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Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez with the Miss Bacolod MassKara 2022 contestants who were presented to the media at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, September 15.*Ronnie Baldonado photoFifteen contestants are vying for the Miss Bacolod MassKara 2022 crown and are also being groomed to participate in national and international pageants.Of the 90 who applied to join the pageant, only 15 qualified, Carlos Durana, Miss Bacolod MassKara 2022 chairperson, said during the presentation of the contestants at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, September 15.The prize for the Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe is P150,000, Miss Bacolod MassKara World - P100,000, Miss Bacolod MassKara International – P80,000, 1st runner up - P50,000 and 2nd runner up – P30,000, Durana ...

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz turns over a copy of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson’s proposed P5.1 billion 2023 Negros Occidental budget to Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer (center) as board members Julius Martin Asistio and Rommel Debulgado, and Gemma Flores (l-r) look on.*Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson‘s proposed P5.1 billion 2023 budget for Negros Occidental was submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer for review on Thursday afternoon, September 15.The proposed budget was submitted for Lacson by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz to Ferrer and Board Member Rommel Debulgado, SP Committee on Finance chairman.The proposed General Fund Budget for 2023 is P4,952,981,428, while the annual operating budget of the Economic Enterprise Development...

The Negrense Volunteers for Change signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez for the implementation of a MingoMeals Nutrition Program for 200 malnourished Bacolod children sponsored by the Angat Buhay project arm of former vice president Leni Robredo's Angat Pinas Inc. at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, September 15.The MOA was signed by Benitez, Councilor Kalaw Puentevella and Dr. Rosalie de Ocampo - City Nutrition Action Officer, for the city government, and by NVC president Millie Kilayko and trustee Tima Lacson.Local Angat Buhay volunteers will partner with the Barangay Nutrition Scholars deputized by the Bacolod City Nutrition Action Office on the ground by assisting to monitor the children by helping provide activities with t...

Hinigaran PNP photoA 22-year-old man was arrested after he was accused of raping an 11-year-old girl in Barangay Gargato, Hinigaran, in Negros Occidental on Monday, September 12.Lt. Col. Necerato Sabando, Hinigaran police chief, said the suspect barged into the victim’s room and pointed a knife at her.He allegedly threatened to kill the victim if she did not follow what he wanted her to do.The suspect was immediately arrested.The police said the man was courting the minor-victim.He is currently detained by the police and a case of rape has been filed against him.*

The P1.02 million worth of illegal drugs was recovered in this bag.*PDEA-6 photoA passenger at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (BREDCO) port was intercepted smuggling P1.02 million worth of illegal drugs Wednesday, September 14.The suspect was identified as Martial Delos Santos, 49, of Lapaz, Iloilo. He was bound for Dumangas, Iloilo when he was caught by authorities.The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Seaport Interdiction Unit said the passenger appeared restless after he refused to have his bag scanned at the port terminal.Their suspicion was confirmed after the K-9 sniffed the suspect’s bag and indicated there was a contraband inside.When the authorities checked, they found the shabu concealed in socks.The suspect, in a media interview, denied...

Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the appointment of Valerie Anne Hollero as consultant for health insurance and health care.*SP photoThere is a proposal for the Bacolod City government to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation with the Negros Occidental provincial government to strengthen bilateral relations, Councilor Al Victor Espino said Wednesday, September 14.Espino, chair of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on laws, ordinances and good government, said this was raised when the request of Mayor Alfredo Benitez to sign the consultancy agreements with three provincial government officials and a former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. executive was taken up during the SP regular session on Wednesday.The four proposed consultan...

Traditional jeepneys  now have  competition from  modern more comfortable  jeepneys in Bacolod City* Levi Trio photoThe Negros Bacolod Transport Coalition wants clarification on the exact routes of modernized jeepneys and where they can load and unload passengers, its secretary general Diego Malacad said on Wednesday, September 14.Modern jeepneys should have points of origin and destination, and designated off-street loading and unloading areas, he said.Malacad said his group has asked for a meeting with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and local government representatives on Thursday morning to clarify matters.They also want to know if traditional jeepneys will be allowed to operate only until September 30 or up...

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI announced on Wednesday, September 14, that there will be no educational assistance payouts for indigent students in Western Visayas on September 17 and 24 because the funds provided by the DSWD Central Office have run out.There have been 36,131 students-in-crisis who have been given a total of P101,326,000 in educational assistance in the region so far, the DSWD VI said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.Much as they would like to continue the distribution of educational assistance there are no funds left, it added.The DSWD VI office has submitted a proposal to the DSWD Central Office but so far no additional funds have been downloaded, the statement said.*

The arrival of imported sugar by mid-November, when most mills are already operating and sugar supply would have substantially stabilized, might dampen millgate sugar prices , Enrique Rojas, National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) president, said.* Ronnie Baldonado photoPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Sugar Order No. 2, Series of 2022-2023, allowing the importation of 150,000 metric tons of refined sugar to ensure adequate domestic supply and to stabilize prices.The order released Wednesday, September 14, said that 75,000 metric tons will be allocated to industrial users and 75,000 metric tons for consumers.The sugar must arrive in the country not later than November 15, it said.Sugar Order No. 2 was signed by Marcos as chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Ad...

Garbage being dumped at Barangay Palaka Sur, Pulupandan.*San Enrique Mayor Jilson Tubillara said on Wednesday, September 14, that he has ordered the immediate removal of the garbage from his town that was dumped on private property in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.Tubillara said it was not just San Enrique that dumped garbage in Pulupandan, Valladolid town, also did the same.San Enrique is removing its garbage and Valladolid will also have to remove what it dumped in the area, Tubillara said.Valladolid Mayor Enrique Marivalles could not be reached for comment.Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Antonio Peña on September 2 ordered Novo Torres to cease and desist from further operating an illegal open dumpsite within his property at Barangay Palaka Sur, Pulupandan, in violation of Re...