Negros Occidental - Iloilo Metropolitan Times https://www.imtnews.ph Developmental News, Critical Views Sun, 15 Oct 2023 13:52:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 224892800 44th Masskara Festival set Oct. 7-22 https://www.imtnews.ph/44th-masskara-festival-set-oct-7-22/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=44th-masskara-festival-set-oct-7-22 Thu, 17 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/44th-masskara-festival-set-oct-7-22/ The 44th edition of the Masskara Festival will kick off on Oct. 7 and run until Oct. 22, with a “more spectacular” street and arena dance showcase to culminate the celebration of the “festival of many faces.”

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The 44th edition of the Masskara Festival will kick off on Oct. 7 and run until Oct. 22, with a “more spectacular” street and arena dance showcase to culminate the celebration of the “festival of many faces.”

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the 15-day festivity would be launched with a countdown at midnight on Oct. 6.

“We want a more spectacular street dance competition,” the mayor said in a press briefing.

He added that from the previous 17 participating barangays, the number would be trimmed down to only 10 to showcase the best performances of the Masskara dancers.

Benitez said the city government intends to provide bigger subsidies to the participating villages this year.

“That is our main attraction, the street dance. We would like to emphasize and give all the support that we can give for them to give an attractive performance,” he added.

In June this year, dancers from the defending champion Barangay Granada performed in New York City for the first time during the 125th Philippine Independence Anniversary Commemoration Parade.

Performers from Barangay Sum-ag, last year’s runner-up, were featured in the 2023 Busan International Dance Festival in Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea, also in June.

Bacolod was recognized for Best Festival Practices and Performances in the Aliw Awards 2022 in December last year, with the return of the Masskara after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.PNA

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3rd Bacolod Rum Festival slated Aug. 12-20 https://www.imtnews.ph/3rd-bacolod-rum-festival-slated-aug-12-20/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=3rd-bacolod-rum-festival-slated-aug-12-20 Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/3rd-bacolod-rum-festival-slated-aug-12-20/ The third edition of the Bacolod Rum Festival will be held on Aug. 12-20, featuring more events and participants to highlight this city as the home of "the world's number one rum".

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The third edition of the Bacolod Rum Festival will be held on Aug. 12-20, featuring more events and participants to highlight Bacolod City as the home of “the world’s number one rum”.

The event’s main sponsor, Tanduay Distillers Inc., manufactures rum from fermented sugarcane or molasses in Bacolod, the capital city of Negros Occidental known as the “sugar bowl of the Philippines”.

“The home of the world’s number one rum is actually Bacolod City. This has a huge impact in terms of awareness for the city,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said in a press conference.

Councilor Em Ang, who authored the ordinance creating the Bacolod Rum Festival, said the event has been inspired by the desire of the city government to create more festivals to spur local economic activity.

“Bacolod and Negros Occidental are home to the finest distilleries in the country. We are proud that Bacolod is associated with sugar and sugarcane production, and now also as part of the production of rum. This year, we are expecting a bigger and better festival,” she added.

On Aug. 12, the festival opening ceremonies will be held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds, which will feature a food park as well as rum and music nights.

Other events include the barrel painting competition on Aug. 14 and flair bartending and mixology competition national grand finals on Aug. 19.

This year’s festival will feature singer Ely Buendia, actor Derek Ramsey and 2023 Tanduay calendar girl Kylie Verzosa.

Benitez said events such as the Bacolod Rum Festival make the city a destination of choice in the country.

“This will be a prelude to our very famous (Masskara) festival this coming October. Last year, the Rum Festival was one of the first major events hosted by the City of Bacolod and it became very successful and well received,” he added.PNA

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Lower generation rate, fuel cost cut power rates in NegOcc https://www.imtnews.ph/lower-generation-rate-fuel-cost-cut-power-rates-in-negocc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lower-generation-rate-fuel-cost-cut-power-rates-in-negocc Thu, 20 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/lower-generation-rate-fuel-cost-cut-power-rates-in-negocc/ Lower generation rates and fuel costs have brought down the average residential power rates in all three electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental in April.

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Lower generation rates and fuel costs have brought down the average residential power rates in all three electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental in April.

The Northern Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noneco) reported a downward adjustment of P0.5144 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from P14.1849 in March to P13.6705 in April.

“This can be attributed to the 4.90 percent decrease in generation rate and also in fuel cost of the power generators,” the management said in a press statement.

Noneco, which covers the cities of Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante, and San Carlos, and the municipalities of EB Magalona, Manapla, Toboso, and Calatrava, has power supply agreements with Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC) and Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC).

In the south, the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) announced a reduction of P1.1062 per kWh from P15.4918 in March to P14.3856 in April.

