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To protect local hog raisers from plummeting market rates and stabilize meat prices amid ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) disruptions, the Provincial Local Price Coordinating Council (PLPCC) of Negros Occidental has passed a resolution  recommending minimum suggested buying and retail prices across the province.The resolution, signed by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, PLPCC chairperson, Thursday, August 13, established floor prices for various swine commodities pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-18 (Series of 2020) and Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act.The Council recommended the following  minimum prices:Live Hogs – Finisher: ₱165 per kilogramLive Hogs – Starter: ₱200 per kilogramCulled Sows: ₱100 per kilogramPiglets: ₱2,700 per headHog Carc...

Health workers attending to the Grade 5 students.*Cadiz DRRMO photoSeventeen Grade 5 students from Tiglawigan Elementary School in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental,  suffered from  poisoning after eating toxic kasla (Jatropha) seeds on Wednesday, Mayor Salvador Escalante confirmed on Thursday, August 13.City Health Officer Dr. Maria Victoria Ibañez reported that eight of the 17 students, aged 10 to 12, were placed under 24-hour observation at the Cadiz Primary Care Facility.Five of those  held for 24 hours were treated with intravenous (IV) dextrose drips, while three were placed on a hep-lock for intermittent medication delivery. The students experienced severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, she said.All  patients were discharged Thursday."They sai...

The unfinished new PAC building.*Barbara Mijares photoThe construction of the new seven-story Negros Occidental Provincial Administration Center (PAC) along Aguinaldo Street  in Bacolod City has completely ground to a halt, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed on Thursday, August 13.The close to P1-billion project being built  by Dynamic Builders and Construction Co. was  targeted for completion in July,  Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said. Construction began in 2022 ."Unfortunately, as everyone can see, work has completely stopped," Lacson said. "From what I gathered from their representatives, financial problems are the main reason. I have yet to hear from them again to see if there is any improvement, but right now, it seems stalled."Despi...

Father Filomeno Duaban, Karlo Abidanes, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, Father Melvin Fajardo and Father Aniceto Buenafe (l-r) at a press conference Thursday morning.*CPG photoSan Carlos  Bishop Gerardo Alminaza is calling on Negrenses and all Filipinos to help  make people power work by supporting the “Dapat Isa Lang  (D1L)” movement, which seeks to pass a genuine anti-political dynasty law through a People’s Initiative.The signature campaign, which will incorporate online signing starting in September, was launched on Thursday afternoon, August 13,  at the Jubilee Hall of the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist Church) in Bacolod City.“This is our rare chance to really regain power for the common good… May Negros help lead the way,” Alminaza said. ...

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson sand Negros Power President and Chief Executive Officer Roel Z. Castro (2nd and 3rd from left) after the signing of the MOA, witnessed by Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator  Rayfrando P. Diaz II, Negros Power Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Engr. Joe-Mel Zaporteza, and Assistant Vice President for Customer Care and Marketing Ma. Cecilia Pe (l-r).* Richard Malihan photoThe iconic facade of the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol is set to shine brighter under a new partnership between the Provincial Government and Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power).Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Negros Power, represented its President and Chief Executive Officer Roel Z. Castro, to light up t...

Visayas grid’s red alert status for Thursday, August 13,   has been extended, now from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., from the earlier 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. schedule, following the forced outages of diesel-powered generating units with capacities of around 70 megawatts (MW).The yellow alert, meanwhile, is now from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said in an advisory.The gap between the capacity and supply is now wider, with latest capacity pegged to be around 2,148 MW, up from 2,283 MW earlier, even as demand is now projected to peak at around 2,376 MW from 2,360 MW this morning.NGCP said 15 power plants are on forced outage just this month alone, while more than 20 others are unavailable as far back as 2021.It said...

A 24-year-old motorcycle rider died while two others, including a minor, were injured in a collision involving two motorcycles in Candoni, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12.The Candoni police said the road incident happened at around 5:50 p.m. along the national highway in Purok Orchids, Brgy. Haba.Police identified the fatality only as “Ariel,” a 24-year-old laborer and resident of the barangay.The other motorcycle was driven by a 21-year-old man identified only as “Richmar,” who had a minor back rider.Police  investigation showed that the two motorcycles were traveling in opposite directions when Ariel attempted to make a left turn.Police said Ariel maneuvered back toward his lane after seeing the approaching motorcycle, but the other motorcycle ...