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Feb152023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

USLS featuring 75 Negrense filmmakers in Bacolod Short Film Festival Feb. 15-17

Over 80 film works from 75 Negrense filmmakers are being showcased in the 3-day Bacolod Short Film Festival at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) that kicked of Wednesday and will run until Friday, February 17.The Bacolod Short Film Festival (BSFF), formerly known as Bacolod Shorts, is an annual event organized by the USLS Institute of the Moving Image in collaboration with the La Salle Film Society under the University’s Artists’ Hub, and the Museo De La Salle Bacolod.BSFF aims to showcase the growing young talents of filmmaking in the region and highlight the creativity of local filmmakers through an exhibition, a press release from USLS said.Some short films to be showcased in the BSFF have previously participated in various local and national film festivals and have rece...

Feb152023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Importation transparency urged as sugar oversupply fears aired

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Sugar leaders Enrique Rojas, Aurelio Valderrama Jr. and Manuel Lamata (l-r)*Leaders of two sugar groups said on Wednesday, February 15, that the 440,000 metric tons of sugar to be imported is more than what is needed and could drive down domestic millgate prices to the detriment of small farmers.The impending importation of 440,000 MT of sugar will trigger an oversupply that will cause more financial suffering to sugarcane planters, particularly the marginal farmers, Enrique Rojas, National Federation of Sugarcane Planters president, said.“The 440,000 MT importation is more than enough for our projected production shortfall. NFSP, together with CONFED (Confederation of Sugar Producers Association) and PANAYFED (Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers), recommended that the import...

Feb152023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Labor to BBM: Probe sugar import corruption, appoint DA secretary

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The Save the Sugar Industry Movement (SAVE-SIM) leaders at a press conference Wednesday*A coalition of labor groups is calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to seriously investigate the alleged corruption in the impending importation of sugar and appoint an agriculture secretary to address the problems of the industry.The Save the Sugar Industry Movement (SAVE-SIM) also slammed the reported entry of shiploads of smuggled sugar into the country through the Port of Batangas.“May we respectfully suggest that the president appoint a secretary of agriculture who can assess and evaluate the problems confronting the sugar industry,” Wennie Sancho, SAVE-SIM lead convenor, said at a press conference in Bacolod City on Wednesday, February 15.The survival of the people of Negros O...

Feb152023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Albee recognized for role in creation of DHSUD

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Former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Senator JV Ejercito, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez and Senators Risa Hontiveros (l-r) at the DHSUD 4th Anniversary.*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez was honored by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development on its 4th Anniversary at the DHSUD Central Office in Quezon City on Tuesday, February 14, for his contribution to its creation.Benitez, who was given a plaque of appreciation, was recognized, together with former Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte and other sectoral stakeholders, for their important contribution in the creation of DHSUD.Benitez, former representative of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental, authored the H...

Feb142023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Former Isabela treasurer replies to show cause order

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The former acting treasurer of Isabela town in Negros Occidental has submitted her reply to a show cause order issued against her for the loss of municipal government funds under her watch, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Tuesday, February 14.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz had issued Cashier 1 Nenette Escarda a show cause order and directed her to explain within five days why no criminal, civil and administrative cases should be filed against her.Escarda, who submitted her reply Monday, met the five-day deadline, Nellas said.“After this we will conduct a preliminary investigation whether or not she warrants to be formally charged,” he said.The rules state that it should be resolved within 20 days, but they will try to do it earlier considering Esca...

Feb142023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

10 city police officials get new assignments

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Ten Bacolod police officials have been resigned to new posts effective Monday, February 13.The order approved by PCol. Thomas Martir, Bacolod police director, designated Lt. Col. Joeffer Cabural as Bacolod City Mobile Force Company head, Maj. Ramel Sarona -Traffic Enforcement Unit officer in charge (OIC), Maj. Junji Liba, TEU assistant chief, and Maj. Joery Puerto - City Intelligence Unit OIC.Maj. Ritchie Gohee was designated City Police Strategy Management Unit head.Maj. Elmer Bonilla has been designated Police Station 1 OIC, Capt. Greeky Cayao - Station 4 OIC, Capt. Edward Bolivar - Station 7 OIC, Capt. Glenn Montaño – Police Station 8 OIC and Lt. Jose Rollo Jr. – Station 3 deputy commander.*

Feb142023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

SC affirms Degamo victory as Negros Oriental governor

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Gov. Roel Degamo said “justice has been served to the people of Negros Oriental".*The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the petition of Pryde Henry A. Teves to regain the governorship of Negros Oriental from Roel Degamo during an en banc session on Tuesday, February 14.The SC upheld the decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) en banc declaring Roel Degamo the true winner in the May 2022 polls.Degamo, in his Facebook page, said “justice has been served to the people of Negros Oriental. To the most powerful God, thank you so much”.The SC, in dismissing the petitions filed by Teves and Grego “Ruel” G. Degamo against respondents Commission on Elections and Roel R. Degamo, said the COMELEC en banc “did not commit grave abuse of discretion in issuing its Resolution in SPA No...

Feb142023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

440,000 MT sugar import order inked, sent to BBM for review

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The 240,000 MT of imported sugar will serve as the country’s buffer stock*Sugar Order No. 6 granting the importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar was signed Monday, February 13, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board Member Pablo Luis “Paul” Azcona said Tuesday.The order has been sent to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for review prior to release, he said.The order was signed by members of the SRA Board and Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban as representative of the president, who is concurrent agriculture secretary, said Azcona, who represents the sugar planters.Other members of the board are SRA Administrator David John Thaddeus Alba and Ma. Mitzi Mangwag as representative of the sugar millers.All of the 440,000 MT will be coming into the country ...

Feb142023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Guv names tourism officer Panaad festival director

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Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl F. Decena is festival director of the Panaad sa Negros Festival 2023.*Ronnie Baldonado photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has designated Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl F. Decena festival director of the Panaad sa Negros Festival set April 17 to 23.Lacson in Executive Order No. 23-04-A Series of 2023 dated Monday, February 13, also designated Engineer Jose Maria Amugod, who was initially named festival director, as logistics head.Lacson said there was a need to amend his January 23 EO creating the organizing committee to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the annual event dubbed as the "Festival of all Festivals" of Negros Occidental.“There is a need to amend the different committees that will facilitate the o...

Feb142023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Neg. Occ. softball team tops Little League’s Visayas regionals

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It was another successful season for the Negros Occidental Softball Team as they bagged the first runner-up and the championship titles at the Little League Philippine Series – Visayas Regionals held at the Kamagsangkay Culture and Sports Complex in Pambujan, Northern Samar, February 5 to 11.The all-girls Softball Team was hailed the champion in the Majors Category after scoring 26-0 against the Tacloban team, winning by regulation. In the Juniors Category the Negrense softbelles took the first runner-up title after a defeat against the Bago City Team with a score of 3-1 in seven innings, a press release said Tuesday, February 14.Bago City also had a good start with a 3-point advantage (3-0) against the Negros young batters after the second inning in the Seniors Category. Team Negr...