Top Stories

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson*Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday, July 19, assured Negros Occidental provincial government employees that all the benefits due them will be given even without their asking.“In fact we granted benefits that were for the government employees, we never failed, we did not need the union to remind us,” Lacson said.“We always look after the welfare of all government employees whether they are union members or not,” he added.The governor said the alleged conflict between Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz and Renelo Lastierre, Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees president, over the discovery of two bullets at the Food Terminal Market of Negros “maybe only a perception”.It will in no way affect the employees’ benefits, he said.Lastie...

The daily pig deaths from various diseases in Negros Occidental have dropped from triple to double digits, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, July 19.Negros Occidental is still following biosecurity protocols and he hopes the number of daily deaths will further drop, Lacson said.Lacson said he has also been constantly reminding Capitol personnel to hasten the release of the cash assistance to the hog raisers affected.The pig deaths from Africa Swine Fever, hog cholera and other diseases in Negros Occidental were at 17,334 with total losses of P195,596, 575 on Wednesday, the Provincial Animal Biosecurity Incident Management Team reported.This has affected 4,029 hog raisers in 153 barangays in 20 local government units in Negros Occidental, it said.*

The Senate hearings on the divorce bill have ended and the committee report is being prepared for signature, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday, July 18.Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, is pushing to the passage of Senate Bill 147 or the Dissolution of Marriage Act.“I am hopeful that the Senate will be open to it,” she said during a visit to Bacolod City.The divorce bill will enable the dissolution of marriage in a shorter period and would be less costly, as long as a certain criteria is met, she said.The law on legal separation and annulment that is a lengthy process does not allow remarrying, she said.The dissolution of marriage or divorce bill allows remarrying, Hontiveros said.The bill wi...

Senator Risa Hontiveros and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson*The Negros Occidental provincial government will oppose any move to allow the importation of sugar without orders from the Sugar Regulatory Administration, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, July 19.Allowing the uncontrolled entry of imported sugar would be “like a tsunami hitting us” because it would cause the drop in domestic farmgate prices, he said.It could also halt the buying of domestic sugar, Lacson added.Lacson, who met with Senator Risa Hontiveros Tuesday afternoon, said he agreed with her that if that happens to the sugar industry, it could happen to all other agricultural products.“We can't accept the statement of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that you don't need an sugar, order anymore ...

The drug testing in San Carlos City on Monday, July 17.*A job order employee assigned to the motorpool of the San Carlos City Engineering Department tested positive for the use of drugs, Mayor Renato Gustilo said on Wednesday, July 19.The JO worker was one of 40 from the motorpool who underwent drug tests on Monday in an ongoing campaign to ensure a drug-free workplace as mandated by the Civil Service Commission.JO workers who test positive will be given the option to submit themselves to a community-based drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP) of the local government to have a chance to return to work.*

Emilia Abelido, Dr. Marilyn Marañon (l-r, seated), Niko Abelido, Lulu Abelido, Gen Sasuman, Michelle Abelido, Iday Valderrama, Joy Perez and Verlyn Perez (l-r, standing) during the soft opening of the Heavenly Hills Memorial Park in Sagay City.*It was the dream of former Negros Occidental governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to have a private cemetery in Sagay City and his wish was finally fulfilled with the opening of the Heavenly Hills Memorial Park on Tuesday, July 18.It is a joint venture of the LS PRAMMANI Realty and Development Corp. and the Marañon family.Dr. Marilyn Marañon, the former governor’s wife, led the ceremonial soft opening of the 2.5 hectares park in Sagay City along with Emilia Abelido, the matriarch of the Abelido clan that owns LS PRAMMANI.“This is the legacy ...

The country’s business leaders will meet with Commissioner Mona Lisa Dimalanta of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Thursday, July 20, to discuss the proposed convening of an Electric Power Industry Coordinating Council, Frank Carbon, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president, said Wednesday.The meeting with ERC aims to convene a coordinating council to monitor the industry players in the supply chain of the electric power industry, Carbon told DIGICAST NEGROS.The council will monitor electric generation, transmission, and distribution players, and help ERC and the Department of Energy (DOE) in reviewing policies, he said.Carbon is also PCCI director for Power and Energy and chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ...

Five persons were arrested in separate buy-bust operations and P156,400 worth of suspected shabu was seized in three cities and a town in Negros Occidental from Sunday to Tuesday, July 16 to 18, the police reported Wednesday.Albert Cabayaran, 38, of Brgy. Mambulac. Silay City, was arrested in a buy-bust operation and 10 grams of suspected shabu worth P6,800 onwas confiscated, the police said.John Paul Lirazan, 39, and a teenager, from Brgy. Aguisan, Himamaylan City were also arrested by the police on Tuesday.Recovered from them were 10 grams of suspected shabu worth P68,000 and various drug paraphernalia, the police reported.Jade Ian Tarrazona, 24, of Brgy. 13, Victorias City, was also arrested after the police confiscated from him a gram of shabu worth P6,800 on Monday nig...

A tricycle driver was shot to death at Rizal Street near SM City in Bacolod City, Tuesday night, July 18.Killed was Joenel Pahilanga, 29, of Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, who was shot in the back of his head by an unidentified suspect, the police said.Pahilanga was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.Maj. Elmer Bonilla, Bacolod City Police Station 1 chief, said they have created a tracker team to investigate the incident.The suspect is still unidentified and they are now requesting CCTV footage from the commercial establishments in the area, he said.The police recovered a .45 caliber empty shell in the area, Bonilla said.*

Councilor Claudio “Kalaw” Puentevella*The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on third and final reading an ordinance establishing the “Local Energy Code” during its regular session on Wednesday, July 19.The Code, authored by Councilor Claudio “Kalaw” Puentevella aims to promote energy efficiency and conservation, facilitate the implementation of energy projects, and harmonize local and national resilience and development in Bacolod City.The Local Energy Code of Bacolod City will promote and encourage the development and utilization of efficient renewable energy systems and technologies and other alternative sources of energy, the ordinance states.It will also realize economic growth and development through a sufficient and stable energy supply while ensuring the protec...