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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Dr. Placeda Lemana (3rd and 4th from left) distributing farm animals for alternative livelihoods.*Richard Malihan photoPig deaths from various diseases have hit 0.65 percent of the 329,531 hog population in Negros Occidental, the provincial veterinarian said Thursday, July 2.Dr. Placeda Lemana said 2,130 pig deaths from various diseases have been reported across 13 local government units (LGUs) in the province.However, it is not known how many died from African Swine Fever (ASF), as samples for testing were not taken before the animals were buried.The deaths represent 3.81 percent of the hog population within those 13 affected LGUs, she added.Of the 13 LGUs, only San Enrique has admitted so far that its pig deaths were caused by ASF, Lemana ...

Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) presented the Artificial Intelligence Development and Regulation Act before some of the country's most senior business leaders, policymakers, and technology executives at the 2nd MAP x KPMG Technology Summit at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, themed "AI at Scale: Driving Value with Governance and Security"  on  Tuesday, June 30.Benitez, who heads the Technical Working Group for Artificial Intelligence at the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology, used the gathering of roughly 300 delegates to make the case that responsible regulation and economic competitiveness are not opposing goals."We should not stifle innovation, but we regulate the risk," he told the summit, framing a cr...

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, DENR-NIR Regional Executive Director Charlie Fabre and Gov Eugenio Jose Lacson (l-r) signing the MOA.*The Negros Occidental provincial government has entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Negros Island Region (DENR-NIR) to rehabilitate 547 hectares of forest land in the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP), Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, July 2.The memorandum of agreement was signed by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and DENR-NIR Regional Executive Director Charlie Fabre at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday.The 25-year contract allows the provincial government to rehabilitate critical upland watersheds in Sitio Guinam-an, Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, through a...

The body found in Bago City*PNP photoThe body of an unidentified man with his hands tied and wrapped in cloth, a garbage bag, and packing tape was found in Bago City on Thursday morning, July 2.Police said the body was discovered by workers at a farm in Purok Langka, Brgy. Pacol, shortly after 10 a.m.Bago City Police Chief Lt. Col. James Latayon Jr. said the victim is believed to be between 30 and 40 years old and approximately 5 feet and 5 inches tall.The man was wearing a white shirt, denim pants, and shorts.Police also noted a tattoo bearing the words “Prince Gabriel” on his right arm.Latayon said the body may have been left in the area one to two daysbefore it was discovered.Initial examination showed no visible wounds on the victim’s body.Police are...

A 70-year-old farmer was wounded after he was allegedly shot several times by a man following an argument over a land boundary in Sagay City on Wednesday afternoon, July 1.Police identified the victim as alias “Remo,” a resident of Brgy. Colonia Divina.The suspect was identified as alias “Roniel,” 43, a resident of the same area.The shooting happened at around 3 p.m. while the victim was on his way to a nearby poultry farm.Initial investigation showed that Remo encountered the suspect walking in the opposite direction.Police said the two had a heated argument over a previous dispute involving the boundary of their respective properties.During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly drew a firearm and fired several shots at the victim at close range.Remo sustain...

Seven people, including two minors, were injured after a tricycle overturned along the national highway in Manapla, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday evening, July 1.Police said the driver and one passenger remain in critical condition, while the five other passengers are stable.The road incident happened at around 6:55 p.m. in Hacienda Gaston, Brgy. Punta Mesa.The red Rusi tricycle was driven by alias “Rodolfo,” 47, and was carrying six passengers.The passengers were identified as aliases “Generoso,” 29; “Roberto,” 38; “Jaymark,” 30; two 17-year-old boys; and “Cristituto,” 51.Police said the tricycle was traveling from Victorias City toward Manapla when the driver allegedly lost control while approaching a curved portion of the road.The vehicle struck a concrete post...

Two men died in drowning incidents in Himamaylan City and Valladolid, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, July 1.In Himamaylan, a 56-year-old farmer identified as alias “Sixto” was swept away by a strong current while crossing a stream with his wife in Sitio Pangi, Brgy. Carabalan.Police said the couple was on their way home from the Carabalan Public Market at around 5 p.m. when the woman slipped on the wet concrete pavement due to continuous rainfall.Sixto attempted to help his wife, but both fell into the stream.The woman managed to hold on to hanging vines and reach safety, while Sixto was carried away by the current.His body was recovered at around 8 p.m., about 800 meters downstream from where they fell.He was brought to the Governor Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial...