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May92024 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

NEPC franchise passes Senate debate period

The Senate tackled House Bill No. 9805 that aims to grant the Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) a franchise to take over the power distribution system in Bacolod, Silay, Talisay and Bago cities and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto from Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), on Wednesday, April 8. Senator Grace Poe, who sponsored the bill, underscored the significant impact of the proposed franchise, emphasizing a projected P2.1 billion initial investment in Capital expenditures (CapEx) by Negros Power over the next five years, a press released from NEPC said. She also highlighted the economic growth potential in the covered areas, affirming that consumers can expect stable rates and Negros Power's commitment to efficient operation and affor...

May92024 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez to formally resign as PDP Negros chairman

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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, May 9, that he will formally resign as Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan chairman of Negros Occidental, along with other PDP members of the province.Jesus Villanueva Hinlo last month said he is the PDP Negros Occidental Council president and deputy secretary general for the Visayas.Former president Rodrigo Duterte is the PDP national chairman.Benitez said several hundred Negrense politicians who joined the PDP with him, when Duterte was president of the country, are also formally resigning.He said they are still discussing what national party they will join.*

May92024 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Negrense writer, teacher Gawad Balagtas awardee

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Negrense writer, teacher and researcher Ma. Cecilia Locsin-Nava was one of the awardees of the 37th Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas at the University of the Philippines-Dilliman in Quezon City, Metro Manila, recently.Locsin-Nava is one of the nine awardees of this year’s Gawad Balagtas awards, which are given to Filipino writers for their exceptional work in the Filipino language and their contribution to Philippine literature.The Gawad was awarded to Locsin-Nava under the Kasaysayang Panitikan at Salin sa Ingles or Historical Literature and English Language Translations category.Locsin-Nava is acclaimed for her specialization in literature and culture in Negros and Western Visayas and is a former dean of the College of Arts and Sc...

May92024 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Senior citizen killed in Moises Padilla

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A senior citizen was shot dead at his residence in Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7.Killed was a 68-year-old laborer whose name was withheld by the police.When the victim and his wife arrived at their house, three unidentified individuals approached them, the police said.One of the suspects then shot the victim four times resulting in his death, the police added.All three suspects escaped.*

May92024 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

Climate-resilient farming training center to rise in Negros village

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Ther groundbreaking of the center in Sagay City.*A P2 million Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) Training Center will soon rise in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, through the assistance of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas.The principal recipients are 62 members of the Menakalaw Farmer Beneficiaries Association (MEFABA) based in Barangay Rizal, which serves as the AMIA Village Sagay.City Agriculturist Julie Delima said in an interview on Thursday that the facility would become an income-generating project of MEFABA and open for use by farmers from other associations and interested individuals for a minimal fee.“The center will showcase the farmers’ innovative and climate-resilient farming technologies,” she added.The associatio...

May92024 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Alminaza calls for action to foster peace in Negros

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Photo from Bishop Alminaza FBSan Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has outlined a series of actions for his congregation “to actively pursue peace and community healing in response to the ongoing unrest on Negros Island”.The call to action is contained in a pastoral letter titled "Embracing Our Christian Duty to Work for Integral Peace" to be read in all anticipated and Ascension Sunday Masses, Alminaza said.Alminaza said he is encouraging the diocese to engage in various peace-building activities.Key initiatives include facilitating dialogs within parishes and community groups to address local tensions, advocating for policies that protect individuals affected by violence and hunger, and extending support through community service and charitable works, a press release from th...

May92024 by Mary Judaline PartlowNo Comments

Guv vows to push Tamlang Valley dev’t project at Malacañang

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Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria shows a plan of the proposed Tamlang Valley development project.*Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA photoNegros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria on Wednesday, May 8, vowed to relentlessly pursue the Tamlang Valley development project even if it means having to personally present it to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. while securing funds elsewhere for its realization.In a press conference, Sagarbarria expressed his disappointment over the removal of the Tamlang Valley-Sustainable Agriculture for Growth and Resiliency (TV-SAGR) project from the top three priority programs in Central Visayas to be presented to the President.The governor recently received a letter from the National Economic Development Authority in Region 7 (NEDA 7) informing him that ...

May92024 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

VMC says thank you as it marks 105th year

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Negros Occidental Barangay League President Richard Julius Sablan, Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, singer Sitti, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and VMC Chairman Wilson Young (l-r)*.Touted as the country’s biggest sugar mill and refinery, and one of the largest in Southeast Asia, the Victorias Milling Company celebrated its 105th year anniversary on Tuesday, May 7, by thanking its employees and partners through the years.It also affirmed its commitment to embrace technology, trends and innovation to sustain growth in a rapidly evolving sugar industry, a press release from the firm said Thursday.VMC President Linley Retirado thanked the men and women of VMC in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, for their dedication and ...

May92024 by Perla LenaNo Comments

LTFRB allots P79M for WV incentivized program

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The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allocated P79 million for the implementation of Phase IV of the public utility vehicle (PUV) service contracting program (SCP) in select local government units in Western Visayas.LTFRB OIC Regional Director for Western Visayas Lawyer Salvador Altura Jr. said on Wednesday, May 8, that under the SCP, qualified transport cooperatives or corporations will be paid based on the distance they travel.“It (payment) will go directly to the account of the cooperative, and how they will use it is up to their board of directors,” he said.He said the program is implemented in selected areas in Silay City and Bacolod City in Negros Occidental province, Roxas City in Capiz, and Iloilo City since not all local government units...

May92024 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Pagasa: Stay vigilant versus extreme heat

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Rain has been hitting some parts of Western Visayas but is still not enough.The public is reminded to remain vigilant against extreme heat that is still hitting the region, Ferdinand Rubin, PAGASA weather specialist 1, said on Wednesday, May 8.PAGASA has been recording extremely high heat indices in the last few weeks, he said.But with more rain cooler temperature is expected by June, he said.*