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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejects the proposal of the Sugar Regulatory Administration.*OPS photoPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has rejected the proposal of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to import an additional 300,000 metric tons of sugar, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles announced Wednesday, August 10.The SRA’s call for the importation of sugar was made as the retail price of a kilo of refined sugar breached the P100 mark amid a reported shortage in supply.“The President rejected the proposal to import an additional 300,000 MT of sugar. He is the chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board and denied this in no uncertain terms,” the press secretary said.Sugar Order No. 4 Series of 2021-2022 dated Tuesday, August 9, set the second import program for crop year...

Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” J. Valderrama Jr. (left) after his oathtaking as Sugar Board member before Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*Three planters’ groups have issued a manifesto in support of President Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr.’s appointment of Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” J. Valderrama Jr.  as Sugar Board member.The manifesto of support, released Wednesday, August 10, was signed by Enrique D. Rojas of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) Raymond V. Montinola - Confederation of Sugar Producers (CONFED) and Danilo Abelita – Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc. (PanayFed).Vaderrama, in an open letter to the sugarcane industry and its stakeholders, Wednesday also thanked the president for the opportunity to serve the sugarcane industry as planters’ re...

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a recent meeting*Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer reiterated on Wednesday, August 10, that he will protect President Ferdinand "BBM" Marcos Jr. insofar as the appointment of Sugar Regulatory Administration acting board member Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr."As a loyal supporter, leader, friend,  family and the president's personal adviser, I will protect him especially in choosing the right leaders for the sugar industry who are truly deserving of the president's appointment," Ferrer said in a press statement.Ferrer on Tuesday called for the revocation of the president’s appointment of Valderrama.The acting SRA Board member was known as a hard core pink supporter and h...

The alleged NPA tax collector.*NORPPO photoAn alleged tax collector of the New People’s Army was arrested in  Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Monday, August 8.Nabbed was 32-year-old Roldan Villareco Baydal, who was said to be a tax collector of NPA’s Central Negros 1 of the Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.His arrest was by virtue of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms issued by Guihulngan Regional Trial Court  Judge Ma. Anna Priscila Pareja on August 3.During the arrest, the suspect yielded a rifle grenade, and a .38-caliber revolver with three rounds of live ammunition.The suspect is now in the custody of the Guihulngan police.*

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez on Tuesday, August 9, said he ordered the City Human Resource Office to investigate the employees who allegedly took part in a “drinking spree” with personnel from the Office of the Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) on July 15.He said they have already discussed the matter with   the concerned employees from the Victorias Agriculture Office   to get their side and   maintain impartiality.“We have also asked our HR to look into the matter…. We do not tolerate unprofessional acts especially during official business," Benitez said.The Provincial Legal Office has issued  show cause orders  to five employees of the OPA for allegedly taking part in a “drinking  session” in Victorias...

Two suspects yielded P550,800 worth of drugs in a buy-bust operation at Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City Tuesday, August 9.*BCPO photoMore than P500,000 worth of drugs were seized and  two suspects, including a high-value target, were arrested in a police buy-bust operation at Purok Kawayan, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, August 9.Nabbed were high-value individual Rodmar “Zan” Abada, 37, and Aunice “Denice” Latuna, 28.Recovered from their possession were the P1,000 marked money, 21 sachets of suspected shabu worth P550,800, a sling bag, and the P250 cash proceeds.The suspects are now detained at Police Station 3 and are facing drug charges.*

The body of the farmer who was killed in Kabankalan City on Sunday, August 7.*Kabankalan PNP photoA farmer was shot and hacked to death at Barangay Tampalon in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 7.Killed was Romeo Juanico, 38, of Barangay Camingawan.Police investigation showed that the three suspects - two brothers and their uncle - chanced upon the victim and attacked him.One of the suspects shot the victim several times. When he fell to the ground, the two other suspects hacked and stabbed him to death,  the police added.Police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.*

Dengue deaths in Negros Occidental hit 17, with three new fatalities in week 31 of 2022, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, said Tuesday, August 9.He stressed the need for those hit with dengue to seek early medical help to prevent deaths.Negros Occidental had 2,948 dengue cases as of July 30, which is 956.63 percent higher than those in the same period last year.Meanwhile, Negros Occidental had 27 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday for a total of 140 active cases, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported. The province also had two new COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday and one on Monday, it added.The province also had one COVID-19 death on Monday, it added.Negros Occidental has fully vaccinated 76.62 percent of its target population against COVID-19, and 60.49...