at public schools in their areas, the city government announced on its Facebook page.The distribution will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday only.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez ordered the rice distribution after rains and floods brought on by Typhoon Goring hit Bacolod City.The city is currently under a state of calamity.The city government is also continuing to distribute its P1,000 one-time subsidy to tricycle drivers who have complied with requirements, city public information officer Carmela Gamboa said.*

The setting up of the carnival rides behind the Bacolod City Government Center has temporarily been stopped until its operator is granted a permit by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Bacolod City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said Thursday, September 14.Maghari said a coordination meeting was held with the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation, other city department heads and police and it was pointed out that the carnival work cannot start until its operator complies with all the city requirements.“No permits, no set up and operation”, he said.Gambling will also not be allowed at the carnival, he said.The carnival operator started installation work behind the BCGC last week.Bubot Sequiza, operator of the carnival, said they are used to setting up the carnival rides ahead of the Mas...

Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria*The non-accountable forms for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) have arrived at the Commission on Elections Negros Occidental office, Provincial Elections Supervisor, Ian Lee Ananoria said Thursday, September 14.The non-accountable forms, such as envelopes, folders, pens, thumbprint mats, will be delivered to the Comelec officers in the towns and cities of Negros Occidental, he said.The accountable forms, such as the ballots, will be delivered closer to the October 30 polls to avoid security risks, Ananoria said.The Comelec will start the training of the teachers who will serve as electoral board members next week until the third week of October, he added.There will be 37,461 teachers in Negros Occiden...

The man who was found dead in a vacant lot near the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City on Wednesday, September 13, was a farm worker from La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, the police said Thursday.The victim was identified as Marlon Illustrisimo, 32, from Brgy. Cubay, La Carlota City, Capt. Paul Vincent Pendon, Bacolod Police Station 2 chief, said.The victim was identified by his parents, he said.Pendon said that the victim, who was hogtied with his head wrapped in plastic, had more than five stab wounds on his body.The family refused to have a post-mortem examination of the body, Pendon said.An investigation is still ongoing for the arrest of the suspect, he added.*