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Mayor Javier Miguel ”Javi”  Benitez leads the groundbreaking rites in Victorias City Friday night.*Ronnie Baldonado photo  Mayor Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez led the groundbreaking of three landmark projects worth close to P2 billion on Friday, April 25, which “represent a bold step forward in realizing our vision for a modern, progressive, and resilient Victorias City”, he said. The three projects are the P550 million  Victorias City New Government Center, P200 million Sidlak Land Development Project, and the P1.2 billion Sidlak Residential Complex at Hacienda Loreto, Barangay XIII. They are located at  the 25-hectare Sidlak Victorias Global City, envisioned to be the new growth area  of Victorias City  . It is where the future smart, sus...

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon (4th from right) with Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Rep. Greg Gasataya and other city officials and Department of Transportation executives at the Bacolod City Government Center on Friday.* Bacolod PIO photoThe Department of Transportation (DOTr) will form a team that will assist Bacolod City in executing its local Comprehensive Public Transport Modernization Plan.Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon gave the commitment during his meeting with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and other city officials at the Bacolod City Government Center on Friday, April 25.“What we have seen in Bacolod is frankly something that is very promising,” Dizon said in an interview.He said the Public Transport Modernization Program is under a comprehen...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is waiting for the mechanics on the pilot sale of P20 per kilogram rice in the Visayas region.“Negros Occidental will do its best to be part of this program,” he said on Friday, April 25.The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday announced the pilot launch of P20 per kg. rice sale in the Visayas, in line with the food security, accessibility, and affordability targets of the Marcos administration.The program’s pilot was announced shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and 12 governors in Visayas.“We’re waiting because on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is calling all regional directors and they will discuss the mechanics on how to go ...

Independent senatorial candidates Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino (l-r)*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is endorsing 10 of the 12 senatorial candidates of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas of the administration.That is because he is also supporting independent senatorial candidates Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who are both former senators.Lacson is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition that is part of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas .The governor would not name the two among the administration’s 12 senatorial bets whom he would not support.“I think Cebu is also endorsing nine” of the senatorial candidates of the alliance, he said.Lacson said he will request the mayors to include Aquino and Pangilinan...

Rene Hofileña, Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena, Silay Councilor Mike Maravilla, Negros Occidental Historical Council chairperson Solomon Locsin, Gerard Hofileña Gimena and Silay City Tourism Officer Girlie Sulmaca (l-r) at the unveiling of the “Mango Harvester” at the Hofileña Museum grounds Friday afternoon.* Aeson Baldevia photoThe 1936 “Mango Harvester” of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo that was stolen more than months nine months ago finally returned to its home at the Hofileña Museum at Cinco de Noviembre Street in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Friday afternoon, April. 25.The painting was unveiled in the presence of Hofileña family members and guests Friday afternoon and returned to its original spot at the second floor of the museum, Jay Jalandoni, one of their r...

A composite team of scuba divers gather around before the final dive in search of the missing British national in Dauin, Negros Oriental on Thursday.*PNA/Mary Judaline F. Partlow photoThe Philippine Coast Guard terminated on Thursday afternoon its underwater search for a British national who was reported missing after failing to return home from diving on Tuesday, April 22, in Dauin, Negros Oriental.Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, Coast Guard-Negros Oriental station commander, announced the termination after two days of futile dives by their personnel and other volunteer scuba divers.However, she said they would continue "surface search operations for the missing individual with coastal patrols while coordinating with our counterparts as far as Mindanao".She declined to say wh...

The Bacolod police seized illegal drugs worth P2.6 million last week, April 14 to 20.They conducted 11 anti-illegal drug operations, which resulted in 16 arrests, the Bacolod City Police Office reported Friday, April 25.They seized 389.2 grams of suspected shabu valued at P2,646,560 and 25 grams of suspected marijuana worth P3,000, the report added.They also arrested seven wanted persons and three others for illegal gambling.*

Homicide charges will be filed against a father and his son who allegedly stabbed a man in Sharina Heights Subdivision, Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, April 23.Ernesto Peruelo Jr., 36, of Libertad Extension, Brgy. 40, died after he was stabbed by alias “Edwin”, and his son “Ed”, of Sharina Heights Subdivision, the police said.The suspects are at-large.Bacolod City Station 6 Commander Rosalino Pugoy Jr. said that the family of the victim will file charges against the suspect.Investigation revealed that the victim confronted Edwin for allegedly linking him to a theft incident. Edwin and Ed then allegedly stabbed him.The police said the suspects are believed to have previously been involved in theft cases.*

A fire destroyed a house worth P110,000 in Sitio Banquerohan, Brgy. Old Sagay, Sagay City in Negros Occidental on Friday, April 25.Destroyed was the house of Joel Bantulay, 61, the Bureau of Fire Protection in Sagay reported.FO2 Niño Delarmente, BFP-Sagay Shift Supervisor, said that the fire started at a sari-sari store and it gradually spread throughout the house.They are still determining the cause of fire, he said.*

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...