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Board Member Andrew Montelibano*Board Member Andrew Montelibano (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said on Tuesday, July 16, that he will support the reelection bid of Murcia Mayor Gerardo Rojas in 2025.Montelibano said he and Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Love Negros leaders, have agreed to support Rojas for a third and last term.He hopes there will be a united administration ticket in Murcia behind Rojas for 2025, and that there will be no opposition, Montelibano said.Rojas on Monday said he, Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura and the incumbent town councilors will be running under one ticket in the 2025 polls.Montelibano said he will seek reelection as board member of the 3rd District in 2025 so he can continue to help Mu...

More Kabankalan City Hall employees will be tested for drugs*Ronnie  Baldonado photo Three job order workers and casuals of the Kabankalan City government have tested positive for the use of illegal drugs, Mayor Benjie Miranda said on Tuesday, July 16.Miranda said the city government conducted drug tests on about 300 employees under the City Social Welfare and Development Office last week.The contracts of those who tested positive for the use of illegal drugs will not be renewed, he said.Miranda said he is looking at conducting drugs tests in all of the city government’s departments.*

The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) in southern Negros has also announced that its power rates for July increased by P1.3119 per kWh.Its power rates for July will be P16.1132 per kWh from P14.8015 in June, a NOCECO advisory said.“The main factor for the higher cost is the P3.8118 increase in the price of energy in the WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market), from P11.2147 in June to P15.0266 per kWh in July,” NOCECO said.Central Negros Electric Cooperative on Monday also announced a P0.5825 per kWh increase in it rates for July.That means a P13.3457 per kWh rate for July from P12.7632 per kWh in June, it said.*

The Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP)  had 104,000 registered members as of Tuesday, July 16. Of the total, almost 5,000 cardholders have already availed of hospitalization services since the flagship health program began in May 2023. Under the BacCHP ordinance, the Bacolod City government guarantees P15,000 for the hospital bills of each cardholder and their dependents. BacCHP focal person Mae Cuaycong said the city government spends P9 million to P10 million each month for patient admission payments in all partner-hospitals. “Our funds are getting low so the last instruction of the mayor (Alfredo Abelardo Benitez) is to put in additional budget,” she said. The city’s partner-medical facilities include the Department of He...

The burned house in Minoyan, Murcia*NOCPPO photo A farmer was left homeless after three persons burned his house in Purok Himpod, Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental, 5 p.m. on Friday, July 12. The 39-year-old farmer, whose name was withheld by the police, reported that his house was destroyed by three suspects who are also residents of Purok Himpod.The victim and his uncle went to check on their farm and when they returned they saw one of the suspects pouring gasoline on the house and another igniting the fire, a police report said. The police said that because of fear, the victim and his uncle hid and watched their house burning, a reported the incident the next day. The destroyed house, which was made of light materials, was estimated to cost...

Two persons were injured in shooting incidents in  Kabankalan City  and Sagay City in Negros Occidental on  Sunday and Monday, July 14 and 15. A 46-year-old driver of a barangay vehicle was injured after he was shot by three unidentified persons in Purok Malipayon, Brgy. Tampalon, Kabankalan City, on Sunday, the police reported. The victim was riding his motorcycle with his wife when suddenly the three suspects appeared and shot him several times, the police said. The victim sustained gunshot wounds on his legs, upper arm, and on his private part, while his wife was not injured, the police added. Meanwhile, alias “Hapon”, 32, sustained a gunshot wound on  the back of his head after he was challenged to a gunfight by a 27-year-old susp...

Hinigaran town in Negros Occidental has a new police chief. Lt. Col. Eduardo Corpuz assumed the post as Hinigaran police chief at turnover rites presided by the Negros Occidental provincial police director, Col. Rainerio De Chavez. on Monday, July 15.He replaced Maj. Clifford Batadhay. The event was also attended by Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo.* 

NWTF Executive Director Suzzette D. Gaston (2nd from left) receiving the Certificate of Presidential Recognition from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.*DTI photoThe Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), which is celebrating its  40th founding year,  was acknowledged for its significant contributions to enhancing the business climate and supporting MSME growth in an awarding ceremony held at  Malacañang Palace on July 10. It was cited for  improving access to finance through its Project Dungganon. The 2024 Presidential Awards for Outstanding Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Presidential Recognition for Outstanding Development Partners strives to honor remarkable MSMEs for their excellence, innovation, and sustainability and ackno...

The Agora Youth Awards, a prestigious annual program organized by the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA), has announced its top ten finalists for 2024, with the Silliman University Junior Marketing Association (SUJMA)  standing out as the sole representative from the Visayas Region.  SUJMA’s team is comprised of Theodore Dominic de Castro, Xelianne Pearl Jaculbe, Jastine Mae Rasonable, Dignity Lagunay, and Aaron Ramas-Uypitching, five incoming fourth-year college students from the College of Business Administration (CBA), whose project will be vying to win in the national case competition in Parañaque City, July 29-31, a press release from Silliman University in Dumaguete City said. They will be accompanied by their adviser, Asst. Prof. Lou Shien Ban P. Gran...

The Manokan Country that will be closed down on Tuesday.*Nico Delfin photo The City Legal Office will close down the Manokan Country in Barangay 10, Bacolod City, on Tuesday, July 16, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said at a press conference on Monday.The Fr. Mauricio Ferrero Street fronting the Manokan Country has also been closed. The 24 tenants at the Manokan Country will have to vacate the area since they have refused to transfer to the temporary site prepared for them at the SM City parking lot, Benitez said. The Manokan Country closure on Tuesday is final, there will be  no more extensions,   Benitez said. If the tenants want to discuss anything, we can talk after the closure, he said.City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos T...