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Himamaylan City provided medical, cash and burial assistance.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Himamaylan City government provided P16,518,760 in social services to Himamaylanons in the first half of 2023, Mayor Raymund Tongson said on Saturday, July 1.Released were P7,218, 810 in medical assistance to 11,973 residents, P4,929,950 in cash assistance to 2,310 residents, P1,965 ,000 in burial assistance for 213 indigents and P2,405,000 in burial assistance for 246 senior citizens, Tongson said in a Facebook post.“Our medical assistance program ensured access to essential medications not available at the City Health Office or the Valeriano V. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital. We collaborated with local pharmacies in Himamaylan to fulfill our constituents’ medical needs,” Tongson said.Recog...

The injured policeman in Escalante City*NOCPPO photoFive persons, including three policemen, were injured in separate incidents on Friday and Saturday, June 30 and July 1.A police officer and two bystanders were injured after an unidentified suspect shot them in Brgy. Alimango, Escalante City, on Saturday.P/MSg. Teofesto Aburido, 46, and two bystanders Jeban Sayon, 18, and Jay-r Garganera, 34, were hit by bullets fired by the suspect who fled after the shooting, the police reported Sunday.Aburido was hit in the lower part of his abdomen, while one bystander was hit in the hip and the other on his left foot.Aburido tried to pacify a heated argument between Michael Bitela, a sheriff from La Carlota City, and the suspect who drew his firearm and fired.Recovered from th...

An unidentified man whose hands, mouth and face were wrapped in packing tape and with a visible wound on his head was found dead in Bangga Ibus, Brgy. Tortosa, Manapla town, Negros Occidental, Saturday night, July 1.The man who was about 35 to 40 years old was wearing a black sando and blue shorts, the police said.The name “Edgar Lusmenda” was tattooed on the victim’s left arm.Recovered from the scene of the crime were two empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol and a placard with the message “Wag Tularan, Kawatan Ako (Do not emulate, I am a thief)” written on it.The crime scene was approximately 80 meters away from the national highway in Brgy. Tortosa, the police said.*

A 66-year-old man was shot to death by an unidentified person at Greenville Balas in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, 10:55 p.m. Saturday, June 1.Rumolo Mahinay Villarico Sr. was shot outside of his residence by an unidentified suspect, the police reported Sunday.Villarico’s wife, Julieta, said the suspect called for her husband and when he went outside a commotion happened.She heard gunshots during the commotion and saw her husband lying on the ground in his own blood.The victim was rushed to the San Carlos City Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival, while the unidentified suspect fled after the shooting.Recovered from the crime scene were four fired cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol, the police reported.*

Fuel prices are expected to drop on Tuesday, July 4.Diesel prices are expected to go down by P0.60 to P0.80 per liter, and gasoline by P0.60 to P0.80 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines announced on Saturday.On June 27 gasoline prices went up by P0.20 per liter, diesel by P1.05 and kerosene by P1.20.*

Sipalay Mayor Maria Gina Lizares signing the executive order*Mayor Maria Gina Lizares signed an executive order creating the Sipalay City Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Council on Friday, June 30.Executive Order No. 13 signed by Lizares states that the ICT council aims to pursue sustainable gains for Sipalaynons and to develop Sipalay as a next wave digital city.The ICT council will be known as the Federation for Information and Communications Technology in Sipalay (FITS), which will be composed of the mayor, vice mayor, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, city departments, Sangguniang Kabataan federation, youth organizations, and other stakeholders, Lizares said.The signing of the executive order was in time with the closing celebration of the ICT month...

Business chambers in the Visayas are meeting in the last week of July to discuss ways to partner with the government and the academe to strengthen the tourism and agriculture industries in the region.The business sector in the region has turned its focus to helping develop tourism and agriculture in the region, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President for Visayas Frank Carbon told DIGICAST NEGROS on Sunday, July 2.These two industries are the major economic drivers in the Visayas, he said.Representatives of business chambers of the Visayas also met online on July 1 to discuss how to improve their chamber management and partner with local government units, national government agencies, and the academe, Carbon also said.Apart from tourism and agriculture, PC...

The Social Security System (SSS) Visayas West 1 Division, which covers the islands of Negros and Siquijor, has reported an 80 percent increase in collections from delinquent employers from January to April this year compared to the same period in 2022.Data on Friday, June 30, showed that in the first four months of 2023, total collections reached P237.94 million, which is P45.64 million higher than last year’s P192.30 million.In a statement, Lilani Benedian, vice president for Visayas West 1 Division, said the “significant increase” in delinquency collections is a result of the region-wide conduct of Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) operations.“The conduct of these operations is essentially for our members. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are given the lawful ...

Rep. Emilio Yulo said 90 percent of the country’s sugar producers are small and marginalized.*Nic Ledesma photoImport liberalization may kill the Philippine sugar industry, Rep. Emilio Yulo III (Neg. Occ., 5th District) warned Friday, June 30.Yulo, a former planter representative on the Sugar Board, was reacting to the proposal of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno to liberalize sugar imports to soften the blow on the food industry amid proposals to tax sugary food and beverages.The immediate effect of sugar import liberalization will be on the small sugar producers, Yulo said.He pointed out that 90 percent of the country’s sugar producers are small and marginalized.It will also hurt Negros Occidental since the sugar industry is its lifeblood, Yulo said.Senator Josep...

The number of barangays in Negros Occidental hit by pig deaths caused by various diseases reached 146 in 18 local government units on Friday, June 30, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported.The two additional barangays are Talaban and Caradio-an in Himamaylan City.The total pig deaths are 15,175 or 10.03 percent of Negros Occidental’s hog population causing losses of P171,340,900, the PVO said.Hog raisers affected are 3,088, it added.*