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The Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Central Visayas has committed to help the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in transporting food packs to flood-hit areas in Negros Occidental, a DSWD ranking official said Thursday, August 31.DSWD Assistant Secretary Marlong Alagao, chief of the Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG), said a total of 20,000 family food packs (FFPs) from the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Cebu City are scheduled to be transported in tranches to the Bacolod-Silay International Airport using PAF choppers from the Mactan Air Base.“A request has been made to the Visayas Air Command for a fixed wing, specifically a C-130 cargo plane, for faster airlifting of the prepositioned FFPs at the Mactan Air Base,” Alagao said, adding that they are s...

It may take three to four days more before power is restored to Victorias City, EB Magalona and Manapla.The power in the three areas was cut off when the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative 15 MVA Victorias Substation’s lightning arrester busted Tuesday night, August 29, John Deles, NONECO area operations manager, said.He said they were working to restore power as soon as possible and have sought the help of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO).Meanwhile, power from the 5 MVA Manapla Substation has been tapped for the local government offices in the three areas, Deles said.CENECO manager Arnel Lapore said NONECO and Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez called him to seek assistance.There are two options available, Lapore said.NONECO will tap power from CEN...

CENECO acting manager Arnel Lapore and lawyer Eduardo Padios Jr. at a press conference on Thursday to announce the conclusion of the plebiscite.*The Central Negros Electric Cooperative board on Thursday, August 31, declared the conclusion of its Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) plebiscite as authorized by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) since the majority have already voted for its approval, CENECO acting general manager Arnel Lapore announced.The remaining plebiscite voting dates on September 2 and 3 will no longer be held, Lapore said.NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda , in a memorandum dated Wednesday, August 30, authorized CENECO to declare the termination of the plebiscite voting, and to conduct the final canvassing of the consolidated returns.It w...

A former employee of the Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist filed an appeal before the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 29, seeking the reversal of an order of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson dismissing him from the service.Agriculturist 1 Herminigildo Basilio was dismissed for the alleged disappearance of 789 bags of fertilizer valued at P2,367,000 from the provincial government’s Rice Processing Center (RPC) warehouse in Tabunan, Bago City, last year.But Basilio told the CSC that the findings against him for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and malversation of public funds are premised on erroneous factual allegations and are not supported with substantial evidence.Basilio asked the CSC to order his immediate reinstatement an...

Flooded ricefields in Negros Occidental.*Typhoon “Goring” damage to Negros Occidental agriculture and infrastructure rose to P167,833,186 , the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported at 5 p.m. Thursday, August 31.Damage to rice, high value crops and corn was P153,833,066 affecting 3,978 farmers, fisheries – P1,447,000, irrigation, machineries and agri infrastructure – P8,000,000, and livestock – P4,553,120, the PDRRMC reported.Twenty-seven houses were also destroyed and 87 were damaged, it added.Mayor Nicholas Yulo said data was being gathered to determine if a state of calamity can be declared in Bago City.“Goring” affected 2,480 families with 9,354 members in Bago City, the PDRRMC reported.Yulo said an area can be declared unde...

A tornado hit seven houses in Purok San Juan 2, Barangay Balaring, Silay City in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, August 29.Two houses were destroyed and five were damaged, Balaring Barangay Captain Remy Roldan said on Thursday.No one was injured, he said.Roldan said a tornado had also hit the same area in the past.The Department of Social Welfare and Development has provided assistance the affected families.the barangay will also help the victims, he added.Roldan said a commercial establishment in the barangay proper had also been hit by a tornado the day before.*

The candidates for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Negros Occidental increased to 20,465 on Wednesday, Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Thursday, August 31.There were 6,946 6,946 new bets who filed their COCs on Wednesday, he said.There were 420 additional bets for punong barangay, 4,047 for Sangguninag Barangay member, 361 for SK chairperson and 2,118 for SK member.That brought the total number of candidates for punong barangay from Monday to Wednesday to 1,203, Sangguninag Barangay member – 11,270, SK chairperson - 1,211 and for SK member – 6,781.The filing of COCs will end on Saturday, September 2.*

A police patrol car accidentally crashed into a parked Isuzu wing van at the highway in Sitio Daanlungsod, Brgy. Poblacion, Sta. Catalina town in Negros Oriental, Wednesday afternoon, August 30.The patrol car driven by Patrolman Rafaelito Alquizalas, 28, was traveling through the Tanjay-Pamplona-Sta. Catalina Road when it hit the stationary wing van.The patrol car was allegedly overtaking a slow-moving tricycle when a motorcycle suddenly crossed the road causing Alquizalas to make a hard left to avoid a collision.While he avoided the motorcycle, the patrol car hit the parked Isuzu wing van causing damage to both vehicles.The police said Alquizalas was injured and was brought to the hospital.*

A mechanic was accidentally electrocuted in a car wash and vulcanizing shop in Brgy. 3, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, August 30.Timar Estrella, 37, of Brgy. DSB, Pontevedra town, was electrocuted while repairing a car wash spray of the peso car wash machine at the shop, a police report said.The victim was told by the son of the shop’s owner to plug the car wash machine but was warned that he might be electrocuted, the report added.The victim insisted on plugging the machine causing the son of the owner to be partly grounded while Estrella was electrocuted because his left foot was stepping on a watery area, the police added.Estrella was thrown on to the cemented part of the shop.He was rushed to the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital b...

A man was arrested for allegedly robbing two minors in Brgy. Dos Hermanas, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Wednesday night, August 30.Ronnie Mabansag, 22, of Purok Balas, Brgy. Dos Hermanas robbed the two minors in front of the barangay hall, the police reported.The suspect allegedly pointed a bladed weapon at the abdomen of one of the victims and took their cell phones.The suspect fled but was apprehended by a responding police officer and tanods.The suspect is now detained at the Talisay Police Station.*