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The Victorias legislative inquiry Wednesday afternoon*Victorias Milling Company officials assured that mitigating plans are in place following the spill of 3,000 metric tons or 1.8 million liters of its molasses into the Malihaw River that caused the emission of foul odor that affected 11 barangays in Victorias CityThe VMC officials gave the assurance during a legislative inquiry held at the Victorias City Sangguniang Panlungssod Session Hall, Wednesday, May 24.Victorias Councilor Dino Acuña, chairperson of the SP Committee on Natural Resources, Environmental Protection and Ecology, told DIGICAST NEGROS that the amount of molasses waste overwhelmed VMC’s wastewater treatment facilities, resulting in the spread of foul or rancid smell in 11 barangays of Victorias located within ...

A farmer was shot dead in Brgy. Nataban, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, May 23.The police identified the victim as Edgar Plomo, 40, of Sitio Sangay, Brgy. Nataban who was shot dead while he was walking home.The victim was allegedly gunned down by Albert Barotag, 37, of Sitio Agmaula in Brgy. Nataban, the police reported.The victim was shot with a .45 caliber pistol hitting his neck and shoulder which caused his death..PLt. Jesus Mesahon Jr., San Carlos City police chief, said the suspect fled and search operations are being conducted to arrest him.The family of the victim also plans to file a case against the suspect, he added.*

The Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution Wednesday, May 24, informing the Philippine National Police of the legal basis for the holding of cockfights during fiestas or charter day celebrations in the different barangays of Bacolod City.The resolution, authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino, was passed to provide clarification to the PNP through Col, Noel Aliño, city police director.City Ordinance 506, Series of 2009 of Bacolod City grants authority to the SP to issue special permits for cockfights in Bacolod City for specified purposes, and defines a Licensed Cockpit as “a cockpit which has been issued the permit and the authority to operate as such by the city after complying with all the requirements”, the resolution said.The permits for temporary cockpits for a 3-day p...

The signing of the manifesto opposing the proposed joint venture agreement.*About 20 progressive groups and civic organizations signed a manifesto opposing the proposed joint venture agreement between Central Negros Electric Cooperative and Ignite Power and Energy Holdings Inc. (MORE Power) at the St. Marie Vianney Hall of the San Sebastian Complex in Bacolod City, Wednesday, May 24.The signing of the manifesto was also the launching of the Anti-CENECO Joint Venture Agreement Coalition which aims to call on the member-consumers of the electric cooperative to oppose the JVA by initiating information dissemination drives.Among the members of the coalition are Negros Consumers’ Watch, CENECO Union of Rational Employees (CURE), Responsible Supervisory and Confidential Union of Empl...

Super Typhoon Mawar was downgraded into a typhoon Wednesday morning, May 24, but the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it could re-intensify into a super typhoon before it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday night or Saturday morning.Typhoon Mawar was 2,305 kilometers east of Visayas as of 10 a.m. Wednesday and once it enters the PAR it will be given the local name “Betty”. PAGASA said.Although a direct hit is not expected, the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments have ordered their Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils to make the necessary preparations for any eventuality.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who held a meeting with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management C...

Members of the Negros Occidental Federation of Small Fisherfolk Association with PRRM-Negros Manager Edwin Balajadia (left) at a press conference Wednesday.*A fisherfolk group in Negros Occidental will hold an indoor rally on Monday, May 29, ahead of National Fisherfolk Day, to call on government to address the problems of poverty among small fishing communities and to strengthen programs for climate adaptation.The Negros Occidental Federation of Small Fisherfolk Association (NOFSFA) together with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM)-Negros held a press conference Wednesday, May 24, at the Negros Press Club in Bacolod City to raise the concerns of the small fisherfolk and coastal communities.NOFSFA , in a press statement, cited the prevalence of illegal, unregula...

The acting treasurer of Isabela, Negros Occidental, who was dismissed from government service for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and malversation of public funds, filed an appeal before the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Quezon City on Wednesday, May 24, her lawyer said.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson had dismissed Nenette M. Escarda from the service for the unauthorized removal of P2,600,000 in cash and P3,800,000 in checks totaling P6.4 million from the Municipal Treasurer’s Office of Isabela in January, which she claimed were then stolen from her house.Escarda’s lawyer Cesar Beloria Jr. said they opted not to file a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Governor anyway ultimately the case will be elevated to the CSC.Beloria said his client d...

The open-pipe motorcycle mufflers being destroyed in Talisay City.*The Talisay City government destroyed 119 open-pipe motorcycle mufflers on Tuesday, May 23, that had been confiscated for causing noise pollution.Talisay City Ordinance 589 Series of 2018 prohibits public and private vehicles from using noisy mufflers and sets penalties.They used a backhoe to crush the mufflers, Executive Assistant Jerome Bagtas, Traffic Management Authority deputy chief, said.The ordinance sets the following penalties for the use of noisy mufflers: a fine P500 for first offense, P1,000 – second offense, P3,000 and confiscation of muffler – third offense, and P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than three months or both depending on the discretion of the court for succeeding offenses.*

The seized drugs in Barangay 2, Bacolod.*The police seized P782,000 worth of suspected shabu in buy busts operations in Bacolod and Escalante cities on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 23 and 24.The City Drug Enforcement Unit seized suspected shabu with an estimated weight 106 grams worth P720,800 at Prk Sigay, Brgy 2, Bacolod City, 1:14 p.m. Wednesday.Nabbed in the buy bust operation was Jeo Sison Tongoy, alias Geo, 21, jobless of Prk Sigay, PSSgt. Roberto Jibala Jr. said.Tongoy is detained at Police Sation 2.Tactical interrogation is still ongoing to locate the source of the illegal drugs, links and accomplices for further follow-up operations, Jibala said.In Escalante City 9 grams of suspected shabu valued at P61,200 was also seized and four persons were arrested at Ra...

A footbath has been installed at a Kabankalan City checkpoint as a biosecurity measure versus African Swine Fever.*The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) estimated the accumulated damage to the Negros Occidental hog industry at P63.5 million as pig deaths continued to rise on Tuesday, May 23.Dr. Placeda Lemana, OIC provincial veterinarian, in a report submitted to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the hog deaths from various diseases in Negros Occidental had increased to 5,252 on Tuesday..The number represents 4.84 percent of the province’s pig population affecting 1,072 raisers, the report said.The big deaths in San Enrique were 1,936, Valladolid – 936, Bago City – 852, Pontevedra – 461, Pulupandan – 374, EB Magalona – 268, La Carlota City – 268, Murcia – 59, Binalb...