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Aug172022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Guv says DTI should act on sugar prices, Valderrama right to wait for BBM decision

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, August 17, that the Department of Trade and Industry should act on the high retail prices of sugar.Right now there is sugar in the markets but the problem is the price, and it is not the planters who are benefitting from the high prices but the traders, he said.Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and Committee on Agriculture and Food have summoned Department of Trade and Industry representatives to give data and information on consumer prices and supply chain logistics.The House inquiry on the sugar importation mess will be held on Monday, Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist) said.“There's no sugar shortage in Bacolod. It...

Aug162022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negrense girls softball team finish 4th in World Series

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The Philippines-Asia Pacific softball girls team from Negros Occidental finished fourth in the 2022 Little League Girls Softball World Series Majors Division in Greenville, North Carolina, USA, Provincial Sports Coordinator Anthony Carlo Agustin said Tuesday, August 16.The girls coming from the different towns and cities of Negros Occidental pooled as one team, bowed to the Virginia softbelles in its final game, a press release said.Twelve teams participated in the Little League Girls Softball World Series Majors Division from different part of the world.The players and their coaches thanked Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for his support.*

Aug162022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

2 suspected rebels injured in clash

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The belongings of suspected rebels left at the encounter site.*303rd IB photoTwo suspected rebels were injured in a clash with the state troopers at Sitio Cambairan, Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Tuesday, August 16.Bloodstains were seen at the encounter site and the fleeing rebels left their personal belongings behind, the Army reported.There was no casualty on the government side, it also said.Troops of the 62nd Infantry "Unifier" Battalion were validating the reports after armed men were said to be intimidating and extorting from the community in the hinterland barangay.This led to a 10-minute encounter with around 10 suspected members of the New People’s Army.*

Aug162022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

High-value suspect yields P1.4M worth of drugs

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The recovered drugs in the buy-bust operation at Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.*BCPO photoA high-value suspect was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Prk. Kahirup, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, at 8:35 p.m. Monday, August 15.The operation led to the recovery of 206 grams of suspected shabu worth P1.4 million, the police reported Tuesday.It also led to the capture of 21-year-old Jeboy James Poneles, who was said to be high-value individual.Also recovered from his possession were P1,000 marked money, a sling bag, and P220 cash proceeds.He is now in the custody of Police Station 8, facing drug charges.*

Aug162022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Drinking session leads to fistfight, one dead

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The suspect Ralph John Molinos *La Carlota PNP photoA drinking session that led to a fistfight claimed the life of a 43-year-old man at Barangay 2 Poblacion, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, August 15.Killed was Vicente Pingoy Jr., the police said.Police said that the victim and the suspect identified as 23-year-old Ralph John Molinos were having a drinking session when they figured in a heated argument that led to a fistfight, causing the victim to fall on his knees and lose consciousness.The victim suffered head injuries and was declared dead on arrival at the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital, Lt. Col. Lowell Garinganao, city police chief, said.The suspect later surrendered to the police.*

Aug162022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Neg. Occ. schools division enrollment 80.65% so far

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The Negros Occidental Schools Division enrollment for School Year 2022-2023 hit 80.65 percent on Tuesday, August 16.Enrollment was at 271,771 compared to 336,970 in school year 2021-2022.The enrollment for school year 2022-2023 at public elementary schools was at 133,377 or 76.25 percent, public junior high school – 82,410 or 81.93 percent, public senior high school – 36,254 or 101.57 percent, integrated schools – 1,440 or 74.27 percent and private schools 18,290 or 76.78 percent, the Division reported.The Department of Education (DepEd) has set the start of classes on August 22 and will end on July 7, 2023.DepEd only prescribed the options of five days in-person classes, blended learning modality, and full distance learning until October 31.Starting November 2 all publ...

Aug162022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

WV dengue cases near 10,000, Neg. Occ. still topnotcher: DOH

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Dengue cases are nearing 10,000 in Western Visayas, with four new deaths, the Department of Health reported Tuesday, August 16.Western Visayas has had 9,533 dengue cases and 54 deaths from January 1 to August 6, or an increase by 572 percent compared to last year, the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported.The top three provinces with the highest number of new dengue cases are Negros Occidental with 235, Iloilo Province - 124 and Antique – 79, it said.Of the four newly-reported dengue-related fatalities, Iloilo province had two and Negros Occidental – two, the DOH said.Negros Occidental still has the highest number of dengue cases in WV at 3,345 and 16 deaths.Bacolod City has 569 cases and eight deaths.Antique has 2,110 cases and nine deaths, Iloi...

Aug162022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Ferrer: House committee votes to postpone polls to Dec. 2023

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Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (2nd from right) at the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms hearing on Tuesday*Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) said the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms voted 12-2 on Tuesday, August 16, to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from Dec. 5, 2022, to Dec. 4, 2023.Ferrer, committee vice chairperson, authored House Bill 00121 seeking the postponement of the BSKE to May 2023.There were 31 bills filed for the postponement of the BSKE polls to dates ranging from May 2023, October 2023, December 2023, May 2024, October 2024, and December 2025, she said.The bills were consolidated and a common date was agreed on, Ferrer said.Commission on Elections chairman Ge...

Aug162022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Valderrama leaves fate to president, says high prices prove sugar shortage

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Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” Valderrama Jr. says he stands by his integrity and the truth.*CPG photoThe planters’ representative on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board on Tuesday, August 16, said he leaves the decision on whether he should step down to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid calls for his resignation.“I will wait for the instructions of the president, I believe that I did not do anything wrong,” said Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” Valderrama Jr. , one the signatories of the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 that would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.Valderrama said he was appointed to the SRA Board by the president two weeks ago, he did not ask for the position but was recommended by planters and millers’ groups.“I did not seek the ap...

Aug162022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Palace accepts resignation of Serafica, probe still urged

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Hermenegildo Serafica said: "I performed the functions of my office consistent with, or within the bounds of the law“.Malacañang has accepted the resignation of Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, who was one of four signatories of the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 that would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.The Sugar Board importation order was revoked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for being issued “without his authority and approval”.Serafica is the third member of the SRA Sugar Board who has resigned.“In behalf of president Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., I wish to inform you that your resignation has been accepted, effective immediately,” Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez said in a letter ...