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Acting Administrator David Alba of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (center) and SRA board members Pablo Luis Azcona and Ma. Mitzi Mangwag at a press conference in Bacolod City Wednesday.*CPG photoThe new officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Wednesday, August 24, vowed to work to make the Philippines self-sufficient in sugar in three years.SRA Acting Administrator David Alba and board members Pablo Luis Azcona and Ma. Mitzi Mangwag, who attended the opening of the 68th Philippine Sugar Technologists Association Inc. (Philsutech) annual national convention at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City, announced their three-year goal at a press conference.The marching order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is for the Philippines to be self-sufficient in ...

The seized drugs in Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City*PDEA photoFour persons were arrested in a drug bust operation at Purok Pag-asa, Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City, Tuesday night, August 23.Nabbed were suspected drug den maintainer Marlon Treyes, 37, Cherry Panes, 40, Junie Alisbo, 32, and Airene Cantiga, 36.The operation led by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental led to the seizure of 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000, the P500 buybust money, a coin purse and drug paraphernalia.The suspects are now facing drug charges.*

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez welcoming the guests to the 68th Philippine Sugar Technologists Association Inc. annual national convention.*Bacolod PIO photoBacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said on Wednesday, August 24, that he was informed that about 90 percent of the Bacolod’s hotel rooms are already booked for the MassKara Festival in October.The festival is set from October 21 to 23 with the theme “Balik Yuhum (Bring back the smiles)”.Benitez, who welcomed the about 850 guests to the 68th Philippine Sugar Technologists Association Inc. annual national convention at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City, urged them to join the MassKara Festival and make their bookings early.“I hope that you make your bookings early because I heard that our rooms...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday, August 24, that a public-private partnership or a loan are among the options being studied to fund the rehabilitation of the three main markets of Bacolod City.“We will see what we can afford,” he said.“There is an initial plan, I will have to discuss this with the stakeholders, with the vendors, so they can give their suggestions,” Benitez said.The initial proposal is for the allocation of P1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Burgos, Libertad and Central markets, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said.He said P500 million per market is being eyed.The costing and where to source the budget is being studied, Maghari also said.The target is to complete the rehabilitation within the term of Benitez, he said....

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (right) discuss their joint response to monkeypox.*Richard Malihan photoBacolod City and Negros Occidental will come up with a unified screening and detection plan against monkeypox, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday, August 24.Benitez and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson discussed their joint response on Wednesday following the detection of one monkeypox case in Iloilo province.The mayor and the governor told DIGICAST NEGROS on Tuesday that the detection of a monkeypox case in Iloilo will not necessitate the closing of borders.“There is no need to close borders, we will just heighten our screening at ports of entry,” Benitez said.They will put up thermal scanners at all ports of entry as one of ...

The Central Negros Electric Cooperative said it is closely coordinating with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for the restoration of power following the series of brownouts in the past few days.Ervin Stan Leo Ticar, CENECO acting general manager, in as statement Tuesday, August 23, said that the intermittent power interruptions that occurred over the weekend and on Monday, August 22, were due to the overloading of the NGCP Negros-Cebu submarine cable triggering the opening of Bacolod-Silay 69kV protection device.The Bacolod-Silay 69kV line covers the Talisay and Silay feeders.“CENECO would like to reiterate that situations that cause unscheduled power interruptions are unforeseen by the electric cooperatives (ECs), such as CENECO. These circumstances are ...

Monkeypox is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus.*WHO photoThere is no need to close borders with the detection of one monkeypox case in neighboring Iloilo province, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez said Tuesday, August 23.Lacson said borders will not be closed but Negros Occidental residents should continue to observe COVID-19 health protocols to also protect themselves against monkeypox.Dr. Adriano Suba-an, Department of Health 6 regional director, confirmed on Tuesday that the fourth monkeypox case detected in the country involves a 25-year-old male from Iloilo province who worked in Iloilo City.The Iloilo resident had no documented history ...

The scene of the accident in Barangay San Isidro, Toboso, Negros Occidental.*Toboso DRRMO photoA woman was killed while her partner sustained injuries after they figured in an accident at Barangay San Isidro, Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Monday, August 22.Killed was Julieta Librado, 24, while her live-in partner, Reymode Averena, 27, was injured.Police said they were onboard a motorcycle, that was driven by Averena, when it hit a stone, causing the driver to lose control and their falling on the pavement.The woman succumbed to head injuries and died on the spot. She was not wearing a helmet.Police said that the families of the victims have reached a settlement.*

This photo of a Coca-Cola plant in Naga has been circulating on social media.*The Sugar Regulatory Administration acknowledges that there is a shortage in refined sugar being used by the beverage industry, Acting SRA Administrator David Alba said Tuesday, August 23.“We are currently consolidating the data as to how much is really needed so we can recommend the necessary actions we need to take to the President,” he said.However, while they know that Coca-Cola is in a critical place in its sugar needs, Pepsi and RC Cola still have available supply as far as SRA records show, he added.“The Sugar Board just took office and we ask our industry partners to indulge us with some time so we can address this issue based on established facts,” he said.The Sugar Board was convened...

A high-value drug individual was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation at Brgy. 2, Silay City, Negros Occidental Monday, August 22.*Silay PNP photoA reported high-value drug suspect was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Purok Mainuswagon, Brgy. 2, Silay City, Negros Occidental Monday, August 22.Nabbed was 41-year-old Dax Gonzales, who was tagged by the police as a high-value individual.He was arrested after he sold P600 worth of suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer.Recovered from his possession were 18 grams of suspected shabu worth P122,400 and other non-drug items.He is now in custody of the Silay police and facing drug charges.*