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A 2.5-hectare Sidlak Village will rise in Victorias City after the signing a memorandum of agreement and groundbreaking ceremony with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Pag-IBIG Fund on Monday, February 27.Sidlak Village is the city's first major housing milestone through the City Human Settlements and Urban Development Office under the administration of Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, a press release from Victorias said.“It is imperative to ensure the quality of the communities we are building. These human settlements are not only a place where people reside, these are cradles of societies,” Benitez said in his message during the MOA signing.Victorias City is the second LGU in the entire Philippines to have a signing of a memorandum of...

The Federation of Urban Poor members on Saturday, February 25.The Federation of Urban Poor in Negros, marked the 37th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, with a call for freedom from the rising prices of goods and lack of jobs.About 122 FedUp members, clad in yellow, gathered in front to the statue of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino at Araneta Street in Bacolod City on Saturday, February 25, to lay flowers and remember the people power revolution.They also called for freedom from the continued killings, fighting, theft, scams and lies the plague the nation, Joy Jarabelo, FedUp head, said.They are glad that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has acknowledged the EDSA People Power, which led to the ouster of his father, then president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Ja...

Bayan Muna Partylist chairman Neri Colmenares speaks at a rally to mark the 37th anniversary of EDSA People Power in front of the Fountain of Justice at Araneta Street in Bacolod.*Bayan Muna photoBayan Muna Partylist chairman Neri Colmenares on Saturday, February 25, said “EDSA is not a place, but our victory as Filipino people united against corruption, poverty dictatorship, and abuse of our human rights”.Colmenares, who spoke at a rally in front of the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod to mark the 37th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos Sr., called on the Filipino people to continue the struggle to prevent a repeat of the abuses of the past.He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s offer of reconciliation “should not be just for show and ...

MORE Electric and Power Corporation and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) have submitted an unsolicited proposal for a joint venture undertaking with Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Arnel Lapore, CENECO acting general manager, said Sunday, February 26.CENECO sent the proposal to the National Electrification Administration for comment and guidance last week, he said.The proposal is to help CENECO with its financials and operations, he said.Lapore said personally he believes a joint venture will be good for CENECO because “we have a growing demand for power services.”“Bacolod is a highly urbanized city and its growth is so fast and demanding, it is high time for CENECO to be responsive to the demands of the times technology wise, in personnel capability and infrastructure,” ...

The scene of the crime in Silay City.*The brother of a contractor is wanted for the alleged mauling of two seasonal sugar farm workers and the illegal discharge of a firearm at Hda. Bagacay Quartel, Brgy. Bagtic, Silay City, Negros Occidental, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, February 25, the police said Sunday.The suspect is alias Kabing Samsona, the brother of the contractor of the seasonal sugar farm workers, the police report said.The victims were identified as Rodolfo, 36, and Jerry, 42, both surnamed Nesito of Lawaan, Antique, and presently residing at Hda. Bagacay Quartel.The victims were on a drinking spree and were called by their contractor, Victor Samsona, to help load sugarcane on a truck, the police report said.A heated argument ensued between the victims and the contra...

The newly elected officers Nea Cecile Quiachon, Juliana Ballesteros-Carbon, Keith Balbin, Gerry Llena, Arleen Medina, Lian Dominic Gumban and Gabriel Sinco (l-r).*Lawyer Gerry Llena was elected president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines -Negros Occidental Chapter at polls held at the Bacolod Hall of Justice lobby on Saturday, February 25.Elected vice president was Ramon Antonio Pandan, secretary – retired judge Gorgonio Ybañez, treasurer- Juliana Ballesteros – Carbon, auditor - Woodrow Guanzon, and public relations officer - Nea Cecile Quiachon.Members of the Board of Directors are Keith Balbin, Arleen Medina, Kevin Ramos, Gabriel Sinco and Lian Dominic Gumban.The newly elected officers will begin their 2-year terms starting April 1, 2023, Carbon said.The cu...

The mayor of Ayungon, Negros Oriental, is facing a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide after his vehicle accidentally hit a senior citizen crossing the highway in his town at 10 p.m. Friday, February 24, a police report said.Mayor Dennis Amancio, 57, was driving a Nissan Navara that hit Manuel Garson Palallos, 67, at the highway in Barangay Awaan, Ayungon, a police report said.The police received a phone call from the mayor that he was involved in a traffic accident.Initial police investigation showed that the mayor was traveling from Tayasan, Negros Oriental, going to Brgy. Tampocon I, Ayungon, when the victim suddenly crossed the road and was accidentally hit.The victim was rushed to the Bindoy District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The...

Expect fuel prices to go down starting Tuesday, February 28, until March 6, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said on Saturday.Diesel prices should go down by P1.20 to P1.40 per liter, and gasoline by P0.70 to P0.90 per liter.The Department of Energy (DOE) last week reported that prices since the start of the year had logged a net increase of P6 per liter for gasoline and overall decreases of P1.10 per liter for diesel and P0.50 per liter for kerosene.*

The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) management announced on Sunday, February 26, that its Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology will be limiting its hospital admissions to "extreme emergency cases only" effective immediately.The dedicated areas for orthopedic patients are at full capacity, the CLMMRH advisory said.“For the meantime, the potential patients are advised to seek other healthcare facilities for medical intervention. The medical professionals are currently doing their best to assess patients who can be discharged as stable,” it added.The hospital will strictly enforce the Patient Transfer Coordination Protocol. All patient transfers must be coordinated through the Hospital Operations Center through these hotlines 0917-1007093 or 70...

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the launching of the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) at Cauayan District Hospital, Friday, February 24.With its official launching, all NOCHP cardholders, particularly in the Sixth District of the province, may now avail of free medical and health services at the hospital, a press release from the Capitol said Saturday.Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara led the ceremonial acceptance of the program, together with Hospital Chief Dr. Maricel Dida, NOCHP Head Andrea Marie Boheron, and other local officials.NOCHP is a health insurance for indigents, spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, in collaboration with the 31 component cities and municipalities of the province, six Congressional Districts, PhilHe...