Marchel P. Espina

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is mobilizing efforts to help the typhoon victims in Luzon.Captain Eduardo De Luna, PCG-Southern Visayas District commander, said they are "accepting donations for our brothers and sisters in Cagayan Valley and Bicol regions, which have been devastated by Typhoon Ulysses."The affected residents in the said region currently need non-perishable food, and water, he said.Residents may drop-off their donations in the nearest Coast Guard sub-stations or the PCG-Southern Visayas district headquarters at San Patricio Blvd. in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City.*

The M/V Starlite Venus, which is now plying the Batangas-Iloilo-Bacolod-Batangas route, arrived at the BREDCO port in Bacolod City today, November 15, on its maiden voyage. PCG photoTravel to and from Batangas has been made easier for residents of the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo with the launch of a new sea route today, November 15.The M/V Starlite Venus, a roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessel of Starlite Ferries Inc., arrived at the BREDCO port in Bacolod City this morning on its maiden voyage.Shane Anthony Arante, general manager of Starlite Ferries, said that M/V Starlite Venues was the biggest RoRo vessel acquired by the company since its incorporation 25 years ago. The brand new ship came from Kegoya, Japan, he added.He said the vessel has a capacity for 688 passengers and...

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry -Western Visayas (PCCI-WV) is calling on WV residents to patronize local produce to help the region’s economy grow faster, local business leader Frank Carbon said today, November 15.Carbon, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive officer, said the PCCI-WV Chambers of Commerce are appealing to residents to patronize the region's produce and local stores, and to produce more than the region's requirements and sell the excess to other regions.“Charity begins at home,” he said, as he stressed that “one of the many ways for our region to grow faster and generate more jobs is to keep our resources within the region and use it to generate more wealth and jobs.”Carbon also said that the Department of Science and Tec...

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Occidental is seeking more personnel to augment its manpower in the province, including Bacolod City, its head, Commander Ludovico Librilla Jr., said Sunday, November 15.He said the PCG is expecting more passengers in December, even if protocols against coronavirus are in place.“We requested 50 additional personnel from the higher headquarters to augment our personnel here, considering our area. We have many ports and they are busy,” he said.He added there is a difference in personnel variance because some of them underwent schooling.Meanwhile, he reminded the travellers to strictly follow the protocols set by the local government units to ensure everyone’s safety.*

City PIO file photoBusiness establishment owners in Bacolod City are being urged to follow minimum health protocols against coronavirus to curb the spread of the disease.City Administrator Em Ang, also the executive director of the Emergency Operations Center, reiterated that resorts, tourism establishments, amusement parks are still prohibited to operate under the General Community Quarantine status, as well as cockfighting and drinking liquor in public.On Thursday, November 12, 16 commercial establishments, and a resort were temporarily shut down following violations of the minimum health protocols against COVID-19.PMaj. Sherlock Gabana, head of the EOC contact tracing team, said under Executive Order No. 70 of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, consumption of alcohol in public is p...

Gilead Flores photoThe Visayan Sea “closed season,” which prohibits catching and selling of sardines, herrings, and mackerels in the area, will begin Sunday, November 15, until February 15, 2021.Remia Aparri, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Western Visayas director, said agriculture and fisheries proved to be the most important sector during the pandemic and natural disasters, adding, “these sectors provided and keeps providing us our primary need – food.”The bureau is calling on the citizens to take part in looking after the sea while it takes the much-needed rest through the “closed season,” she said.Areas in Negros Occidental covered by the closure include EB Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Sagay City, Cadiz City, and Escalante City.Other parts of Wes...

PCG photoStranded passengers and rolling cargoes at the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City finally left today, November 13.Typhoon Ulysses stranded about 183 passengers, 133 from Bacolod and 50 from Iloilo, and 148 rolling cargoes on Thursday, November 12.The passengers who were bound for Manila stayed on board the M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus until it was allowed to sail after the storm signals over Luzon were lifted.Chief Petty Officer Louie Campaner, Philippine Coast Guard-Bredco sub-station commander, confirmed that the ship was allowed to leave the Bacolod port after the storm signals over Batangas and Manila were lifted.Meanwhile, the weather bulletin from the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) as of 4 p.m. today showed that the Visayas, includ...

PCG photoHundreds of passengers and rolling cargoes were stranded at the BREDCO Port terminal in Bacolod City due to Typhoon Ulysses, the Philippine Coast Guard said today, November 12.Captain Eduardo De Luna, PCG Southern Visayas District commander, said 183 passengers, 133 from Bacolod and 50 from Iloilo, were stranded while 148 rolling cargoes were prevented to travel.The passengers, onboard M/V St. Therese of the Child Jesus, were bound for Manila, he said.De Luna said the passengers were allowed to board the vessel, instead of waiting at the terminal.The ship will be allowed to sail once the typhoon warning signals are lifted in the vessel's path, he added.He said the vessel will most likely to sail tomorrow morning, November 13, when the typhoon is expected to...

Bacolod City has recorded its youngest coronavirus fatality, a one-year-old baby boy from Barangay 30.This was confirmed Thursday, November 12, by City Administrator Em Ang, also the executive director of the Emergency Operations Center, who said that it was not known where the baby contracted the disease.She said that the baby had experienced diarrhea for several days, one of the symptoms of coronavirus disease, but it was only later that he was brought to the hospital.On November 5, he was rushed to The Doctor’s Hospital, but died of severe dehydration, diarrhea, and septic shock, she said.Ang said the patient was tested for COVID as symptoms were present on the boy.His test results came out two days after his death, on November 7.The boy belongs to an extended fa...