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The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Negros Oriental is warning establishments, institutions, government agencies and other similar entities of sanctions for rejecting the digital version of the national identification card.Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negros Oriental chief statistical specialist and provincial head, said on Monday, May 19, that they have written several government and private entities that did not honor the digital national ID.“So far, no one has been penalized or sanctioned yet as they complied with law after they were called out,” Fortuito said.He emphasized that three Philippine Identification System versions are legitimate government IDs that can be used for any transaction.These are the physical ID card, which is distributed through the Philippine Post...

A man was found dead floating near the shoreline in Purok Langob, Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, May 19, after he drowned at sea.The 30-year-old man, whose name was not disclosed by the police, was a resident of Purok Talong in Brgy. Gil Montilla, Sipalay City.The victim along with his companion went fishing in the Sugar Beach area in Purok Langob at about 6:30 p.m., the police said.When they were about to end, the victim decided to return to the sea for a swim and suddenly disappeared, the police said.His companion searched for him and after an hour he was found dead.According to the victim’s brother he had a history of seizures.The rescuers brought the victim to the Sipalay Infirmary but he was declared dead on arrival.*

Abang Lingkod  party-list group representative-elect Manuel Frederick Ko (center) with his family at his proclamation at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday afternoon.* The Commission on Elections proclaimed Negros Occidental Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko as Abang Lingkod party-list group representative-elect at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday afternoon, May 19.The newly proclaimed party-list representatives will comprise 20 percent of the total composition of the House of Representatives.“I am deeply honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve as the new representative of Abang Lingkod”, Ko said. He replaces outgoing Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano.Meanwhile, at least four names are being floated for Speaker of the House in the 20th Congress.Aside from...

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) announced on Monday, May 19, that the country’s sugar production for crop year 2024-2025 is expected to be almost five percent higher than its target despite the effects of the extreme El Niño last year.Production is expected to end at 1.837 million metric tons from the initial estimate of 1.782 million MT, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said in a press statement.Their initial estimate was quite low as “this was based on the health and assessment of the sugarcane after the extreme El Niño”, he said“We are currently at 1.815 million tons of sugar produced and despite the low sugar producer per ton of cane (LKGTC), we attribute the production to the increase in sugarcane tonnage per hectare planted, Azcona said.Visayas accounts f...

The seized cigarettes in Cauayan.* Bacolod City MARPSTA photoSmuggled cigarettes and two vans valued at P15,315,000 were seized in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, the Bacolod City Maritime Police Station (Bacolod City MARPSTA) reported on Monday, May 19.Operatives of the Bacolod City Maritime Police Station led by PCapt. Reynaldo Bauden Jr., with Intellectual Property (IP) Office - Manila and Bureau of Customs VI personnel, conducted an anti- smuggling operation in response to a tip on the presence of illegal cigarettes at the shoreline of Sitio Bagambang in Brgy Tiling, Cauayan.This resulted in the arrest of two suspects identified only as alias "Jun-Jun" and alias "Mar", who were caught in possession of the smuggled cigarettes in violation of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernizat...

Eleven persons, including five minors, were injured when their jeepney fell on its side after the driver lost control of the vehicle at a downhill section of the road at Sitio Mambucano, Brgy. Cabatangan, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Monday, May 19.The Mitsubishi L300 Jeepney was driven by Ian Mula, 49, of Brgy. Patic, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.The jeepney was travelling to a farm resort in Sitio Mambucano, the police said.The driver shifted from second gear and to first gear but the vehicle suddenly moved backwards causing the driver to lose control over it.The victims sustained minor injuries while the vehicle incurred substantial damage, the police said.The driver is detained at the Talisay City Police Station*

The Binalbagan River*The Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) has issued a regular Cease and Desist Order that prohibits the Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) from discharging water or molasses into any water bodies, Environment Management Bureau-6 chief legal officer Wilma Lagance said on Monday, May 19..The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Western Visayas had earlier issued an interim CDO on BISCOM following the mill’s April 19 molasses spill in the Binalbagan River.The PAB on April 25 affirmed the interim CDO making it a regular CDO, Lagance said.BISCOM has been directed to clean up its perimeter canal and affected areas along the Binalbagan River, she said.The BISCOM commitment was only up to May 2 and the...

The police are preparing murder charges against a father and son who allegedly shot a farmer to death in Purok Lanipga, Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental, Saturday night, May 17.Carlito Sison, 54, was shot to death by Ben Obreque, 69, also a farmer, and his son, Carlito, the police said.Investigation revealed that while the victim was preparing a dinner with his two sons inside their house, the suspect suddenly arrived and shot him.The victim sustained a gunshot wound in the stomach while the suspects fled after the incident.Sison was declared dead at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.The suspects were arrested after a police hot pursuit operation.Recovered from the crime scene was an empty shell of a 12 guage shotgun. ...

Officials of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) and the province of Negros Occidental signed a memorandum of agreement to bring telemedicine to communities across the province on Monday, May 19.This initiative supports the Department of Health’s (DOH) Universal Health Care (UHC) 8-point Action Agenda, specifically, the push for faster health services through technology - “Teknolohiya para sa mas mabilis na serbisyong pangkalusugan”, a CLMMRH press release said.“With this partnership, residents, especially from remote areas, can seek specialty medical care without leaving home. It’s a practical solution to long-standing access issues and a big win for equitable healthcare,” it said.Among those present at the MOA signing were Negros Occidental Gov....

The collision in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City*Carla Cañet photoA driver was injured while cases containing empty rum bottles were scattered on the road after two trucks collided along the Mansilingan-Murcia Road in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, early Monday morning, May 19.Micheal Mabasa, 36, of Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod, was injured when the Fuso Fighter Truck he was driving collided with a Hinlo Dump Truck driven by Huberto Talorong Jr., 42, of Brgy. Caradio-an, Himamaylan City.The Fuso Truck carrying the cases of bottles was going to Murcia town while the Dump Truck carrying rice hulls was traveling to Brgy. Granada.The accident caused injuries to Mabasa while the fighter truck was damaged.Mabasa was brought to a hospital, while Talorong was brought to Bacolo...