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May162023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

‘Conduct inventory of PH stock before importing more sugar’

Sugar leaders Enrique Rojas, Aurelio Valderrama Jr. and Manuel Lamata (l-r)*Government’s additional importation of sugar “to stabilize the price and boost the country’s stock” drew mixed reactions from industry leaders on Tuesday, May 16.“We agreed to additional importation of sugar to stabilize the prices. Maximum amount will be 150,000 MT but probably less,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Monday after meeting with Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) officials.Manuel Lamata, United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines president, said he also believes the country still lacks 150,000 MT of sugar.“Since the president wants milling to start September 1, we need that to cover August and September. The president sees the September start to milling will in...

May162023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Capitol releases P81.1M for mid-year bonuses: Diaz

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The Negros Occidental provincial government has started releasing midyear bonuses totaling P81,195,636 to all its regular and casual employees, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, May 16.The provincial government has 2,761 employees – 2,032 of whom are permanent and 729 are casuals, Diaz said.The provincial government had appropriated P92.2 million for the midyear bonuses in its 2013 budget, he said.The funds were downloaded Monday, he said.The midyear bonus is equivalent to one month’s salary.*

May162023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Ceneco power rates up by P0.2266/kWh in May

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Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s average residential rate for May is P12.9637/kwh, an increase by P0.2266/kWh from last month’s rate of P12.7371/kWh, its acting general manager Arnel Lapore announced Tuesday, May 16.He attributed this to an increase in the total generation charges by 4.15 percent.The Wholesale Electricity Spot Market price increased from P7.5527/kWh to P8.9556/kWh or an upward adjustment of P1.4036/kWh, Lapore said.He also cited the implementation of the additional Universal Charges - Missionary Electrification rate of P0.0433/kWh.*

May162023 by Benjamin PultaNo Comments

Remulla: DOJ undeterred despite ‘lawyered up’ Degamo suspectst

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Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District) in South Korea?The government is unmoved in its resolve to go after the suspected killers of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, including Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District).Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday, May 14, that charges against Teves will be filed “most probably on Wednesday” by the National Bureau of Investigation.The DOJ initially planned to file the suit Monday but the suspects were provided with private lawyers and “are no longer talking,” a move which he said was expected “considering the extent of the resources involved."“Obviously, some people are interested in the statements they want to give and now they don’t want to cooperate anymore,” Remulla told reporters...

May162023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Marcos approves importation of add’l 150,00MT of sugar

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meeting with the SRA officials*President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved on Monday, May 15, additional importation of sugar following the recommendation of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to stabilize the price and boost the country’s stock.“We agreed to additional importation of sugar to stabilize the prices. Maximum amount will be 150,000 MT but probably less,” the president said after meeting with SRA Acting Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and Board Member Ma. Mitzi Mangwang, representing the millers.Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and SRA Board Secretary Rodney Rubrica were also present, a press release from the Presidential Communications Office said.“The exact amount will be determ...

May162023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

City gov’t pays an initial P23M as mid-year bonus release starts

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Less than half of the Bacolod City government employees have received their midyear bonuses that is equivalent to a whole month’s salary.So far the city government has released about P23 million, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said.They will check on the other departments where midyear bonuses have not been release yet, he said, noting that the city government has more than 1,000 employees.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the city government’s monthly payroll is more than P50 million so they have covered almost 50 percent of its employees so far.State workers should receive their midyear bonuses starting May 15, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Sunday, May 14."So, we are reminding all government agencies and offices to en...

May152023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Guv: Active Covid-19 cases hit triple digits but manageable

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Negros Occidental’s active COVID-19 cases have risen to triple digits but the situation is still manageable, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, May 15.The province had 148 active COVID-19 cases on Sunday, May 14, from 91 on May 1.Lacson said it is not just in Negros Occidental, COVID-19 cases are going up in the whole country.“But they are still manageable, our hospitals are no getting filled up. Many of those who have been vaccinated are experiencing mild cases, which are treatable at home,” he added.Lacson again reminded senior citizens who are unvaccinated to wear masks.Those who wish to be vaccinated can get in touch with their local health units, there are still Sinovac vaccines available, he said.They are no vaccine brand choices since the national governme...

May152023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

E-jeeps environment friendly, cheaper if found viable: mayor

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The e-jeepney in front of the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday.*Bacolod PIO photoElectric jeepneys will be cheaper and more environment friendly if Bacolod transport operators find them viable, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Monday, May 15.The first of three sample e-jeepneys manufactured by China-based Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology Co. Ltd. has arrived in Bacolod for trial runs by transport operators to determine their durability, performance and efficiency, the mayor said.It will also give Bacolod transport operators the opportunity to make suggestions on how to further improve the e-jeepneys, he said.One suggestion is to move the passenger door from the back to the side to ensure the safety of passengers boarding the vehicle, he said....

May152023 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

Negros, Bacolod step up drives to protect pigs versus illnesses

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The Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments are stepping up efforts to protect hogs against illnesses brought about by the hot weather that have already caused deaths among the local swine population.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Monday, May 15, directed the City Veterinary Office (CVO) to inspect backyard hog-raising operations in various Bacolod barangays to ensure that the animals are free of hog cholera.“Visit backyard piggeries just to make sure. Let us guarantee the safety of the public,” he said.Dr. Maria Agueda de la Torre, city veterinarian, said the CVO has been monitoring hog deaths, but they have yet to conduct confirmatory tests to determine the cause.“We have already visited most of the barangays, and based on our monitoring, most of them have negat...

May152023 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Teen nabbed in drug bust claims to be in 6th grade

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A suspected drug dealer, who claims to be a grade six student, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Purok Totong 4, Brgy. Felisa, Bacolod City, Saturday, May 13.Confiscated from the 18-year-old Bacolodnon were 1 gram of suspected shabu worth P6,800 and the P500 buy-bust money, the police reported Monday.PMaj. Richard Fajarito, Bacolod Police Station 10 Chief, said that the suspect claims that he is a student in an elementary school and is currently studying through the modular system.The police also said that the person had previous records for theft when he was a minor.A case for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act will be filed against the suspect, who is detained at Police Station 8, Fajarito said.*MLG