Carla P. Gomez

Capitol file photoThere were 739 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) from Manila and Cebu who arrived in Negros Occidental this weekend, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, December 20.The provincial government had initially expected more than 1,000 LSIs this weekend.There were 314 LSIs who arrived on board one Cebu Pacific and two Philippine Airline flights from Manila today, he said.There were also 106 LSIs who were brought home from Tabuelan, Cebu, Diaz said.LSIs who arrived on two 2Go vessels from Manila were 319, Diaz added.*

NORPPO photosBacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon denounced the killing of a red-tagged frontliner in the fight against COVID-19, while the New People’s Army (NPA) denied the accusation that she was a spokesperson of the movement.Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan and husband, Edwin Sancelan, a local government employee, were gunned down while on their way home in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on December 15.Guihulngan Mayor Carlo Jorge Reyes has put up a P500,000 reward for the arrest of the killers of the Sancelans.Meanwhile, Buzon said, “The Diocese of Bacolod denounces all forms of extrajudicial killings, it decries indiscriminate red-tagging, and it deplores the apparent impunity among the perpetrators and enablers of this escalating violence not just in Guihulngan City but also in o...

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No 1. was raised by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) over Negros Occidental and Oriental today, December 18, as Tropical Depression “Vicky” approached.“Vicky” is forecast to move generally west-northwestward while over the landmass of Mindanao. By early morning tomorrow, "Vicky" is likely to emerge over the Bohol Sea, pass close to Siquijor or Misamis Occidental, and pass close or make another landfall over the southern portion of Negros Island, PAGASA said.The Philippine Coast Guard suspended interisland sea travel causing some passengers to be stranded in several ports in Bacolod and Negros.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson placed Negros Occidental under blue alert and directed disaster risk redu...

More than 1,000 locally stranded individuals are expected to arrive in Negros Occidental from Manila and Cebu this weekend, Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head, said today, December 18.He said over 200 passengers are arriving on the St. Therese of The Child Jesus 2Go vessel from Manila tomorrow, December 19, and about 800 more at the Bacolod-Silay Airport on board several flights Saturday and Sunday, he said.There are also 350 Negrense LSIs set to arrive from Tabuelan, Cebu, during the weekend, he added.The arriving LSIs will be swabbed for COVID-19 tests and quarantined until their negative test results are released.The LSIs who cannot be accommodated in the quarantine facilities of the towns and cities of Negros...

The request of another city in Negros Occidental for a moratorium on the arrival of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) has been granted.The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases granted the request of Talisay City for a moratorium on the arrival of its LSIs from December 20 to January 2.The request was made to pave the way for the rehabilitation and renovation of the Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School quarantine facility in Talisay City.The Regional Inter Agency Task Force earlier granted moratoriums on the arrival of LSIs to Ilog and Cauayan from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3, La Carlota City (Dec. 22 to Jan. 2), Pontevedra and La Castellana (Dec. 22 to Jan.5), Bacolod City, Himamaylan City, Victorias City and Calatrava ( Dec. 21 to Jan. 3...

Eric Loretizo photosThe son of the late governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has replaced his father as chairman of the United Negros Alliance.Sagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon III replaced his father, former Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., who passed away on October 1.The three-term governor, former congressman, and mayor of Sagay City was among the UNegA founders.The Sagay mayor and the rest of the UNegA officers took their oaths before Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson of Love Negros at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City tonight, December 18.The governor said his presence shows that the Love Negros-UNegA coalition remains strong.The other UNegA officers are Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer – president, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. - secretary-general, an...

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is strongly encouraging everyone to conduct Christmas and New Year gatherings with attendees limited to members of the family living in the same household.Work or non-family related Christmas parties or gatherings are highly discouraged, he said.Virtual get-togethers and Christmas and New Year parties or gatherings held within the premises of one’s home are instead highly encouraged, he added.The mayor stressed these in Executive Order No. 81, Series of 2020, setting guidelines for COVID-19 mitigation and compliance with public health standards during the holidays.In the event that families not living in the same household wish to get together for Christmas and New Year, such gatherings must be held outdoors and with proper observance of physi...

The Department of Health Western Visayas regional director, Dr. Marlyn Convocar, today, December 17, again reminded the public to stay healthy and safe during the holidays.The DOH is encouraging families and communities to avoid the use of firecrackers, especially during the New Year celebration to prevent firework-related injuries, she said.Instead, the public is advised to look for things that can substitute the loud noises that fireworks make such as car horns, playing music, or even banging pots and pans, she said.“These alternatives are simple, safe and fun even for children,” she said.The DOH is also advising parents and guardians to carefully choose the toys and gifts that are safe to be given to children, Convocar said.“It is important to consider age-appropriat...

Richard Malihan file photoThe Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees today, December 17, thanked Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members for granting the provincial government employees P40,000 in incentives and bonus.“The employees are very grateful…it is a huge blessing,” PACE president Renelo Lastierre said.“We are lucky to receive a bonus despite the (COVID-19) pandemic as a way of rewarding the efforts of the workers,” he said.He cited the sacrifice of the provincial government workers in continuing to serve the public amid the pandemic.The provincial government employees will receive P40,000 in incentives and bonus this week, the governor confirmed to DIGICAST NEGROS Wednesday, Decem...