Business

Dr. Amalia Fernandez, medical specialist of Philippine Health Insurance Corp.-Western Visayas Benefits Administration section, discusses the services that members and their dependents can avail for free under the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program during a press forum in Bacolod City on Friday.*The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is encouraging Negrenses to avail of services under the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), an enhanced primary care benefit package that focuses on preventive and promotive healthcare.Dr. Amalia Fernandez, medical specialist of PhilHealth-Western Visayas Benefits Administration section, said members and their dependents can enlist using their identification number with the nearest YAKAP provider in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental."We have a ...

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson .*Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo met with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson  on Thursday, Nov. Y6,  to seek help for her town’s recovery and the emergency repair of the Taytay Intigiwan Bridge following the devastation left by Typhoon  "Tino".The  bridge is a vital link connecting Moises Padilla to Canlaon   City, she said.The mayor said the bridge sustained heavy damage during the typhoon, forcing authorities to limit passage to motorcycles and tricycles only, for safety concerns. Motorists driving larger vehicles have been advised to avoid the area until the structure is declared safe.Garcia  also said all the hangin...

Canlaon City in Negros Oriental that sustained heavy damage also declared a state of calamity.* Romeo Subaldo photoThe entire Negros Occidental was declared under a state of calamity Thursday,  Nov. 6., following the widespread devastation left by Typhoon "Tino", Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson  announced.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered the  release of P760 million  in direct aid  to provinces and cities affected by the typhoon, of which P50 million was allocated for Negros Occidental and P10 million for Negros Oriental.The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the recommendation of  the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management   Council (DRRMC) headed by Lacson to place the entire Negros Occidental under a s...

Bacolod City is now under a state of calamityThe Bacolod Sangguniang Panlalawigan Thursday afternoon, November 6, approved the request of Mayor Greg Gasataya and the recommendation of the Bacolod Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) for its declaration following the widespread damage left by Typhoon "Tino".“We need to implement a price freeze, which is essential during a calamity. We also understand the situation of our barangays whose funds have been depleted and can no longer sustain the needs of evacuees and affected families,” Gasataya said.Councilor Dindo Ramos said the declaration will allow barangays to immediately utilize 30 percent of their quick response fund from their 5 percent calamity fund.In addition, the local government can also access it...

The provincial goverment delivered food packs to affected areas.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday, Nov. 6, appealed to businessmen not to take advantage of the situation following Typhoon "Tino".The declaration of a state of calamity in Negros Occidental  means a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities takes effects in the entire province  to prevent hoarding and overpricing, he said.However, not all goods are included in the price freeze list, he said.Lacson said he is appealing to businessmen "to have a heart,   people are suffering right now. Many  actually lost work for two, three days already...let's not add more  problems for the suffering Negrenses  and let's control the prices".Lacson said the i...

Preemptive evacuation in Bacolod.*BCCOMayor Greg Gasataya on Wednesday, Nov. 5, thanked frontliners, barangay officials, and partner agencies for their coordinated and preemptive measures in Bacolod City which ensured residents' safety during the onslaught of  Typhoon ‘Tino’ resulting in zero casualties."For whatever it’s worth, we really thank everyone who heeded the call for preemptive evacuation. In my assessment, we really saved a lot of lives," Gasataya said in a press release on Wednesday, Nov. 5.The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) reported that 7,296 families, or 25,179 individuals, from 43 barangays were evacuated starting Monday afternoon. This included over 50 individuals, including persons with disabilities and senior citizens, from...

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) – Northern Negros Occidental has announced the resumption of sea travel in northern Negros ports as of Wednesday morning, November 5, following the improved weather conditions brought by the exit of Typhoon “Tino” from the Philippine Area of Responsibility.According to their Sea Travel Advisory No. 25, all scheduled trips from ports in the northern portion of Negros Occidental bound for Tabuelan, Toledo City, and Bantayan (Cebu), Dumangas, Iloilo City, Ajuy, Estancia, and Guimaras, and vice versa, have been allowed to resume operations.However, in a succeeding Advisory No. 26 issued at 11 a.m., the PCG clarified that voyages of MV Halili from the Manta-angan Port in E.B. Magalona bound for Bay-ang Port in Ajuy, Iloilo remain temporarily cancelled du...

Preemptive evacuation in Isabela, Negros, Occidental, Monday afternoon.* Mayor Miguel Angelo Yulo Facebook pageThousands of Negrenses and Bacolodnons were preemptively evacuated  Monday, Nov. 3, as Typhoon “Tino” intensified.Negros Occidental and Bacolod  City were both under red alert as the  Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted Signal No. 4,  No. 3, and No. 1  over various parts of the province.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya called on residents to comply with calls for preemptive evacuation for their own safety.Bacolod has identified flood-prone and coastal barangays to be covered by the preemptive evacuation considering the strength of typhoon, Gasataya said.All Baco...

 The polluted waters of Manjuyod in Negros Oriental.* Romeo Subaldo photo The Municipality of Manjuyod in Negros Oriental has declared a state of calamity following the pollution caused by  the collapse of the waste water lagoon wall of the URC Bais Distillery, its Sangguniang Bayan announced on Monday, Nov. 3. The declaration shall remain in effect for 90 days, unless lifted or extended upon the recommendation of the Local Risk Reduction and Management Council, based on its assessment and validation of the environmental condition, it said. The Bais Sangguniang Panlungsod that also  earlier declared a State of calamity, stating that  the consequences of this disaster have severely impacted...

Expect large increases in fuel prices  starting Tuesday, November 4.Diesel prices  will increase by P2.50 to P2.70 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said.Gasoline prices  will increase by P1.30 to P1.50 per liter, it added.*