Carla P. Gomez

Capitol file photoReturning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) will be allowed to continue to return to Negros Occidental during the holidays despite the temporary ban on the arrival of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to most towns and cities in the province, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, December 14.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has informed Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson that returning ROFs will be swabbed for COVID-19 tests in Manila and should not be tested again on their arrival in the province, Diaz said.The governor will comply with that directive, Diaz said.The national government expects 100,000 ROFs this December, he added.ROFs cannot be refused entry otherwise they will be stranded in Manila or Cebu during the holidays, Diaz ...

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) has just been named chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development.“As chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development, we will work towards new policies and programs that will address the country's housing crisis - make housing affordable to low-income families, make our cities and communities livable,” Benitez said tonight, December 14.He said they will take on the challenge to bring to the fore the silent struggle of the homeless and the poor who live in the streets, under bridges, in makeshift shanties along railways or rivers.Benitez also thanked House Speaker Lord Alan Velasco for his trust and confidence in giving him the new responsibility.“I thank my predecessor Cong. Strike Rev...

Magikland in Silay City, Negros Occidental, will resume operations Friday, December 18, after its employees tested negative for COVID-19, Reynaldo Bantug, Magikland, Aton Land and Leisure Inc. president and CEO, said today, December 14.The park starting Friday will continue daily operations until January 3 in celebration of the holiday season, he said.Magikland was closed from December 11 to 13 after one of its employees tested positive for the virus.Contact tracing showed that the park ride attendant’s exposure to the virus was from outside Magikland’s premises, but park employees who came in contact with him were tested for COVID-19 as a precaution, Bantug said.Bantug said they are pleased to announce that the swab test results of the employees involved in their contact t...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson marked his 61st birthday today, December 13, with the hope that the Philippines will not be left behind in the availability and access to the COVID-19 vaccine.“For this Christmas season, I understand that it is in our nature as Filipinos to get together and celebrate. However, for this year, let us be mindful of our health protocols,” he also said.“ Remember that these protocols were made to keep us and our loved ones safe. Let us observe the protocols meant to protect us.That's the best gift we can give each other,” he added.Lacson said as he celebrates another birthday this year, he is “truly grateful for another year to serve God through the people of Negros Occidental.”*

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Rep. Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Leo Rey Yanson, Ginette Yanson-Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Councilor Cindy Rojas, Councilor Bart Orola, City Administrator Em Ang, special consultant John Orolla, and other officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bacolod Museum/Auditorium, Saturday, December 12.*City PIO phoSenate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia Saturday led the groundbreaking rites for a P260 million museum and auditorium in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City.The museum to be built with funds sourced from the national government by Zubiri is expected to be completed by 2022.“This historical building will put Bacolod City and Negros Occidental on the map of the cu...

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (third from left) with Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Rep. Greg Gasataya (l-r) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bacolod Museum/Auditorium Saturday, December 12.*City PIO photoSenate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri pledged to make the construction of a national government-funded Bacolod City hospital a reality.Zubiri, at a press conference with Mayor Evelio Leonardia in Bacolod City Saturday, December 12, said that he has already asked for the program of works for the city hospital so he can have the P300 or P400 million allotment needed for it included in the 2022 national budget.“We will make that project happen, along with many other projects for Bacolod, ” Zubiri assured.Bacolod needs a city hosp...

Vaccination against COVID-19 is the most necessary requirement today for the Philippines to achieve economic stability and normalcy, Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said Saturday, December 12.Zubiri, who was in Bacolod City, said it is the number one priority of the Senate that has allocated P82.5 billion in the 2021 budget for mass COVID-19 vaccination in the country.This will cover 25 million Filipinos, he said, with priority to be given to health workers and their families, senior citizens and frontliners.The private sector led by Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion is also buying 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, one half of which will be donated to government and the other half will be for the use of their employees, he added.“Our economy is d...

The sugar industry is doing well despite the COVID-19 pandemic with prices at P1,500 per LKg, which is profitable to producers and fair to consumers, Sugar Board member Emilio “Dino” Yulo said Saturday, December 12.“In terms of gross tons of canes milled we are about 50 percent higher than last year,” he said.Although in terms of pureza, which refers to the purity of the sugar yield, it is a little bit less than last year, he said.However, as the weather gets hotter the pureza is expected to improve, he said.Yulo said he hopes the good prices for sugar will continue, especially during the Christmas season, that is traditionally heavy on the demand side.Even if we are faced with a COVID-19 pandemic, at least agriculture has delivered for the country, Yulo said.He sai...

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will not grant the request for additional flights to Negros Occidental this December because 16 towns and cities have so far already asked for moratoriums on the arrival of locally stranded individuals (LSIs), Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, December 11.The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force has granted a moratorium on LSIs arriving in Bacolod City from Dec.21 to Jan. 3.Negros Occidental LGUs granted moratoriums on LSI arrivals are Ilog and Cauayan (Dec. 20-Jan. 3), La Carlota City (Dec. 22 to Jan. 2),Pontevedra and La Castellana (Dec. 22 – Jan. 5) Himamaylan, Victorias and Calatrava (Dec. 21- Jan. 3), Bago City (Nov. 26 - Dec. 5), Sagay City (Nov.26 to Dec. 10), and Hinoba-an (Dec. 16 to 22).The Negros Occidental provincial govern...

Ceneco acting general manager Danny Pondevilla*The National Electrification Administration has appointed Danny Pondevilla project supervisor and acting general manager of Central Negros Electric Cooperative.Pondevilla, Northern Negros Electric Cooperative general manager, said he will serve as CENECO acting manager in a concurrent capacity.Pondevilla, who assumed his CENECO post Monday, December 7, assured transparency in his management of the cooperative.NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong designated Pondevilla project supervisor and acting general manager effective immediately.Pondevilla, who is a lawyer, was directed to manage the day-to-day operations of CENECO to ensure the efficient delivery of electric service.In consultation with concerned NEA departments, ...