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The Binalbagan River on Thursday, six days after the molasses spill.*Binalbagan LDRRMO photo The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Western Visayas has ordered the Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) “to cease, desist or refrain from discharging molasses into its perimeter canal, which ultimately leads to the Binalbagan River”.The interim cease and desist order (CDO) was issued Tuesday following the mill’s April 19 molasses spill in the Binalbagan River and served to the mill management on Wednesday, EMB-6 chief legal officer Wilma Lagance said.EMB-6 Regional Director Ramar Mel Pascua, who signed the interim CDO, said it “shall be effective only for seven days unless confirmed by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PA...

Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria (center) inspecting an alternative polling center in La Castellana on Wednesday*          There are  12,479  voters  in  two  cities and three towns in Negros Occidental projected to be affected  by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrests, a Commission on Elections report shows.          However, only 4,936 in Bago City, La Carlota City and  La Castellana are directly affected for now, Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Thursday,  April 24.The  1,390 residents of barangays  Gomez and Zamora  in Pontevedra and 6,871 from Minoyan, Murcia, will only be affected if Kanlaon emits ash on Election Day, he said.          Ananoria said, the 4,936 voters ...

The Department of Agriculture’s announcement that government will sell rice at P20 a kilo in the Visayas drew mixed reactions on Thursday, April 24.Under the P20 a kilo program, each family in the Visayas will be allowed a 10-kg. purchase per week or a total of 40 kg. every month, the DA said.Pedro Limpangog, president of the Federation of Irrigators Association Central Negros- Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS), said if government buys farmers palay at subsidized rates they will not be too affected by government’s selling rice at P20 kiloIn the past there was a Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka Rice (BBM Rice) program where government bought the farmers palay, he said.He said palay is currently selling at P20 a kilo but during rainy season the price drops.If the farmers ...

Pope Francis' body at St. Peter’s Basilica.*Vatican news photoA solemn prayer vigil to remember and honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis will be held at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod Cit 6 p.m. on Friday, April 25.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos where set to leave Manila Thursday evening to attend the funeral of the Pope at the Vatican, according to Malacañang.The pontiff died at age 88 due to a stroke and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse on Monday.Marcos has declared a period of national mourning in the entire country, ordering Philippine flags to be flown at half-mast in all government buildings and installations until the pontiff’s burial.Huge crowds continued to queue outside Saint Peter's Basilica on Thursday t...

Rene “Boy” Hofileña on Thursday points to the spot where the stolen Amorsola was located.*The recovered 1936 “Mango Harvester” of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo will be back on display at the Hofileña Museum at Cinco de Noviembre Street in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Friday afternoon, April 25.The painting was stolen from the museum on July 3 and recovered on July 12, 2024, by National Bureau of Investigation agents from two people attempting to sell it in Quezon City.A small gathering and thanksgiving will be held at the Hofileña Museum to celebrate the return of the painting on Friday afternoon, Rene “Boy” Hofileña, administrator of the museum, said on Thursday.A notice on the spot where the painting was located at the museum states that it had been stolen.On F...

A man was found dead after he fell off a bridge at F.C. Ledesma Avenue, Brgy. 2, San Carlos City, on Thursday, April 24, the police said.Alias “Godfrey”, 55, of Fatima Village, Brgy. Rizal in San Carlos was found dead in a stream Thursday morning.San Carlos Deputy Police Chief Rodney Saron said CCTV footage showed the victim sitting on the side of the bridge but fell because he was allegedly drunk.The bridge is about 15 feet high, Sarona said.The victim sustained wounds in the head and was brought to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The family of the victim believe that there was no foul play involved in the incident.*

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) turns over portable water filtration systems, as well as shelter repair and hygiene kits to La Carlota City in Negros Occidental on Thursday,*OCD 6 photoLa Carlota City in Negros Occidental, where several barangays were hit by ashfall during the explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on April 8, has received a water tanker and filtration systems from two national government agencies.Spring water sources, particularly in two barangays of the city, were contaminated by the ashfall, causing limited water supply in the affected communities.On Thursday, the Office of Civil Defense turned over portable water filtration systems, as well as shelter repair and hygiene kits to La Carlota City, while Bago City also received shelter repair kits, the OCD reporte...

A tricycle driver was shot to death by unidentified suspects in Sitio Gumamela, Brgy. Enclaro, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, April 24.Jonathan Osorio, 49, was shot by men on board another tricycle, a police report said.Maj. Jun Ray Batadlan, Binalbagan police chief, said victim who was driving his tricycle stopped and was suddenly shot by the suspects onboard a tricycle behind him.The suspects fled in an unknown direction after the incident.Osorio was brought to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The police are looking at the illegal drugs trade as the motive of the suspects.The police have identified persons of interest, Batadlan said.Police investigation revealed that the victim and the suspects had a misunderstanding that prompted the...

A man was arrested at a checkpoint after the police seized 150 grams of suspected marijuana from him in Purok Stop, Brgy. Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, April 24.Alias “Caloy”, 20, of Sunrise Village in Brgy. Blumentritt was arrested at a dedicated checkpoint at about 2:30 a.m., the police said.Recovered from him were 21 of self-sealing transparent sachets containing suspected dried marijuana leaves estimated to cost P18,000.Also recovered from the suspect were an improvised pipe with traces of suspected marijuana, a lighter, sling bag, and a motorcycle.The suspect is now under police custody and will be charged for violation of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.*

The design perspective of the hemodialysis center at Ignacio L. Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela, Negros Occidental.*The Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas (DPWH-6) announced on Thursday, April 24, the completion of a P20.3-million hemodialysis center at Ignacio L. Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela, Negros Occidental.The national government-funded health facility is expected to provide accessible care to patients in the province’s fifth district.“This facility significantly enhances healthcare services in the fifth congressional district and beyond, offering efficient and accessible hemodialysis treatment for patients,” DPWH-6 Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel said in a statement.According to the Negros Occidental 2nd District En...