Carla P. Gomez

Contributed photoMore candidates for mayor and vice mayor in four cities and three towns in Negros Occidental filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) Thursday, October 7.Grupo Asenso Silay headed by Mayor Mark Golez and his runningmate Vice Mayor Thomas Maynard Ledesma filed their COCs before the Silay City Commission on Elections.Their candidates for councilor who filed their COCs are incumbents Ryan M. Gamboa, Edwin John Dennis C. Velez, Andrew John D. Penuela, Lyndon Q. Bernardo, Ramon B. Celebre, Henry C. Belleza, Demetria D. Apla-on and Antonio Y. Duca Jr., and newcomers - Guinhalaran barangay captain Jose J. Lopez Jr. and James Anthony Marie M. Golez.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District) joined the Grupo Asenso...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has directed all Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (DRRMCs) in Negros Occidental to go on heightened alert Friday, October 8, as Tropical Depression “Maring” approaches.Tropical Depression "Maring " was estimated at 505 km East of Virac, Catanduanes (13.5oN, 128.9oE) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h at 3 p.m. Thursday, he said.It is anticipated to bring light to heavy rains and thunderstorms to Negros Occidental, Lacson said.He directed the DRRMCs to heighten their preparedness, initiate proactive measures and take appropriate precautionary actions for possible flooding, flashfloods, and landslides.“Let us pray, prepare and be proactive,” Lacson said.*

An employee of the Negros Occidental Provincial Engineer’s Office was turned over to the police Thursday, October 7, for causing alarm scandal at the Provincial Environment Management Office in Bacolod City, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Engineer Noel Barredo, 47, was turned over by Renelo Lastierre, head of the Safety and Security Division Office at the Capitol, to the police.Barredo at 2:30 p.m. Thursday allegedly entered the PEMO office under the influence of intoxicating liquor and without a mask, a police blotter report said.He then created alarm and scandal by humiliating and insulting an employee inside, it added.He was detained by the police after being appraised of his Constitutional rights for the reglementary period.Diaz said he also received a...

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (4th and 5th from left) with their Grupo Progreso slate Wednesday, October 6.Mayor Evelio Leonardia said his Grupo Progreso (GP) slate for the 2022 polls is a combination of experience, competence and youth with a track record that will bring Bacolod City to greater heights.Leonardia, who introduced the members of his slate at a press conference at Acacia Hotel before they attended a mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral and filed their certificates of candidacy before the Comelec on Wednesday, October 6, said “Grupo Progreso is presenting a team which we can call a perfect combination.”Seeking reelection along with Leonardia are Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and incumbent councilors Archie Baribar, Carl Lopez, Reneci...

Provincial consultant Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said with the approval of Secretary Eduardo Año they aim to begin the rapid antigen tests in the province this weekend.*Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año has given the go signal for the conduct of rapid antigen tests in Negros Occidental to speed up contact tracing efforts to arrest the spread of COVID-19, provincial consultant Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Wednesday, October 6.Benitez called Año Wednesday after Local Government Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero informed the provincial government that its proposal to conduct rapid antigen tests would be referred to the Department of Health and the Health Technology Assessment Council for further study and appropriate approval.“Pending approval by the DOH and HTAC we high...

Negros Occidental High School principal Mario Amaca*A Cadiz City councilor died of a heart attack believed to have been triggered by COVID-19 Tuesday night, Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante said Wednesday, October 6.Councilor Agustin Jesmar Desuyo, 57, was rushed to the Cadiz City Emergency Clinic where he died, Escalante said.A rapid antigen test was conducted on Desuyo who had reactive results, he said.The doctors believe that he was suffering from COVID-19 but was unaware of it, the mayor added.During the Cadiz Sangguniang Panlungsod Zoom session this week Desuyo’s colleagues noticed that he was quiet and appeared to be sick. He usually actively participates in the weekly city council meetings, Escalante said.Meanwhile, Negros Occidental High School principal Mario...

Maria Socorro Sibulan Okada after she filed her COC.*A woman who claims to be a “visionary” and “psychic” is running for governor of Negros Occidental.Maria Socorro Sibulan Okada, 50, of La Carlota City filed her certificate of candidacy for governor as an independent before the Commission on Elections at the Social Hall of the Capitol Wednesday afternoon, October 6.Okada said she had a vision from Mama Mary who showed her a sign to lead a group of people.However, she said her vision did not reveal whether she will win or not.She lived in Japan for more than 20 years and has two children who work there, Okada said.Her husband died in December, she said.Okada is so far the lone opponent of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who is seeking reelection.*

Sagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon III (second from left) after he filed his COC for congressman with Rep Leo Rafael Cueva, Sagay Vice Mayor Narcisco Javelosa Jr. and Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante (l-r).*Richard Malihan photoSagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon III filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for congressman of the second district of Negros Occidental before the Commission on Elections at the Social Hall of the Capitol in Bacolod City Wednesday afternoon, October 6.Marañon, who is a three-term congressman and on his last term as mayor of Sagay, said his priorities in Congress, will be on agriculture to ensure food security, the economy and education that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.All the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) candidates in the second district hav...

Dr. Chris Sorogon, Emergency Operations Center deputy for medical data and analysis*Bacolod City has one new COVID-19 Delta variant case and one Beta case, Dr. Chris Sorogon, Emergency Operations Center deputy for medical data and analysis, said Wednesday, October 6.The houses of the two persons hit by the variants have been locked down pending results of their new COVID-19 tests, he said.A 26-year-old female from Barangay Villamonte was hit with the Delta variant, and a 47-year- old male from Barangay Mansilingan was hit with the Beta variant, Sorongon said.Meanwhile, Sorongon said Bacolod City is ready for the mass COVID-19 vaccination drive of minors aged 12 to 17 years old expected to start October 15.Minors have been signed up for vaccination through their schools ...

Em Ang resigned as city administrator effective Wednesday, October 6.*Em Legaspi Ang, who filed her certificate of candidacy for Bacolod councilor, resigned as city administrator effective Wednesday, October 6.Ang is a three-term city councilor seeking a comeback for a fourth term.Lawyer Alyn Luv Dignadice will temporarily take over her work as city administrator until Mayor Evelio Leonardia appoints her replacement, Ang said.Leonardia said he is recommending Secretary to the Mayor Edward Joseph Cuansing as city administrator, which needs the confirmation of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.Ang, who was also concurrent Emergency Operations Center (EOC) executive director and COVID-19 Vaccination Council coordinator, is a big reason why Bacolod has contained the spread of COVI...