Carla P. Gomez

Richard Malihan file photoBishop Patricio Buzon is appealing to Mayor Evelio Leonardia to shorten the city’s curfew hours by an hour to enable the holding of the traditional Aguinaldo masses this Christmas.The Aguinaldo Masses are held at dawn for nine consecutive days up to Christmas.Buzon, in a letter dated November 12 addressed to the mayor proposed "to the city government a review of its existing curfew hours in order to accommodate the traditional observance of Aguinaldo masses, which is a revered and established custom among our people."The Bishop suggested that the existing curfew hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. be shortened to 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. "so that the Diocese can offer more early morning Masses to reasonably accommodate churchgoers and thereby, prevent the overcrow...

Capitol file photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government’s Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital molecular laboratory in Silay City is about to breach the 100,000 mark in the number of COVID-19 tests conducted since June, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, November 18.He said from June 1 to of 4 p.m. today the laboratory has conducted 95,248 COVID-19 tests, with a positivity rate of 3.6 percent from November 1 to 18, a drop from 6 percent earlier.The TLJPH laboratory conducts an average of 744 COVID-19 tests a day but has an operational capacity of 1,300 per day, he said.Another molecular laboratory at the Valladolid District Hospital in Valladolid town, that will have robotic equipment, is set to open soon and will be able to conduct an additional...

Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg . Occ., 3rd District) stressed the need for artists to embrace digital transformation as the way of the future and outlined legislative measures underway to enable culture and creative industries in the country to flourish.Benitez was one of the speakers today, November 18, at the ongoing virtual Visayas Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference (VIVA ExCon), a Visayas-wide biennale.Digital transformation is a growing imperative to survive and compete in a world that is becoming increasingly more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, Benitez said.Benitez pointed out that digital technology will enable new forms of artistic and creative expression, bring creative content to broader markets, and enrich the consumer experience.He also stressed the...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he hopes the Senate approves the proposed P19 billion fund for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in the 2021 budget, which some senators want realigned.“There are 16 barangays in Negros Occidental that stand to received P20 million each for being NPA (New People’s Army) cleared,” he said today, November 17.Lacson said with a total of P320 million expected for the 16 barangays, “naturally, I would like to see this fund approved in the Senate.”Opposition senators Monday, November 16, said they are pushing for the realignment of the P19 billion anti-insurgency fund to address more pressing needs, like aid to typhoon victims and the COVID-19 response.Sen. Nancy Binay also questioned why ...

A NVC Mingo meal recipient in Albay.*A thank you message to NVC at the Tobaco National West Central School in Tobaco City, Albay*Mingo meals being prepared at an evacuation center in Guinobatan, Albay.*The Negrense Volunteers for Change has delivered 329,067 meals to children dislocated by typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses” that recently hit the country and is campaigning for more help.“Our philosophy is simple. Whenever we are spared, it’s always because we have a bigger responsibility to help those who haven’t,” NVC president Millie Kilayko said today, November 17.So far the foundation has delivered 61,000 Mingo meals to the National Capital Region, 131,500 to Bicol, 126,567 to Cagayan, and 10,000 to Bulacan, she said.She said NVC shipped out the Mingo meals even before “Ro...

District Officer Paz Marie Valenciano, representing Rep. Francisco Benitez, turns over the donation to TUP-V Talisay City campus director Eric Malooy in the presence of Dr. Leonor Validor, Nelson Franco, Grace Delumpa, and Joshua Berja.*A Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas pilot radio-based facility for distance learning funded by Rep. Francisco Benitez is set to operate in the Metro 3rd District of Negros Occidental in 2021.District Officer Paz Marie Valenciano, representing Benitez, turned over a check for P1.5 million Tuesday, November 17, for TUP-V experts to put up a 10-watt low power frequency modulation station that will carry instructional and educational modules to students within 10-20 km. radius, eight hours daily from Monday to Friday.The low power ...

Photo from Puentevella's Facebook pageThe Sandiganbayan acquitted former Bacolod congressman and mayor, Monico Puentevella, and his co-accused Monday, November 26, of the charge of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the purchase of P26 million in information technology packages for public schools.“Praise the Lord. After 13 years, justice and the truth prevail,” Puentevella said today, November 17.The Sandiganbayan, in its 34-page decision, said the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of Puentevella and Jessie Garcia, the owner of the firm that supplied the information technology packages, beyond a reasonable doubt.The court also absolved Puentevella and Garcia of any civil liability and ordered the release of the amount they deposited...

The Negros Occidental provincial government is supporting the national government -ordered road clearing operations to prevent accidents and unnecessary loss of lives, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Monday, November 17.The Department of the Interior and Local Government launched the second road clearing operations last week attended by representatives of local government units and Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa, Diaz said.The provincial government is supporting the drive to ensure all roads and highways are clutter-free to prevent traffic congestion and accidents, he said.The provincial government is also conducting refresher training for its ambulance drivers to prevent accidents, he added.Provincial government vehicles also undergo regular preventive mainten...

The Negros Occidental provincial government is granting a P5,000 performance enhancement incentive, on top of the 14- month pay, to its employees, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, November 16.Diaz said only about 3,250 employees can get P5,000. Some regular employees retired, while some casuals were not rehired.The provincial government is releasing the 14th pay of its employees this week.The law states that the 14th month pay can be released as early as November 15, he said.The granting of a Collective Negotiating Agreement bonus will depend on the savings of the provincial government that is also being reviewed by the Provincial Legal Office, Diaz added.Once approved it will be sent to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan so the authority can be granted to ...

PNA photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government is providing P2 million in assistance to two Typhoon “Rolly” hit areas, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said today, November 16.The provincial government will provide P1 million each to typhoon-hit Albay and Catanduanes, he said.The provincial government has yet to decide on the amount to be given to Typhoon “Ulysses” hit areas such as Cagayan other devastated areas, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that as of Nov. 15, “Ulysses” had affected 1.75 million people in Regions I (Ilocos), II (Cagayan), III (Central Luzon), CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), V (Bicol),...