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Noli Rosales, Bayan Negros spokesperson, (2nd from left) at a press conference at the Negros Press Club on Thursday.*No amount of rebranding by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can conceal that he is incapable of addressing the pressing demands of the people, having offered only an illusion of productivity, Noli Rosales, Bayan Negros spokesperson, claimed on Thursday, July 20.The first year of Marcos Jr.'s presidency was primarily focused on building his public image, as he attempted to rebrand his regime as "Bagong Pilipinas", reminiscent of his father’s “Bagong Lipunan" Rosales said in a press statement.“We must not be swayed by the empty promises of rebranding and propaganda, instead, we must continue to expose the truth and hold the administration accountable for its crimes a...

The 1983 MassKara Festival in Bacolod City.*Visayan Times file photoA multi-sectoral discussion on the history of the MassKara Festival will be held at Sea Breeze Hotel in Bacolod City on Saturday, July 22.Creative think-tank group “Bibliotikal” will organize the event, which will open discussions on the beginnings and history of the MassKara Festival.The event will be attended by representatives from the youth, urban poor, and academic sectors, among others, and will be open to the public.Event organizer and Bibliotikal founder Raniel Ponteras said that discussions pertaining to local history are very timely as the posting of fake historical narratives, especially online and on social media sites, is very rampant.He said that when the Philippine History subject was rem...

Bacolod City policemen arrested three station-level most wanted individuals for alleged homicide and violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act in Bacolod City, Wednesday, July 19.The police served a warrant of arrest to Jurry Distajo, 23, of Purok Tahong, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City.Distajo was charged with alleged homicide and Regional Trial Court Branch 50 Judge Ferdinand Elbert Jomilla set his bail at P120,000 on July 4, the police reported.He was arrested by members of the Bacolod City Mobile Force Company and a BCPO Tracker Team.Meanwhile, Alvin Caceres, 31, a tricycle driver from Brgy. 16, was also arrested by the police for alleged violation of R.A. 9165, Wednesday afternoon.The suspect was issued a warrant of arrest for alleged violation ...

There are four committed private sector-initiated power projects in Negros Island with a projected total capacity of 41.6 megawatts, the Department of Energy (DOE) said.There are 19 power projects initiated by the private sector in the Visayas and four will be installed in Negros Island, data posted on the DOE website on July 12 said.The projects are the 5.6MW Northern Negros Geothermal Project in Bago City and Murcia, and 30MW expansion project of the 70MW Biomass Cogeneration Plant in Victorias City, both from Negros Occidental, and 3MW and 6MW Biomass Power Plant Projects (Phase 1 and 2) in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.All these projects are renewable energy plants.The biomass projects in Bayawan and Victorias are expected to be commissioned in the second half of the ye...

The Office of Vice President Sara Duterte issued a public warning on Wednesday, July 19, against the illegal collection of money by unscrupulous individuals or groups in behalf of the OVP.Reports from Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, said that certain individuals have been asking for P50 from persons who want to avail of monetary aid or services from the vice president, the public warning posted on her Facebook page said.This is a scam, it said.The public is being urged to report such activities to the police station or any local authorities, the OVP said.The public may also inquire about OVP programs through its official platforms, the OVP Central Office, and its Satellite Offices, it added.The OVP Bacolod Satellite Office is located at the Mosser Building, Lacson Street...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson*Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday, July 19, assured Negros Occidental provincial government employees that all the benefits due them will be given even without their asking.“In fact we granted benefits that were for the government employees, we never failed, we did not need the union to remind us,” Lacson said.“We always look after the welfare of all government employees whether they are union members or not,” he added.The governor said the alleged conflict between Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz and Renelo Lastierre, Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees president, over the discovery of two bullets at the Food Terminal Market of Negros “maybe only a perception”.It will in no way affect the employees’ benefits, he said.Lastie...

The daily pig deaths from various diseases in Negros Occidental have dropped from triple to double digits, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, July 19.Negros Occidental is still following biosecurity protocols and he hopes the number of daily deaths will further drop, Lacson said.Lacson said he has also been constantly reminding Capitol personnel to hasten the release of the cash assistance to the hog raisers affected.The pig deaths from Africa Swine Fever, hog cholera and other diseases in Negros Occidental were at 17,334 with total losses of P195,596, 575 on Wednesday, the Provincial Animal Biosecurity Incident Management Team reported.This has affected 4,029 hog raisers in 153 barangays in 20 local government units in Negros Occidental, it said.*

The Senate hearings on the divorce bill have ended and the committee report is being prepared for signature, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday, July 18.Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, is pushing to the passage of Senate Bill 147 or the Dissolution of Marriage Act.“I am hopeful that the Senate will be open to it,” she said during a visit to Bacolod City.The divorce bill will enable the dissolution of marriage in a shorter period and would be less costly, as long as a certain criteria is met, she said.The law on legal separation and annulment that is a lengthy process does not allow remarrying, she said.The dissolution of marriage or divorce bill allows remarrying, Hontiveros said.The bill wi...

Senator Risa Hontiveros and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson*The Negros Occidental provincial government will oppose any move to allow the importation of sugar without orders from the Sugar Regulatory Administration, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, July 19.Allowing the uncontrolled entry of imported sugar would be “like a tsunami hitting us” because it would cause the drop in domestic farmgate prices, he said.It could also halt the buying of domestic sugar, Lacson added.Lacson, who met with Senator Risa Hontiveros Tuesday afternoon, said he agreed with her that if that happens to the sugar industry, it could happen to all other agricultural products.“We can't accept the statement of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that you don't need an sugar, order anymore ...

The drug testing in San Carlos City on Monday, July 17.*A job order employee assigned to the motorpool of the San Carlos City Engineering Department tested positive for the use of drugs, Mayor Renato Gustilo said on Wednesday, July 19.The JO worker was one of 40 from the motorpool who underwent drug tests on Monday in an ongoing campaign to ensure a drug-free workplace as mandated by the Civil Service Commission.JO workers who test positive will be given the option to submit themselves to a community-based drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP) of the local government to have a chance to return to work.*