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Dec122022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Sugar production up, supply stable: Sarrosa

Consumers and industrial users can now enjoy the holiday rush as sugar supply in the country has stabilized, with the refineries churning out a substantially higher production than expected, compared to the same period last year, Tatak Kalamay spokesperson, Gerard Joseph Sarrosa, said Monday, December 12.Sugar Regulatory Administration records show that total refined sugar stock stands at 228,000 metric tons for the period of September to November, or 91 percent higher than that of last year’s record at 119,000 MT during the same period, Sarrosa said.Tatak Kalamay, an aggrupation of sugar industry stakeholders, also lauded the decision of the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the SRA to contain the importation program at 150,000 MT only instead of the earlier sugar order that pegg...

Dec112022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

940 Project FREE Paglaum scholars receive post-grad degrees at USLS

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The Project FREE graduates*A total of 940 provincial government teacher-scholars and diocesan scholars of the Batch 3 Project FREE Paglaum program earned their post-graduate degrees at graduation rites at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City on Friday, December 9.The scholars are beneficiaries of grants provided by the Negros Occidental provincial government through Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson as project grantor and the dioceses of Bacolod, Kabankalan and Dumaguete, a press release from USLS said.Lacson, in his message, emphasized the importance of education and its capacity to determine and influence the future.“As the governor of the small province, I believe in the potential of Negrense talents and capacities. And I know that with proper opportunities and e...

Dec112022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Let’s not talk about 2025 – guv

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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Cristmas party of the reporters covering the Capitol beat on Friday.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will not answer any questions about the 2025 polls in the province for now.“I have one request for 2023, let’s not talk about 2025 ever,” he said at the Christmas party of the reporters covering the Capitol beat on Friday, December 9.“Let’s wait for October 2024,” he said, referring to period when certificates of candidacy are filed for the 2025 polls.Lacson is on his second term as governor of Negros Occidental and can still run for a third term.The governor also said 2022 has been challenging with the Negros Occidental provincial government keeping a close watch to protect the province’s swine industry from African swi...

Dec112022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod truck ban amended, new traffic scheme begins

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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, 4th from left, presides over a truck ban consultation on Saturday.*The multiple-approach to easing traffic in Bacolod during the holidays, with some amendments to the truck ban, will kick off Monday, December 12, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said Sunday.“This will be on an experimental basis, if it doesn’t work then we adjust, rest assured that I will be on top of this and make sure it's properly implemented,” Benitez said.After a consultation with stakeholders from the business sector on Saturday, Benitez said the Bacolod circumferential road truck ban that was initially planned to be implemented from 6 a.m. to 9.pm. was amended.Under the amended rule there will be a complete truck ban from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p....

Dec112022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negros Covid related deaths 11 in December, PIMT says

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There have been 11 COVID-19 related deaths in Negros Occidental in the first 11 days of December, a Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) report showed.The PIMT report also showed 287 active COVID-19 cases on Sunday, December 11.The COVID-19 related deaths reported on December 1 were two, December 5 – three, December 9 – five and December 10 – one.Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Negros Occidental provincial health officer, on Friday, December 9, reiterated the call for Negrenses to get vaccinated against COVID-19, especially because of the numerous gatherings during the holidays.The majority of the COVID-related deaths in the province have involved unvaccinated persons with comorbidities, he said.*

Dec112022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Hefty fuel rollback expected on Tuesday

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Another hefty rollback of fuel prices is expected starting Tuesday, December 13, Unioil Petroleum Philippines announced Saturday.Diesel prices should go down by P3.30 to P3.40 per liter and gasoline by P1.80 to P1.90 per liter by Tuesday, Unioil said.Oil firms also cut diesel prices by P1.90 per liter, gasoline by P1.95 per liter and kerosene by P1.65 per liter on on December 6.Department of Energy data shows that year-to-date total adjustments for gasoline stand at a net increase of P14.95 per liter, P28 per liter for diesel and P23.55 per liter for kerosene.*

Dec112022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Oppose Maharlika Wealth Fund on social media, Guanzon urges

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Retired Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon*Retired Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon is calling on Negrenses and the Filipino people to oppose the Maharlika Wealth Fund (MWF) bill on social media before it is too late.Guanzon said Filipinos can hold up signs opposing the MWF and post their photos on social media or do a TikTok “no, no, no dance” to let their representatives and senators know how they feel.“You can do it anyway you want but please make your objections known to your representatives and senators by posting your opinions and objections on social media,” otherwise they will pass the MWF into a law, warned Guanzon, who is also a former mayor of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental.The MWF is a sovereign wealth fund which will be used...

Dec112022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Groups claim human rights violations in Negros ‘worse’

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Progressive groups hold a protest on International Human Rights Day in front of the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City.*Bayan Negros photoThe human rights situation in Negros Island has worsened under the Marcos administration, progressive groups claimed in a statement issued during International Human Rights Day on Saturday, December 10.“The new Marcos regime seems to relish in continuing this legacy. Not even six months into his term, there is continued hamletting of far-off peasant communities, where the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other state mercenaries fabricate ‘encounters’ with alleged rebels to justify the displacement of civilians,” local chapters of Bayan and Karapatan said in a statement.In Himamaylan City, they said that “more than 15,000 civilians were fo...

Dec112022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bago tops WV tax, fees collection efficiency

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Bago Treasurer Caruso Villaflor Jr. (right) presents to Mayor Nicholas Yulo the trophies given to the city government during the Bureau of Local Government Finance and Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors in Region VI Inc. recognition rites held in Murcia, Negros Occidental, recently.*Bago PIO photoBago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo lauded the men and women behind the City Treasurer’s Office for their exemplary work as the local government topped the tax and other fees collection efficiency in Western Visayas.Bago bagged three awards during the Bureau of Local Government Finance and Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors in Region VI Inc. (Regata VI) recognition ceremony held at the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia town recently , a press release fr...

Dec92022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Lacson, Benitez issue joint EO setting guidelines vs. bird flu

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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (l-r)*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez have issued a joint executive order establishing the guidelines for the ban on the entry of all live domestic and wild birds, and their products, including eggs and manure, from areas with reported cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu.The ban covers live birds and their products from Luzon, Mindanao, Panay and Guimaras.Exempted from the ban are raw poultry meat regardless of shipping origin, subject to compliance with requirements.The guidelines set the powers and responsibilities of veterinary inspectors.The EO also outlines also outlines the strengthening of biosa...