“Reduction in the total electricity rates is driven by the total generation charge, which decreased by P1.0482 per kWh compared to last month’s rate,” it said in an advisory.

Noneco’s coverage area includes the cities of La Carlota, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, and Sipalay, as well as the municipalities Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, and Hinoba-an.

“Member-consumers are advised to conserve energy and to be aware of their energy consumption to avoid paying high electricity bill,” it added.

In this capital city and its neighboring localities, the power rate dropped by P0.9345 per kWh this month from P13.6716 in March to P12.7371 in April, the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) said in its advisory.

Pass-through charges, including generation, transmission and system loss, decreased by P0.5293 per kWh while there was also a reduction in fuel cost and fuel discount from the PCPC and a drop in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market price.

Aside from Bacolod, the Ceneco service area includes the cities of Bago, Talisay, Silay, and the municipalities of Murcia and Bago.PNA

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Bacolod police assures quick response to citizens’ complaints https://www.imtnews.ph/bacolod-police-assures-quick-response-to-citizens-complaints/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bacolod-police-assures-quick-response-to-citizens-complaints Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/bacolod-police-assures-quick-response-to-citizens-complaints/ The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has partnered with the Public Information Office (PIO) here to provide a quick response to complaints related to crimes and other police matters.

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The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has partnered with the Public Information Office (PIO) here to provide a quick response to complaints related to crimes and other police matters.

Col. Noel Aliño, acting police city director, said they would act on the concerns raised through the city government’s “Isugid kay Mayor” (Report it to the Mayor) online complaints desk.

“I asked them to refer the complaints to me directly,” he told reporters during his visit to the Government Center on April 19, a day after he took over as BCPO chief.

PIO head Carmela Arcolas-Gamboa said she was glad for the opportunity to work with the BCPO.

“Col. Aliño came for a courtesy call. He’s very proactive and vows to support this program of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez’s ‘Isugid kay Mayor’ program,” she said.

Records showed that from January to April, “Isugid kay Mayor” received at least 17 complaints related to the BCPO, but Arcolas-Gamboa said they did not get a single response for “actions taken” from the BCPO.

“When he found out about it, Col. Aliño said he will now personally receive all the complaints. He promised to work closely with us in this program,” she added.

On Tuesday, April 18, Benitez himself challenged the new BCPO leadership to do better in ensuring peace and order in the city.

He told Aliño that the “challenge is to adhere to the highest excellence because that is what the people want.”

The mayor also assured the BCPO that the city government would be a strong partner and support the local police in terms of resources and logistics.PNA

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P295-M access road boosts agri-tourism in Talisay City https://www.imtnews.ph/p295-m-access-road-boosts-agri-tourism-in-talisay-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=p295-m-access-road-boosts-agri-tourism-in-talisay-city Wed, 25 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/p295-m-access-road-boosts-agri-tourism-in-talisay-city/ Agri-tourism stakeholders in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, which borders this capital city to the north, are getting a boost with the completion of the final phase of access road reconstruction worth P34 million.

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Agri-tourism stakeholders in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, which borders this capital city to the north, are getting a boost with the completion of the final phase of access road reconstruction worth P34 million.

It is part of a multi-year program totaling PHP295 million implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas from 2018 to 2022.

As of Wednesday, the First District Engineering Office has finished the 1.17-kilometer, two-lane concrete road, with funding from the 2022 DPWH-Department of Tourism Convergence and Special Support Program, to complete the 13.02-kilometer road stretch.

In a statement, DPWH-6 (Western Visayas) Regional Director Nerie Bueno said the improvement of the entire stretch of the access road provides both locals and tourists smoother, faster and safer transportation access to various tourist destinations in Talisay City.

Famous tourist attractions in the area, situated at the boundary of Talisay and Bacolod, are the Campuestohan Highland Resort as well as the nearby Bantug Lake Ranch and the University of St. La Salle Eco Park in this city.

Encompassing the barangays of Dos Hermanas, San Fernando and Concepcion in Talisay City, the P295-million road reconstruction activity also includes the P50-million 1.58-kilometer concrete road completed in 2018; P40-million 1.6-kilometer concrete pavement, 2019; P66 million 2.64-kilometer concrete road, 2020; and PHP105-million 3.8-kilometer concrete pavement, 2021, a portion which was undertaken by the DPWH-6 regional office.

“The access road also intersects with the portion of the ongoing construction of Bacolod-Negros Occidental Economic Highway, which will eventually reduce travel time from Talisay City proper to the mountainous communities,” Bueno said.

