Marchel P. Espina

Nov232020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Bacolod EOC eyes closure of Art District tenants involved in mass gathering

The Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) “strongly recommended” the closure of the establishments involved in an event at the Art District in Barangay Mandalagan two weeks ago, after attendees were seen disregarding the minimum health protocols against the coronavirus disease.In a statement today, November 23, the EOC-TF said: “We admonish the management of the Art District and their respective tenants to strictly adhere to the protocols and standards set by the city of Bacolod, the Local and National IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) pertaining to our coordinated efforts against COVID-19.”“We strongly recommend closure of the establishments involved in the said incident until further action by concerned offices/agencies,” it stressed.Earlier, the organizer...

Nov232020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Suspect in Mansilingan shooting falls, linked to murder of sister last year

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Police Station 7 photoThe security guard, who killed a terminated worker Sunday night, was arrested by the police in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, today, November 23.After few hours of pursuit operations, the Bacolod Police Station 7, along with the Kabankalan City Police Station, tracked down Antonio Enanoria at the home of his sister in Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City.Lt. Conrado Espino Jr., Bacolod Police Station 7 chief, said they coordinated with the police stations of neighboring localities to help pinpoint the location of the suspect.On Sunday night, November 22, Enanoria killed Joebe Nativadad Jr. of Barangay Granada, who was recently terminated from his job as a forklift operator at the industrial company in Barangay Mansilingan, where the suspect worked as...

Nov232020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

17 nabbed for cockfighting

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BCPO photoAround 17 persons, including a senior citizen, were rounded up by the police for illegal cockfighting at Purok Himaya in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City on Sunday, November 22.Nabbed were Eduardo Robles, 49, Riolen Adlaon, 45, Romvic Manalo, 50, Roquito Albito, 62, Oliver Albito, 40, Artemio Legaspi, 56, Jonathan Sanchez, 19, Edgardo Robles, 25, Ken Octoso, 38, Justin Berueda, 22, all of Barangay Alijis.Also arrested were Narri Perez, 32, of Barangay Cabug; Daniel Moreno, 40, Tikboy Binggoy, 42, Raffy Olara, 34, Florencio Pastor, 59, Jose Marie Pabillo, 47, and Anthony Lazaro, 30, all of Barangay Taloc, Bago City.Recovered from their possession were two fighting cocks with gaffs used for illegal cockfighting, and the P700 cash used as bet money.Operatives of Bac...

Nov222020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Terminated worker shot dead by guard

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BCPO photoA terminated worker of a hardware and construction supply firm in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, was shot to death by a company security guard tonight, November 22.Killed was Joebe Nativadad Jr. of Barangay Granada, who was terminated from his job as a forklift operator in the first week of November.Lt. Conrado Espino Jr., Bacolod Police Station 7 chief, said the victim, who was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, went to the bodega of the company to borrow a screwdriver to fix his motorcycle. The victim was let inside the premises by one of the security guards.However, the suspect, stay-in security guard Antonio Enanoria of Kabankalan City, forced the suspect out of the compound, leading him to shoot the victim three times, Espino said.He said th...

Nov222020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

25 complete drug rehab program

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Sipalay LGU photoTwenty-five Sipalay City residents have completed the city’s community-based rehabilitation program.Their graduation ceremony was held at Kyla's Event Hall in Barangay 2 on Friday, November 20, five days after the city government launched the third installment of the community-based rehabilitation program on November 16.Under the program, the participants from Barangay Gil Montilla underwent five days of transformation, which included lectures and activities on health, disaster response, spiritual encounters, parole and probation, and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.The rehabilitation program is one of the priority programs of Mayor Maria Gina Lizares as it is her goal to provide a venue for transformation and rehabilitation for persons who use drugs....

Nov222020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

23 Negrense MSMEs join virtual trade fair

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Twenty-three Negrense micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) joined the recent five-day Panublion Heritage Trade Fair organized by the Department of Trade and Industry in Western Visayas.Rachel Nufable, director of the Department of Trade and Industry in Negros Occidental, said that the online trade fair promoted the products, mostly wearables and the homestyle sector, of the local MSMEs as there were many buyers from the region who joined the show.Only a few from the food sector were able to join the virtual trade fair due to the requirements needed from the Food and Drug Administration, she added.She said that the Negrense MSMEs generated P900,000 in sales from the fair, which run from November 14 to 18.Overall, the MSMEs in the region made a profit of about P9 milli...

Nov202020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

‘Declare climate emergency now’

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Ronnie Baldonado photoMore than 20 clean energy advocates marched through the major thoroughfares of downtown Bacolod City this afternoon, November 20, to mark the National Day of Action Against Coal.The protesters, mostly from the youth sector, reiterated their call to the government to declare a “climate emergency now” and to “cancel coal now!”Clean energy advocates, people’s organizations, and faith-based organizations then converged at the Fountain of Justice for a program. They emphasized the dangers of coal, the implications of the coal moratorium, and the endless possibilities of clean energy.Advocates who were not able to join the physical demonstration participated in the digital action spearheaded by Youth for Climate Hope, posing with their placards in the safety...

Nov202020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

CENECO, NONECO rates up in November; NOCECO down

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PNA file photoCentral Negros Electric Cooperative Inc. (CENECO) and Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) have increased their power rates in November, while consumers of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative can save on their bills with a decrease in its rates.Maria Agnes Claro, officer-in-charge of the CENECO Office of the General Manager, said there was an increase of P0.7163 per kilowatt hour (kWh) this month, from P10.4110 per kWh in October to P11.1273.The rate hike was attributed to the increase in generation, transmission, system loss charges and other pass-through charges such as lifeline, senior and value-added tax, she said.Part of the increase in generation charge is the recomputation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) using the new for...

Nov192020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

2 killed, 3 injured in Bago head-on collision

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Bago PNP photoTwo people were killed and three others were injured after a motorcycle crashed head-on into a tricycle along the national highway at Barangay Maao in Bago City, Negros Occidental, Wednesday night, November 18.Killed was motorcycle driver Myrone Eslais and his partner, Debbie Joy Leganada, who was also on board the motorcycle, both of Barangay Cubay in La Carlota City.Police Chief Master Sergeant Celso Omega, Bago City Police Station deputy, said Eslais was negotiating a curve when he went over to the opposite lane, resulting in the head-on collision.Tricycle driver John Algara sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the Bago City Hospital, with his parents Josiphena and Roberto, who were also injured in the crash.Eslais was also rushed to the hospita...

Nov192020 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Consumer group dismayed over CENECO’s lack of transparency

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Consumer group Power Watch Negros has expressed its disappointment over Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s alleged lack of transparency.Wennie Sancho, secretary-general of Power Watch, in a letter to CENECO president Dwight Carbon today (November 18), said that they believe that the mutual understanding between CENECO and its member-consumers necessary for transparency was neglected.“The consumers suffer from the loss of representation. This atrophied system has left the consumers more vulnerable to domination by others. The decision-making process is now confined to the board room and they are difficult to discern amid all the bewildering technical facts and figures. They represent the real source of the consumers' general discontent, as to how and why some interests are allowe...