Carla P. Gomez

The Negros Occidental provincial government is seeking permission from the Department of Health to open up three field hospitals that would make about 1,000 beds available for COVID-19 patients, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, September 16.Proposed to be converted into field hospitals are the provincial government's quarantine facilities in Silay City with close to 500 beds, Cadiz City – 200 beds and EB Magalona – 300 beds, to address the surge in COVID-19 patients in Negros Occidental, he said.Negros Occidental’s active COVID-19 cases rose to 2,298 with 10 new deaths on Thursday, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported. That brings the total COVID-19 deaths in Negros Occidental to 114 from September 1 to 16.The proposed filed hospitals will augm...

Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III flanked by Clint Aranas (left) and Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez at The Ruins in Talisay City Thursday, September 16.*CPG photoSenator Panfilo Lacson, who is running for president in the 2022 elections, said it is best that they do not interfere in local politics.Lacson, who held a press conference with Senate President Vicente Sotto III at The Ruins in Talisay City, was responding to a question on who their tandem will support for mayor of Bacolod City in 2022.Sotto said it is a problem because he is the kumpadre of Mayor Evelio Leonardia and a long time friend of former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.Benitez is running against Leonardia for mayor of Bacolod in 2022.“We are friends with both camps,” Sotto said....

More health facilities in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental announced on Thursday, September 16, that they can no longer accept patients.The Bago City Hospital said it could no longer accept patients due to “no vacancy.”The Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will also be closed starting Thursday night until Friday, September 17, for disinfection.Dr. Merijene Ortizo, Bago DRRMO head, said that they will temporarily cater to extreme emergencies only. This after a DRRMO employee tested positive and others are currently asymptomatic, she said.The Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center also announced that as of Thursday, the COVID-19 wing of the hospital had reached full capacity.“As much as we would like to serve you, with a heavy heart, we can no l...

The United Negros Alliance is postponing its virtual party convention on Saturday, September 18, until further notice, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., UNegA secretary general, said Thursday, September 16.“Please be advised that in view of the recent surge of COVID-19 infections in the province of Negros Occidental, the members of the party's executive committee deemed it appropriate to reset our September 18 convention until further notice,” Escalante said in a notice to all UNegA members.He said while the convention was supposed to be via Zoom, party members were planning to convene at each local government unit to join the activity.Escalante said with the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in the province it is best for their members to avoid getting infected or they wi...

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the government’s alleged misuse of funds intended for the fight against COVID-19 cannot be stopped.In fact, the Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Richard Gordon is expected to come out with its report in October or September, Sotto said at a press conference with Senator Panfilo Lacson at The Ruins in Talisay City on Thursday, September 16.“Any investigation as long as the truth comes out will not harm the nation,” he said, in reaction to President Rodrigo Duterte’s lambasting the Senate probe.“I don’t see why we should stop the investigation in the Senate when we know very well that we cannot see how the money is being spent,” Sotto said.The legislative has the power of the pur...

CAAP Bacolod-PIO photoMore Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines arrived for Negros Occidental and Bacolod City on Thursday, September 16.Bacolod City received 23,300 doses of AstraZeneca and 25,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines.Negros Occidental received 3,600 doses of AstraZeneca and 15,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines.*

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on Negrenses on Wednesday, September 15, to protect themselves with a further surge of COVID-19 cases expected in Negros Occidental.“You really have to protect yourselves, this is not a joke,” Lacson appealed to Negrenses.Negros Occidental hit a record high of 26 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday bringing the total to 104 in the first 15 days of September, Provincial Incident Management Team data showed.The province COVID-19 active cases also hit 2,201 on Wednesday from 2,043 on Tuesday.Bacolod City has had 47 COVID-19 deaths in the first half of September at an average of three deaths per day, Dr. Chris Sorongon, Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center deputy for medical data and analysis, also said.Bacolod had 96 new COVID-19 cases for a to...