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Two persons were stabbed to death and four others were injured in Talisay City, San Carlos City and Isabela town in Negros Occidental on Sunday, Nov. 17.A man was stabbed to death and three others were injured in a commotion at Sitio Balogo, Brgy. Concepcion, Talisay City, Negros Occidental.The 58-year-old man and resident of Sitio Bokbok, Barangay Concepcion, succumbed to multiple stab wounds inflicted by a 48-year-old suspect, the police said, but withheld their names.The wife and brother of the suspect, and another man, whose names were also withheld by the police, were also injured during the commotion.Investigation revealed that the suspect and his brother were having a drinking session when the two other victims passed by their house and called the suspect....

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz*The bid submission deadline for the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP) has again been moved from November to December, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Monday, Nov. 18.The PPP (public-private partnership) Center asked for the final extension for the submission of documents to Dec. 11, he said.The NBWSP is targeted to supply treated bulk water to service providers in the cities of Silay, Talisay, Victorias and Bacolod, and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Manapla.“The provincial government would like to assure all stakeholders that we are not just here to take water, we are here to develop a water security plan that includes water resource management to secure watershed areas,” Diaz said.The ...

Preparations for the 17th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival at the North Capitol Road in Bacolod City were underway on Monday.*Barbara Mijares photoThe 17th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival and 2nd Terra Madre Visayas will open at the North Capitol Road 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, and will run until Saturday, Nov. 23.A program will follow at the Negros Residences with Assistant Secretary Elizabeth de Leon of the Department of the Interior and Local Government as the keynote speaker.Among the officials expected at the program are Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel "Chaco" Sagarbarría, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, and Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez – Negros Association of Chief Executives president.Pro...

The police arrested two individuals and seized suspected shabu worth P142,800 and a firearm in two separate buy-bust operations in Silay City on Saturday, Nov. 16.Alias “Ann”, 42, tagged as a high value drug personality and resident of Brgy. Rizal, was arrested at about 4 p.m. Saturday, the police said.Seized from her were 13 grams of suspected shabu estimated to cost P88,400.Three hours later, alias “Padoy”, 41, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. E. Lopez at about 7:17 p.m., the police reported.The police confiscated from him eight grams of suspected shabu valued at P54,000, a .22 caliber pistol, magazine, and 10 live cartridges.The suspects are now under police custody and will be charged for violation of sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 or t...

The Negros Occidental provincial government is preparing a list of its ongoing projects, including those to be implemented during the election period, to be submitted to the Commission on Elections.The list is being prepared so they can seek permission and exemptions for the projects to continue during a Comelec ban, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.They will inform the Comelec as early as possible of ongoing infrastructure and soft projects so that here will be no miscommunication, Diaz said.As a matter of procedure ongoing projects do not require Comelec approval but to be on the safe side we will inform them, he said.Projects yet to implemented during the election period need Comelec exemption, he added.The Comelec states that during the campaig...

A fire damaged a furniture shop at Liroville Subdivision, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, at noon on Monday, Nov. 18.Damaged was Rojo Muebles and Craft, the Bacolod Fire Station reported.One of the employees of the shop noticed that the staff house made of light materials was on fire and called for help.The fire damaged the staff house, two motorcycles, and a vehicle.The shop, which is owned by Maxemia Libo-on, incurred damages worth P225,000, the Bacolod Fire Station reported.The cause of the fire still being investigated, it added.*

Employers are urged to implement the new wage increases that took effect in Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, on Sunday, Nov. 17.“I am appealing to all employers to properly implement the new wage order,” Sixto Rodriguez Jr., Labor Regional Director and Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board chairperson, said on Sunday.The new daily minimum wage rate under Wage Order No. RBVI-28 for Non-Agriculture/Industrial/ Commercial businesses employing more than ten workers is P513 or an increase by P33, and for those employing ten workers or less - P485 or an increase by P35.The new rate for agricultural workers is P480 or an increase by P40.The new minimum wage for Kasambahays under Wage Order No. RB VI-DW-05 is P6,000 a month.Frank Carbon, Metro Bacol...

The declaration by the Department of Agriculture and Sugar Regulatory Administration that there would be no more sugar importation until the end of the harvest next year has failed to arrest the drop in mill gate sugar prices, two groups said.The Sugar Council and National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry (NACUSIP) aired their concern on the drop in mill gate prices in a press statement on Sunday, Nov. 17.Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said last week that there is no immediate need for additional imports, as domestic supply of raw and refined sugar remain stable and sufficient to meet projected needs.“Given the current situation, (Sugar Regulatory) Administrator (Pablo Luis) Azcona and I agreed that a decision on sugar importation could be de...

The drug bust in  Purok Tahong, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, on Saturday.*The police seized suspected shabu worth P500,000 from a high value drug personality in a buy-bust operation in Purok Tahong, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, on Saturday, Nov. 16.Alias “Sandy” was arrested by City Drug Enforcement Unit and Bacolod Maritime Police Station cops.The police confiscated suspected shabu weighing 75 grams with an estimated street drug price of P510,000.The suspect is now in police custody and will be charged for violation of sections 5 and 11 of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.*

Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel  Benitez and MTRCB Chairperson Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio (3rd and 4th from left) led the signing of the MOA.* Nice Delfin photoIn an effort to curb harmful stereotypes and aggressive behavior influence by violent video content among minors, the Victorias City government inked a partnership with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to strengthen responsible viewership on Sunday, Nov. 17.Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez emphasized that MTRCB's vision in building more informed, compassionate, and enlightened communities and a nation of media-literate individuals who can effectively analyze, discern, and engage with various media content is aligned with the city's promotion of Digital Democracy in revolutionizing services, m...