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Victorias City in Negros Occidental is being eyed as a pilot area for sentineling and repopulation of pigs, Jose Albert Barrogo, Department of Agriculture OIC-Regional Executive Director, said Friday, June 30.Barrogo, who was in Victorias Friday, said he is proposing to the incoming DA regional director that the city be made a pilot area.Sentineling means an area hit with African swine fever (ASF) is observed for 45 days to determine if no new cases have been reported, after which pigs will be placed in the area and observed for three months, he said.If the pigs do not get sick during that period the area can be declared ASF free, Barrogo added.Disinfection and repopulation can then be conducted, he said.A breeders farm can then be established in Victorias, Barrogo adde...

The Department of Agriculture is asking the Negros Occidental provincial government to replace the 789 bags of missing fertilizer intended for farmers in four local government units, DA OIC Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said on Friday, June 30.The missing fertilizer is part of 4,170 bags sent by the DA to the Negros Occidental provincial government as aid to high value crop farmers who were victims of Typhoon Odette.Missing are 360 bags of fertilizer for Kabankalan City, 200 for Cadiz City, 193 for Cauayan and 36 for Bago City, Barrogo said.Barrogo said he sent a letter to Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on June 19 after the four LGUs sought the release of their fertilizer.“May we request for possible solution, particularly how the missing allocation (can...

The University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City is gearing up for its 71st Handumanan Week celebration, July 3 to July 7.The annual Lasallian tradition commemorates the University's founding in 1952 and serves as a time to honor its identity, rich history, and achievements, a press release from the university said.With the theme "Lasallian DNA: 71 years of Service and Excellence," this year's Handumanan Week highlights the University's commitment to making a positive impact on society while upholding its tradition of excellence, it said.The week-long celebration will begin with a Mass at the Montelibano Chapel on July 3, followed by the official launch at the Handumanan Park.Among the other activities will be the Lasalliana Exhibit at the Museo De La Salle, the honori...

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, leads over the turnover of command of the 47th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on Friday.*Judy Flores Partlow photoAs the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army’s (CPP-NPA) strength continues to dwindle, its legal fronts are now sending reinforcements to the countryside, a key Army official said on Friday, June 30.Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, disclosed this in his message to troops during the turnover of command ceremony of the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Old Namangka in Mabinay, Negros Oriental.Sison noted a decline in numbers with only about 20 active NPA members monitored in central and northern Negros.After the recent Hi...

The Philippine Statistics Authority monitored an average increase in retail prices of various vegetables and fish in Negros Occidental in the second half of June.The price of Ampalaya (bitter gourd) increased by P13.33 from P115 a kilo in the first half of June to P128.33/kilo in the second half of the month, the PSA reported in its Price Situationer of Selected Agricultural Commodities.Average prices of tomatoes also increased by P12.50 from P74.50 to P87/kilo and eggplant by P5 from P106 to P111/kilo.A three peso increase was also seen in the average prices of cabbage from P92/kilo to P95.68/kilo, carrots from P118.33 to P121.67/kilo, and native pechay from P117.16 to P120.52, and garlic from P141.17 to P144.50/kilo.Stable prices were monitored for bangus and tilapia, exc...

The suspects in the theft of the cell site batteries were arrested at Mabini Street in Bacolod City.*BCPO photoThe police seized 151 stolen cell site batteries of telecommunication firms worth P15.1 million from three suspects and a junk shop in Bacolod City 5 p.m. Thursday, June 29.Arrested were Erwin Aribato, 30, Romelyn Quiatchon, 26, and Joseph Villanueva, 30, of Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, the police reported Friday.The three were caught in the act of selling the batteries to JLC Junkshop/ILC surplus owned and operated by Dennis Coo Jr., PCol. Noel Calderon Aliño, Acting Bacolod police director, said.Confiscated from the suspects were fifteen 12 volts 180AH batteries valued at P1,500,000 that were stolen in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, the police report said.Seized fr...

A Bacolod Regional Trial Court judge has lifted the 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) on the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) and Primelectric Holdings Inc. (PHI) joint venture agreement and its plebiscite on Saturday, July 1.However, CENECO’s suspension of the plebiscite, where member-consumers were to vote yes or no to the JVA, on July 1 and 2 will remain to avoid confusion, its acting general manager Arnel Lapore said.Lapore, prior to the lifting of the TRO, had announced the suspension of the plebiscite on July 1 and 2, but said they would proceed with holding it on July 8 and 9.He said they may also seek permission from the National Electrification Administration for the holding of the plebiscite on two additional plebiscite dates to make up for the Jul...

The police seized suspected shabu worth P54,000 in Brgy. II, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Thursday afternoon, June 29.The shabu was seized from Rain Montenegro, 22, of Gan Subdivision, Brgy. II, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation, the police reported.Recovered from the suspect were eight grams of suspected shabu, the buy-bust money and other non-drug evidence, PLt.Col. Lowell Garinganao said.The suspect is detained at the La Carlota City police station, he saod.*

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division installed the commander of the 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion at the 79IB Headquarters in Brgy Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Thursday, June 29.The change of command and awarding ceremony was presided by 3ID Commander, Maj. Gen. Marion R Sison.Lt. Col Colonel J-Jay T Javines relinquished his post as 79IB commander to Lt. Col. Arnel P Calaoagan who had served as executive officer of the 303rd Infantry (Brown Eagle) Brigade in Murcia prior to his new assignment.*

The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) on Thursday, June 29, thanked the Negros Occidental provincial government officials for approving the release of the fourth tranche salary increase of the 3,237 Negros Occidental provincial government employees effective July 1.The salary increase will be of great help to the Capitol workers, PACE president Renelo Lastierre said.A total of P30.1 million will be allocated for the pay hikes needed from July to December, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz told DIGICAST NEGROS on Wednesday.PACE thanks Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, the Sangguniang Panlungsod headed by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and Diaz for giving the Capitol employees what is allowable under the law, Lastierre said.Diaz said the governor decided to grant t...