Carla P. Gomez

CLMMRH will observe stricter implementation of the existing hospital policies against COVID-19, Dr, Julius Drilon said.*CLMMRH photoNegros Occidental COVID-19 patients are not stressing hospitals in Bacolod City, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday, June 9.Of the 1,747 active COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental, only 105 are hospitalized, 21 of whom are at the Valladolid District Hospital and 54 at the Cadiz District Hospital, he said.Only 30 patients have been referred to Bacolod hospitals, he said.Bacolod City had two deaths and 94 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 1,578 active cases on Wednesday, the Department of Health said.Negros Occidental had 43 new cases and one death, it also reported.*

Salvador Benedicto LGU photoMayor Marxlen dela Cruz ordered the granular lockdown of Purok Super L in Barangay Pandanon, Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, June 9, after a resident tested positive for COVID-19.The lockdown of 113 residents of the purok will be for three to four days, he said.This is being done while contact tracing is underway so that those who may have had close contact with the COVID-19 positive resident of the purok, who is confined at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center with mild pneumonia, can be tested for the virus, the mayor said.Currently we have 12 close contacts who will be placed in the town’s quarantine facility, he said.*

The Victorias City Resort and Gawahon Eco-Park reopened Tuesday, June 8, with customers limited to 30 percent of their venue capacity, Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca said Wednesday, June 9.They had earlier been closed to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the city, he said.Malls, supermarkets, retail stores, restobars, restaurants, fast-food outlets and the like are allowed to operate until 10 p.m., and selling of liquor is until 6 p.m. only in accordance with Executive Order No. 15, the mayor said.Palanca said business establishments in Victorias City must strictly adhere to the guidelines specified by the Business Permits and Licensing Office, such as:* Implementation of minimum health protocols such as wearing of facemask and social distancing;*Providing soap and water...

It is sad that Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s “independent” third party Bids and Awards Committee chose dirty coal over a measly 2.79 centavos difference, with no apparent consideration for reliability, “outage allowance” issues and variable costs, former governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela said Wednesday, June 9.It did not consider the province’s preference for clean renewable energy consistent with its “Green Economy” thrust, Coscolluela, Negros Occidental provincial consultant on energy an environment affairs, said.“The CENECO Board also prefers clean, renewable power (for many right reasons) but can’t exercise its own discretion,” he added.“The Department of Energy needs to rethink the “rules” and act favorably on Ceneco’s appeal. Negros wants clean power; let’s suppo...

Radyo Alagad photoTropical Storm “Dante” caused P17.8 million in damage to crops, farm animals and infrastructure in Negros Occidental, an updated report showed Wednesday, June 9.The total damage to crops in Negros Occidental was P16,719,846, Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said in a final report on “Dante” that affected 886.83 hectares and 971 farmers.Rice crop damage in Cadiz City was P1,005,504, Victorias City – P458, 025, La Carlota City - P410,800, Bago City – P1,160,850, Himamaylan City – P2,759,093, EB Magalona - P236,005, Pontevedra – P391,185, Moises Padilla - P1,701,301, Binalbagan – P601,640, Isabela –P486,038, Hinoba-an – P3,582,394, Valladolid – P2,824,050 and San Enrique – P2,950,740.Damage to high value crops in Cadiz City was P85,725, and to corn i...

CAAP Bacolod photoMore Sinovac vaccines arrived Tuesday, June 8, for Bacolod City and Negros Occidental that had 20 COVID-19 deaths in the first week of June and where coronavirus cases continue to surge.Bacolod City had 10 new COVID-19 deaths from June 1 to 7, and cases continue to surge, City Administrator Em Ang said.Negros Occidental also had 10 new COVID-19 deaths from June 1 to 7 with three in Victorias City, two each in Isabela and Talisay City, and one each in Binalbagan, San Carlos City and Sipalay City, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.There were 16,800 Sinovac vaccines that arrived for Negros Occidental and 7,000 for Bacolod City on Tuesday.Additional vaccines are expected to arrive this month, with the country expected to receive more in June, Ze...

OCTA, an independent research group, has tagged Bacolod City in Negros Occidental and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, along with seven other local government units as areas of concern for having the most number of new COVID-19 cases from May 31 to June 6.The OCTA report said the COVID-19 growth rate in Dumaguete City from May 31 to June 6 was 206 percent and 56 percent in Bacolod City.The other OCTA areas of concern are Iloilo City, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Koronadal, Cotabato City and Tuguegarao.There were 97 new COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City for a total of 1,531 active cases Tuesday, the Department of Health reported.Negros Occidental had 39 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, the DOH added.The province had 1,706 active COVID-19 cases, the Provincial In...

The Sum-ag Barangay Council filed criminal complaints against a resort owner for alleged violation of environment laws before the Bacolod Prosecutor’s Office Tuesday, June 8.*Photo from Atty. Mark Steven MayoThe Sum-ag Barangay Council filed criminal complaints against a resort owner for alleged violation of environment laws before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office Tuesday, June 8.The complaints filed against Engineer Andre Taculod were for violation of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, Philippine Fisheries Code, Water Code of the Philippines, and the Philippine Clean Water Act, Mark Steven Mayo, lawyer of the barangay council, said.The complaints were filed by the Sum-ag Barangay Council represented by Barangay Captain Rodney Carmona and Kagawad Dominador Ber...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, provincial consultant Rafael Coscolluela and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz (l-r) at the launching of the Provincial Integrated Water Security Program.*Richard Malihan photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the launching of the Provincial Integrated Water Security Program that aims to increase access to resilient water supply, improve water resource management, and strengthen water sector governance in Negros Occidental at the Capitol in Bacolod City, Tuesday, June 8.It is a significant step towards a serious, science and evidence based approach, and in- depth water governance for a more inclusive and sustainable development in the province of Negros Occidental, the governor said.The program, with the theme "Securing our Water ...

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya warned the public Tuesday, July 8, against a person pretending to be him and calling establishments to make bogus reservations in an apparent attempt to besmirch his reputation.On Tuesday afternoon, a male caller claiming to be Gasataya and using mobile number 0926 882 8981 called Nature's Village Resort in Talisay City in an attempt to make a reservation for 30 to 35 people for a supposed meeting with the Department of Health and Philippine National Police.“Thankfully, the establishment was diligent enough to confirm with Councilor Israel Salanga the authenticity of the mobile number since there had been similar incidents in the past,” Gasataya said.Gasataya said he was also informed that Winterfell Café in Bacolod City received a similar call from t...