Carla P. Gomez

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),...

Photo from Mambukal Resort FB pageNegros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said today, November 16, that the provincial government-owned Mambukal Resort in Murcia town will remain closed to the public for as long as it is needed as a healing facility for COVID-19 patients.However, the provincial government is continuing to introduce improvements to the resort, he said.The provincial government has allocated P19 million for the construction of more cottages at the resort in 2021, on top of the ongoing work on the P5 million Department of Tourism-funded food court, he said.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Mambukal could open to the public next year depending on the COVID-19 situation.For now, they do not want to encourage people to go to resorts to preve...

The announcement by the cities of Cebu and Davao that they will shut their borders anew in the wake of the rising cases of COVID-19 reminds us that the virus threat remains, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson Jr. said today, November 16.“It reminds us that COVID-19 is present, and flattening the curve does not mean anything if we become complacent,” Lacson told DIGICAST NEGROS.There is a need to continue to practice COVID-19 health protocols at all times, he said.The Negros Occidental proposed 2021 budget includes P36 million for COVID-19 test kits and P20 million for the operation of quarantine facilities, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.He said while the Department of Health (DOH) provides Negros Occidental with COVID-19 test kits, additional fund...

The Negros Occidental Provincial Budget Office at the Capitol in Bacolod City remains open. Richard Malihan photoThe search for five professional “prayers warriors” for the dead is on after the Negros Occidental provincial OIC budget officer and her brother-in-law tested positive for COVID-19, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, November 16.The two are suspected to have been hit by the virus when prayers for the dead were held at their residence, Diaz said.“We are looking for those five professional prayer warriors who may be transferring from one wake to the next and spreading the virus, “ he said.The Provincial Health Office has been instructed to locate these persons who are seniors and volunteer to lead prayers, so they can be tested for COVID-19, he sai...

Photo courtesy of municipality of ValladolidOne person was killed and five others sustained minor injuries in a four-vehicle accident along the national road in Barangay Mabini, Valladolid, Negros Occidental, 6:40 p.m. Friday, November 13, PCapt. Wilfredo Benoman Jr., the town’s police chief, said Sunday, November 15.Killed was Anna Rose Flores Villacampa of Barangay Paloma, Valladolid, Benoman said.Injured Margel, 40, Gel Marie, 22, and Joemel, 10, all surnamed Aries, of San Enrique town and Keishia Anne Buenaflor, 21, of Bacolod City who were on board a Honda Jazz car, and tricycle driver Ronald Cabarles.A Hino Tractor Head truck driven by Rovico Orocio Baldevia, 48, of Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City, that was travelling from north to south accidentally bumped the Su...

An assistant city engineer of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, hit by COVID-19 died at a Bacolod hospital Sunday morning, November 15, Mayor Pedro Zayco said.The family of the engineer, who was 48 years old, has been swabbed for COVID-19 tests and their house has been locked down, he said.The engineer’s wife has been placed in an isolation facility pending the results of her COVID-19 test, the mayor added.He said the assistant city engineer had not reported for work since November 9 because he was not feeling well.The Kabankalan City Engineer’s Office (CEO) will be temporarily locked down effective Monday, November 16, while contact tracing is underway, the mayor added.Employees of the engineer’s office who were in close contact with the fatality will be swabbed for COVID...

Capitol file photoThe Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Western Visayas has approved the suspension of the arrival of locally stranded individuals to Cadiz City and La Castellana town in Negros Occidental.The arrival of LSIs to Cadiz City is suspended starting Sunday, November 15, until November 20, while in La Castellana starting Monday, November 16, until November 21, RIATF Resolution No. 64 Series of 2020 said.Cadiz City, in a letter to the RIATF dated November 10, requested for a Nov. 15 to 30 moratorium to give sufficient time for the preparation of its quarantine facilities before accommodating the new batch of incoming LSIs.La Castellana made a similar appeal covering the period November 16 to 21.The De...

TongsonHimamaylan City in Negros Occidental is aiming to enter into a sisterhood relationship with the City of Manila.Himamaylan Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. in a letter to Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso said they would like to create a sisterhood relationship to promote equal and mutual benefits.A sisterhood agreement would maximize existing partners and networks in exploring opportunities that bring the potential of new investments, stimulate sustainable economic movement, and generate jobs, he said.“This sisterhood is also a vital step in increasing our goal of bridging communities with diverse socio-economic backgrounds to establish a sound manner of sharing resources, helping in times of need and learning from one another to guarantee prosperity,” Tongson wrote.*...