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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at press conference Monday.*A joint development program has been proposed to turn the old Bacolod airport into a new growth center in the southern part of the city, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, April 3.SM Prime Holdings Inc., the new owner of 50 percent of the 40-hectare old Bacolod airport along Araneta Avenue, has expressed interest in a joint development program with the city government, Benitez said at a press conference.“With this, we can expect the southern portion of the city to also have developments. If you can see now, everything is in the north. This will bring balance. What kind of development, that’s what is being discussed right now,” the mayor said.Benitez said 50 percent of the old airport that...

The Development Bank of the Philippines gave the best rates that are most advantageous to the city government, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.*Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez signed his conformity on Monday, April 3, to the Development Bank of the Philippines terms for a P5.5 billion loan to be availed of by the Bacolod City government.The city government chose DBP because it gave the best rates that are most advantageous to the city government, he said.It enables the city government to save about P17 million in interest payments annually, the mayor said.The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlalawigan last week approved a resolution granting Benitez authority to give his conformity to the Term Loan Facilities approved by DBP.The tentative list of projects cover...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the launching of the SRA-DA Sugar Program on Monday.*Bacolod PIO photoMayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he will ask the Sugar Regulatory Administration for a larger allocation of sugar to be sold at affordable rates in Bacolod City.He said the sale of affordable sugar, which will eventually expand to other food products, will benefit residents and also help bring down the country’s inflation rate.The Bacolod City government launched the SRA-DA Sugar Program through the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office at the Bacolod City Government Center Monday morning, April 3, and the allocated 500 kilos was sold out by 10:30 a.m., CCLDO head Brenda Burdeos said.Sugar was sold at P70 a kilo with each buyer allowed to purchase ...

As part of the solid waste management program of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to slowly transition into a full recyclable program of all types of garbage, the city through the Department of Public Services (DPS) and IPM Construction and Development Corporation made an initial delivery of around 1.5 tons of fruits and vegetables waste from Libertad and Burgos Markets to Fresh Start Organic Farm in Silay City on Saturday, April 1.More biowaste will be delivered this week, a press release from the city government said Monday.The biowaste will undergo windrow composting using a shredder and windrow turner machine provided by Bacolod-based RU Foundry. The compost to be produced after 21 days will be donated to urban farms in Bacolod.IPM-CDC agreed that their personnel will do the ...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at Manami Resort in Sipalay City*Richard Malihan photoThe upcoming long holiday will be a big boost to tourism, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, April 3.Maundy Thursday and Good Friday on April 6 and 7 are regular holidays, while April 8 and 9 fall on a weekend. Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), which falls on a Sunday, was moved to April 10, Monday, giving Filipinos a 5-day holiday.The provincial government-owned Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia was almost fully booked on Monday, and bookings were high at many resorts in Negros Occidental, Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena said.Manami Resort, a new-high end resort in Sipalay City, was also already 70 percent booked, Lacson said.“Tourism is a str...

Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria*The Commission on Elections will determine its hotspots or areas of concern for the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls when certificates of candidacy (COCs) have been filed, Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Monday, April 3.The filing of COCs is set August 28 to September 2 and the campaign period will be from October 19 to 28.The candidates running for office will be one the factors in determining hotly contested areas, Ananoria said.The Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council has not been convened yet, he said.There are an initial of 17 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental incaluded among the 158 election watchlist areas (EWAs) in the Visayas, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo...

The police seized more than P200,000 in suspected shabu in buy bust operations in Negros Occidental on Friday and Saturday, March 31 and April 1.The police arrested Ricky Sampio Arquibel, 42, and seized about 15 grams of shabu worth P102,000 at Hacienda Santa Ana, Brgy. Consing, EB Magalona, 6 p.m. Saturday, April 1.In La Carlota City a person identified only as Cahilig Jr., 21, was arrested with about 10 grams of suspected shabu worth P60,800 at Hda. Salvacion, Brgy. Ayungon, 3:26 p.m. on Saturday, the police also reported.Randy Sapitula Moises, 33, was arrested with 1.7 grams of suspected shabu valued at P11,560 at Hope Street, Brgy. 5, San Carlos City, the police added.Danyel Santa Ana Rabanes, 29, was also nabbed with 1.5 grams of suspected shabu worth P10,200 at Purok ...

The accident in Barangay Busay, Bago City, on Saturday*Ronald Javier photoA motorcycle driver died and seven were injured in an accident at Purok Mahirup, Barangay Busay, Bago City in Negros Occidental 4:50 p.m. Saturday, April 1.The police identified the fatality as Rolando Sevilla Suello, 48, driver of a Suzuki Smash 110cc motorcycle, and a resident of Hillside Subdivision, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.Injured were Benjie Cantere Magbanua, 44, driver of a Kawasaki Barako tricycle, and his passengers Sheena Marie Magbanua, 21, Roselyn Sunio, 19, Jonna Marie Plemones, 21, Michelle Sangria, 38, Glymaine Jaban, 18, and Welhem Flores, 17, all of Barangay Busay, Bago City.The police said the tricycle driven by Benjie Magbanua was accidentally bumped by the Suzuki Smash 11...

The police investigating the robbery at Purok Yee-on, Brgy. Cabahug, Cadiz City.*PNP photoA businessman and former Cadiz City councilor was robbed of more than P1 million in cash, jewelry and watches at his home on Saturday, April 1.The thieves forcibly entered the house of Ray Florentino Yee, 59, at Purok Yee-on, Brgy. Cabahug, Cadiz City in Negros Occidental, the police reported Sunday.They carted away five Michael Kors watches valued at P128,000, three Fossil watches - P60,000, two Festina watches - P50,000, a Rado watch - P51,000, five Pandora bracelets – P160,000, assorted jewelry, bracelets, rings, earrings - P150,000, 35 necklaces – P270,000,and a Moschino bag - P9,500, a police report said.Also stolen were a passport, travel documents, assorted ID’s, passbook, seama...