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The additional five electric jeepneys to ply the Fortune Towne-Central Market loop in Bacolod City.*Five more electric jeepneys (e-jeeps) will operate in Bacolod City under the franchise of the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CPMPC), owner-operator of the modernized People’s Jeep.The additional units, which will ply the Fortune Towne-Central Market loop, complete the 10 units obtained by the CPMPC from Chinese-Korean e-vehicle company e-Future Motors Philippines.In a statement, the CPMPC said the blessing of these units and also of their Bacolod satellite office on Saturday is “furthering our commitment to sustainable transport”.Macario Quevedo, CPMPC director for transport operations, acknowledged the support of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in the implementation...

Exporters are alarmed over US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 17 percent tariff on Philippine goods, which could mean it would no longer be profitable for the country to export sugar to the United States, Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona of the Sugar Regulatory Administration said on Friday, April 4.The Philippines that has a 143,000-metric ton share in the US Sugar Quota has allocated 66,235 MT of raw sugar for export to the United States for crop year 2024-2025, Azcona said.The Philippines is shipping out the first half of the allocation in May and the second half in June, he said.It is an import tariff that is being imposed so it is not certain if the new tariff will be shouldered by the US importers or it will be passed on to the Philippines exporters, Azcona said. ...

Typhoid fever cases in Negros Occidental have increased to 387 with three deaths from January to March, the Provincial Health Office reported on Friday, April 4.It is 86.06 percent or 179 cases more than the 208 cases in the same period last year, the PHO said.Kabankalan City has the highest number of typhoid cases at 96, followed by Hinoba-an at 43 cases, San Carlos City - 33, Sipalay City -27 and Isabela – 24.There are 30 of 31 LGUs in Negros Occdental that have typhoid cases.The age group with the most number of typhoid cases is 11 to 20 years old.In Bacolod City there were 27 typhoid cases and no deaths from January 1 to March 22.That is a 145.5 percent increase in cases compared to 11 in the same period last year, the City Health Office reported.Typhoid fev...

Bacolod Councilors Jason Villarosa, Celia Flor and Kalaw Puentevella, Dr. John Michael Cabuguason and Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson (l-r) cut the ribbon to signal the opening of the 1st Bacolod Pet Festival at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central. They were joined by Sydney, the first pet to be issued a city government dog tag with QR code.* Bacolod PIO photoThe three-day 1st Bacolod Pet Festival 2025 organized by the city government where visitors can play with exotic pets, adopt a cute puppy, or join fun activities kicked off at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Friday, April 4.The Bacolod digital pet identification system was also launched with the ceremonial turnover by Dr. John Michael Cabuguason, assistant city veterinarian, of the first ever city government issu...

The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office recovered more than 300 firearms in the first three months of implementation of COMELEC gun ban.The 296 firearms were seized and recovered during police operations while 42 were deposited for safekeeping under "Oplan Katok," the NOPPO reported."Oplan Katok" allows owners of firearms with expired registrations to temporarily place them under police custody until they have renewed licenses.The gun ban that is being imposed during the election period will last until June 11.The NOPPO also conducted 17,095 check point operations in Negros Oriental to ensure the security of the public amid the ongoing national and local elections.Lt. Stephen Polinar, NOPPO spokesperson, said they are reminding the public not to bring firearms outs...

Skeletal remains of an unidentified person were found in a sugarcane field in Hacienda Lopue, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Thursday morning, April 3.Edmund Bornales, a farm worker and in charge of the plantation, found the skeletal remains scattered in the field at about 7 a.m., the police reported.There were pieces of clothing and other personal belongings that were also found in the area. The police have yet to determine if the skeletal remains were of a man or a woman.The Scene of the Crime Operatives have already gathered samples from the remains for DNA testing, the police said.The Bacolod Police Station 7 have also sought the help of the Philippine National Police Forensic Unit to assist in the investigation.*

The new Provincial Administration Center in Bacolod City is expected to be completed and operational next year, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, April 3.The structure is almost complete but there is still work to be done inside, he said.Earlier, it was said that the 7-storey building on Aguinaldo Street was targeted to be completed in June this year.Construction was started by Dynamic Builders, the contractor of the building in 2022.The nearly P1 billion project, which includes furniture and fixtures, will house the various provincial government offices.Currently, the provincial government offices are in different buildings.Lacson said he wants the governor’s office to remain at the Provincial Capitol building that is the symbol of Negros...

A driver died when his motorcycle hit a tanker truck along the highway in Purok Guanzon, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Thursday, April 3.The fatality was alias “Anthony”, 40, a construction worker and resident of Hacienda Kabuhihan, Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod, the police said.The victim was on his way home from work and overtook a vehicle that led to his hitting an approaching tanker truck, the police said.The victim was thrown towards the middle of the road causing his death.The driver of the tanker is now under police custody*

Dr. Ramir Uytico (left), the newly appointed regional director of the Department of Education-Negros Island Region, during the turnover of a school building at the South City Elementary School in Dumaguete City.*PNA /Mary Judaline F. Partlow photoThe Department of Education in the Negros Island Region (DepEd-NIR) intends to replicate rural farm schools in Negros Oriental and Siquijor, an official said on Thursday, April 3.Dr. Ramir Uytico, newly-appointed DepEd-NIR regional director, announced this during the inauguration of a brand-new school building at the South City Elementary School in Barangay Mangnao, Dumaguete City.“We want to replicate the establishment of the farm schools because until now, and it is on record, that it is only Region 6 that has established the first 3...

The Bacolod City Police Office confiscated P8.6 million worth of suspected shabu in March.BCPO operative also arrested 56 suspects in its various anti-illegal drug operations in Bacolod.They also arrested 11 most wanted and 32 other wanted persons, and 44 others in 13 operations against illegal gambling.The Bacolod police also recovered 24 loose firearms and 21 explosives.*