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Ceres buses of the Vallacar Transit Inc. started plying the new route connecting Sipalay City in Negros Occidental and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental on Wednesday.*PNA/Judy Flores Partlow photoThe cities of Sipalay in Negros Occidental and Dumaguete in Negros Oriental are now directly connected with the opening of a new bus route this week.The Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) started the operation of Ceres airconditioned buses on Wednesday, May 7, a development seen to boost regional connectivity and tourism.Sipalay City Mayor Maria Gina Lizares said the new bus route will provide convenience for the Sipalaynons and other travelers.“We are optimistic this will further boost the city’s economy, especially its tourism industry, through the arrival of tourists from Negros Orient...

A seashell gatherer died when his motorcycle hit a tricycle in Brgy Narauis Paticui, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, May 7.Alberto Sanchez, 57, died after his motorcycle hit a tricycle driven by Junel Muñoz, 43, a construction worker, from Brgy. III, Hinigaran.Lt. Voltaire Sy, Hinigaran Deputy Police Chief, said that the victim was going to the town proper when the tricycle driver suddenly turned towards his direction.Sanchez tried to avoid the tricycle but his motorcycle hit its back.He lost his balance causing him to fall, while the tricycle driver attempted to escape but was arrested.Muñoz is now under police custody. The police are waiting for the family of the victim to decide whether they will file a case against Muñoz or not.*

The Philippine Sugar Technologists Association (PHILSUTECH) will hold its 71st Annual National Convention at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City, August 11 to 15.This year’s theme is “Resilient Together: Leveraging Technology and Policy Synergies for the Growth of the Sugarcane Industry”.About 1,000 sugarcane industry stakeholders, including delegates from other sugar-producing countries, and about 100 product exhibitors of agricultural and industrial equipment and technologies are expected to participate in the convention, a press release from PHILSUTECH said.Top national government executives, policy makers and experts in various fields have been invited to provide updates and share their ideas on issues affecting the sugarcane industry.The Sugar Regulatory Administr...

Bacolod Election Officer Revo Sorbito at the final testing and sealing of an ACM at the  Bacolod City National High School  on Wednesday.* The Commission on Elections encountered minor problems during the final testing and sealing of the automated counting machines (ACMs) in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City on Wednesday, May 7, which were resolved. The Comelec is now 100 percent ready for Election Day on May 12  in Negros Occidental and Bacolod, Comelec Negros Island Region Assistant Regional Director Jossil Macute said. The Comelec has  allocated 2,086  ACMs for the 31 towns and cities of Negros Occidental and 398 for Bacolod, he said. Also allocated are 261 replacement ACMs for Negros Occidental  in  case probl...

The  vice mayor of Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental  filed a complaint against a teacher for alleged electioneering before the  Office of the Provincial Elections Supervisor  of  Negros Occidental on Tuesday, May 6. The complaint has already been forwarded to the Commission on Elections Law Department, Comelec Negros Island Region Assistant Regional Director Jossil Macute said on Wednesday. Vice Mayor Adrian Ian Villaflor filed the complaint  against   a teacher of Magallon Cadre Elementary School,  whom he said  is assigned as chairman of a Board   of Election Inspectors on Election Day. Villaflor, who is running for mayor of  Moises Padilla, said  the  teacher was seen attending meetings of fam...

Mayor Janice Degamo of Pamplona, Negros Oriental, is facing a disqualification complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding her residency in Siaton town as she seeks the 3rd congressional district seat in the My 12 polls. Her legal counsel, Andrei Bon Tagum, told the media in an online interview on Wednesday, May 7,  that the disqualification case was lodged before the Comelec at the end of April and is meant to discredit the mayor. “It is just political propaganda to frustrate the people in the 3rd district,” given the timing of the complaint filing, Tagum said. The mayor, who is the widow of the late Governor Roel Degamo, has completed the residency requirement of one year for her to qualify as a congressional candidate in the 3rd district, ...

PrimeWater, with its joint venture partner Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), announced on Wednesday, May 7, that it  has delivered an additional 3 million liters per day (MLD) of water supply through the recently activated Matab-ang Water Treatment Plant in Brgy. Granada, Bacolod City. The activation of the Matab-ang water treatment plant will address the current demand of the city by providing 3 million liters per day, increasing to 6 MLD within the year, a press release from PrimeWater said. The additional supply will improve the supply of approximately 5,000 households in Bacolod, particularly in Barangays 27, 28, 30, Estefania, Villlamonte and Mandalagan, it said.  “This project is just one of the initiatives and developments we are implementing together...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is urging Bacolod residents  to inform the city government of water-related concerns amid the clamor for PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., the joint venture partner of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa), to address the  supply shortage in many parts of the city. “Water access remains a top priority. I urge everyone to stay vigilant and report any water concerns in your areas as we push for lasting solutions for Bacolod,” he said in a statement on Wednesday, May 7. Benitez made the call as PrimeWater announced on the same day the activation of the Matab-ang water treatment plant that will provide 3 million liters per day (MLD) of additional water supply to affected villages. As this developed, the Baciwa Employees Union (B...

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) are going on  red alert starting Saturday, May 10. The  Red Alert status is for the  May 12 elections, the PDRRMC announced. The red alert for the elections will  start  at 8 a.m. on May 10 until 8 a.m. of May  13. The PDRRMC EOC  red alert   amid the prevailing Alert Level 3 at  Kanlaon Volcano also remains  in effect for close monitoring and coordination, it said.* 

The Bacolod City police have arrested 14 Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban violators  so far. They arrested  the 14 gun ban violators from Jan. 12 to May 3, the Bacolod City Police Office  (BCPO) reported. Eight firearms were surrendered to various police stations in Bacolod, the BCPO said. The police also  recovered two firearms in hot pursuit operations, one from a checkpoint,  one from a drug buy-bust operation, and two from incidental to lawful arrest.  COMELEC gun ban violators face imprisonment of  1 to 6 years, disqualification from holding public office, and deprivation of the right to suffrage.  A fine ranging from P1,000 to P3,000 may be imposed, and violators could also face charges under the Comprehensive ...