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Three sugar planters federations have asked the Sugar Regulatory Administration and the Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) industry to show actual and projected sugar production and consumption figures that can shed light on their request for sugar importation.“Show us the figures,” replied Enrique D. Rojas of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP), Aurelio J. Valderrama Jr. of the Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Associations (CONFED) and Danilo A. Abelita of the Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (PANAYFED), in their respective stands submitted to SRA.In a letter dated January 6 to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Coca-Cola Beverages, Pepsi-Cola Products and ARC Refreshments (manufacturer of RC Cola products) requested government “to put in place a supplemental imp...

San Carlos Mayor Renato Gustilo (left) overseeing the landslide clearing operations.*San Carlos LGU photoThe section of the Eco-Translink Highway at Upper Caticlan, Barangay Rizal in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, that was hit by landslides on Thursday and Friday, January 12 and 13, has been cleared of debris but commuters are cautioned against travelling through the area at night and during low visibility.It is still an active landslide area so there is a need to observe “care and caution” because there are still boulders and mud rocks that could fall, Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., head of the San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said Sunday, January 15.“We are closely monitoring the area as rain or any movement of the ground could trigger a landslide,” ...

The police seized P272,000 in suspected shabu along the Circumferential Road in Purok 3, Brgy. 1, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, at 2:20 a.m. Sunday, January 15.Nabbed were vendor Jerry Carpio Dela Cruz, and his helper Richard Membella Olarte, 41, of Bacolod City.The Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and the Kabankalan police conducted the buy bust operation and seized about 40 grams of suspected shabu.The two are now in the custody of the Kabankalan police.Meanwhile, Ricky Salmingo Grajo, 47, was arrested in a drug bust in Barangay I-Poblacion, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, 3:25 p.m. on January 14.Recovered from him was white crystalline substance estimated at 1 gram and worth P6,500, the police said.*

The water that overflowed on Thursday*Bacolod PIO photoThe water that overflowed on the road leading to the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa, Bacolod, because of heavy rain rendered it impassable to smaller trucks and caused a backlog in garbage collection.Only bigger garbage trucks could pass on Wednesday and Thursday, Carmela Arcolas Gamboa, executive assistant to the mayor, said on Friday, January 13.The total backlog in garbage truck trips was 53 for two days, she said.So starting Friday to Sunday, IPM-Construction and Development Corp. (IPM-CDC), the garbage hauler of Bacolod City, should have 117 trips a day to catch up, she said.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez said the access road to the landfill is being cemented to address the difficulty of garbage trucks get...

Councilor Vladimir Gonzalez, City Tourism Officer Ma. Teresa Manalili, Councilor Jason Villarosa, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Crispin Chua, Oddette Ong Gomez and Jennifer Gochangco Ong (l-r) at the Bacolaodiat Festival press conference on Friday.*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said 18th edition of the Bacolaodiat Festival set January 20-22 to usher in the Chinese New Year should also be a time to start moving on after the COVID-19 pandemic.This will be the start of a better year to come and a signal to return to normalcy, he said.The new COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City have been relatively low and there are even days when there are no reported cases, Benitez said at a press conference on Friday, to announce the Bacolaodiat Festival activities.“It’s now re...

The accident at the Circumferential Road Friday afternoon.*XFM photoA couple died after their motorcycle was hit by a fuel tanker at the intersection of Bangga Cory and the Circumferential Road in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, at 3:15 p.m. Friday, January 13.Killed was the motorcycle driver Jim Carl Huertas Macaya, 26, of Barangay Singcang and his girlfriend Angelu Magdaraog, 20, of Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod, PSSgt. Jose Marie Dela Paz said.The fuel tanker with Plate No. NBL 9261 was driven by Laurence Dalida Pandes, 28, of Prk. Sambag, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod, who is now in police custody.Pandes was traveling from west and executing right turn when he accidentally hit the motorcycle, a police report said.Macaya died instantaneously while Magdaraog passed away at the C...

A missing Hungarian national was found dead at the shoreline of Purok Batad Barangay Sampinit, Bago City, Thursday, January 12.Laszlo Matyas, 63, had been missing since Monday, January 9, PSMS Job Ogares said Friday.There appeared to be no foul play based on their investigation, Ogares said.The victim was taking medicine for prostate cancer and a heart ailment, his live in partner Jane Alvarez told the police.Alvarez said she returned to their house at Purok Mahidaeton Brgy. Sampinit, from the market at 12 p.m. January 9 and Matyas was missing.She searched for Matyas but when he was nowhere to be found she sought the help of the police.The Hungarian arrived in Brgy. Sampinit on Oct. 6, 2022 after Alvarez met him in an online dating site.*

An 11-year-old boy drowned in Hda. Camantero 1, Brgy. Guimbala-on, Silay City, Negros Occidental, at 4 p.m. Thursday, January 12.A group of children were swimming at the overflow in the area, when the victim jumped into the culvert and was swept away by strong current, the police said.The boy was trapped inside the culvert which resulted to his drowning.His playmates sought help and a crew of the Silay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office who brought the victim to the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.*

A total of 4,476 families with 15,198 members were affected by flooding brought on by heavy rains in 41 barangays in five towns and four cities in Negros Occidental, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia reported at 3 p.m. Friday, January 13.There were 342 residents who evacuated. One house was destroyed and two were damaged in Barangay Cabatangan, Talisay City, while two others were also damaged in Sagay City, she said.Affected by the flooding were 7,663 residents of San Enrique, Valladolid - 5,795, Cadiz City – 878, Cauayan – 272, Candoni – 243, Sagay City - 169, Bago City – 115, Ilog – 49, and Talisay City -14.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the provincial government provided assistance in the form of rice, can goods and hygiene kits.Meanwhile, 55 p...