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By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the opening ceremonies of the 2017 Palarong Pambansa at the Binirayan Sports Complex in Antique, yesterday. Speaking before the estimated 20,000 gathered, Duterte touted the budget the Department of Education (DepEd) receives from the national government. “The education department gets the biggest share in the annual …

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. Following the press release from Coca-Cola last week, assuring the company uses 100 percent local sugar, Bacolod Plant Manager Bernard Engada recently said the practice has been a “tradition” since the facility opened. “Since the bottling facility commenced operations 19 years ago, the company has not failed to use locally-produced …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The owner of a ready-to-wear (RTW) store was sent to the hospital after his store went ablaze yesterday morning along Locsin Street, Bacolod City. Rescuers refused to identify the store owner. Based on initial probe by the Bureau of Fire Protection-Bacolod (BFP-Bacolod), the store’s security guard, Ricky Cabales, called their …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga A motorcyclist was killed, while his passenger was slightly injured, following a hit-and-run incident along Buri Road, Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, early Saturday morning. Police identified the fatality as 22-year-old Hernanie Mondia of Purok Tonggoy in the said barangay; while 25-year-old Reymund Abello, also a resident of the said barangay, …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga A Barangay Cabug kagawad and six others were arrested following a buy-bust operation by joint operatives from the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit-18 (RDEU-18) and Police Station 7 (PS7) at the Victorina Subdivision, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Saturday morning. Police identified the suspects as Barangay Cabug Kagawad Vonkarlo De Paula, 31; …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga A resolution was approved last week by the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) intended to intensify enforcement of fishery laws. According to City Councilor Bart Orola, author of the resolution, “To stop illegal fishing, safeguard the livelihood of the fisherfolk, protect the environment, and rehabilitate existing fishing grounds along coastal …

By Tara Yap The 2017 Aliwan Fiesta, an annual event in Metro Manila celebrating the country’s biggest festivals, named the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City as fiesta champion over the weekend, with the Manggahan Festival of Guimaras as runner-up. This year marks the sixth time Dinagyang has won, having previously won four straight years between …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Construction on the 21-kilometer New Bacolod Economic Highway began with a groundbreaking ceremony at Purok Progreso, Barangay Sum-ag, yesterday. According to Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the P4.8 billion project, upon completion, will be known as the “Bacolod Marathon.” According to City’s District Engineering Office Public Information Officer, Assistant District …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP) criticized Coca-Cola for conducting a media tour of their bottling facility in Barangay Mansilingan, yesterday. According to SAP spokesperson, Atty. Dino Yulo, it was the beverage maker’s way to “claim” they use local sugar. Based on a release from Coca-Cola earlier this week, …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga After newly-appointed Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor signed an executive order dismissing 232 Isabela job order employees, all appointees of his predecessor, the recently-passed Mayor Enrique Montilla III, a group took to Facebook slamming the decision. According to a post by a group called Vamos Isabela, comprised of local residents, they …