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Passengers waiting for a ride in Bacolod City Monday.*Barbara Mijares photoCommuters were left stranded or late for work because of the lack of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in some areas of Bacolod City on Monday morning, November 7.PUVs without franchises and provisional authorities kept off the streets to avoid apprehension at Land Transportation Office (LTO) checkpoints positioned in various parts of the city.The LTO will continue to apprehend colorum PUVs and issue citations to violators of its regulations in Bacolod to ensure the safety of the riding public, LTO Bacolod chief Renato Novero said.Novero said they were only able to apprehend one traditional jeepney without proper documents on Monday because the other violators went into hiding.There are only 123 mod...

The injured laborer who was hacked in Himamaylan City, Sunday, November 6.*Himamaylan PNP photoA laborer from Brgy. Mahalang, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, was injured after he was hacked by a fellow laborer on Sunday, November 6.The victim was identified as 33-year-old Jeoffrey Bandola.Police said the victim and his wife were standing on the side of the road in front of their house when he was allegedly attacked by the suspect, identified by the police as Ryan Cortez, with a bolo.The victim sustained injuries on his lower back and was brought to Governor Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital.The suspect fled after the incident.Police are still investigating the motive for the hacking.*

The suspected rebel captured in La Libertad, Negros Oriental.*303rd IB photoArmy and police pursuit operations against fleeing rebels they encountered in a series of clashes in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, led to the capture of a suspected member of the New People’s Army in Brgy. Talaon, La Libertad, Negros Oriental, on Sunday, November 6.Nabbed was Tony Elod, alias Tonyo, a Yunit Milisya member of the Central Negros 1, Komiteng Rehiyon Cebu, Bohol, Negros and Siquijor.Seized from his possession were a .38 caliber revolver with six rounds of ammunition, and a homemade shotgun with built-in magazine and six rounds of ammunition.The suspected rebel disclosed that he was tasked to monitor the location of government forces so his companions could escape, an Army press rele...

The scene of the accident in Himamaylan City, Saturday, November 5.*Ka Oliver Valiao photoA driver died after he fell off his motorcycle on Saturday, November 5, at the highway in Barangay Tooy, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.Killed was 28-year-old Joey Valera.Valera lost control of the motorcycle when he passed by a broken road causing him to fall and hit the gutter, the police said.The victim had his helmet on and was wearing protective gear, but the impact of the crash was strong, the police added.*

DSWD 6 spokesperson May Rago Castillo and 4Ps provincial link Emile Octavio (right) at a press conference in Bacolod City on Monday.*The Department of Social Welfare and Development has released P1.5 billion in assistance to the victims Tropical Storm “Paeng”, Typhoon “Odette”, the armed conflict in Himamaylan City, indigent senior citizens and to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries in Negros Occidental this year, May Rago Castillo, DSWD 6 spokesperson, said Monday, November 7.The DSWD provided P6,555,818 in food and non-food assistance to the victims of the recent Tropical Storm “Paeng” in Negros Occidental, Castillo said.Paeng destroyed 130 houses and damaged 1,191, and affected 175,199 residents in the province, she said.The DSWD provides P5,000 in assista...

“There is no positive African swine fever case in Victorias City, Negros Occidental remains ASF free, there is nothing to worry about.”That was the assurance given by Dr. Placeda Lemana, OIC Provincial Veterinarian, on Monday, November 7, following rumors that there was an ASF positive case in Victorias City.She said part of their Anti-ASF Task Force surveillance operations is to get samples from pigs for testing.They took a sample from a sick pig in Victorias as a precaution and it tested negative for ASF, she said.Lemana said they are continuing to keep a close watch to prevent the entry of pigs and pork products from ASF hit areas into Negros Occidental through ports and coastal barangays.ASF cases have already been detected in four local government units in Iloilo, ...

Trucks filled with sugarcane in Negros Occidental.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThree federations are calling for intensified anti-smuggling operations following the plunge in millgate sugar prices by close to P1,000 per 50 kilo bag in the last three weeks.Aurelio “Bodie” Valderrama - Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations president, Enrique Rojas - National Federation of Sugar Planters president, and Danilo Abelita - Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers president issued the call in a joint statement of concern Monday, November 7.They said the plunge in prices is a matter of grave concern for producers, who continue to reel from increasing costs of production.“The reasons can be attributed to a possible spike in sugar smuggling coupled with an increase in sugar inventory d...

Administrator Benny Antiporda of the National Irrigation Administration delivers his speech at the IA Congress in the presence of Acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer.*Administrator Benny Antiporda of the National Irrigation Administration pledged on Monday, November 7, to provide efficient, effective and sustainable irrigation services in Negros Occidental to achieve food security.Antiporda, who spoke at the NIA Region 6 Irrigators’ Association (IA) Congress at Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod City, said in line with President Ferdinand Marcos’ order their first priority is to make sure that the country becomes self-sufficient in rice.After palay, NIA will also focus on irrigation for sugarcane and high value crops, he assured.He told the NIA personnel it is time for them to get out o...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (center) flanked by Rep. Greg Gasataya (left) and former councilor Caesar Distrito (right).*Caesar Distrito FB page photoBacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez who returned from Japan on Monday, November 7, has tested positive for COVID-19.On his arrival in Manila from his official leave he had himself tested for COVID-19 for a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos and the result was positive, he said.“I feel okay but with mild symptoms”, he said.“Rest assured that all day to day task of the City would continue to function well, while I am working from home,” he added.“To all the people in Bacolod, the challenges of the coronavirus is still there. Stay safe always,” he said.Councilor Celia Flor who joined Benitez in J...

PUVs with complete documents and modernized jeepneys will continue to ply the streets on Monday.*Levi Trio photoThe Land Transportation Office (LTO) will start apprehending public utility vehicles (PUVs) with no franchises and provisional authorities in Bacolod City starting Monday, November 7.Some private schools have cancelled face-to-face classes on Monday because of a potential lack of public transportation.Leaders of transport groups said they have instructed their members not to let their unregistered PUVs ply the streets to avoid apprehensions but they have not declared a strike.PUVs whose franchises have not expired and still have permits will continue to ply the streets, they said.Modern jeepneys will also continue to operate.The LTO Region 6 starting Monda...