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A grade 12 student died after he was electrocuted in Brgy. Tinayunan Beach, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, March 15.Alias “Japjap”, 19, was found lying on the ground holding a live wire with a bulb by his uncle on Saturday night.The victim had been feeding chickens prior to the incidentThe victim was brought to a hospital where he was declared dead, the police reported.*

A farmer was arrested for alleged illegal logging at Spur 8, Brgy. Bagong Silang, Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental, on Sunday, March 16.Alias “Freddie”, 46, a farmer and resident of Brgy. Bagong Silang, was apprehended by the police and personnel of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office.Recovered from the suspect were 76 pieces or 492 board feet of lumber from a Lawa-an tree with estimated market value of P30,000, the police reported.The lumber was turned over to the Northern Negros Natural Park Office for custody, the police said.*

The fire scene at Purok Ipil-Ipil.* Darwin Nengasca photoA 5-year-old child died and 26 houses were destroyed in a fire that hit Purok Ipil-Ipil, Brgy. 1, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, March 15.There are 109 residents affected by the fire who are now staying in the Barangay 1 Evacuation Center, Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer, said Sunday.The child was trapped inside a room of her house, FO1 Reynan Jundos, Bureau of Fire Protection-San Carlos investigator, said.The victim, together with her two siblings were sleeping while their grandmother was watching them when the fire broke out.They immediately went out of their house, however, the victim reportedly went back in the house because she was afrai...

Senator Imee Marcos at the 29th Sinigayan Festival in Sagay City on Saturday*Senator Imee Marcos is optimistic that the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will be postponed.Marcos, Senate electoral reforms committee chairperson, speaking before barangay officials on the 2nd District in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, March 15, said she expects both Houses of Congress to fast track the reconciliation of their bills that would grant the postponement of the BSKE when they convene in June.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said a postponement would be good news for the barangay officials, especially the current batch who were elected to serve for less than three years.“This postponement is not new as this has been done many times before,...

The Sugar Regulatory Administration has issued Sugar Order No. 5 for the export of 66,000 metric tons (MT) of the country’s raw sugar to the United States for crop year 2024-2025.The order sets the guidelines for the export of the farmers' share of raw sugar in fulfillment of the US sugar quota allocation for 2025 to avail of the privilege to participate in future import programs.The objective of this voluntary US export of 66,000 MT is to allow the Philippines to fulfill, for the second straight year, its obligations under the U.S. Raw Sugar Tariff-Rate Quota World Trade Allocation, it said.“At any time during the effectivity of this Sugar Order, the SRA may, if deemed warranted and through a notice issued by the SRA Administrator, order the temporary or permanent stoppage" of...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is not aware of alleged criminal and administrative complaints filed against him and some city officials regarding a land purchase deal of the city government, his spokesperson Caesar Distrito said Sunday, March 16.“I have no idea regarding an alleged criminal and admin complaints filed against me and other city officials. If it was out in the media before even serving us a copy of the alleged complaint, then it is purely an election propaganda and a ploy to create noise for election purposes,” Benitez said in the press statement issued by Distrito said.Previous mayors who purchased land before were mostly charged also, and all cases were dismissed by the Ombudsman, he said.“The land purchased by the city...

Ruby Cruz, and her son, David, at their upgraded urban vegetable garden.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Negros Farmers Weekend Market at Magsaysay Avenue in Bacolod City marked its 12th anniversary with guests harvesting vegetables from its upgraded urban garden on Saturday, March 15.Guests harvested cucumbers, eggplants, sweet peppers, tomatoes, string beans, corn and squash.Ruby Cruz, Negros Farmers Weekend Market owner, has been providing farmers a venue to sell their fresh produce for 12 years and stressing the importance of urban vegetable gardens for a healthy lifestyle.She said on the 12th anniversary of the Negros Farmers Weekend Market she is reminded of the reason behind its creation. “For all the lofty goals, the main intention is just to give a sense of community,” s...

The Bacolod City police arrested five persons and seized suspected shabu worth P1.2 million in three buy-bust operations in the city on Friday, March 14.The operations resulted in the arrest of high-value and street-level drug personalities and the confiscation of suspected shabu weighing 187 grams with an estimated street drug price of P1,271,600, the Bacolod City Police Office reported.Alias “Dam”, 54, and alias “Isaac”, 32, were arrested by the City Drug Enforcement Unit cops in Purok Sisi 1, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, at about 1:41 p.m. Friday.Seized from them were 82 grams of suspected shabu valued at P557,600.An hour later or at 2:40 p.m. alias “Kimberly”, 30, was also arrested by operatives of the Bacolod Police Station 6 in Doña Juliana Street, Brgy. 33.Seized from...

Fuel prices are expected to drop on Tuesday, March 18, for the third straight week.Diesel prices should go down by P0.30 to P0.40 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said Saturday.Gasoline prices should also go down by P0.10 to P0.30 per liter, it added.*

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez at PHILSURIN*Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez recently visited the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation Inc. (PHILSURIN) in Silay City to explore climate-resilient and fast-growing varieties of sugarcane to support farmers in Negros Occidental.During the visit PHILSURIN introduced the PSR 03-171 variety, which promises to significantly enhance production capabilities, a press release from Victorias City said on Sunday, March 16.This variety is noted for its adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions, moderate drought tolerance, high yield potential, and rapid growth rate.Negros Occidental currently has approximately 195,000 hectares dedicated to sugarcane cultivation, and PHILSURIN plans to implemen...