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Mar112023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

CIDG raids Teves houses, seizes guns, explosives

The CIDG seized guns in Negros Oriental on Friday.*CIDG photoThe Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized about 15 firearms, explosives, and ammunition in raids on three houses in Barangay Malabugas, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, one of which was allegedly owned by Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District), on Friday morning, March 10.The two other houses were believed to be owned by the congressman’s relatives, identified as Hannah Mae and Jojo Maturan, PCol. Thomas Valmonte, CIDG Legal Division chief, told reporters.Search warrants were also reportedly implemented at a house and a beach resort allegedly owned by Teves in Basay, Negros Oriental.Candice Colleen, the wife of Teves, on her Facebook page said “they planted so many things in our p...

Mar102023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Lacson holds off NIR discussion until after Degamo laid to rest

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Governors Roel Degamo and Eugenio Jose Lacson met in Dumaguete City last month.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is holding off discussing the Negros Island Region (NIR) until slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is laid to rest.Degamo was against the creation of the NIR, which will be composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.Lacson was set to meet with Degamo for a second time to discuss the NIR, but he was assassinated in Pamplona on March 4.“Can we talk about NIR after Gov. Degamo has been laid to his eternal rest… Let’s put Governor Degamo to rest and then we will start again,” Lacson said.Lacson, who said Degamo was a friend, visited his wake at his home in Dumaguete City on Tuesday.The House of Representatives unanimously approve...

Mar102023 by Mary Judaline PartlowNo Comments

Police shutdown STL operations in NegOr

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The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) simultaneously carried out the order to shut down Small Town Lottery (STL) operations on Thursday evening after the termination of Four Aces’ STL Authority to operate.This was in line with the memorandum order issued by the NOPPO dated March 9, on the termination of Four Aces’ STL Authority to Operate, under a letter from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).That letter from PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. Robles was addressed to Christopher R. Santiago, president of Four Aces Resources Management Group Corp., informing him of the termination by PCSO of the Agency Agreement and Authority to Operate STL in Negros Oriental.Lt. Col. Richard Gadingan, Tanjay City police chief, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) ...

Mar102023 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

P102M tourism, farm roads constructed in Negros Occ.

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The newly completed P5.1 million farm-to-mill road in barangays Cabadiangan and Mambagaton Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. *DPWH photoTwo tourism access roads and a farm-to-mill (FMR) road with a total cost of P102.2 million was completed in three locations across Negros Occidental, recently.The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6 reported on Friday, March 10, that a P5.1 million FMR now provides infrastructure support to two villages of Himamaylan City.Benefiting sugarcane farmers and residents of barangays Cabadiangan and Mambagaton, the 312-meter road facilitates convenient transport of local products to various locations and access to neighboring cities and towns.“The completion of this farm-to-mill road provides sugarcane farmers with infrastructure su...

Mar102023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Guv encourages NBI to file cases vs. officials involved in illegal STL

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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is encouraging the National Bureau of Investigation to continue investigating and filing cases against barangay officials who may be involved in illegal Small Town Lottery (STL) operations.They should file charges, especially if they have very strong cases, Lacson said on Friday, March 10.“Why should we operate an illegal numbers game when there is also a legitimate numbers game here in Negros Occidental?“ Lacson asked.The NBI filed criminal charges on Wednesday against three barangay captains for alleged involvement in illegal STL operations in Kabankalan City.Named in the complaint were Noli Villarosa of Tangub, Bacolod, who was tagged as the “financier”, and Franz Leonard Seguero and Joel Alibango of Kabankalan City, who...

Mar102023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Lacson appeals to Cebu guv to lift ban on Neg. Occ. pork

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Gov. Eugenio Jose Laccson said on Friday, March 10, that he has appealed to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to lift the ban on the entry of Negros Occidental pork and pork related products into Cebu province.Negros Occidental remains a green zone or an African Swine Fever (ASF) -free province, he pointed out.Lacson said he is still waiting for the reply of the Cebu governor.The ban has affected large shipments from Negros to Cebu and neighboring areas, which has affected Negrense hog raisers financially, Lacson said.He said the hog raisers have had to sell their products to Metro Manila at lower prices.Garcia had issued Executive Order No. 9, Series of 2023, declaring a temporary ban on the entry of pork products from Negros Island.“There is no definite basis to or reason to ...

Mar102023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

SSS issues orders to 14 non compliant employers

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Social Security System (SSS) personnel visited non-compliant employers during their Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) Campaign in the cities of San Carlos, Canlaon and Sagay in Negros recently, and ordered them to pay their delinquencies.The SSS San Carlos and Sagay branches served written orders to 14 employers for non-remittance ofcontributions and non-submission of the monthly collection list, the SSS announced on Friday, March 10.SSS Vice President for Visayas West 1 Division, Lilani Benedian, reiterated the legal obligations of the employers as mandated by Republic Act No. 11199 or Social Security Act of 2018.Employers who were subjected to the operation were given 15 days to respond to the written notice by visiting the SSS San Carlos or Sagay branch for settlement of...

Mar102023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Pag-IBIG Board approves contribution hike postponement

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The Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees officially approved the postponement of the agency’s contribution hike in 2023, citing the continuing recovery of both workers and business owners from the pandemic, its top officials announced Monday (06 March).Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said that they unanimously approved the recommendation of the Pag-IBIG Fund Management to defer the hike in the monthly contributions of its members in 2023 – affirming pronouncements made by the agency earlier this year – and move the implementation by one year to January 2024.The deferment also applies to the share of their employers, a press release from Pag-IBIG said Friday, March 10...

Mar102023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Teleperformance supports youth education for talent-building

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Teleperformance, the global leader in outsourced customer and citizen experience management and related digital services, recently announced the annual results of its sustainability initiative to support children’s education.Through various partnerships Teleperformance, which has a branch in Bacolod, has supported around 10,000 young people to become future business services professionals.The company has partnered with universities, student organizations, government and industry institutions to help develop and hone the talents of young people, a press release from Teleperformance said.In Negros Occidental, Teleperformance has partnered with the Negros Occidental Language Information Technology Center, where graduates of NOLITC and its associated institutions are given priority...

Mar102023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Imported sugar classified as ‘C’, charges filed against smugglers

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Senator Imee Marcos, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista and Sugar Board Member Paul Azcona (l-r) at a press conference at the Yanson private beach resort in Talisay City on Thursday.*Sugar Board Member Paul Azcona said of the 440,000 metric tons of refined sugar allowed to be imported only about 38,000 MT has entered the country, which has been classified as “C” or reserve.As the farmers’ representative on the Sugar Board he is trying his best to ensure that there is no flood of imported sugar into the domestic market, said Azcona, who joined Senator Imee Marcos at a press conference in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday.However, if sugar retail prices do not drop they may have to release some of the “C” sugar into the market, he said.He said the...