Negros Occidental passes P2.6-B budget

THE Provincial Board (PB) of Negros Occidental finally approved its budget pegged at P2.6 billion during its regular session Wednesday.

Approved in the final reading were the 2013 Annual General Fund Budget worth P1,912,059,008 and the 2013 Annual Budget of the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) of Negros Occidental in the amounting to P690,149,879.

Bacolod’s award seen to bring more jobs

BACOLOD City is now attractive to investors engaged in information technology (IT) businesses, because of its “Center of Excellence” status, an official said Wednesday.

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNeFIT) executive and founding president, said that Bacolod’s recent recognition means that the city is above average compared to other cities in the Philippines.

Ibañez is richest board member

BOARD Member Melvin Ibañez (5th district, Negros Occidental) is still the richest member of the Provincial Board (PB), based on his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN).

Ibañez declared his net worth at P46,007,714.45 from his assets pegged at P65,590,664.45 and liabilities of P19,590,664.45.

Noppo to implement major revamp

SENIOR Superintendent Ricardo Dela Paz, Acting Director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo), said on Wednesday that a major revamp of the chiefs of police (COPs) in the province can be implemented within May.

Dela Paz confirmed on Wednesday that he received requests from four re-elected mayors to reinstate their respective police chiefs who were transferred prior to the May 13 elections.

Village chiefs told: Get ready for polls

ASSOCIATION of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Mona Dia Jardin urged her fellow village chiefs to get ready for the barangay election which might be pushed through this October 2013.

She said that reports have it that President Benigno Aquino III wants to push through the Barangay Elections this October, but his previous stand was to hold it on 2016 while Commission on Elections (Comelec) wants it on 2014 for them to have ample time to prepare for the election.

Recall petition mulled vs Himamaylan mayor

FORMER assemblyman Antonio “Tony” Gatuslao revealed on Tuesday that he will spearhead a recall move against his nephew, Himamaylan City Mayor Agustin Bascon.

Gatuslao lost to Bascon for the second time in the mayoralty race last May 13 elections. Bascon won by 6,000 votes against Gatuslao.

6-year-old boy dies of dengue

DENGUE fever claimed the life of a six-year-old boy from Barangay Tangub last week, Dr. Grace Tan, head of the Environmental Sanitation Division of the Bacolod City Health Office, reported.

Tan said the total cases of dengue from January 1 to May 15 this year had increased –- 726 cases compared to 68 last year covering the same period.

Dismissal of murders raps vs Alvarezes, Tabujara

LAWYER Ria Arles, daughter of the late Judge Henry Arles, confirmed their filing of a Motion for Partial Reconsideration on the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday, dismissing the murder raps against Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, his son Mayor John Paul Alvarez of Ilog, and Vice Mayor Jerry Tabujara of Cauayan relative to the killing of their father.

Arles said that they filed the partial reconsideration because of the exclusion of the Alvarezes and Tabujara from the murder case while the DOJ has elevated the murder case against the other suspects.

Abang Lingkod files MR with SC for congress seat

ABANG Lingkod, a Negros-based party list group, is hoping that the Supreme Court (SC) would include their votes during the May 13 elections so that they would be assured of one representation in Congress.

Ben Solilapsi, secretary general of Abang Lingkod, said that in the overall results, Abang Lingkod garnered total votes of 206,000 that assured them of a seat in Congress.

Casuals at NGC process Terminal Leave Pay

THE appointments of more or less thousands of plantilla casuals are set to expire on June 30 and many of them have started to process their terminal leave pay this early.

City Council Secretary Vicente Petierre III said several plantilla casuals of the city have already applied for terminal leave pay which covers their sick and vacation leaves.

Drug pusher nabbed in Bacolod City

A SUSPECTED drug pusher was nabbed by the operatives of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (CAIDSOTG) in a buy-bust operation at Purok Adarna, Barangay 16 around 1:45 p.m. Monday.

Police identified the suspect as Francisco “Ikot” De La Cruz who scuffled with the police operatives when he resisted arrest in a buy-bust operation.

Police eye personal motive in Mansilingan killing

POLICE are eyeing personal motive as one of the possible angles in the shooting incident that killed Gibson Villanueva in Barangay Mansilingan last May 19.

Villanueva was killed when unidentified suspects suddenly shot him while he was watching TV inside his house. The suspects immediately fled after the incident while Villanueva was brought to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center but was declared dead-on-arrival after sustaining multiple injuries in different parts of his body.

Guv calls on cooperation of new officials

“NOW that the election is over, it's time to move on. Let us forget politics. We should unite and cooperate for the good of the province," said reelected Negros Oriental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

Marañon acknowledged the statement of newly elected Vice Governor Eugenio Lacson, who assured the governor that, despite an opposition-dominated Provincial Board, they won't be obstructionists to Marañon's administration.

Sayson thanks Bacolodnons

OUTGOING Bacolod City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson expressed Monday his gratitude to Bacolodnons despite his painful defeat to mayor-elect Monico Puentevella in the May 13, 2013 elections.

“My statement started with the word of gratitude because I wanted to emphasize my heartfelt thanks to all Bacolodnons for the chance they had given me to serve them,” Sayson said.

