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A 36-year-old man yielded more than P100,000 in drugs when he was arrested in a buy-bust operation at corner Locsin-Ledesma streets in Brgy 1, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, June 8.Nabbed was Ian Erwin “Jimbo Amo” Nolasco of Brgy. 2, La Carlota. He sustained minor injuries after he reportedly resisted arrest.He was brought to the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital for treatment after he sustained abrasions on his knees, the police report said.When he was arrested, he yielded seven sachets of suspected shabu weighing 15 grams and worth P102,000, P15,000 in buy-bust money, P300 in cash, drug paraphernalia, and a motorcycle.The suspect is now in police custody and is facing drug charges.*

It is sad that Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s “independent” third party Bids and Awards Committee chose dirty coal over a measly 2.79 centavos difference, with no apparent consideration for reliability, “outage allowance” issues and variable costs, former governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela said Wednesday, June 9.It did not consider the province’s preference for clean renewable energy consistent with its “Green Economy” thrust, Coscolluela, Negros Occidental provincial consultant on energy an environment affairs, said.“The CENECO Board also prefers clean, renewable power (for many right reasons) but can’t exercise its own discretion,” he added.“The Department of Energy needs to rethink the “rules” and act favorably on Ceneco’s appeal. Negros wants clean power; let’s suppo...

Radyo Alagad photoTropical Storm “Dante” caused P17.8 million in damage to crops, farm animals and infrastructure in Negros Occidental, an updated report showed Wednesday, June 9.The total damage to crops in Negros Occidental was P16,719,846, Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said in a final report on “Dante” that affected 886.83 hectares and 971 farmers.Rice crop damage in Cadiz City was P1,005,504, Victorias City – P458, 025, La Carlota City - P410,800, Bago City – P1,160,850, Himamaylan City – P2,759,093, EB Magalona - P236,005, Pontevedra – P391,185, Moises Padilla - P1,701,301, Binalbagan – P601,640, Isabela –P486,038, Hinoba-an – P3,582,394, Valladolid – P2,824,050 and San Enrique – P2,950,740.Damage to high value crops in Cadiz City was P85,725, and to corn i...

CAAP Bacolod photoMore Sinovac vaccines arrived Tuesday, June 8, for Bacolod City and Negros Occidental that had 20 COVID-19 deaths in the first week of June and where coronavirus cases continue to surge.Bacolod City had 10 new COVID-19 deaths from June 1 to 7, and cases continue to surge, City Administrator Em Ang said.Negros Occidental also had 10 new COVID-19 deaths from June 1 to 7 with three in Victorias City, two each in Isabela and Talisay City, and one each in Binalbagan, San Carlos City and Sipalay City, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.There were 16,800 Sinovac vaccines that arrived for Negros Occidental and 7,000 for Bacolod City on Tuesday.Additional vaccines are expected to arrive this month, with the country expected to receive more in June, Ze...

OCTA, an independent research group, has tagged Bacolod City in Negros Occidental and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, along with seven other local government units as areas of concern for having the most number of new COVID-19 cases from May 31 to June 6.The OCTA report said the COVID-19 growth rate in Dumaguete City from May 31 to June 6 was 206 percent and 56 percent in Bacolod City.The other OCTA areas of concern are Iloilo City, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Koronadal, Cotabato City and Tuguegarao.There were 97 new COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City for a total of 1,531 active cases Tuesday, the Department of Health reported.Negros Occidental had 39 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, the DOH added.The province had 1,706 active COVID-19 cases, the Provincial In...

The Sum-ag Barangay Council filed criminal complaints against a resort owner for alleged violation of environment laws before the Bacolod Prosecutor’s Office Tuesday, June 8.*Photo from Atty. Mark Steven MayoThe Sum-ag Barangay Council filed criminal complaints against a resort owner for alleged violation of environment laws before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office Tuesday, June 8.The complaints filed against Engineer Andre Taculod were for violation of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, Philippine Fisheries Code, Water Code of the Philippines, and the Philippine Clean Water Act, Mark Steven Mayo, lawyer of the barangay council, said.The complaints were filed by the Sum-ag Barangay Council represented by Barangay Captain Rodney Carmona and Kagawad Dominador Ber...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, provincial consultant Rafael Coscolluela and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz (l-r) at the launching of the Provincial Integrated Water Security Program.*Richard Malihan photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the launching of the Provincial Integrated Water Security Program that aims to increase access to resilient water supply, improve water resource management, and strengthen water sector governance in Negros Occidental at the Capitol in Bacolod City, Tuesday, June 8.It is a significant step towards a serious, science and evidence based approach, and in- depth water governance for a more inclusive and sustainable development in the province of Negros Occidental, the governor said.The program, with the theme "Securing our Water ...

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya warned the public Tuesday, July 8, against a person pretending to be him and calling establishments to make bogus reservations in an apparent attempt to besmirch his reputation.On Tuesday afternoon, a male caller claiming to be Gasataya and using mobile number 0926 882 8981 called Nature's Village Resort in Talisay City in an attempt to make a reservation for 30 to 35 people for a supposed meeting with the Department of Health and Philippine National Police.“Thankfully, the establishment was diligent enough to confirm with Councilor Israel Salanga the authenticity of the mobile number since there had been similar incidents in the past,” Gasataya said.Gasataya said he was also informed that Winterfell Café in Bacolod City received a similar call from t...