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Former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez will register to vote in Bacolod City Thursday, April 22, in what could be a move towards his running for mayor of the city in 2022, his political allies said Wednesday. Benitez will transfer his voter registration from Victorias City to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said. The implication of the move is that he may run for mayor of Bacolod, Ferrer said. However, Benitez when reached for comment would not divulge his political plans for 2022. Benitez, a billionaire businessman, had served as representative of the third district of Negros occidental for three terms and is Negros Occidental provincial consultant on economic affairs. “Run Albee for mayor, Run Jeffrey for vice mayor” streamers sprout...

A 65-year-old woman who played mahjong with friends and attended a birthday party was the sixth Toboso, Negros Occidental, COVID-19 fatality in less than a month, Mayor Richard Jaojoco said Wednesday, April 21. The 65-year-old, who was a known asthmatic, diabetic and hypertensive person, developed a fever, persistent cough and experienced difficulty of breathing. She died Tuesday, April 20, the mayor said. The six Toboso COVID-19 residents died from March 27 to April 20, and the town currently has 79 active cases, Jaojoco said. The market is the common area where most were exposed to the virus, he said. The Toboso municipal hall is currently operating on a skeleton force, Jaojoco said. The other Toboso fatalities are a 50-year-old female with no known comorbities who di...

Sipalay City Mayor Maria Gina Lizares has tested positive for COVID-19. Lizares told DIGICAST NEGROS she was informed that she tested positive for the virus at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 21. “I have mild symptoms such as runny nose and cough, but I am stable and active as of this time,” she said. “I have been adhering to protocols and been very conscious of my actions, but with our work as government servants, especially the challenges of IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) work 24/7, I also contracted this virus,” she said. She called on the public to be more careful, cooperative, and serious about the fight against COVID-19. “We work to make everyone safe but as you know more and more of us are also being infected because our bodies also have limitations – we get weak due ...

Five hotels and inns in Bacolod City have been designated as isolation facilities for COVID-positive patients, City Administrator Em Ang said Wednesday, April 21. Ang, who is also executive director of the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said the five facilities are Circle Inn, East Square Inn, Saltimboca, Avenue Suites and Westown Hotel. They are accredited by the Department of Health and EOC, and have assigned nurses to monitor patients and police personnel. The designated hotels and inns are for COVID-19 positive persons who do not wish to stay in free quarantine facilities provided by the government. There are currently 96 COVID-19 positive persons in hotel isolation, Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC deputy for medical data and analysis, said. Those accepted in su...

Photo from Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospital FB page The Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospital in Barangay Bacuyangan, Hinoba-an, has temporarily suspended its services starting Tuesday, until COVID-19 swab test results of high risk close contact personnel become available, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday, April 21. However, the hospital emergency room will still cater to extreme emergency cases, he said. Tested for COVID-19 are three utility workers, a security guard, nurse, ambulance driver and junior consultant at the hospital whose results are still being awaited, Diaz said The hospital services will be suspended until swab test results of close contact personnel become available, he said. Diaz said the hospital’s emergency r...

The Sagay City Government Center that was closed for disinfection will reopen Thursday, April 22, Mayor Alfredo Marañon III said. He said they closed for disinfection after the city accountant tested positive for COVID-19. Personnel of the accountant’s office were swabbed for COVID-19 tests. Sagay City had 48 active COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, April 21. Meanwhile, Mayor Alejandro Mirasol has issued an executive order temporarily closing the Binadlan/ Bambi Falls and imposing a moratorium on the entry of tourists and non-essential visitors to Binalbagan to curb the surge in COVID-19 cases in the town. Binalbagan had 96 active COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. Negros Occidental had 2,095 active COVID-19 cases Wednesday, 138 lower the 2,233 cases on Tuesday, the Provincial ...

Capitol photo The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine of the Department of Health has given the COVID-19 molecular laboratory at the Valladolid District Hospital compound a 100 percent proficiency test rating, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday, April 21. The Safeguard DNA Diagnostics Inc. laboratory passed the 2021 pre-licensing proficiency test for SARS-CoV-2 detection by real-time polymerase chain reaction, the RITM said. With the RITM test result, a DOH license to operate is expected, which will enable the laboratory to operate, Diaz said. This is perfect timing, the molecular laboratory is needed with the recent surge in COVID-19, he said.*

Capitol photo Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, April 21, that he has not received any death threats before and after the murder of provincial consultant Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui. The governor said the tight security at the funeral of Cui Tuesday was requested by his family, and was not intended for any public official. The police still have no leads on the identity of the killer and the motive for Cui’s killing. Cui, who was Negros Occidental provincial consultant on hospital operations, was shot and killed as he was leaving his office at Emerald Arcade in San Carlos City on April 12. He was buried at the San Carlos Memorial Park Tuesday afternoon.*

PAWSsion photo It began with a simple act of kindness and a table. Then the community pantry initiative spread quickly across the Philippines. People from all walks of life have been donating vegetables, canned goods and other essential needs that are placed on tables for those who are in need to avail of for free. “Give what you can and take what you need” has been the battle cry that has touched hearts and triggered the sprouting of community pantries that have been increasing in number in Bacolod City and throughout Negros Occidental daily. Residents, policemen, students, the rich and poor, have come together to help those in need. In Bacolod City, more than 15 barangays have hosted community pantries since Monday, April 19. Many more residents have called for donatio...

Photo from Earth Day-Bacolod & Negros Occidental Network FB page Earth Day will be marked in Bacolod City with numerous activities Thursday, including a protest against the recent cutting of trees to make way for sidewalks. The Bacolod City government will mark Earth Day, which theme is "Restore Our Earth", with a caravan that will start at 7 a.m. from the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds, passing the three major public markets, and will culminate at the GP Forest Area at Progreso Village I in Barangay Vista Alegre for a tree planting activity, a press release from the Bacolod Public Information Office said. A culminating program will be held at the Fountain of Justice at the Bacolod City Hall at Araneta Street where a Declaration of the Sustaining Implementation...