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There were 640 POSO and BTAO workers tested for drugs*Forty six job order (JO) workers and regular employees of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) and the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) have tested positive for the use of illegal drugs.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Tuesday, August 1, that the JO workers who tested positive will be immediately terminated and subjected to drug rehabilitation.The regular employees will be suspended and a process will be followed before termination.There were 640 POSO and BTAO workers tested since the weekend and 6 percent were found positive, retired general Primitivo Tabujara, POSO head, said.The results showed 29 BTAO workers and 17 from the POSO positive for the use of illegal drugs, he said.The test...

The Victorias City Education Sector Mechanism (ESM), a collaboration project between the Victorias City government, the City Schools Division Office, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and RTI International was launched on Tuesday, August 1.ESM augments the partnership between SDO and the LGU. It specifically aims to integrate efforts in addressing basic education issues with a focus on early-grade learners, a press release from Victorias City said.Following its launch, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez signed Executive Order No. 50 or an order creating the technical working group and secretariat for the Education Sector Mechanism (ESM) in the city between the Victorias LGU and USAID Philippines.USAID Philippines Educational Office director Dr. Thom...

Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. and his brother former Gov. Pryde Henry Teves (right)*The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr., his brother former Gov. Pryde Henry Teves and 11 others as terrorists, citing the massacre of former Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others on March 4 and other political killings.ATC Resolution No. 43 dated July 26 marked Teves as the alleged leader of his armed “terrorist group”.“The numerous killings and harassments in Negros Oriental which culminated in the assassination of Gov. Degamo must not be taken as isolated and random incidents of violence,” the resolution said.The 11 others included on the list are Marvin H. Miranda, Rogelio C. Antipolo, Rommel Pattaguan, Winrich B. Isturis, J...

A photo of the Flight Information Display System taken by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Wednesday night, July 26.*Cebu Pacific (CEB) apologized to Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for the handling of a delayed flight he took last week and said it would take measures to further improve its services.Benitez on Thursday, July 27, informed CEB about his disappointment and frustration over the airlines’ handling of its delayed flight that he took on Wednesday night, July 26.CEB Flight 5j471 was supposed to leave the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for the Bacolod-Silay Airport at 8:45 p.m., but departed almost three hours later at about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.The problem was there was poor information dissemination, uncooperative staff, airport monitors sho...

Charges for light threats and resistance and serious disobedience upon an agent of a person in authority have been filed against a Bacolod resident involved in a commotion that broke out at Purok Lampirong, Brgy 2, Bacolod City, where demolition work was underway on Friday, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said on Monday, July 31.The commotion broke out after a water pump in the area was hit by a backhoe angering residents.Prosecution Attorney Bina Danica Bumanglag of the Bacolod City Prosecution Office in an inquest resolution recommended that charges be filed against Junjun Zamora Meniao, 31, in court.The complaint against Meniao was filed by Rey Demisana, City Legal Office enforcement team head.Demisana, in a police blotter report, said while they were demolishin...

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District).*All pending redistricting bills in the House of Representatives are being consolidated before the hearing of the bill seeking the creation of a second congressional district for Bacolod City can be set, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said on Monday, July 31.Alvarez chairs the House Committee on Local Government tasked with hearing bills on redistricting.She said they also have to discuss the criteria on redistricting, which will require a lot of funds, with the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other agencies involved.Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya Gasataya filed House Bill 297 in July last year which seeks to create first and s...

The Kabankalan airport runway*Mayor Benjie Miranda launched the Kabankalan airport as a tourism and economic gateway during the charter day celebration of Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on Monday, July 31, but said it may take some time before it will be operational.There was an airshow with skydivers at the Kabankalan Airport on Monday, he said.There is a firm, whose name he withheld, that has expressed its intention to put up a flying school at the Kabankalan airport, Miranda also said.Miranda said in a meeting with representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) it was stated that more funds are needed for the completion of the Kabankalan airport.T...

A man was stabbed to death while another was found lifeless in two separate incidents in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, July 30, the police reported on Monday.Abner Valiente, 60, a pedicab driver from Brgy. 3, was allegedly stabbed to death by Jeffrey Mabilog, 43, in Small Tibucco, Brgy. 1, San Carlos City.The police said there was a heated argument between them when the suspect drew an improvised Ice pick and stabbed the victim several times on his chest.The victim was rushed to the San Carlos City Hospital where he was pronounced dead.A hot pursuit operation was conducted by the San Carlos police who arrested the suspect and recovered the improvised ice pick believed to be the weapon he used in the killing, the police said.The suspect is now under poli...

Police investigators process the crime scene in Barangay Malabugas, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, where a suspected gun-for-hire died after allegedly resisting arrest .*NORPPO photoAn alleged hired gun tagged in several Negros Oriental killings died in a police operation on Monday, July 31, in Barangay Malabugas in Bayawan City after he reportedly resisted arrest.Alex Manegos Mayagma, of Barangay Minaba, Bayawan City, died from a gunshot wound to the body after he allegedly fired at police and military operatives who were about to serve warrants for his arrest.“Mayagma was under close surveillance for more than a month now and is wanted by the law for his participation in several killings in Negros Oriental,” Col. Ronan Claravall, acting police provincial director, said.Cl...

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (4th from left) with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Visayas officers.*The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will present its Visayas Transmission Plan in Negros Occidental in August to address the call of business leaders to improve the power situation in the region.This was announced by the NGCP during the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Visayas Area Conference in Bohol on July 27 and 28 during its plenary on the power situation in the region, PCCI-Vice President for the Visayas Frank Carbon told DIGICAST NEGROS on Monday, July 31.Carbon said that the plan to discuss the transmission lines in the Visayas is necessary for Negros, which depends on its power supply from neighboring Cebu, Leyte, and Panay....