For Negros Occidental, a top sugar-producing province, road improvement is “very essential” so that transport of sugarcanes and other agricultural products will be easier and faster, she added.PNA

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More modern jeeps arrive for 6 routes in Bacolod City https://www.imtnews.ph/more-modern-jeeps-arrive-for-6-routes-in-bacolod-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=more-modern-jeeps-arrive-for-6-routes-in-bacolod-city Tue, 24 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/more-modern-jeeps-arrive-for-6-routes-in-bacolod-city/ Thirty more modern jeepneys for six routes have arrived here as part of the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

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Thirty more modern jeepneys for six routes have arrived here as part of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Modern jeeps in Bacolod City has reached 203, including the existing 173 plying various routes since last year as of Jan. 24.

Councilor Psyche Marie Sy, who represented Mayor Alfredo Abelardo during the launch and blessing rites, said the city fully supports initiatives to pursue jeepney modernization.

“It is great to see more modernized jeepneys on the road. It’s time for Bacolod, a highly urbanized city, to be a model for clean and efficient transportation,” she added.

In a report on Tuesday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) PUVMP Regional Project Management Office-Western Visayas (Region 6) said the new units were turned over on Monday to the United Negros Transport Cooperative (UNETCO), which has obtained 97 units of Class 2 FAW modernized PUVs, but is still awaiting the arrival of the 67 other units.

LTFRB-6 Regional Director Richard Osmeña said the launch of the modern jeepneys “delivers a strong signal of courage and decisiveness of those who opted to take the challenge of public transport”.

The six routes in the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) awarded to UNETCO include the Shopping-Libertad- USLS loop, 16 units; Shopping-Libertad-San Agustin and Handumanan-Mansilingan-Libertad routes, 18 units each; Tangub-South Capitol Road, Taculing-Central, and Banago-Libertad loops, 15 units each.

Initially, five units have been distributed to each of the six awarded routes, which are set to hold a dry-run this week.

Under the PUVMP, the LTFRB has awarded a total of 1,099 modern jeepneys to Bacolod, and the initial 173 units have been deployed to nine routes.

The LPTRP has identified 25 routes in the city.PNA

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NegOcc assures stable supply with 1.2M eggs daily output https://www.imtnews.ph/negocc-assures-stable-supply-with-1-2m-eggs-daily-output/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=negocc-assures-stable-supply-with-1-2m-eggs-daily-output Sun, 15 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/negocc-assures-stable-supply-with-1-2m-eggs-daily-output/ Negros Occidental is producing at least 1.2 million eggs a day, which is more than sufficient to meet the province's daily requirement amid the recent increase in the prices of the commodity, data from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed.

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Negros Occidental is producing at least 1.2 million eggs a day, which is more than sufficient to meet the province’s daily requirement amid the recent increase in the prices of the commodity, data from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed.

Dr. Placeda Lemana, acting provincial veterinarian, said the continued rise in inflation that led to higher costs of raw materials, inputs, and labor pushed the prices of eggs up, based on the price monitoring last week.

“They (layers and growers) say that even though there is enough supply of eggs, they have to increase prices because of these reasons,” Lemana told Capitol reporters.

Data from the PVO showed that Negros Occidental consumes 900,000 to 1 million eggs a day compared to the daily production of 1.2 million eggs.

Lemana said with the excess in the supply, layer farms in the province also supply eggs to other provinces while Negros Occidental also brings in eggs from the neighboring Bantayan Island in Cebu.

Last month, some 7.4 million eggs were brought in from Bantayan Island while 1.7 million eggs were delivered in Negros Occidental from Jan.7 to 13 this year.

“If you have noticed, we accept only those from Cebu. We don’t bring in eggs from Mindanao, Luzon, Panay and Guimaras because of the bird flu,” the PVO chief said

On Dec. 6, Negros Occidental prohibited the entry of live birds and poultry products from the neighboring Panay Island provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Antique and Aklan and Guimaras Island as well as from Luzon and Mindanao, which have confirmed cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu to protect its P8-billion poultry industry.

Exempted from the ban are certain products, including processed and unprocessed raw poultry meat, day-old chicks, and hatching eggs, including broiler, layer and breeder and embryonated eggs, popularly known as “balut”, that will be allowed entry regardless of shipping origin subject to compliance with requirements.PNA

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NegOcc revenues from economic enterprises surge in 2022 https://www.imtnews.ph/negocc-revenues-from-economic-enterprises-surge-in-2022/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=negocc-revenues-from-economic-enterprises-surge-in-2022 Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/negocc-revenues-from-economic-enterprises-surge-in-2022/ The Negros Occidental provincial government has reported a surge in revenues from the operations of its three economic enterprise facilities in 2022.

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The Negros Occidental provincial government has reported a surge in revenues from the operations of its three economic enterprise facilities in 2022.

Data from the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) on Wednesday showed the Negros First Cyber Centre alone generated an income of P99.595 million from rentals, exceeding by more than 500 percent last year’s target of P15 million.

