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The devastation caused by Typhoon Paeng has prompted the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) to seek the intervention of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to raise the suggested retail price (SRP) of sugar from the current P70 per kilo to P85-90 at least.UNIFED President Manuel Lamata said "our sugar farmers need help to recover from the damage caused by the recent typhoon that has inundated hundreds of sugar farms from north to south of Negros and the rest of the Visayas."Lamata is also asking if millgate prices can be increased by at least P60 to stabilize the price at P3,000/LKg. Currently, the millgate price is at about P2,900 per LKg, he said.Before the typhoon, Lamata said millgate prices were already going down but seeing the damage Paeng wrought, we need the immedia...

An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed and weapons were seized by the Army in an encounter at Sitio Mambog, Brgy Planas, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, October 29, during Tropical Storm “Paeng”.The Army said the 62nd Infantry “Unifier” Battalion troops while on alert to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations were informed by typhoon-affected evacuating residents of the presence of the rebels.They immediately responded to the information and encountered about 20 members of the NPA.As the troops approached the area they were fired upon by the rebels and a 30-minute gun battle ensued, the Army said.While conducting pursuit operations another armed encounter ensued between the government soldiers and rebels in Sitio Ilihan,...

Mayor Joedith Gallego inspects Tropical Storm “Paeng” destroyed houses in Silay City , Negros Occidental, Saturday morning.* Mayor Joedith Gallego FB page photoFloods brought on by Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” hit 28,722 residents, 11,173 of whom sought shelter in evacuation centers, in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City on Friday and Saturday, October 28 to 29.Many began returning home when the waters subsided on Saturday.A fisherman is missing, houses and pumpboats were destroyed, and cemeteries were flooded.There were 6,285 families with 27, 156 individuals affected by the flooding in seven cities and nine towns in Negros Occidental as of 9 a.m. Saturday, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said.She said 2,435 families with 9,607 individuals were in evacu...

Bureau of Fire Protection rescue operations in Bacolod City Friday.*BFP 6 photoFlooding in Bacolod City caused 511 residents to evacuate as of 9:44 p.m. Friday, October 28.The 125 families with 511 members were in eight evacuation centers in barangays 36, 2, 16, 31, Singcang, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay and Banago, the city Public Information Office reported.Also affected by flooding in Bacolod City were barangays 39, Estefania, 35, Mandalagan, Taculing, Sum-ag, and Alijis.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez suspended work in all Bacolod City government departments at noon Friday, except for essential workers under the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, City Health Office , Department of Social Services Division and employees performing vital functions related to rel...

A rescue boat picked up 45 Sipaway Island residents in San Carlos City Friday afternoon after the Philippine Coast Guard cancelled pumpboat trips.*San Carlos DRRMO photoAn airplane aborted landing at the Bacolod-Silay Airport amid foul weather, and all sea travel to and from ports of Negros Occidental were cancelled after Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted over the Visayas at 11 a.m. Friday, October 28.Cebu Pacific Flight 5J487 was about to land at the Bacolod Silay Airport Friday afternoon but its pilot pulled up because of bad weather and returned to Manila.The Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel to and from the BREDCO and Banago ports in Bacolod City, and the ports in Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante and San Carlos cities on Friday.It said 496 passengers and 2...

Residents in Silay City wade through  flood waters on Friday, October 28.* Mayor Joedeth  Gallego FB page photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson placed Negros Occidental under red alert Friday, October 28, as Tropical Storm “Paeng” intensified and signal number one was hoisted over the province.The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) reported 17,011 persons affected by flooding, with 1,279 in evacuation centers in four towns and three cities of Negros Occidental as of 4 p.m. Friday.Some local government units were conducting preemptive evacuations Friday night as flooding continued.In Cauayan town one house was destroyed and three were damaged, Social Welfare Officer Eugenia Caña said.Mayor Marvin Malacon said 10 houses were destroyed in the coasta...

The Philippine Coast Guard installs a new commander for its Western Visayas district.* CGDWV photoThe Philippine Coast Guard District Western Visayas installed its new commander at its headquarters in Iloilo City on Friday, October 28.Commodore Edgar Ybañez was succeeded by Commodore Arnaldo Lim, a native of Isabela province.The turnover of command was led by Vice Admiral Rolando Punzalan Jr.Prior to his assignment in the region, Lim was the former commander of Coast Guard District National Capital Region-Central Luzon, and Coast Guard Weapons, Communications, Electronics, and Information System Command.He was also the former district commander of Coast Guard District Palawan and has served as commanding officer of BRP Habagat (TB-271).He is a graduate of the Philip...

Ambulance workers at the scene of the crime.*Cadiz PNP photoA businessman allegedly killed a security guard because of a traffic altercation at Villena Street, Barangay Zone 2, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, October 27.Killed was 57-year-old Arnold Belocura.Lt. Col. Gil John Despi, Cadiz City police chief, said the victim who was on board a bicycle was allegedly hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by the suspect identified as Mark Besa, 40.This resulted to a heated argument after the victim confronted the suspect, the police said.Despi said the suspect got irked after the victim reportedly cursed him.Besa then shot the victim who was hit in the armpit. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.The police recovered a .45 caliber pistol...

The recovered items from the drug bust in Kabankalan City on Friday, October 28.*Kabankalan PNP photoTwo suspects were arrested during a drug buy-bust operation at Prk. Dondonay, Brgy. Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Friday, October 28.Nabbed were Ivan Lazarito, 36, the subject of the buy-bust operation, and 18-year-old Zedrich Bohol, who was tagged by the police as street-level individual.When they were arrested, Lazarito yielded a .45 caliber pistol loaded with 10 ammunition, while recovered from Bohol were 22 grams of suspected shabu worth P149,600.They also yielded the P3,500 buy-bust money and drug paraphernalia.The suspects are now in the custody of the Kabankalan police, facing charges for possession of illegal drugs and a firearm.*

Crowds are expected to troop to cemeteries early next week.*Ronnie Baldonado photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, October 28, that he is encouraging the public to still wear masks while visiting cemeteries to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to drive safely.All Souls Day and All Saints Day are set on November 1 and 2He also urged residents travelling for leisure during the holidays to be careful, especially now that it is milling season and trucks are parked on the side of the road. “Do not rush anyway you will reach your destination,” Lacson said.Lacson said drinking alcohol and bringing weapons to cemeteries are prohibited.*