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Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz*The Negros Occidental provincial government is prepared to allocate an initial P10 million as its counterpart subsidy for the sale of rice at P20 per kilo, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Thursday, May 15.They can replenish the amount when needed, he added.They are already preparing the groundwork to commence the sale of rice at P20 a kilo, Diaz assured.Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, indigents and those under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can avail of the P20 per kilo rice, DA Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo of the Negros Island Region, said.Under the program each family can buy 10 kilos of the P20 rice per week, he said.The Food Terminal Incorporated will buy rice from the National...

The police are investigating whether a bar along Lacson Street in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, continued to serve alcoholic drinks despite a liquor bar.An 18-year-old man was killed in a riot outside the bar early Tuesday morning, May 13.The election liquor ban ended at midnight on Monday.Maj. Rondyl Tapang, Bacolod City Police Station 3 chief, said they will be meeting with the officials of Brgy. Mandalagan to gather information on whether the bar was open despite the liquor ban.Yuri Legaste, 18, was stabbed to death allegedly by Adrian Cagayao who voluntarily surrendered to the police a day after the incident.Police investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect came from the bar before the stabbing incident happened.Tapang said that the liquor ban w...

Himamaylan Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao*Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said he is always "ready, open and willing to work for the betterment of Himamaylan even if that means burying political differences.""That is actually what politicians should do after an election. Elections are but just one day but three years you have to serve," Gatuslao said on Wednesday, May 14.He said that being the "opposition is just a label. Support what's right and oppose what's wrong."Love won over money in Himamaylan City" on Election Day, he said.Gatuslao won with 31,451 votes over his closes rival Barangay Captain Raymundo Tongson III who had 28,455 votes.“At the last minute they (the camp of Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongso) made me an opposition. I was not prepared for that, but the peopl...

Five persons, including a driver, were injured when a Ceres bus hit an electric post, motorcycles, and a charging machine of an automobile company in Brgy. Zone 15, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, May 14.Injured  were Mariel Medel, 35,  of Silay City; Robert Lovedorial, 32, Pablo Constantino, 22, and Reynel Malinao, 32, of Victorias City; and the driver Rodel Cohanap, 35,  of Brgy. Lopez Jaena, Sagay City.The driver  lost control of the bus  when one of  its  wheels allegedly busted.The bus hit an electric post, two motorcycles owned by Ronnie Jay Depra and Jhoeven Mike Ferrer that were parked beside the highway, and the charging machine of BYD cars.The  motorcycles and the Ceres bus incurred substantial damage.The i...

Murder and frustrated murder charges were filed against a barangay captain and three unidentified persons for the shooting incident on Election Day that left two dead and seven injured in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, a police official said on Wednesday, May 14.The charges were filed against Barangay Captain Arnie Benedicto of Lantad, Silay City, and three John Does following inquest proceedings before the Silay City Prosecutor’s Office, Col. Rainerio de Chavez, Negros Occidental police provincial director and Special Investigation Task Group Silay head, said.The barangay captain requested a preliminary investigation, de Chavez said.Killed in the shooting incident were Albert Salimbot and Ronnie Piedad, 47, of Silay City.Wounded were Ruel Espinosa, 42; Rick Ortillano, 4...

Representative-elect Julio Ledesma IV (3rd from left) being proclaimed winner by the Provincial Board of Canvassers chaired by Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria with Provincial Prosecutor Hermes Ariño  and Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Anthony Liobet (l-r).*Barbara Mijares photoRepresentative-elect Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1st District) said he will prioritize the construction of an airport in San Carlos City and push for a comprehensive land use plan for the Negros Island Region.The Provincial Board of Canvassers proclaimed Ledesma the winning congressman of the 1st District of Negros Occidental at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday, May 14.Ledesma said he started the push for an airport in San Carlos in 1998 and will see to it...

The Sagarbarrias - Dumaguete councilor Chessa, Governor Chaco, Dumaguete Mayor-elect Chikiting and Representative-elect Maisa (2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th from left) after their proclamation as winners.* Gov. Chaco Sagarbarria FB page photoIt was a big win for four members of the Sagarbarria family in Negros Oriental who were all proclaimed winners on Tuesday, May 13.Incumbent Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria (PFP) was reelected with 365,020 votes.He defeated former governor Pryde Henry Teves (LP) who garnered 254,415 votes.The governor, in a statement, said “I promise to continue working tirelessly for the betterment of our beloved Negros Oriental.”His father Rep. Manuel “Chikiting” Sagarbarria, who is on his third term as representative of the second dis...

The Cadiz City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Team helps remove ashfall from roads leading to Brgy. Yubo, La Carlota City.* OCD photoFlights at the Bacolod-Silay and Iloilo airports resumed normal operations on Wednesday, May 14, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia had cancelled some of their flights on Tuesday after an eruption at Kanlaon Volcano left ash in their airspace. Only the first flight of Cebu Pacific to the Bacolod Silay Airport on Wednesday morning was cancelled.A CAAP advisory said flight operations are strongly advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit due to the potential hazards posed by volcanic ash.The Philippine National Police – Negros Island Region (PNP-NIR) h...

The Provincial Board of Canvassers chaired by Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria with Provincial Prosecutor Hermes Ariño  and Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Anthony Liobet (l-r) proclaim Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (3rd from left) winner Wednesday afternoon.*Ronnie Baldonado photoTwo more congressmen and five board members of Negros Occidental were proclaimed winners at the Social Hall of the Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday, May 14.The Provincial Board of Canvassers proclaimed former representative Julio Ledesma IV and Rep. Alfredo Marañon III the winning congressmen of the first and second districts, respectively.Araceli Somosa and Marxlen dela Cruz (3rd and 4th from left)*Rita Gatuslao*Julio Ledesma IVFormer Negros Occide...