Marchel P. Espina

Roy Ortega photoA radio personality in Negros Oriental was arrested in a drug bust operation at Barangay Bagacay in Dumaguete City Wednesday night, November 11.Nabbed was Marlon Dela Cruz, also known as “Major Blanco, 44, of Valencia.During the bust, the suspect yielded 11 plastic sachets containing suspected shabu worth P40,800, the P500 buy-bust money, P450 in cash, a motorcycle, several drug paraphernalia, and a cellular phone, the police report showed.Police Captain Michael Rubia, head of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, said they have been monitoring Dela Cruz for two weeks after they received a tip about his illegal activities.He said that the suspect was considered a high-value individual following his work in a radio station.Dela Cruz, who is detained a...

Members of the Regional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs-Western Visayas. PDEA-6 photoSipalay City topped the localities in Negros Occidental with the most number of drug-free barangays.During the recent 22nd Regional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs-Western Visayas deliberations Sipalay marked its 12th drug-cleared barangay out of 17 in the city.The active implementation of the community-based rehabilitation program was among the priorities of Mayor Maria Gina Lizares in her first term of office, the local government said in a statement.During the deliberation, 60 barangays from Western Visayas were screened and assessed by the members of the committee chaired by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 6 director Edgar Apalla.Representatives from the diff...

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) then chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas during his 55th birthday celebration inside the regional police headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. NCRPO PIO photoProgressive groups in Negros Occidental have expressed outrage following the appointment of Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, who violated quarantine measures for his “mañanita” birthday party amid the COVID-19 lockdown, as the new Philippine National Police chief.“The Negrosanons are in rage on the promotion of Sinas as the new PNP Chief,” Clarizza Singson, secretary-general of the human rights group Karapatan in Negros Island. She said the bloody nights of December 27 to 29, 2018 are still fresh in the memories of the Negrosanons. Six people were killed and 26 others arrested for alle...

City PIO file photoBusiness establishments in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental were ordered to use and implement the contact tracing mobile application developed by the local government.Mayor Renato Gustilo, in an executive order issued on November 9, said that contact tracing plays an important role in containing outbreaks of infectious disease.“A creative and systematic approach on contact tracing has become even more vital in view of the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in San Carlos,” he added.He said the city government, with its aim to expedite contact tracing efforts, intends to employ the Quick Response (QR) code scanning through the use of Viral Assessment and Monitoring (VAMOS) application, developed by the city’s Information Technology and Computer ...

The organizers of the Visayas Islands Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference (VIVA ExCon) explained that there was no event at the Art District in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, on Friday, November 6, after attendees were seen disregarding the minimum health protocols against the coronavirus disease.In a statement Monday, November 9, the organizers said that in preparation for the VIVA ExCon opening on November 8 that was conducted virtually, an exhibition was organized for the sole purpose of simulating a live opening for video recording.“There was no event, no invitation was sent and no announcement was made. It was unfortunate that the set attracted the usual Art District crowd and management was not able to control their enthusiasm,” the statement said.However, the organ...

A party at the Art District in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, on Friday night, November 6, is now being investigated by authorities as attendees were seen disregarding the minimum health protocols against COVID-19.Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, city director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, in a memorandum to the regional office, said that the incident was reported by the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center for immediate action.In a video circulating on social media, Viva ExCon 2020 attendees were seen partying without face masks, no social distancing, and consuming alcohol in public, she said.Madayag said that the Business Permit and Licensing Office will conduct an inspection, while the Philippine National Police were ordered to further intensify “O...

Lakawon Island. Photo from traveloka.comThe Department of Tourism in Western Visayas has certified 108 accommodation establishments in Negros Occidental and its capital city, Bacolod.As of Thursday, November 5, a total of 80 hotels and resorts in the province were certified by the DOT.Of the number, 18 establishments were issued with Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO), while 62 were given Provisional Certificates of Authority to Operate (PCAO) by the department. The 80 accommodation facilities in the province have a total of 797 available rooms.Establishments that were granted with CAO have passed the safety standards against coronavirus disease 2019.Just recently, around 20 local government units in the province have opened up their localities to leisure travel ...

PNA file photoThe inflation rate in Western Visayas has slightly dropped to 2.5 percent in October from 2.8 percent in September, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday, November 5.The national headline, on the other hand, has accelerated to 2.5 percent in October from 2.3 percent in September, the PSA said.The higher overall inflation was primarily brought by the increase in the inflation of the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.1 percent during the month, from 1.5 percent in September, PSA said.Also, the annual mark-ups were higher in the indices of education at 1.2 percent, and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.4 percent.On the other hand, the slowdown in the inflation was recorded in the indices of alcoholic beverages...

Capitol photoThe provincial government of Negros Occidental is now preparing the list of programs and projects for 2021 to be funded by the 20 percent Development Fund.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the workshop on the “Prioritization of Programs and Projects for Funding Under the 2021 20 percent Provincial Development Fund” at the Provincial Capitol on Wednesday, November 4.Ma. Lina Sanogal, provincial planning and development coordinator, said that the proposed allocation for the 2021 20 percent Development Fund was P798.667 million from the province’s internal revenue allotment at P3.993 billion.Of the P798.667 million, P270 million was allocated for loan amortization, while the remaining P528.700 million will go to the province’s priority development programs and proj...

The city government of Sagay and the provincial government of Negros Occidental were cited for their heritage and tourism attractions during the virtual convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP).Provincial Tourism Officer Jennylind Cordero said the virtual convention in partnership with the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board was held to celebrate ATOP’s 21st year.During the “PinasForward! Let’s move as one to revitalize our country’s tourism industry” virtual convention on Wednesday, November 4, Sagay City was announced as the grand winner of the “Pinasarap” contest for its “Ginataan Nga Ugbos Sang Balinghoy na May Banag.”“The dishes submitted for ‘Pinasarap’ gave us a look into the various recipes and preparation methods that h...