Carla P. Gomez

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Thursday, September 9, called on Negros Occidental and Bacolod City residents not to let their guards down as COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise.New COVID-19 cases were 189 in Negros Occidental and 129 in Bacolod City on Thursday, the Department of Health reported.The active COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental were 1,779 and 1,121 in Bacolod City, the DOH added.However, the Negros Occidental Provincial Incident Management Team report said the province had 1,521 active cases and six new deaths as of Thursday.Lacson said he believes the surge in COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental is being caused by the Delta variantHe called on Negrenses to continue to strictly observe health protocols and to get vaccinated. ...

Tropical Storm “Jolina” caused P6,754,309 in damage to crops, infrastructure and livestock in Negros Occidental from Monday to Wednesday, September 6 to 8.OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said on Thursday that a partial damage report of commodities and infrastructure totaled P6,586, 673.97.Damage to rice was P3,729,173.22, high value crops - P287,500.75, fisheries – P470,000 and irrigation – P2,100,000, she said.Areas affected were Sipalay City, Pontevedra, Valladolid, Bago City, Moises Padila, and Hinoba-an, she added.Provincial Veterinarian Renate Decena said damage to livestock in Bago City, Pontevedra and Himamaylan City was P167,636.76.*

Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco denied rumors that he will run for vice governor of Negros Occidental in tandem with former Bacolod Rep. John Orola.He said ”100 percent I won’t be running for vice governor, especially against Jeffrey (Ferrer), he is like my older brother, we are very close.”Jaojoco, who is on his third and last term as mayor of Toboso, said on Thursday, September 9, that he is running for councilor of the town.His wife, Madonnah Marañon Jaojoco, is running for mayor of Toboso with Ma. Luisa dela Cruz as her running mate, under the United Negros Alliance ticket, he said.Jaojoco said he has not spoken to Orola.He stressed that he will support the reelection bids of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer.Orola, who registered to vote in...

The New People’s Army central command is believed to have sent Kerima Tariman and her husband to Negros Occidental about two years ago to help revive the weakening rebel movement in the province, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade commander, said Thursday, September 9.Tariman, 42, was killed in an encounter with the 79th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Kapitan Ramon, Silay City, on August 21.Tariman, known as alias Ella and Em-Em, was the leader of the NPA Northern Negros Front, and her husband, Emmanuel Acosta, is believed to be a ranking official of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor, Pasaporte said.The death of Tariman has affected the rebel movement’s timetable for recovery, knowing that North Negros is the source of their logistical support, he sai...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday, September 9, said he will wait for the final decision of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) on whom it will support for the 2022 presidential race.Senator Panfilo Lacson of the Partido Para Sa Demokratikong Reporma has announced that he is running for president with Senator Vicente Sotto of NPC as his running mate.The governor said he will support the official presidential candidate of NPC.Lacson said he did not sign the governors’ manifesto of support for Davao Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio for president.It is his wish that Negros Occidental only has one presidential candidate but it is difficult to achieve, he said.Meanwhile, Senator Manny Pacquiao will announce whether he will run for president or not on Octob...

Capitol photoNegros Occidental officials led the celebration of the 76th Negros Island Victory Day at the Provincial Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City Thursday, September 9, to pay tribute to Negrense veterans who liberated the island from the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II.“To our World War II veterans and also our retired members of the Armed Forces, we don’t just owe you our respect and gratitude, we owe you our freedom,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said in his speech.The affair themed “Kudos!!! WWII Negros Heroes” was attended by members of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines – Negros Occ. Chapter.Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) – Negros Occ. records show that there are 16 living Negrense veterans.“In this time of pandemic, in this war a...

Pulupandan LGU photoThe surge in COVID-19 cases has resulted in 29 deaths reported in Negros Occidental in just over a week.The Provincial Incidental Management Team reported on August 31 that Negros Occidental had 602 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic and on Wednesday, September 8, it said the total deaths had increased to 631.Mayor Miguel Peña has also reported 10 deaths in Pulupandan in two weeks. Among the dead was a former councilor.Peña on his Facebook page Wednesday night announced that in the past week there have been an additional seven COVID-19 related deaths in his town.On September 1, he announced that the town had three COVID-19 deaths. All persons were unvaccinated and of vulnerable groups, the mayor said.Pulupandan government offices wer...