Carla P. Gomez

Central Negros Electric Cooperative acting general manager, Danny Pondevilla, said today, January 14, that he is aiming to reduce CENECO’s power rates by P1 per KWh by June.Pondevilla, at a press conference, reiterated that his two priorities are to reduce power interruptions and rates at the cooperative.Power rates can be lowered by ensuring that power supply contracts of the cooperative are based on thorough studies by experts, among several other measures, he said.Excess power purchased by CENECO will lead to higher rates for consumers, he said.CENECO’s contract with KEPCO for 40 megawatts of power will expire by May, he said. Instead of 40 megawatts, Ceneco will conduct a competitive bidding for a 20-megawatt contract that is the reasonable amount needed by the cooperat...

Capitol photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government Gender and Development budget for 2021 has increased this year and support to health programs remains a top priority, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said today, January 14.Lacson was the speaker at the end of the two-day Negros Occidental GAD Stakeholders Conference that was capped by an appreciation ceremony for “Champions and Companions of the 2020 Provincial Gender Journey” held at the Social Hall of the Capitol in Bacolod City today.The Negros Occidental GAD budget in 2020 was P206,832,000 and has increased to P223,600,000 this year.Aside from health programs that will include COVID-19 vaccines, Lacson said the fund will also be allocated for technical/vocational trainings and academic scholarships of various sectors, i...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said today, January 14, that with the detection of the more transmissible COVID-19 UK Variant in the country, he is urging everyone to strictly adhere to the observance of public health standards.Remember that the use of face masks, face shields, the observance of proper physical distancing and the exercise of proper hygiene remain to be the most effective tools against the transmission of the virus, he said.The Department of Health and the Philippine Genome Center confirmed the detection of the B.1.1.7. SARS-CoV-2 variant (UK variant) in the country Wednesday after samples from a Filipino who arrived from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 7 yielded positive genome sequencing results.The DOH, in a press release, said the pa...

Bacolod City is buying 650,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to start off its COVID-19 vaccination program, while the local governments of Negros Occidental will consolidate their purchases.The 650,000 doses will ensure the protection of 325,000 Bacolod residents, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said today, January 13. Bacolod City has a population of 583,045.“This is a giant leap towards realizing our vaccination goals,” he said.Leonardia said his having signed a contract with AstraZenca, a British firm, means that a very substantial number of Bacolod’s population can be vaccinated as soon as the vaccines arrive in the Philippines.The mayor said the city government is also negotiating for the purchase of more vaccines from other firms.Bacolod City is among the top five ...

The mayors of Negros Occidental unanimously agreed to the transfer of the provincial Capitol offices from Bacolod City to Talisay City in a Zoom meeting today, January 13, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.The close to 1 billion new Provincial Administration Center will be built on a 25-hectare property owned by the province along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road in Talisay.The Association of Chief Executives of Negros Occidental will pass a resolution supporting the transfer of the provincial Capitol offices to Talisay, Lacson said.This will then be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan that will call for public hearings, especially with the business sector, Lacson said.As soon as the SP gives the green light the provincial government will then notify Dynamic Buil...

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (left) and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz in a Zoom meeting with the Negros Occidental mayors this morning, January 13.*Negros Occidental will not open its borders with Negros Oriental.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that at a Zoom meeting with the Negros Occidental mayors today, January 13, it was agreed not to open the borders and to continue the status quo as a deterrent against the spread of COVID-19.The governor said it was noted that as of January 9, the COVID-19 active cases in Negros Oriental were higher than those in Negros Occidental.Bimbo Miraflor, Negros Oriental provincial government spokesman, said a meeting was set with representatives of the Negros Occidental Inter-Agency Task Force in Mabinay tomorrow, January 14, to ...

Board Member Andrew Montelibano, chairman of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Environment, said he will conduct ocular inspections of all quarry operations in an effort to mitigate flooding in the third district of Negros Occidental.An aerial survey is also being planned to determine if catch basins in the mountainous areas of Patag had been damaged, causing them to overflow and flood the lowlands, he said.They may rent a small plane or helicopter for the aerial survey, he said.Montelibano’s held a Committee on Environment hearing attended by the representatives of the Provincial Environment and Management Office, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division and the Provincial Social Services and Development Office to discuss the recent floods that...

Bacolod PIO file photoAs soon as the COVID-19 vaccines arrive, local government units must be ready to hit the ground running, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, said tonight, January 12.Leonardia and members of the LCP held a meeting with Secretary Carlito Galvez, the country’s COVID-19 czar, and Director General Rolando Enrique Domingo of the Food and Drug Administration this afternoon.They discussed the procedures for the procurement and administration of the COVID-19 vaccines, he said.There is a need to begin training personnel on the handling and administration of the vaccines so that when they arrive the local government personnel will be ready, he said.The LCP this afternoon passed a resolution asking the Departm...

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Environment is set to hold a hearing with representatives of the Provincial Environment and Management Office tomorrow morning, January 13, to delve into the causes of the recent floods that hit northern Negros Occidental, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said today, January 12.The meeting was sought by Board Member Andrew Montelibano, SP environment committee chairman, who delivered a privilege speech on the flooding at the Sanggunian regular session at the Capitol in Bacolod City this afternoon.Ferrer said representatives of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division will also be invited to the meeting.The committee wants to determine the causes of the flood so the problem can be addressed, Ferrer said.Montelibano said more t...

The Supreme Court Third Division has affirmed a decision finding two former Bacolod police officers guilty beyond reasonable doubt for three counts of murder and three counts of arbitrary detention involving a former barangay captain and two maritime instructors.The SC adopted the findings of the Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, Regional Trial Court as affirmed by the Court of Appeals sentencing former Police Insp. Clarence Dongail and SPO4 Jimmy Fortaleza to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, for three counts of murder, or 120 years imprisonment, with additional penalties for arbitrary detention.They are detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.They were accused for the kidnapping and murder of former Pahanocoy, Bacolod, barangay captain Eleuterio Salabas and h...