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Coast Guard personnel inspect a wing van carrying 100 boxes with 8,630 reams of smuggled cigarettes at the Sibulan port Wednesday evening.*PCG photoThe Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Oriental has intercepted some P3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes at the port in Sibulan town, an official said Thursday, May 8.Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, Coast Guard-Negros Oriental station commander, said a wing van from Negros Occidental was flagged down at the Sibulan port by a joint team from the Maritime Police and the Bureau of Customs around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday.“Acting on a tip, Coast Guard personnel found 100 boxes of cigarettes without the necessary documents upon inspection,” she said.A total of 8,630 reams of cigarettes were in the boxes that were wrapped in plasti...

Comelec NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano*Prepare a list of the candidates you will be voting for on Monday, Lionel Marco Castillano, Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region director, reminded voters on Thursday, May 8.There are about 1,000 voters scheduled to vote in a clustered precinct so having a list will hasten the voting process, he said.Castillano also reminded voters to protect themselves from the heat and rain by bringing umbrellas on Election Day.Bring water and stay hydrated, he added.Castillano also reminded watchers and supporters to remain calm and allow the public to vote.There are three remaining polling stations in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, where the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines will be conducted ...

One of the two buildings at the Siaton National High School that was razed by fire.*NOPPO photoAutomated counting machines (ACMs) were declared safe after the Tuesday night fire that hit the Siaton National High School in Siaton, Negros Oriental.The fire took place around 8 p.m., hours after the final testing and sealing of the ACMs that will be used in Monday’s elections.The cost of damage to structures and other items has reached around P800,000, Maj. Marve Bolay-og, Siaton police chief, said on Thursday, May 8.He said initial investigation showed faulty electrical wiring as the possible cause of the fire that destroyed two buildings, five classrooms, three comfort rooms, and the Senior High School principal’s office.Modules and equipment were also damaged, the Depart...

Bayan Muna Party-list and consumers of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. file their complaint before Malacañang*PNA/ Darryl John Esguerra photoBayan Muna Party-list and consumers of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. on Thursday, May 8, filed a formal complaint before Malacañang calling for the cancellation of all joint venture agreements (JVAs) between the Villar family-owned private water utility firm and local water districts around the country, including in Bacolod City, citing widespread service failures and legal violations.In the complaint addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the group said the JVAs have resulted in frequent water interruptions, poor water quality, high rates, and unresponsive customer service in areas including San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Bacolod C...

The Department of Education (DepEd) has not been remiss in reminding its personnel not to engage in electioneering, Ian Arnold Arnaez, Negros Occidental Schools Division spokesperson, said on Thursday, May 8.The DepEd has reminded teachers not to show their political inclinations so they will not be susceptible to electioneering cases, he said.Sometimes teachers are not doing anything wrong but fall victim to politicians’ suspicions, he said.Vice Mayor Adrian Ian Villaflor 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.Villaflor, who is running for mayor of Moises Padilla, said the teacher was seen several times attendin...

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...