Carla P. Gomez

San Carlos City in Negros Occidental has shortened its curfew hours for Christmas.Mayor Renato Gustilo, in Executive Order No. 268, Series of 2020, set the curfew hours in San Carlos City from midnight to 3 a.m. until January 3.Curfew in the city was previously from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., he said.Minors are allowed to go out of their residences provided they are accompanied by their parents, guardians, brothers, sisters, yayas and other relatives who are more than 21 years old, Gustilo said.However, minors are not allowed to enter malls, business establishments and public markets, he added.The minimum health protocols of appropriate wearing of face masks and face shields, hand washing, and social distancing must strictly be complied with, he added.The City Social Develo...

Vallacar Transit Inc., the biggest bus company in the country, has two presidents again after the warring Yanson factions held separate board meetings on Saturday, December 5.One group is composed of family matriarch Olivia Yanson and her children Leo Rey and Ginnette, and the other by her four other children Celina, Roy, Ricardo Jr. and Emily, known as the Yanson 4.Leo Rey, who is currently running the firm, was reappointed chairman of the board and president of VTI during the firm’s annual stockholders meeting at its principal office in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.Olivia was also re-appointed, corporate secretary and treasurer.During the meeting, Olivia and Leo Rey, Ginnette Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Anita Chua, Arvin John Villaruel and Daniel Nicolas Golez were ...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has issued a notice to terminate a provincial government joint venture agreement that has allowed a private firm to manage its Negros First CyberCentre in Bacolod City.Lacson, in a letter to Salvador Enriquez Jr., chairman of the Negros Property Management and Development Corp., said they are terminating the JVA with NPMDC for being grossly disadvantageous to the economic interests of the provincial government.The governor said it has been more than four years since the JVA was executed between the provincial government and NPMDC for the latter to maintain the Negros First CyberCentre, create a viable environment for all tenants, and promote economic activity through potential investors.However, he said, recent events have come to ...

Capitol file photoCome home early if you want to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays with your families, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reminded returning Negrenses today, December 4.That is because all those arriving in Negros Occidental have to be swabbed for COVID-19 and quarantined until their test results are out in three days, he said.If they test negative they will be allowed to go home, but if they are COVID-19 positive they will have to remain in quarantine, Lacson said.Those returning for Christmas should arrive at least on December 20 and on December 27 for New Year, Lacson said.Lacson also said with the influx of returning Negrenses during the holidays, he hopes there will be no huge spike in COVID-19 cases in the province."We are h...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said today, December 4, that the holding of a holiday truce with the Communist rebels should be left to the discretion of the military.There are still armed clashes happening, it is a question of trust, he said.While we are safe in the comfort of our homes, it is the military that has to deal with the rebels so a ceasefire should be based on their recommendation, he said.The Armed Forces of the Philippines said today, December 4, that it is not the right time to have a ceasefire or resume talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) as the group’s members are dwindling due to relentless pressure from the government.AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, said such actions will only give the comm...

Capitol photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the seriousness of the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic calls not just for decisive actions but also for innovative means to address current economic and health concerns.Lacson spoke at a financing forum in response to COVID-19 at the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City today, December 4, where officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank for the Philippines (LBP), and the Small Business Corp. outlined their programs to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the economy.The governor pointed out that when lockdowns and community quarantines were imposed in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, economies started to slump.“Now, the year is about to end and the serious task on ...

The turnover of Negros Occidental provincial government-run hospitals to local government units could increase their revenues, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said today, December 4.The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan on December 1 approved the turnover of the management of the Calatrava and Escalante hospitals from the provincial government to the local government units where they are located.Lacson said if the two LGUs are successful at managing their hospitals the turnover of the management of others could also take place.The provincial government, however, will continue to manage the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, he said.The idea of local governments running hospitals is not new, the cities of San Carlos, Bago, and Sagay are already ru...

A show cause order has been issued against the just retired Negros Occidental provincial treasurer for the “clandestine” removal of official documents from her office before her retirement took effect on December 1, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, December 3.The show cause order will serve as a valid complaint against former provincial treasurer Nilda Generoso, Diaz said in a memorandum order.The memorandum order states at about 7 p.m. on November 26, the security guard on duty saw job order worker Vicencio Vergara assigned at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office carrying two black bags and one white sack out of the office containing garbage and official documents of the provincial government.On inquiry, it was learned that they were brought out of the office o...

Photo from Venchito MagalonaNegros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) president Renelo Lastierre signed a three-year Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) this afternoon, December 3, that guarantees incentives for the 3,200 Capitol employees this December.“By signing the Collective Negotiation Agreement, all Capitol employees, both management and rank and file, will receive CNA incentives, in recognition of their efforts and accomplishing performance targets,” Lacson said.The governor has committed to give the maximum incentive allowed of P25,000 depending on the availability of savings, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Diaz said they are now computing the savings of the provincial government so the ...

A total of P42.5 million has been allocated for 7,098 families in 12 towns and cities in Negros Occidental under the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act 2 assistance program, Merle Garcia, Provincial Social and Welfare and Development Officer, said today, November 12.Each family will receive P6,000 each, Garcia said, adding that she was still waiting for the list of other areas in the province.The payouts to be released starting today, December 3, until Saturday, December 5, are in Talisay City - 1,733 beneficiaries, Ilog - 246, La Castellana - 150, Pulupandan - 7, and Victorias City - 47, she said.The pay outs released from Nov. 25 to 27 were in Kabankalan City - 225 beneficiaries, Himamaylan City - 2,348, Valladolid - 478, San Enrique - 20, Moises Padilla - 786, Pulupandan - 22 a...