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Jul272023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Sanctions will be imposed on mills that defy Sept. 1 start of milling: SRA

Acting SRA administrator Pablo Azcona (right) and Sugar Board Member Dave Sanson representing the planters at a press conference Thursday.*The Sugar Regulatory Administration is sticking to its decision to start the milling season on September 1 to ensure higher sugar yield and revenues for the farmers, SRA Acting Administrator Pablo Azcona said Thursday, July 27.“I’m pleading to the mills to respect the September 1 date”, sanctions will be imposed on those that defy the SRA advisory, it will not be tolerated, Azcona said at a press conference at the SRA office in Bacolod.He pointed out that only one sugar mill has requested to start milling in August.“Delaying the mill reopening to September 1 was based on 2 premises - higher yield in terms of KG/TC and correspondingly, i...

Jul272023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

NFSP asking SRA for mid-August milling

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“Hectares of standing canes, which were planted earlier than usual because of the early milling last year, are due for harvest in August,” Enrique Rojas said.*Nic Ledesma photoCiting the sugarcane farmers’ need for income after several months of lack of income from their farms, the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters relayed the appeal of majority of its member-planters to the Sugar Regulatory Administration to jumpstart the milling season in mid-August.“We wish to bring to your attention the clamor and appeal of most of the member-planters of our federation to reconsider starting the milling operations by mid-August 2023,” stated NFSP President Enrique D. Rojas in his letter sent to SRA Administrator Pablo Luis S. Azcona Wednesday, July 26Among the reasons highlighted by...

Jul272023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

‘Egay’ affects 51,136 Negrenses, three drown, fisherman missing

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A house destroyed in Sagay City.*Sagay PIO photoFlooding brought on by Typhoon “Egay” affected 51, 136 residents in 17 local government units in Negros Occidental, and 668 houses were damaged and destroyed as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) reported.“Egay” slightly weakened as it accelerated northwestward over the waters of Luzon Strait late Wednesday and is expected to exit the Philippines on Thursday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.Three persons drowned in Bacolod City, Hinigaran and Murcia on Tuesday and Wednesday amid foul weather, while a fisherman was reported missing in the waters off Lakawon Island in Cadiz City.The body of construction worker Victor Mahilum Moreno Jr., 32, of Barangay Mansilingan was foun...

Jul262023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Placing of two Bacolod brgys under state of calamity eyed

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The Bacolod police helping evacuate residents at the height of the flooding.*BCPO photoPlacing two Bacolod barangays affected by flooding brought on by Typhoon “Egay” under a state of calamity is being studied, Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head, said Wednesday, July 26.Barangays 39 and Singcang Airport were among the worst hit by the flooding, she said.If 15 percent of the total population of a barangay was affected, a state of calamity can be declared, so they are still validating the numbers, she said.There were 1,351 families with 4,638 members affected by the flooding in 18 Bacolod barangays, the DRRMO reported at 6 p.m. Wednesday.There were also 28 damaged and destroyed houses reported in three barangays that were sti...

Jul262023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Add’l tax on sugar won’t happen under my watch, Zubiri assures

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Taxing sugar will affect the masses, Zubiri says.*Nic Ledesma photoSenate President Juan Miguel Zubiri assured on Wednesday, July 26, that he will not agree to any additional tax on sugar.“We should stop taxing our people whether it’s for sugar or for salt because the masses will be the ones affected by it,” he said.Under his watch any push for additional tax on sugar will face difficulty in the Senate and will never happen, he said.On fears of a possible drop in millgate prices of sugar with additional imports, Zubiri said with Paul Azcona as acting administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, he will make sure that importation is done only when it is ultimately needed.Zubiri also pointed out that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said government will no longer t...

Jul262023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Zubiri hopeful on NIR law okay before end of 2023

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Zubiri said he will also support the move to create a second Bacolod congressional district.*Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Wednesday, July 26, that hopefully there will be a law creating the Negros Island Region (NIR) before the end of the year.Zubiri said he expects the Senate to approve the bill seeking the creation of the NIR, composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, before the end of September or before their October break.He will speak to Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government, about preparing the committee report on the NIR for submission to the plenary, Zubiri said.Zubiri said he does not expect any opposition to the NIR in the Senate.The House of Representatives version of the bill ha...

Jul262023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Interior design licensure exam fifth placer from Bacolod, too

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Sherly Rose Maquiling Abalajen*Another Bacoleña is also among the Top 10 in the July 2023 Interior Design Licensure Examination.Sherly Rose Maquiling Abalajen, a graduate of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo, was the 5th placer with a rating of 84.95 percent.She is a friend of 4th placer Lois Baldonado Bernardino of La Consolacion College-Bacolod.Abalajen , 25, studied architecture at LCC Bacolod for a few years before she shifted to Interior design. She then transferred to the University of San Agustin Iloilo and finished the remaining two years of her studies there.She has three sisters and is the youngest child of Antonio and Hylin Abalajen of Villa Angela Subdivision in Bacolod City.“Even as a student she would make small handmade home decor items like coa...

Jul262023 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

BCPO conducts feeding drive

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The Bacolod City Police Office conducted a feeding program for residents who were affected by the heavy rainfall and flooding brought on by Typhoon “Egay” in Bacolod on Wednesday, July 26.The program called “B-Feed Program” of the BCPO aims to give hot meals to the residents using police mobile vehicles.The program is being implemented in select evacuation centers in Bacolod, a BCPO press release said.“B-FEED” is one of BCPO’s Best Practices to ensure police connection with the community, it said.Team BCPO devised the program as a tool to reach the hungry and disadvantaged and foster meaningful interaction with Bacoleños, it added.*

Jul262023 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

DENR official to check on BACIWA’s water

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The opening of the 37th Philippine Chemistry Congress at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City Wednesday morning, July 26.*Richard Malihan photoA Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) official vowed to check on the alleged murky water supply of the Bacolod City Water District.DENR Undersecretary for Integrated Science Carlos Primo David said that he will visit the water district to check on its supply, at a press conference during the 37th Philippine Chemistry Congress at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City, on Wednesday, July 26.There have been reports circulating on social media that some Bacolod residents have been complaining about the murky water supply described to be like the color coffee.David, who is also the head of the DENR Water Resour...

Jul262023 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negros gets assistance in fight vs. ASF, increasing rice yield

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Negros Occidental has been named a pilot area for the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES) of the Department of Agriculture.Officials of the DA Agricultural Training Institute turned over a P1.2 million check to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson for the training of Negrense farmers and fisherfolk at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday, July 26.Vianney Ojerio, ATI Partnerships and Accreditation Section chief, said PAFES aims to bring extension services to the grassroots level.“We are providing financial assistance that will be used in implementing the proposed plans of the province regarding agriculture and fisheries,” he said, adding that Neg. Occ. chose rice and livestock as priority commodities of the program.The program is also created i...