Bacolod water district mulls rate hike

THE Bacolod City Water district (Baciwa) is looking to increase its water rates before the year ends, according to general manager lawyer Julie Ann Carbon.

Carbon clarified the rate increase being sought by Baciwa is not in any way related to recent power price hike as petitioned by Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), the energy provider of the water district.

Fire guts internet café, offices

AN EARLY morning fire gutted an internet café and other offices along Lizares Avenue Barangay 40, Bacolod City, resulting to more than P2 million in damages, based on initial estimates by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Arson investigators are still determining the actual cause of fire which reportedly started at the back of Marby’s Internet Café and immediately gutted the whole establishment.

Negros shows potential for drive, organic tourism

FORMER Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor, currently the president of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), said that Negros Occidental has great potentials for drive and organic tourism that could attract both national and International tourists.

Gabor led 70 AAP members for the three-day Fly-Drive Caravan that started last Friday, May 17.

Marañon orders all-out war vs gambling

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. ordered anew an all-out war against illegal gambling which he said is still rampant, especially in the northern part of the province.

"Now that the election is over, I am calling the police to concentrate on its campaign against illegal gambling," Marañon said Monday in a press conference at the Governor's Office.

Magno urges Tubillara to accept defeat

REELECTED San Enrique Mayor Mario Magno asked his opponent former Mayor Jilson Tubillara to accept defeat.

"He should be gentleman enough to accept defeat. Would welcome his support in our programs as a private citizen," Magno said in reaction to Tubillara's plan of filing a protest for recount against him.

Councilors promise best public service

MAGNIFICENT 7 reelected councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, and Sonya Verdeflor vowed to give their best for the welfare of the City of Bacolod.

Familiaran, Baribar and Verdeflor took their oath of office Monday before Judge Ray Allan Drilon in the presence of their families, some supporters and friends.

Man shot dead while watching TV

A MAN was shot dead while watching television in his house at Bigonia St., Purok Paghida-et, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, around 8:45 p.m. May 19, Sunday.

Police identified the victim as Gibson Villanueva who was allegedly shot dead in his house by unidentified suspects for unknown reason, police investigation shows.

Woman dies in hit-and-run

A WOMAN died in a hit-and-run incident last May 17, Friday at Araneta Street, Bacolod City.

Police identified the victim as Angela Sorayda, a rice cake vendor.

Parents urged to enroll kids early, join Brigada Eskwela

APART from encouraging the parents to enroll their children early, the Department of Education (DepEd) is also encouraging the parents and the whole community to participate in the Brigada Eskwela which will start today, Monday.

Nenita Divinagracia of DepEd Bacolod City said they are appealing for the parents’ cooperation in terms of early enrollment. In January 26, she said, DepEd have conducted an early registration for the convenience of both parents and students as well as for teachers.

Alter Trade Corp spearheads sugarcane producer’s confab

AS PART of its forthcoming 25th anniversary celebration in July, a “Sugarcane Producers Encounter” was held recently by Alter Trade Corporation (ATC) for its producer communities at the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM) center in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. 

Agrarian reform beneficiaries and marginalized farmers who attended the activity belong to farm communities assisted by ATC and Alter Trade Manufacturing Corporation (ATMC).

Rep. Golez hints 2016 comeback

OUTGOING Bacolod City lone district Representative Anthony Rolando Golez, Jr. thanked Bacolodnons who gave him the opportunity to serve them for a three-year term but pointed out that a single defeat does not mean a final defeat.

"If it is in boxing, the May 13 election was just the first round. There are still more rounds coming," he said.

4.8 quake jolts province

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that a magnitude 4.8 earthquake jolted the Negros Occidental on Sunday morning.

Phivolcs said that the quake, which was tectonic in origin occurred at 5:06 a.m. with its epicenter traced at nine kilometers northwest of Hinoba-an town in Negros Occidental and had depth of 39 kilometers.

Army recruitment on

THE 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army at Camp Macario Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz announces the recruitment schedule for Western Visayas and Negros Oriental. 

Cops on poll duties back to barracks

POLICEMEN who were deployed to different areas for election duties are now back to barracks.

The Police Regional Office-Western Visayas (PRO-6) has consolidated its members who were deployed as augmentation force for the May 13 election security coverage.

Colmenares: ‘Smartmatic should be finished now’

BAYAN Muna Representative Nerie Colmenares said Sunday that the services of Smartmatic in the conduct of the May 13 automated midterm election should be over and should not be allowed to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.   Colmenares was in the city yesterday to thank the Negrense and Bacolodnons for the overwhelming support they gave to Bayan Muna locally garnering more or less 120,000 votes.  

They have raised a serious concern about the automated election.

Bacolod underway to digitize ordinances

BACOLOD City Legal Officer lawyer Joselito Bayatan said the city government has awarded to CD Technologies Asia Inc. (CD Asia) to digitize, harmonize, and codify the ordinances of the city government from 1938 to 2007.

This has passed the Bids and Awards Committee biddings and procedures and there was already in fact a purchase order issued in favor of DC Asia way back in July 2007. But the city was not able to formalize its agreement with CD Asia. So DC Asia filed a case against the city for it to comply with the contract because it (CD Asia) had already passed all the formalities.