Carla P. Gomez

Former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela said he is happy that 1Sambayan has decided to endorse Vice President Leni Robredo for president.“We now have a rallying point from where we can begin to free the nation from the clutches of a bankrupt and treacherous administration,” he said.The 1Sambayan coalition on Thursday, September 30, announced that it picked Robredo as its presidential candidate for the 2022 national elections.“1Sambayan is pleased to announce to the nation that it has reached a decision to endorse Vice President Leni Robredo as its presidential candidate for the May 2022 elections,” retired senior associate justice Antonio Carpio, the group’s lead convenor, said.Robredo thanked 1Sambayan for the nomination and the overwhelming trust and support give...

Capitol photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued an executive order Thursday, September 30, extending the duration of the General Community Quarantine over Negros Occidental until October 31.Lacson, in Executive Order No. 21-46 Series of 2021, said stringent measures against mass gatherings will remain in place amid the continuing surge in COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental.Negros Occidental had 403 new COVID 19 cases, 249 recoveries and 16 deaths on Thursday, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.The 16 deaths were in Toboso with six, Bago City – four, Victorias City and La Carlota City – two each, and Talisay City and Escalante City – two each.In the top five Thursday were Talisay City with 35 new COVID-19, La Castellana - 33, Binalbagan – 27, Kabankalan City - 25...

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said Thursday, September 30, that the construction of the Bacolod City General Hospital is targeted to start in the first quarter of 2022.Gasataya said he asked the Department of Health for its technical assistance in choosing the site for the hospital.A second meeting with the DOH is set next week and he has asked Bacolod City government representatives to join so the hospital site can be identified, Gasataya said.There are five properties being donated for the site of the Bacolod City General Hospital, Gasataya said earlier.The five sites are at barangays Vista Alegre, Felisa, Alijis-Pahanocoy, Bata and one is in a still undisclosed area, Gasataya said.Republic Act 11564 that directs the creation of the hospital and allocates P600 million fo...

Cheryl Decena*Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has named Cheryl Decena Negros Occidental provincial tourism officer.Decena takes over the post vacated by Cristine Mansinares who is now Department of Tourism regional director, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said, Thursday, September 30.He said Jennylind Cordero was named OIC provincial tourism officer pending the appointment of the permanent tourism officer.*

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan has granted former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez the authority to nominate PDP Laban official candidates for the May 9, 2022 elections in the province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.He has been appointed president of the PDP-Laban Cusi wing for Negros Occidental and is tasked with signing the certificates of nomination of the Negros Occidental and Bacolod bets, Benitez said Wednesday, September 29.Benitez authority to nominate official candidates of the province, excluding the positions of governor, representatives and mayor of Bacolod, was signed by PDP-Laban national president Alfonso Cusi.He is running for mayor of Bacolod under the PDP Laban Cusi wing, Benitez said.*

TF Disiplina photoThe ongoing satellite registration of the Commission on Elections at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City is a super spreader activity with hundreds, if not thousands, of prospective “out-of-town transferee-voters” being allegedly unloaded by vehicles of Negros Occidental local government units at the USLS grounds and Ayala Malls in the past two weeks.This was the analysis of the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) as it pointed out that the spike in COVID-19 infections began with the onset of the voter registration, a press release from the Bacolod City Public Information Office claimed Wednesday, September 29.The EOC-TF also took into account the report of law enforcement agencies that the out-of-towners are in violation of curf...

Negros Occidental Elections Supervisor Ma. Fatima Aspan said Wednesday, September 29, that there should be no fanfare and cheering squads during the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) starting Friday, October 1, until October 8.Persons accompanying a candidate should only be limited to nine or less as a precaution against COVID-19, she said.The filing of COCs for congressional and provincial bets will be held at the Social Hall of the Capitol in Bacolod City to allow more room for social distancing, she added.Candidates filing their COCs will be accommodated on a first-come-first-serve basis, Aspan said.The Negros Occidental provincial government officials running under the Love Negros-United Negros Alliance coalition will be filing their COCs on Friday.The coal...

The Commission on Elections en banc on Wednesday, September 29, unanimously voted to extend the voter registration from October 11 to 30, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said.The voter registration that has been drawing thousands of applicants in Bacolod City in the past weeks was supposed to end on Thursday, September 30, but was extended amid calls from lawmakers and various groups.Guanzon said the voter registration will be until September 30 and will resume October 11, the Monday after the filing of certificates of candidacy set October 1 to 8.Voter registration in October will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, she said.There will be no registration on Saturdays except for October 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., she said.Overseas voter’s registration extensio...

The Bago City Hospital temporarily closed Wednesday, September 29, after eight of its personnel tested positive for COVID-19 and because of “no vacancy,” Dr. Jesus Rey Pacilan, BCH chief said.The number of COVID-19 hit health workers at Negros Occidental provincial government-run hospitals rose to 76 on Wednesday, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz also said.The six new COVID-19 health workers were from the Valladolid District Hospital, he said.He said the provincial government has been hiring more health workers and has adequate personnel at its hospitals.Negros Occidental had 4,115 COVID-19 active cases and 10 new deaths on Wednesday, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported.The province has had 28,566 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic in March l...

Former Councilor Caesar Distrito said former Rep. Alfredo Benitez, who is running for mayor of Bacolod City, has invited him to be his runningmate.“I am seriously thinking about it. I will consult my political leaders and supporters especially in barangays Singcang-Airport and Magsungay, “ he said Wednesday, September 29.Distrito said he will pray and seek divine guidance on whether to run as vice mayor or seek a fourth term as councilor.He will seek the advice of his family, particularly his mother Councilor Simple Distrito and his brother Brgy Captain Rosinie Distrito, and his friend Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, Distrito said.Benitez presented his programs that focus on health care for all Bacolodnons, including establishing a city hospital, solving the housing backlog, in...