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The Negros Occidental Hospital Operations Department (HOD) management said on Friday, February 24, that all decisions arrived at on the operations of provincial government hospitals are “data driven and is never political because health has no political color”.The HOD statement was issued in response to a Facebook post circulating, which alleges that after politics reared its ugly head the Level 1 status plan for the Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital (MJMDH) in Sipalay City has been dismissed and it will continue as a 75-room infirmary.“Even pre-pandemic, the very low census was already a problem for the hospital. Several schemes, including several changes in management, were implemented just to boost admission but residents still preferred the City Infirmary,” the HOD state...

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares is from Negros Occidental*Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said on Friday, February 24, that he has serious concerns about the impact of the construction of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island bridges on the environment and on the country’s debts.The construction of the P189.53 billion PGN bridges will start in 2025 once the Detailed Engineering Design is completed on schedule and approved for funding and implementation, the National Economic and Development Authority in Western Visayas announced on Thursday.Colmenares said the plan does not fully consider the impact of the project on marine mammals as well as the environment.“We call on relevant agencies to insist on first studying this very important aspect in their plans. W...

The Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) cases in San Carlos City, the majority of which were amoebiasis positive, reached 205 on Friday, February 24.The active admitted cases at the San Carlos City Hospital were 61, hospital spokesperson Charlen Pol Anlap said.On Wednesday a 3-year-old child suffering from severe dehydration was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. It was not determined if the child was positive for amoebiasis, or had been hit by some other bacteria, she said.The child came from Barangay Buluangan that has had the highest number of cases at 31, she said.The San Carlos City Hospital admitted 119 amoeba positive cases and 86 AGE cases from February 1 to 24, she said.Anlap said they also had patients who are Bureau of Jail Management and Penology inmates suff...

The scene of the shooting incident.*PNP photoA Criminal Investigation and Detection Group policeman and two suspected gunrunners were injured in a shooting incident in Bacolod City at 11:05 a.m. Friday, February 24.Injured were PCpl Rey Sivestre of the CIDG Bacolod, and the suspects Michael Carion Bintoroso, 44, of Brgy. Codcod, San Carlos City, and Alex Bajita Villegas, 33, of Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod, a Police Station 6 report said.CIDG-Bacolod operatives conducted a gun buy bust operation in front of Socorro Subdivision Phase 2 at the Circumferential Road in Brgy. Taculing, the report said.Sivestre, who acted as a gun buyer, and the suspects met inside a Mitsubishi Montero owned by the CIDG.When the suspects sensed that the buyer was a policeman they grappled with a ...

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said on Friday, February 24, that red tagging will never stop his commitment to peace and justice.“I cannot be silent amid violence and injustices,” Alminaza, who is the Pilgrims for Peace convenor, said in a statement.He said he was the subject of red-tagging by the SMNI's television program “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” during its February 22 segment where its hosts called his advocacy “diabolical and demonic”.SMNI is the media outfit of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy,“As this TV program continues to malign and even invoke vicious threats against the work of church-people, bishops and pastors, dedicated activists, and ordinary persons we should never be afraid, but rather be brave in speaking for the truth on behalf of the victims of injustice”, Almi...

Firefighters at Punta Magsungay, Purok 6, Brgy. Singcang, Bacolod City, Thursday night.* Rosinie Distrito photoFire destroyed two houses and damaged three others at Punta Magsungay, Purok 6, Brgy. Singcang, Bacolod City, Thursday night, City Social Welfare Officer Sally Abelarde said Friday, February 24.She said the fire affected five families with about 20 members who have been assisted by the city government and provided food packs.The fire victims are staying at homes of relatives and friends, she said.The fire started from an unattended candle at the house of Dennis Louie Herrera, Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bacolod chief, said.The BFP had initially reported one house destroyed and three damaged.The owners of the damaged houses...

A farmer was killed following an argument with his alleged drinking buddies at Sitio Manlawaan, Brgy. Bulwangan, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 22.Killed was Cerilo Adlaon Tarino, 51, of Brgy. Bulwangan, the police reported Friday.The suspects are Eddie Garbellion, Nelson Garbellion and Jommel Delo Santos of Sitio Bulocbuloc, Barangay Asia in Hinoba-an.The victim and the suspects were having a drinking session when a heated argument ensued between them, his brother told the police.Delos Santos struck the victim on the head using a beer bottle causing him to fall to the ground and Garbellion stabbed him with a knife on the shoulder that resulted to his death, the police were told.The suspects fled and have yet to be arrested.Murder charge...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson got a first peek of the highly-anticipated internet service provided by Starlink, a satellite-based internet service provider by SpaceX, early this week.A day before Starlink went live in the Philippines, the low-earth orbit satellite internet technology was presented by Mark Garvey Candella, Chief Strategy Officer of AcadArena, to Lacson at the Capitol in Bacolod City.Candella was in the province for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the provincial government through the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) to promote Esports Education.AcadArena is a leading organization for Campus Gaming and Esports Education in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, a press release from NOLI...

Skittles after he was shot.*The Community Animal Rescue Efforts (CARE) and the owner of a Siberian Husky named Skittles who was shot by a neighbor are calling for justice for his death.Eduardo Libo-on, 66, has filed a complaint at Police Station 8 against his neighbor Dominador Bangero for allegedly shooting Skittles in violation of the Animal Cruelty Act at Greenplains Subdivision in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, at 4 p.m. Monday, February 20.Skittles died Wednesday night due to punctured lungs.A barangay hearing of the case is set Tuesday, Libo-on, who is a purok president, said Thursday.Libo-on, in the police blotter report, said Bangero armed with a .45 caliber pistol shot the dog when it went out on the street.Bangero, in an interview on Radyo Bander...

Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) *The House Committee on Agriculture plans to visit Negros Occidental to look into the concerns of the sugar industry, including sugar smuggling, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said on Thursday, February 23.However, the committee, which is headed by Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga (Quezon, 1st District), has not set a date for the visit, she said.Leaders of the sugar industry in a joint statement on Wednesday, February 22, called on the House of Representatives and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to conduct full-blown investigations into the blatant “smuggling” of sugar into the country.Alvarez said she would support an investigation into sugar smuggling if it is the sentiment of the sugar planters.The represen...