“For Cyber Centre, we already expected that. That’s precisely why we asked that the province manage it and true enough, it happened,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson told reporters after delivering his New Year message at the Provincial Capitol’s thanksgiving program.

In 2021, the provincial government took over the management of the Capitol-owned Cyber Centre, a three-story information technology-business process outsourcing complex accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority in the city, after terminating its joint venture agreement with then partner, Negros Property Management and Development Corp. (NPMDC).

Pointing out that the partnership was found to have been “grossly disadvantageous” to the economic interest of the Capitol more than four years after it was implemented, the province paid the NPMDC PHP57 million as compensation based on a mutual termination agreement.

Figures further showed that revenues from the catering services of Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary reached P20 million, surpassing by PP5 million the P15 million target set for 2022.

Improved collection efficiency also led to P51 million in total rentals paid by Ayala Land Inc. from its leased Capitol properties, higher than the target P35 million.

Lacson said the province expects more local revenues with the operation of the Food Terminal Market of Negros Occidental, which has spaces for food court and meeting rooms, adjacent to the Provincial Capitol along the North Capitol Road here.

Meanwhile, among the six provinces in Western Visayas, Negros Occidental ranked No. 1 in three award categories given by the Bureau of Local Government Finance and Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors in Region 6 Inc. last December.

From 2020 to 2021, the province was the top performer in terms of locally-sourced revenues, with a growth of 83.68 percent, economic enterprise collection efficiency of 245.57 percent and collection efficiency in four locally-sourced revenues of 88.49 percent.PNA

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Negros Occidental power coop GM shot dead https://www.imtnews.ph/negros-occidental-power-coop-gm-shot-dead/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=negros-occidental-power-coop-gm-shot-dead Tue, 20 Dec 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/negros-occidental-power-coop-gm-shot-dead/ A lawyer, who is the general manager of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) based in Manapla, Negros Occidental, was shot and killed by an unidentified assailant along a major road in Bacolod City past midnight Wednesday, Dec. 21.

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A lawyer, who is the general manager of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) based in Manapla, Negros Occidental, was shot and killed by an unidentified assailant along a major road in Bacolod City past midnight Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The victim, Danny Pondevilla, 47, also served as the acting general manager of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) based in Bacolod City for a year until December 2021.

Bacolod City Police Office Station 2 said investigators proceeded to the scene of the crime at the corner of 16th and Lacson Streets and found Pondevilla lifeless on the driver’s seat of his white Honda CR-V.

“Follow-up operation is ongoing to identify the suspect,” the police added.

A bullet shell of .45-caliber pistol and a slug of an undetermined firearm were recovered at the crime scene.

The incident took place shortly after Pondevilla attended the Christmas gathering of NONECO personnel in a nearby hotel.

Local media reports said there have been conflicting details on the incident as witnesses had allegedly seen Pondevilla board his vehicle with another person while there are claims that a drive-by shooter fired at him.

Meanwhile, the respective managements of NONECO and CENECO mourned the death of Pondevilla on social media.PNA

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Global Alliance Group invests P45-B in Bacolod City https://www.imtnews.ph/global-alliance-group-invests-p45-b-in-bacolod-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=global-alliance-group-invests-p45-b-in-bacolod-city Sun, 23 Oct 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.imtnews.ph/global-alliance-group-invests-p45-b-in-bacolod-city/ Megaworld has invested a total of P45 billion in Bacolod City, said Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Global Group and Megaworld Chief Strategy Officer Kevin Tan.

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Megaworld has invested a total of P45 billion in Bacolod City, said Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Global Group and Megaworld Chief Strategy Officer Kevin Tan.

In his speech during the visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to grace the Masskara highlight and to inaugurate the Megaworld Upper East project in Bacolod City, he said P38 billion of the total investment is allocated for the Upper East development.

Tan revealed that the area, which is located at the former site of Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company (BMMC), will soon have a Lifestyle Mall and the first Landers Superstore in Western Visayas.

“We are very excited to share with all of you that our Megaworld Hotels and Resorts-the Philippines’ largest owner and operator of 100% Filipino home-grown hotel brands- will soon expand their footprint here in Bacolod, ” he added.

The Upper East will house various commercial and residential modern structures and “will host Bacolod’s newest and most modern central business district,” its website said.

Tan noted that several investors have already reached out to the company and discussed plans about expanding in the Philippines with Bacolod City high on the list.

Tan thanked the president for his administration’s support to the business community and the BPO sector.

He revealed that investors’ confidence is currently at an all-time high and is

committed to strengthening ties with the Bacolod City government led by Mayor Albee Benitez.

“This is our way of contributing to the great strides that both the national and the local government have made in this wonderful city,” he said.AAL/Lljr/PIA 6 Negros Occidental

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