Carla P. Gomez

Nov52021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

1,200-vehicle stationary caravan in Negros to welcome Leni, Kiko

Victorias City for Leni Robredo, Kiko Pangilinan streamers have been sprouting in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.*A more than 1,200-vehicle pink stationary caravan will welcome 1Sambayan presidential candidate Leni Robredo as her convoy passes through the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road when she arrives Friday morning, November 5, for a two-day visit to Negros Occidental.The vice president will be accompanied by her runningmate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and some of the senatorial bets on her slate.Robredo is set to meet with leaders of a broad-based coalition of Negrenses, and call on Negros Occidental and Bacolod City officials on Friday.Supporters clad in pink on board more than 1,200 vehicles will form the stationary caravan from the Bacolod-Silay Airpor...

Nov52021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

QF security strengthened after escape of 2, one dies

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The Bacolod Emergency Operations Center-Task Force is further strengthening security measures at its COVID-19 quarantine facilities following the escape of two occupants, one of whom was later found dead, to avoid similar incidents from happening.Only 11 out of 19 Bacolod school-based quarantine facilities are currently operating following the drop in COVID cases in the city, an EOC statement said Thursday, November 4.A 40-year-old COVID-19 hit person at the Luisa Medel National High School (LMNHS) quarantine facility in Barangay Tangub escaped on the eve of his supposed release on October 30, and was found dead four days after at a private beach in Barangay Pahanocoy.A 27-year-old male at the Bata National High School quarantine facility also disappeared on November 1 and was ...

Nov52021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

No need for plastic barriers in public transport – mayor

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Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued an executive order Thursday, November 4, revoking the requirement of the use of non-permeable or plastic barriers in all public transportation in Bacolod City effective immediately.Leonardia, in Executive Order 52 Series of 2021, said that on October 30 Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor announced that the DOTr had approved the removal of plastic barriers in public utility vehicles effective November 4.“The DOTr reasoned that there are no medical findings that plastic barriers can effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19, rather the virus could even stick on them,” Leonardia said.“Non-permeable or acetate/plastic barriers and the like, as a means of social distancing, shall no longer be required in all public tran...

Nov52021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negrense senate bet to push for NIR, sugar industry funds

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Negrense senatorial candidate Alex Lacson said if he wins in the 2022 polls he will push for the passages of a law creating the Negros Island Region (NIR) and help ensure that P2 billion due the sugar industry annually is allocated for its needs.The NIR, composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental, was created by virtue of an executive order issued by then President Benigno Aquino III and existed from May 29, 2015 to August 9, 2017, when it was abolished by President Rodrigo Duterte.Lacson, at a press conference at the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City Thursday, November 4, said a law is needed to ensure the restoration of the NIR that will beneficial to the people of Negros.He was born and raised in Kabankalan City and is running for senator under the ticket of presidential ca...

Nov52021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Ferrer aiming for SP final passage of P5.7B budget

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Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer is aiming for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s passage of the P5.7 billion Negros Occidental budget for 2022 on third and final reading by next week.He said the SP Committee on Finance has been deliberating on the budget for two weeks already.The budget can be passed by next week if no additional proposals or questions are raised, he said.During the budget deliberations the delay in the implementation of some projects was noted, he said. However, we are in a pandemic and some projects are also hampered by bad weather, he added.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, on submitting the P5.7 billion proposed budget to the SP in October, said while there is a dramatic increase in the province’s share of the National Tax Allotment, formerly the Internal Revenue Allo...

Nov42021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

2 soldiers killed, 4 injured in Moises Padilla encounter

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303rd IB photoTwo soldiers were killed and four others were injured in an encounter with New People’s Army rebels in Sitio Tiyos, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, November 3.The combined elements of the Army’s 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion and the 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion successfully prevented planned attack and extortion of the CPP-NPA terrorist during the encounter,Capt. Kim Apitong, 3rd Division Public Affairs Office OIC, said Thursday, November 4.This, after the troops launched combat operations in response to information from concerned citizens on the presence of NPA terrorists consolidating in Sitio Tiyos, he said.The group was planning to stage attacks and intensify their extortion scheme in the area, ...

Nov42021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Who’s hurling the blame?

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Em Ang, Bacolod Emergency Operations Center executive director, and Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.*Capitol and City PIO photos“We are not blaming them.”That was the response of Em Ang, Bacolod Emergency Operations Center executive director, to the statement of Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz on Wednesday, November 3, that it appears that the blame was being shifted to Negros Occidental.Diaz was reacting to Ang’s statement that about 50 percent of the COVID-19 patients in Bacolod City hospitals are from Negros Occidental's towns and cities.One of the reasons cited by the National Inter-Agency Task Force for placing Bacolod City under COVID-19 Alert Level 4 is its high hospital occupancy rate prompting Ang to point out that not all of the a...

Nov42021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Vax of minors to pave way for face-to-face classes: Diaz

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Capitol photoThe vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 years old against COVID-19 could pave the way for the eventual return to face-to-face classes, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday, November 3.This will help in creating herd immunity and will protect minors should face-to-face classes resume, he said.The provincial government vaccinated 56 minors aged 12 to 17 with Pfizer vaccines at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City, and 66 minors with comorbidities at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City on Wednesday.The vaccination of all minors without comorbidities is being conducted at the Negros Residences and at all LGUs.Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are being used for the minors, Diaz said.Minors wanti...

Nov42021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

31 LGUs, 10 frontline offices outstanding Negrense awardees

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Capitol photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government will honor 31 local government units and 10 frontline offices for their contributions to the fight against COVID-19 as the 2021 Outstanding Negrense Awardees at the 123rd Cinco de Noviembre rites at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City 6 p.m. Friday, November 5.To be honored along with the LGUs are the personnel of the Hospital Operations Department, Provincial Health Office, Disaster Management Program Division, Information Communication Technology Division, Mambukal Resort, Police Provincial Office, 303rd Infantry Brigade, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Red Cross in Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.“These are the agencies, departments, offices that contr...

Nov42021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Culture Hub passports for 9-stop tour ready

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Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz shows the Culture Hub passport.*Capitol photo“Passports” for the Negros Occidental provincial government culture hub tour are now available, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday, November 3.The passport covers a 9-stop tour of the Provincial Capitol and Park, Provincial Tourism Office, Mambukal Resort Bacolod Office, Cafetolyo, Association of Negros Producers Showroom, Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation, Negros Museum, Ayala Fiesta Market and the Pala-Pala Food Terminal Market, he said.The passport is stamped at every stop and at the end of the tour, the tourist is given a token, he said.“Launched in July, the Culture Hub hopes to showcase a one-circuit tour that will promote the province’s culture, heritage, tr...