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Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Risa Hontiveros filed a “minority report” on the sugar importation fiasco on Tuesday, September 13.*Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez is not “blameless” in the recent Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4) importation fiasco, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Tuesday, September 13.Hontiveros and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, representing the Senate Minority Bloc, at a press conference released a report disagreeing with several findings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the controversial issuance of SO 4 granting the importation of 300,000 Mt.The Blue Ribbon Committee recommended the filing of charges against Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian, former Sugar Regulatory Administration administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, and board members ...

The scene of the crime in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City.*BCPO photoA senior citizen was killed by his neighbor in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, on Monday, September 12.Police identified the fatality as 60-year-old Eduard Tornia, who was watching television at his home when his neighbor allegedly barged in and stabbed him to death.Lt. Dax Santillan, officer-in-charge of Police Station 6, said the suspect identified as 29-year-old Louie John Barte could have hit the victim first on the head then stabbed him in the face.The police recovered the murder weapon and a steel rod from the scene of the crime.They are looking at grudges as the motive for the killing, Santillan said, adding that the victim and the suspect figured in an argument last month.The suspect, who ...

The extension cord that electrocuted the mother.*Bago PNP photoA mother died after she was electrocuted in her home at Brgy. Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, September 12.She was identified as Analie Martir, 42.The victim, who was with her two sons aged 9 and 6, was plugging a rechargeable radio to an extension cord when she was electrocuted, a police report said.The two boys, who witnessed the incident, immediately called their father for help.The victim was brought to the Bago City Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.*

The slaughterhouse perspective.*The bidding for the building of slaughterhouses in Hinoba-an and Cauayan towns in southern Negros Occidental worth P97 million has been completed, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, September 13.The Double A slaughterhouses will improve the safety of meat consumed by the public and boost the local hog industry, he said.The Cauayan slaughterhouse cost P47.4 million and the Hinoba-an slaughterhouse – P49. 6 million.The bidding for the construction of slaughterhouses in Toboso, Binalbagan, San Carlos City and Murcia will also be conducted, he said, adding that they have approved budgets of about P50 million each.Also being processed is the paperwork for the EB Magalona slaughterhouse, he added.The Negros Occidental pro...

The sugarcane truck that rammed into a house.*Isabela PNP photoThe sugarcane truck that crashed into a house in Barangay Guintubhan, Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Monday, September 12, led to the death of a senior citizen and injury to three others.The fatality was identified as 66-year-old Eduardo Malabon, while wounded were his nephew Ariel, his 15-year-old niece, and the truck helper, Dan Plohinog.Lt. Dante Balenario, Isabela police deputy chief, said the truck driver Erniel Terol, 37, lost control of the vehicle after he tried to avoid the tricycle in front of him, causing him to crash into the house.The victims were sitting outside of the house when the incident happened.The truck driver immediately surrendered to the police.*

Councilor Vladimir Gonzalez explains the land recovery project on his property in Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Banago.* Nico Delfin photoCouncilor Vladimir Gonzalez said on Tuesday, September 13, that Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez was just being fair when he ordered his firm to temporarily cease and desist from proceeding with its land recovery project in Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Banago, pending verification by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).The mayor is like a father of a family who does not take sides when his children are fighting, Gonzalez said.He understands that the mayor needs to be fair to all that is why he wants the DENR to render its opinion on the matter, Gonzalez said.Gonzalez said his firm, Home Invest Ventures Inc., received...

Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer and her husband, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, were among the guests at the birthday party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, September 13.*The consolidated substitute bill postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from Dec. 5, 2022, to Dec. 4, 2023 was approved by the House of Representatives on second reading on Tuesday, September 13, Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) said.House Bill 4673 is expected to also be approved on third and final reading.Ferrer, House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms vice chairperson, authored House Bill 00121 seeking the postponement of the BSKE that was consolidated into HB 4673.Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said ...

The 17 tenants of the Manokan Country have until the end of the month to pay their delinquent accounts to the Bacolod City government, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Monday afternoon, September 12.If they fail to pay, their spaces will be auctioned off to the next tenant, he said.The Bacolod City Legal Office (CLO) served final notices or demand letters to the 17 tenants of the Manokan Country to pay their delinquent accounts totaling P8.64 million or face closure on August 26.The City Treasurer’s Office has been able to collect P898,393.36 covering the 17 tenants’ partial payments, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said Tuesday.That leaves P7.7 million more in delinquent payments, Maghari added.*

The Philippines' sugar production for Crop Year 2022-2023 is expected to be 1,876,135.36 metric tons.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board on Tuesday, September 13, ordered the classification of all of the Philippines’ sugar production for Crop Year 2022-2023 as “B” to be sold in the domestic market.The Board is also expected to come out with Sugar Order No. 2 on Wednesday, September 14, granting the importation of 150,000 metric tons of refined sugar.The 75,000 MT will be for industrial users and 75,000 MT for consumers, SRA acting administrator David Alba said.This is to address the tightness of our sugar supply, he said.“Some sugar mills have already started milling and we will soon have a steady supply of sugar,” he said.Sugar Or...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Tuesday, September 13, issued an executive order allowing the optional wearing of face masks in open spaces and crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation.Executive Order No. 33 or "An order providing for the policy and guidelines in wearing of face masks within the territorial jurisdiction of Bacolod City" was issued in response to a similar order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday.Benitez, in EO 33, stressed that the wearing of face masks shall continue to be worn in hospitals, medical facilities, indoor private or public establishments, including public transportations by land, air, or sea.Individuals who are not fully vaccinated, senior citizens and immuno-compromised are highly encouraged to wear their face masks a...