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Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez*Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) filed House Bill 4303 on Wednesday, August 31, that seeks to create agricultural trading centers called “Bagsakan ng Bayan Markets” in every province.Agriculture is the backbone of the Philippine economy, being a major source of employment, Benitez said, pointing out that 27 percent of the country’s labor force are working in the sector.However, the share of agriculture in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been declining over the years – from 27.4 percent in 1974 to just 9.7 percent in 2016, he said.Farmers and fisherfolk are also the poorest segments of the population – at 31.6 percent poverty incidence among farmers in 2018, and 26.2 percent among fisherfolk, he said.Recogni...

A fire destroyed 11 houses in Purok Amor, Lopez Jaena Street, Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City, Wednesday morning, August 31.*BFP Bacolod photoTwo fires destroyed 12 houses in Bacolod City on Wednesday, August 31.A fire hit 11 houses in Purok Amor, Lopez Jaena Street, Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City, at 10:55 a.m., the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bacolod reported.The houses were made of light materials and were built close to each other.Medical personnel attended to two persons who were injured, two who suffered from smoke inhalation, and two from trauma.Estimated damage was initially placed at P900,000, the BFP said.The fire started from the ceiling of the house of Jethro Mosang and Edwin dela Cruz, the BFP report said.At 3:41 p.m. another fire destroyed a boa...

Former governor Roel Degamo.*Roel Degamo FB photoThe Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to resolve the poll complaint of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo in the last election.In its 17-page ruling on August 16, which was shared to the public by the former governor on Tuesday, August 30, the high court approved the petition for mandamus filed by Degamo against the failure of the poll body to stop the candidacy of a nuisance candidate in the gubernatorial race of the province.The SC asked COMELEC why it did not take action to disqualify Ruel Degamo when its 2nd Division has already declared him as a nuisance candidate.Then Bayawan City Mayor Pryde Henry Teves was elected as the new governor after he garnered 296,897 votes against D...

The payloader that hit the two motorcycles in San Carlos City on Tuesday, August 30.*San Carlos PNP photoOne person was killed and two others were injured when a payloader crashed into the motorcycles they were riding on at Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, August 30.Killed was motorcycle driver Jodel Locsin, 24, while injured was his rider, Carlo Dinglasa 24, and another motorcycle driver, Renante Canopin, 40.The motorcycles were hit by the payloader driven by 59-year-old Fortunato Sayson, who lost control of the vehicle because of a mechanical problem.The victims were brought to the San Carlos City Hospital, but Locsin was declared dead on arrival.The suspect is detained at the custodial facility of the San Carlos police.*

PAHO/WHO photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government is initially allocating P15 million for monkeypox RT-PCR test kits, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Tuesday, August 30.The provincial government is preparing its molecular laboratory at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City for the conduct of monkeypox tests, he said.Negros Occidental medical technologists have already been identified for training at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Diaz added.The Negros Occidental and Bacolod health officials are currently working on joint protocols for handling of monkeypox cases, he said.Hopefully the protocols will be out soon, Diaz said.No monkeypox case has been detected in Negros Occidental so far.ANNUAL BUDGETDiaz...

The victim’s body at the scene of the accident.*Kabankalan PNP photoA woman died after she fell from her motorcycle at Zone 4, Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Monday, August 29.The victim was identified as 27-year-old Riza Mae Buerom of Hilamonan.Lt. Col. Raymond Cruz, Kabankalan police chief, said it was initially reported that the victim was shot as residents heard what sounded like gunfire and found her bloodied body on the pavement.However, the initial medical examination showed that she died from a head injury and had no bullet wound, he said.But the body of the victim will still be subjected to an autopsy to confirm that there was no gunshot wound, the police said.*

The Negros Occidental provincial government is allocating P16 million for the development and expansion of the production of Robusta coffee in the province, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Tuesday, August 30.Assistance will also be given to four coffee producing communities in La Castellana, Cadiz City, La Carlota City and Sipalay City for processing plants, he said.Diaz said only 8 metric tons of coffee is being produced annually on about 8,000 hectares, which is very low and is barely 10 percent of what is expected.Good yield should have at least about 90 metric tons, which is their aim in the next three years, he said.The coffee plantations are operated by people’s organizations and non- government organizations, some of whom have Special Agreements on Pr...

Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez* Ronnie Baldonado photoMayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez issued a memorandum on Tuesday, August 30, to all Victorias City government employees to observe proper conduct while hosting persons on official travel.Benitez issued the memorandum in view of the recent suspension of five employees of the Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist who have been formally charged for grave misconduct.The five OPA staff made a provincial government vehicle and its driver wait beyond office hours while they engaged in a drinking spree with Victorias government employees at a restaurant in Victorias City, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said earlier.Benitez, in his memorandum, said ”everyone, regardless of the nature...

Negros Occidental, Iloilo Province and Antique still have the highest number of dengue cases in Western Visayas, the Department of Health reported Tuesday, August 30.Western Visayas had 414 new dengue cases and four deaths from August 14 to 20 or Morbidity Week 33 for a total of 10,899 cases and 63 deaths this year.The cases from January 1 to August 20 are 600 percent higher than those in the same period last year, the DOH report said.Negros Occidental is still the topnotcher with 3,648 cases and 24 deaths, or more than one third of the total cases in Western Visayas for this year.Antique has 2,213 cases and 10 deaths, Iloilo province – 2,079 cases and 16 deaths, Iloilo City – 793 cases and one death, Bacolod City - 669 cases and eight deaths, Capiz – 526 cases and one deat...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez launched a Citizens Kuryente Watch on Tuesday, August 30, where Bacolod residents can report their electricity problems to him so they can be acted on.Survey results 10 hours after the Citizens Kuryente Watch was launched on the Albee Benitez Facebook page showed that 96.3 percent of the of the 383 respondents said it is not easy to contact the Central Negros Electric Cooperative hotline.There were also 67 percent who said the payment of CENECO bills is easy and 33 percent who disagreed.Topping the list of complaints were the high cost of electricity, unscheduled brownouts and appliances destroyed during power interruptions.Those who wish to report electricity problems to the mayor may use this linkhttps://bit.ly/KURYENTEWATCH or scan ...