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The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved a resolution expressing its strong support for several pending legislative measures in the 20th Congress that seek to substantially increase the salaries and improve the benefits of public school teachers nationwide, Councilor  Caesar Distrito said Thursday, June 11..The resolution, authored by Distrito, appeals to both the Senate and the House of Representatives, through Deputy Speaker alfredo Abelardo  Benitez and other concerned officials, to prioritize the passage of these measures into law.Distrito said  the passage of these measures would help address the economic challenges faced by educators while recognizing their indispensable role in shaping future generations of Filipinos.“Teachers remain the backbone of o...

The scene of the fatal road crash.* LTO photoThe Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region has served a show cause order to Vallacar Transit Inc. over a fatal road crash in Silay City, Negros Occidental that killed a three-year-old child.LTO-NIR said the order was served to the management of the bus company at its North Terminal in Bacolod City on Wednesday, June 10.The order stemmed from the June 1 road incident in Silay City involving one of the company’s buses, a Toyota Vios, and an e-bike.Based on the report cited by LTO-NIR, the bus allegedly sideswiped the Toyota Vios.The impact reportedly caused the Vios to hit an e-bike, resulting in the death of the three-year-old passenger.Personnel of the LTO-NIR Intelligence and Investigation Unit personally served...

An 18-year-old student classified as a high-value individual was arrested in a buy-bust operation that yielded P1.08 million worth of suspected shabu in Bacolod City on Wednesday, June 10.Police identified the suspect as alias “Bords,” 18, single, unemployed, and a resident of Purok Gonzaga, Brgy. Taculing.The operation was conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office in Purok Gonzaga.Police said the suspect is a Grade 12 student who was allegedly engaged in illegal drug activities in Brgy. Taculing and nearby areas.The operation was conducted after police received information from a confidential informant and validated the report through casing and surveillance.Police said the suspect allegedly sourced illegal drugs from an unidentified...

Three persons died while another was critically injured in two road crashes  in Negros Occidental, on Wednesday night, June 10.In Manapla, a motorcycle rider died while another rider was critically injured in a collision at KM 39 of the National Highway in Brgy. Tortosa at around 9:50 p.m.Police identified the fatality only as  “Jam,” of legal age and a resident of Brgy. 1-B, Manapla, who was driving a blue Yamaha Aerox 155 motorcycle.The other driver was identified as  “JM,” 24, a resident of Hacienda Napongolan, Brgy. Tortosa, who was driving a red Rusi motorcycle without a plate number and without a valid driver’s license.Police investigation showed that Jam was traveling from Manapla toward Victorias City, while JM had stopped at the center of the road an...

Screengrab of Sipalay fire from Roy Dahotoy Aday videoFire hit a house in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday morning, June 10.The fire hit the house of  “Rang,” 39, at Purok 3, Brgy. 2, the police reported Thursday.The Sipalay police  received a call about the fire from a concerned citizen at around 11:29 a.m.Police personnel proceeded to the area to verify the report and conduct an initial investigation.Investigation showed that the victim’s house and several personal belongings were damaged by the fire.The Bureau of Fire Protection-Sipalay City declared the fire out at around 8:45 a.m.The estimated property damage was placed at P360,000.The BFP said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.*

A 56-year-old laborer was found dead inside his residence in La Castellana, Negros Occidental on Wednesday afternoon, June 10.Police identified the victim as  “Jing2x,” a resident of Purok 3, Brgy. Cabacungan.The La Castellana Municipal Police Station said it received information from the victim’s neighbor at around 5:30 p.m. that he was found dead inside his house.Police said the neighbor went to check on the victim and bring him food after not seeing him for several days.The neighbor repeatedly called out to the victim but received no response.She then entered the house and found him unresponsive and no longer breathing.Investigation showed that the victim had been suffering from tuberculosis for more than five years.Police also learned that his immediate...

Pixabay file photoA 52-year-old farmer died after he was struck by lightning in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 9.Police identified the victim as alias “Lito,” a resident of Sitio Crossing, Brgy. Mahalang.Investigation showed that the victim went to his farm at around 3 p.m. to plant sugarcane.Police said the victim was on his way home because of heavy rainfall when he was struck by lightning.A neighbor rushed him to the Kabankalan District Hospital but he was declared dead  by the attending physician.Police said the incident was caused by a natural occurrence due to adverse weather conditions.No signs of foul play were noted.*

Benitez, Marañon and Escalante (l-r)*Who  will be the  Love Negros-United Negros (UNegA) coalition candidate for Negros Occidental governor in 2028?Three contenders whose names are being floated  are Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (3rd District), Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District), and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, president of Negros  Alliance of Chief Executives.Benitez is a member of Love Negros, while Marañon and Escalante are with UNegA.Marañon said during the  meeting of the province's top officials on Monday, they agreed that the coalition would field a single candidate for governor to keep the province politically stable.However, the final decision on who will be fielded has yet to be made, Marañon said.He added that  th...

The EB Magalona blue crabs*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Philippines' sale of blue crabs to the United States will be banned effective Thursday, June 11, due to the country’s alleged failure to comply with American marine mammal protection laws.This will affect the country’s approximately P6 billion in annual crab exports, 90 percent of which goes to the US market,  former mayor Alfonso “Diding” Gamboa of EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, said WednesdayNegros Occidental accounts for a large chunk of the country’s blue crab exports.Gamboa said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) failed to adequately defend the Philippines against claims that the country violated the US Marine Mammal Protection Act's import provisions.The alleged violation stems from a 20...