Top Stories

Aug152022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez launches Bacolod Citizens Garbage Watch

A solar-powered Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera being installed at the Central Market on Monday.* Bacolod PIO photoThe Bacolod City government launched a Citizens Garbage Watch on Monday, August 15, that will enable residents to report their garbage problems to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.Dubbed “Isugid kay mayor ang problema sa basura (Report your garbage problem to the mayor), citizens can send garbage concerns by scanning this QR code:They can also report their garbage complaints by filling up a form at https://bit.ly/BASURAWATCH.The city government also installed four solar-powered Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the Central Market on Monday.The CCTV cameras are at Gonzaga-Bonifacio, Gonzaga-Gatuslao, Gatuslao-Luzuriaga and Luzuriaga...

Aug152022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negrense young softbelles bow to Mid Atlantic girls

Sports, Top Stories

It was a tough Sunday afternoon for the Negrense players in their semi-finals encounter with their Mid Atlantic rival at the 2022 Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina.Looking like a David versus Goliath challenge, indeed it was as the mid-Atlantic players were double or near triple the body size of the Negrense cuties, as some Americans describe them, a press release from the Negros Occidental Sports Office said Monday, August 15.The battle ended with an 11-0 final score in favor of the American team.The absence of the Negrense main pitcher added to the scenario as she had already played 12 innings as one rule of the Little League World Series dictates. Added to the rival's advantage was their full batting that balls went flying in full power giving...

Aug152022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Marcos: Sugar sufficient, ‘no need to import just yet’

Top Stories

President Ferdinand Marcos explains the state of the country's sugar supply.*President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Sunday that the country has sufficient supply of sugar and “there is no need to import just yet”.Marcos, in his weekly blog, stressed that there is enough local supply that should be consumed first before the country resorts to importation, a press release from the Office of the Press Secretary said Monday, August 15.But Marcos noted that the supply might dwindle by October.“There is a possibility that by October, our supply in the Philippines will be depleted. We might need to import”, he said but not as much as 300,000 metric tons.“Perhaps 150,000 (metric) tons would be good for the entire year,” he said.Malacañang earlier called for a probe into the...

Aug152022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Cops seize P4.3M in shabu, arrest suspect in Bacolod

Top Stories

The shabu seized at Prk. Masinadyahon, Brgy Pahanocoy, Bacolod City.* BCPO photoThe police seized 635 grams of suspected shabu valued at P4.3 million at Prk. Masinadyahon, Brgy Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, 8:19 p.m. Sunday, August 14.Nabbed was Ahzer Gregorio Villarosa, 36, of Prk. Masinadyahon, the police reportedHe was nabbed by Police Station 8 operatives in a buy bust operation.Confiscated were eight sachets of shabu, a P1,000 bill and 49 pieces of boodle money and a sling bag containing an estimated 635 grams of shabu, the police said.The suspect is detained at Police Station 8.*

Aug142022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

House to look into sugar importation mess – Kiko

Top Stories

Two House committees will convene Monday to look into the “illegal issuance” by the Sugar Regulatory Administration board of an order granting the importation of 300,00 MT of sugar, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said Sunday, August 14.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revoked Sugar Order No .4 last week, saying it was issued without his knowledge or approval.Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian resigned on Friday amid an ongoing investigation of officials involved in the signing of Sugar Order No. 4.Benitez said the House committees on good governance and public accountability and agriculture will convene to seek clarifications.Meanwhile, eight sectoral groups in a joint statement Sunday called for non-political and proper representation of farmers ...

Aug142022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Date for postponed barangay, SK polls still being determined

Top Stories

The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in December could be postponed to May 2023 or May 2024, Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said Sunday, August 14.Benitez said he expects the Lower House to pass a bill by early October or November postponing the BSKE.He said numerous bills have been filed seeking the postponement of the polls, it will have to be determined which proposal will be adopted by the Lower House.The proposed dates for the polls range from May 2023 to December 2024, he said.*

Aug142022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Three Negrenses caught in P2.72B drug busts in Pangasinan, La Union

Top Stories

Part of the P2.72 billion in drugs seized.*PDEA photoThree Negrenses were among the suspects caught in separate drug bust operations in Pangasinan and La Union on Friday, August 12.The multi-agency operations headed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency led to the recovery of P2.72 billion worth of illegal drugs, which were packed in Chinese tea bags.Nabbed at Turquoise Street, Sunshine Village, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, were Rey Yago, 29, and Ritchell Repuesto. 28, of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, and their companions - Chinese national Ke “James Dagale Galopo” Wujia, 49, of San Vicente Sur, Agoo, La Union, and 22-year-old Johnbert Yagong of San Agustin Norte, Agoo, La Union.At least 360 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P2.448 billion were seized from the su...

Aug142022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Victorias mayor pushing for creation of Gawahon Development Authority

Top Stories

Victorias Mayor Javi Benitez and his girlfriend Sue Ramirez at the Gawahon Eco Park on Sunday.*Victorias Mayor Javier “Javi” Benitez said on Sunday, August 14, that he is pushing for the passage of an ordinance creating the Gawahon Development Authority to manage and further boost the protection of the Gawahon Eco Park in his city.Benitez, at the 17th anniversary of the Northern Negros Natural Park held at the Gawahon Eco Park, stressed the need to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic development.They are conserving the environment by having Bantay Bukid personnel protect trees and birds at the Gawahon Eco Park, which they will make as sustainable as possible, he said.They will go after those engaged in illegal logging and hunting, he s...

Aug142022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

2 unidentified men rob 7-Eleven in Cauayan

Top Stories

Police investigating the robbery incident at a 7-Eleven store.*Cauayan PNP photoTwo unidentified persons robbed a 7-Eleven store at Magsaysay Street in Brgy. Poblacion, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Saturday, August 13.Initial investigation showed that the two suspects entered the store and held the cashier at gunpoint and declared hold-up.The suspects carted away at least P20,000, which they took from the cash drawer.The police are still investigating the incident.*

Aug142022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Metro 3rd reorganizes Inter-Local Health Zone

Top Stories

Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, Rep. Francisco Benitez and Victorias Mayor Javier Benitez (l-r) at the Inter-local Health Zone meeting on Friday.*Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) rallied the Third District Inter-local Health Zone (ILHZ) to continue the work of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of his District Office with the support of the provincial government and local government units on Friday, August 12.The EOC was created to coordinate and better manage the response to medical needs of the populace at the start and at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to 2021, a press release from his office said Sunday, August 14.He convened the members of the North Central Negros ILHZ together with Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, Teresita Lopez...