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Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” J. Valderrama Jr., Confed national president*The Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (CONFED) lauded the eleven solons who authored the House of Representatives resolution expressing strong opposition to the Department of Finance’s proposal to liberalize sugar importation because of its negative impact on the sugar industry.“The officers and members of Confed thank the eleven representatives who filed House Resolution No. 1199 for taking up the cudgels for the sugar industry. While we recognize government’s need to raise more revenues, it should not be done in a way that will be disadvantageous to sugar producers,” said Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” J. Valderrama Jr., Confed national president, in a press release Thursday, August 17.“Liberalization o...

A high-value target who was previously arrested for illegal drug pushing was nabbed again in a buy-bust operation where the police seized P176,800 worth of suspected shabu in Brgy. Banilad, Bacong town, Negros Oriental, Wednesday evening, August 16.Arrested was Jaymar Viola Tanduyan, alias “Botchok”, of Purok 4, Brgy. Banilad, Bacong, the police said.The police said they seized 26 grams of alleged shabu with an estimated value of P176,800.The police said the suspect was formerly arrested for alleged illegal drug possession in 2019 by the Dumaguete City Police Station and availed of a Plea-Bargaining Agreement before the court.However, the suspect was caught again for possession and selling of illegal drugs to a police poseur-buyer on Wednesday.The suspect was immediatel...

A laborer died in a mauling incident in Purok Matinumanon, Brgy. Galicia, Ilog, Negros Occidental, early Wednesday morning, August 16.Govanie Felicidario, 53, from Brgy. Galicia died after allegedly being punched by Jose Warren Cordova.Cordova punched the victim’s lower jaw and knocked him down causing him to fall on the concrete road.The victim felt dizzy afterward and his family brought him to the hospital.While on their way to the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City the victim lost consciousness and upon arriving at the hospital was declared dead, the police said.The suspect surrendered to the barangay officials of Brgy. Galicia and was turned over to Ilog Police Station.*

The Negros Occidental provincial government has purchased 74,000 doses of hog cholera vaccines, and 12,000 will initially be released in the 6th District of Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Wednesday, August 16.The vaccines, free range chickens, livestock and feeds will be released for the 6th District at rites in Dancalan, Ilog, Thursday, August 17, he said.To be distributed to farmers in the 6th District are cattle, carabaos, goats and feeds under the Negros Occidental Typhoon Odette Livestock and Poultry Rehabilitation Program.Free range chickens will also be given to swine raisers whose pigs died due to hog cholera, African swine fever and other diseases, he said.The 74,000 doses of hog cholera vaccines purchased by the provincial gover...

The missing dog with a gunshot wound*An animal rights group is seeking the help of the public in their search for a missing stray dog with a gunshot woundMembers of the Bacolod Hope for Strays have been searching for the stray dog spotted with a gunshot wound at Megaworld’s The Upper East a week ago.Ednalyn Almencion, founding member of Bacolod Hope for Strays, said on Wednesday, August 16, that a biker asked them to rescue the wounded dog but they have not found it.Almencion said they have been searching for the dog all over, including under parked cars.Ednalyn Almencion, founding member of Bacolod Hope for Strays, searching for the missing dog*"We're hoping to rescue the canine and bring him to a vet for needed treatment. We can find fur parents who will adopt the...

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the designation of the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation (BYF) as the overall organizer of the 2023 MassKara Festival in October during its regular session on Wednesday, August 16.“We asked the foundation to report to the SP on its planned activities prior to the festival”, Councilor Al Victor Espino said.The SP also asked the foundation to submit a report after the festival, he said.The new president of the foundation is Katherine A. Matiling.The other foundation officials are Kuster Y. Cadagat – secretary, Jericho A. Redil – treasurer and Patrick S. Lacson, Ma. Lourdes Socorro V. Montalvo and Rodney Mitz B. Ascalon – directors.*

Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s average residential rate for August has gone down by P0.2917 per kilowatt hour, CENECO Acting General Manager Arnel Lapore said Wednesday, August 16.The rate for August is P11.3016/kWh from last month’s rate of P11.5933/kWh, he said.He attributed this to a drop in generation charges by 3.60 percent as compared to the previous month because of a decrease in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market price from P7.7711/kWh to P6.4982/kWh or a downward adjustment of P1.2729/kWh.He also cited a decrease in other pass-through charges such as ICCS Adjustment and Valued Added Tax.*

Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District) was expelled from the House of Representatives by a vote of 265-0-3 on Wednesday, August 16.Teves, who has been tagged as a terrorist and the mastermind behind the death of former Gov. Roel Degamo, has refused to return to the country.The House of Representatives in a historic move adopted the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges calling for the expulsion of Teves.The committee cited Teves pursuit of asylum in Timor-Leste, continued absence without leave from the House, and "indecent behavior" on social media.Teves was expelled for “for disorderly behavior and for violation of the Code of Conduct of the House of Representatives".The members from the Makabayan bloc abstained from vo...

The Negros Occidental representatives have united with other lawmakers in opposing the proposed sugar import liberalization.*Negros Island representatives, along with lawmakers from other sugar producing provinces, have united to strongly oppose Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s proposal to allow the liberalization of sugar importation.Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) led his colleagues in filing House Resolution No. 1199 on Tuesday, August 15, expressing strong opposition to Diokno’s recent statement that food and beverage manufacturers would be allowed to directly import sugar as part of the Department of Finance’s plan to increase the tax rate of sugar-sweetened beverages.Benitez sad he fears that liberalizing sugar importation, without adequate su...

Tony Lazaga was a teacher at the Binalbagan Catholic College*It was a cruel death.That was how the police described the killing of a teacher who was found lifeless with about 16 stab wounds on his body on a street in Brgy. San Pedro, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, early Wednesday morning, August. 16.Tony Lazaga, 51, a teacher at the Binalbagan Catholic College was found dead by a tricycle driver along Dumas Street.PCapt. Glen Portunes, Binalbagan deputy police chief, told DIGICAST NEGROS that there was cruelty involved because the victim sustained 16 stab wounds.The victim’s phone was missing and they are looking at a holdup as one of the motives for the killing, Portunes said.Lazaga is a resident of Brgy. 35, Bacolod City, and was temporarily residing in Brgy. San ...