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Acting Negros Occidental Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer and Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (l-r)*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Negros Occidental Acting Governor Jeffery Ferrer are calling on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to take swift action to bring down Central   Negros Electric Cooperative's (CENECO) power rates. Benitez and Ferrer, in separate letters to ERC chairperson and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta, asked her to act on CENECO’s Motion for Issuance of Provisional Authority to implement its Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in order to bring down power rates. CENECO electricity rates could go down    by 30 to 40 percent in June if the ERC issues the provisional authority, CENECO ...

Althea May Benjamin*  The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution congratulating Althea May Benjamin who placed 7th in the May 2024 Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination during their regular session at the Bacolod City Government Center on Wednesday, May 29. The resolution, authored by Councilor Em Ang, stated that Benjamin undoubtedly made a mark through her exemplary scholastic record and outstanding achievement, drive, determination, and leadership. Benjamin is a Chemical Engineering graduate of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod and placed 7th among 928 examinees at the licensure examination this month. “These attributes are worthy of emulation and serve as an inspiration for young people to aspire for excellence in their chosen field of end...

Jesus V. Hinlo Jr., PDP deputy secretary general for Visayas* The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), which core group is composed of supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte, respects the decision of 60 Negros Occidental and Bacolod City officials who have irrevocably resigned from the party, Jesus V. Hinlo Jr., PDP deputy secretary general for Visayas, said on Wednesday, May 29."As to the PDP members of Negros Occidental who resigned, we respect and accept their decision. We wish them well as we continue our own advocacies and remain with PDP," Hinlo, who is also PDP Negros Occidental Provincial Council president, said. Duterte is the PDP national chairman. Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez announced on Monday that about 60 members of PDP Laban i...

The Department of Health’s Center for Health Development in Western Visayas has directed a survey on the readiness COVID-19 facilities in Negros Occidental, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Officer, said Wednesday, May 29. Pinongan said there a few cases of COVID-19  in Negros Occidental and that they are  mild ones. The Department of Health earlier directed the Bureau of Quarantine to thoroughly screen points of entry for visitors from countries where new COVID-19 variants have been detected. The Department of Health earlier directed the Bureau of Quarantine to thoroughly screen points of entry for visitors from countries where new Covid-19 variants have been detected. Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Tuesday, reminded the public to tak...

Dr. Lilani Benedian, SSS Visayas  West 1 Division vice president, and SSS Commissioner Jose C Julio (2nd and 3rd from left) conducing a RACE operation in Negros.*SSS photo Social Security System officials  issued notices of violation to six delinquent employers  in the cities of Bacolod, Silay and Talisay in Negros Occidental  for non-remittance  of P3.2 million as part of  their “Run After Contribution Evaders  (RACE)”  campaign  on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 28 and  29. The non-remittance has affected 118 employees in six business establishments, SSS data showed. The delinquent establishments are a drugstore, school, retail store, wholesale store, furniture shop and a gasoline station  Dr. Lilani Benedian, S...

A barangay kagawad was injured after he was allegedly stabbed by a fisherman in the reclamation area of Brgy. 1, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, May 28. The victim was identified as Dan Diaresco, 35, a barangay kagawad and resident of RC Lagtapon, Brgy. 4  in Hinigaran. The suspect is Ping-ping Toledo, who is a fisherman, the police said.  Diaresco and his cousin were at the fish wharf having a drinking session when the suspect confronted him, the police said. The suspect  then suddenly punched and stabbed the victim, hitting his chest, the police added. The victim was rushed by his cousin to Hinigaran Medical Clinic  while the suspect fled. The victim is now in  stable condition while the police are still searching ...

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona* Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona of the Sugar Regulatory Administration assured on Sunday, June 2, that the government has no intention of importing sugar now as the country currently has ample supply. Azcona told DIGICAST NEGROS that he agrees with the statement of the Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) that there is no need to import sugar at this time. Importation will take place if the country only has three months’ supply of sugar left, which  is the  established trigger, Azcona said. It would take about a month to import and government has always maintained that we need a two-month buffer, he said.  “We will only import, if we need to import,” he stressed. “At the moment ...

Pat. Alvin Fernandez Rios after his arrest Friday.*BCPO photo The police are filing a murder complaint before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, June 3, against a policeman who killed a fellow cop. PMaj. Eugene Tolentino, Police Station 8 chief, said they will be filing the complaint against Pat. Alvin Fernandez Rios, 26, of the 1st Mobile Force Company of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office and a resident of Barangay Bugnay, Valderama, Antique. The final case against Rios will depend on the evaluation of the prosecutor, Tolentino said.  Rios was apprehended for killing SSgt. Jotham Arrem Cañete Tuto, 31, who was assigned to the Mobile Patrol Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office, at his house at Camella Subdivision, Barangay Tangub, Bacolo...

The drug  bust in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, on Friday.*BCPO photo The police arrested a street-level drug target with about P68,000 worth of suspected shabu in Purok Gonzaga, Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, on Friday, May 31. Arrested in a buy bust operation was Herliza Mae Aguilar, alias “Lalaine”, 27, a vendor and a resident of Purok Gonzaga, the police reported.  Seized from her were five sachets of suspected shabu weighing 10 grams, the police said. She is now under the custody of Bacolod City Station 4 and will face charges for violation of sections 5 and 11 of  Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.* 

Three local government units in Negros Occidental have been  declared Pink Zones or  African Swine Fever (ASF)-free,  Provincial Veterinarian,  Dr. Placeda Lemana, said on Wednesday, May 29. The LGUs that were downgraded from  Red to  Pink Zones are Pulupandan and Hinigaran towns, and Silay City. The Department of Agriculture said if an  LGU is declared a Pink Zone, it can start the sentineling program and it will be the basis of the  Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to resume insurance coverage to affected farmers. The declaration of Pink Zones came after series of surveillance activities like blood collection for laboratory tests coupled with submission of required documents, Lemana said. She added these LGU...