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The skeletal remains of an unidentified person were found in a sugarcane field at Hacienda Valing, Brgy. Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Monday, July 8.Alias “Noel”, 55, a resident of the place, was plowing the sugarcane field and accidentally found the human skeletal remains, a police report said.The skeletal remains were brought to a funeral home in Bacolod City.The police requested Scene of Crime Operations operatives to process the crime scene and sought a DNA examination for the identification of the cadaver.*

The executive assistant of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has submitted his reply to a show cause order to explain the unauthorized withdrawal and repair of office furniture, which will be followed by a preliminary investigation, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said on Wednesday, July 10. Executive Assistant IV Francis Velez had earlier been issued a show cause order to explain why he withdrew furniture, which included chairs and sofas,   from the Office of the Governor for repair   without obtaining prior authorization from the governor. After the preliminary investigation is conducted they will submit an investigation report with recommendations whether or not there is ground for termination, Nellas said. The furn...

The demolition of the Talave Bridge*A youth organization condemned the alleged illegal demolition of the 91-year-old Talave Bridge connecting Calatrava and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental despite calls for its preservation as an “important cultural heritage”.Juan Calatrava Movement chairperson Andoni Llantada said that they are condemning the “illegal demolition” of the nine decades old bridge and questioning the local government of San Carlos and the Department of Public Works and Highways for allowing it to happen.The bridge was built in 1933 by the United States Steel Products Co. and was used by trucks carrying sugarcane, goods, and services before World War II.The Juan Calatrava Movement questioned the compelling reasons behind the demolition despite the advice of...

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez signed a partnership with BAYI Inc. to implement the Bayi Tiangge, a women’s capacity building program in Victorias City, on Tuesday, July 9.  Creating economic spaces and partnerships, empowering local women in MSMEs through capacity-building sessions, and encouraging their participation in local government services and programs are some of the objectives of the Bayi Tiangge Program, a press release from Victorias City said.  The program will cover the implementation of Bayi Tiangge’s Feminist Business Model Canvas with Angat Bayi LGUs, mobilization of women MSMEs and training, including the creation of Bayi Circles, mobilization of women MSMEs, consultation, assessment, and post-training activities, it added.BAYI ...

The MassKara Festival dancers  performing in Italy.*EM Ang FB photo The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution on Wednesday, July 10, congratulating and commending the Bacolod MassKara Festival dancers from Barangay Granada for their recent “splendid performance” during the Kalayaan 2024 celebration in Milan, Italy.It was the  first time Bacolod City’s MassKara dancers had  participated in a cultural event in Europe on June 29-30, councilors Em Ang and Danna Marie Barzo, who authored the resolution, said. The  Bacolod Masskara Festival dancers who  performed in Milan were Jasper Mae Diocson, Relizen Jane Rafael, Joey Conlu, Jim Delgado, Roxan Cabrillos, Joedem Casabuena, Mark Philip Lamirez, Joenel Bunenventura, Kate Redimo, Richar...

Foreign fugitive Joginder Geong (left) being arrested in  Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City,  on Monday, July 8.*BCPO photo A foreign fugitive described as a notorious criminal with a history of serious offenses such as murder, attempted murder, extortion and robbery was arrested at Santa Lucia Gardens Subdivision, Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, Monday, July 8, the Bacolod police reported.Arrested was Joginder Geong, alias Joginder Geyong and Kant Gupta, 40, an alleged leader of an organized crime syndicate, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for violating arms laws in India, the police said.The Indian national was also arrested for violation of the Philippine Immigration Law for being an undesirable alien and a fugitive from justice in India.Joginder Geong followi...

The total National Tax Allotment of the  Negros Occidental and Bacolod City local government units for  2025 will be P28,280,203,023 or an increase by P4,452,015,343 from 2024. The 2025 indicative NTA is based on Local Budget Memorandum No. 90 of the Department of Budget and Management, Negros Occidental Provincial Budget Officer Gemma Rose Flores said on Monday, July 8.The Negros Occidental provincial  government’s 2025 NTA will be P5,823,485,130  or an  increase by P918,771,586  or 18. 73 percent. Bacolod City’s 2025 NTA will be  P2,244,573,982  or an increase by P352,516,503 or  18.63 percent. The 2025 NTA  of the  12 cities of Negros Occidental will be P14,944,235, 399  or an increase by P2,347,0...

The Silay  police have identified one of two suspects in the  theft of a painting by national artist Fernando Amorsolo  from the Hofileña Museum at Cinco de Noviembre Street in Silay City, Negros Occidental. The male suspect was identified by the driver of the trisikad  he and his  accomplice  boarded after stealing the 12 by 18 inches 1936 "Mango Harvesters" painting on July 3, PLt. Col, Mark Anthony Darroca, Silay police chief, said on Monday,  July 8. The suspect took off his mask when he boarded the trisikad enabling the driver to identify him from a police rouges gallery,  Darroca said. A case had been filed against the suspect for a “salisi” theft case in 2022, and his address was listed as Tondo, Manila, he said.&nbs...

Spraying a field attacked by armyworms in Himamaylan City*SRA-BISCOM  photo Fall armyworms are now in 15 towns and cities of Negros Occidental, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported on Monday, July 8.The fall armyworms have attacked corn fields in 74 barangays and sugarcane in one barangay, the OPA report said. This has affected 1,429 farmers and the crops on 932.5 hectares, the OPA said.The fall armyworms have affected corn fields in Moises Padilla, Himamaylan City, Isabela, Kabankalan City, Cauayan, Binalbagan, Candoni, Hinoba-an, La Castellana, Murcia, Bago City, Ilog, Escalante City, Silay City and  Sagay City.  They have also attacked sugarcane in one barangay in Himamaylan City, the OPA reported. Governor ...

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara*Mark Garcia photo  ILOILO CITY – Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara  expressed  confidence that Negros Island will continue to have more renewable energy projects that can contribute to the goals of having clean energy by 2050 in the country. In an interview with DIGICAST NEGROS during the sidelines of the 16th Media Seminar of the United States Embassy at the Marriot Hotel here on Monday, July 8, she said that the Visayas has the highest percentage of renewable energy among other island groups.“Negros will continue to have more renewable energy”, she said, adding that “In the future, the investors that require renewable energy in their power requirements will flock to Negros”. Guevara, who is...