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Col. Michael Samson, 303rd IB acting commander*The new commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade said the Army will encourage Communist rebels in Negros to give peace a chance through local dialogs.Col. Michael Samson, 303rd IB acting commander, said on Thursday, January 5, that they believe there is a vacuum in the Communist Party of the Philippines leadership with the death of Jose Maria Sison and they will take advantage of the situation.They are calling for local dialogs because the issues at hand are local, Samson said, pointing out that they have been informed that a lot of the rebels want to return to folds of the law.They hope to solve the insurgency problem through peaceful means, he said.However, “for those who insist on using violence, there is no other option ...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has dismissed three engineers and a project development assistant (PDA) of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist from the service for grave misconduct.Dismissed were engineers Ramelo Letran, German Abihay and Rezin Palacios, and PDA Maria Luisa Abaño.The 12-page decision recommended by Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. was approved by Lacson on Tuesday, January 3.“The respondents having been found guilty of grave misconduct based on substantial evidence on record are hereby dismissed from service. It is further ordered that the respondents' dismissal from the service shall carry with it the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, bar from taking civil...

Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr., Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III (l-r) react to dismissal of case*Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr., former Sugar Board member and now national president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED), called the dismissal of the case lodged against him and other former members of the Sugar Board a vindication, which was nothing short of a miracle.The Office of the President (OP) has dismissed the case for grave misconduct, grave dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service lodged against Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio S. Sebastian, Administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and board members Roland B. Beltran ...

The Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Division was named champion of the provincial government’s Local Search for the Best Office/Hospital compliant with RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.The Provincial Information Office (PIO) Division bagged first place, Valladolid District Hospital - second place, and Provincial Assessor’s Office - third place, a Capitol press release said..Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz and Provincial Environment Management head Julie Ann Bedrio led the awarding ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall on Wednesday, January 4.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson lauded the SWM programs and initiatives of the Capitol offices and hospitals that contribute to sustainable environmental management and conservation under the Aba...

The buy-bust operation in Purok Magti-ayon, Brgy 10, Bacolod City.*The police seized close to P150,000 in suspected shabu in two buy-bust operations in Bacolod City and Silay City on Wednesday, January 4.Police Station 2 operatives nabbed Rodolfo Gomez Vego Jr., alias Boy Masoy, 44, in a buy-bust operation in Purok Magti-ayon, Brgy 10, Bacolod City.Seized from him was 15 grams of suspected shabu valued at P102,000, and the P500 buy bust money, the police said.A body worn camera and alternative recording device were used during operation, the police said.Emmanuel Sirad Junsay, 25, was also arrested in a police buy-bust operation at Buena Vista Subdivision Phase 1 in Brgy Guinhalaran, Silay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday.Seized from him were 7 grams of suspecte...

There are penalties for violating traffic rules in Bacolod, the city government warned Thursday, January 5.The one way traffic scheme along Aguinaldo, Gatuslao and some sections of Lacson streets remain, along with the Circumferential Road truck ban at certain hours, a post on the Bacolod City Facebook page said.The fine set under City Ordinance No. 62, Series of 1989 for obstruction is P100, ignoring traffic signs - P100 and reckless driving/driving which endangers life and/or property- P100.The fines for violation of the truck ban under City Ordinance No. 542, Series of 2011 are: first offense - P1,000, second offense - P3,000 and third offense - P5,000, without prejudice to the filing of a criminal charge in court against the driver.There is a complete truck ban along th...

Zeaphard Caelian, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head*The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has identified 317 flood and landslide pone barangays in Negros Occidental, Zeaphard Caelian, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head, said Wednesday, January 4.The flooding risk of 56 barangays is very high and high for 126 others, while the landslide risk of 20 areas is very high and high for 115, the MGB said.Caelian said the Negros Occidental provincial government has activated its “Oplan for: Listo sa Pag-ulan” in preparation for any eventuality caused by low pressure area-induced rains.It has been raining for five days in Negros, which could cause flooding and landslides, he said.The plan provides guidelines for local government units on how t...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson delivering his New Year's message on Wednesday.*There are already three investors interested in the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project, which bidding is set in July, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, January 4.The bulk water project that will be undertaken through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) will include Bacolod City, he said.Private investors will not invest if Bacolod is not included because they want to ensure that they make a profit, the governor said.Lacson, who outlined his targets for 2023, said the provincial government will also push forward the development of the bamboo industry for its Safe Water Project.Several local government units have shown serious intent to be the bamboo capital of the pr...