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Feb222023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

House appropriations panel approves funding for NIR

Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) and Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District)*The House Committee on Appropriations approved the funding provisions for the proposed Negros Island Region (NIR) on Wednesday, February 22, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said.“This is a momentous step in the right direction as the bill moves further in the legislative mill, a step closer to realizing our dream of creating a Negros Island Region,” he said.Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said with the Appropriations Committee’s approval, an initial appropriation will be taken from the Department of the Interior and Local Government budget in order to create a technical working group that will formulate the roadmap of the NIR.The proposed new...

Feb222023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod Sanggunian passes ‘Bawal Bastos’ ordinance

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Bacolod Councilor Celia Flor.*SP photoA week before the observance of National Women’s Month, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod passed on third and final reading an ordinance localizing Republic Act No. 11313 and providing additional definitions of gender based sexual harassment, protective measures, and penalties on Wednesday, February 22, Councilor Celia Flor said.The ordinance was initially sponsored by Flor, chairperson on Committee on Women, Gender, Family and Child Care, together with all women councilors as a symbolic gesture for women empowerment and gender equality.On the second reading, the rest of the council members manifested their support and called to pass the ordinance unanimously, strengthening the call for a safer Bacolod against all kinds of sexual harassme...

Feb222023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Albee signs MOU with Chinese firm set to make e-vehicles in Bacolod

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Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, February 21, with a Chinese firm that plans to put up a plant in Bacolod City that will manufacture public utility vehicles that run on electricity.The Sangguniang Panlungsod in a special session Tuesday granted the mayor authority to sign the MOU, which he will then submit to the SP for ratification, Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said Wednesday.Jiangsu Fengchuen New Energy Power Technology Co. chairman Longde Li signed the MOU in behalf of his firm.The MOU states that both parties will support the establishment of an e-jeepney assembly plant and modern industrial park in Bacolod City to boost local economic growth.The aim is to make Bacolod the first example of a green public tra...

Feb222023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Lacson favors two 4-year terms for elected local gov’t officials

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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, February 22, that he favors two successive four-year terms for elected local government officials should the move to amend the Constitution push through.Local officials are currently allowed three successive three-year terms.Three years are too short, four years will allow elected officials more solid years to deliver services to their constituents, he said.The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments approved a resolution of both houses of Congress on Monday calling for a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).It proposes that the election of delegates from each legislative district to the Con-Con be set in October 2023, simultaneously with the rescheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.The cal...

Feb222023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Sagay, Cadiz artists win visual art painting grants

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The entries from the cities of Sagay and Cadiz won the Visual Arts Scholarship Grants of the Negros Occidental provincial government and were given the Linangan Art Residency Program Scholarship.The Visual Arts Exhibition that was open to all LGUs in Negros Occidental was launched at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City Wednesday afternoon, February 22.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, and Board Members Rita Gatuslao and Araceli Somosa led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the art exhibit. Also present was Board Member Pal Guanzon.The activity is themed, “Abanse Negrense: Reimagining Our Future”.It is an initiative of the Negros Occidental provincial government through Gatuslao, to give young Negrense artists the creative space to engage in...

Feb222023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Sine Margaha is back with 8 films in competition

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In its goal to become one of the film hubs in the region, Sagay City’s Margaha Film Festival, or “Sine Margaha”, is back on its 4th year, with eight short films in competition that will be screened at Margaha Beach, Brgy. Old Sagay on Friday, February 24.The festival, which started in 2020, will feature eight new short films created by Sagaynon filmmakers which will highlight the tangible and intangible cultural heritage mapped in the city, a press release from Sagay City said Wednesday, February 22.A film still from “Pandayunon” directed by Mery Grace Mission*In the past years, films from Sine Margaha have competed and exhibited at various film festivals and events, including Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, Gawad Alternatibo, Cinema Rehiyon, Sine Negrense, amo...

Feb222023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

SP approves ordinance creating Bacolod music fest

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Bacolod Councilor Em Ang.*SP photoThe Sangguniang Panlungsod approved an ordinance establishing the Bacolod Music Festival on third and final reading Wednesday, February 22.Councilor Em Ang, who authored the ordinance, said Bacolod City has produced many homegrown talents in the music industry who have gained national and international recognition.The Bacolod City government aims to develop and promote the talents of Bacolodnons at the grassroots level by giving them a venue and platform to showcase their unique and ingenious music talent and skills, she said.“The Bacolod City government shall enhance this talent, provide mechanisms to enrich music and arts and strengthen this culture of Bacolodnons by creating programs that will engage the younger generation with our rich ...

Feb222023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Motorcycle hits parked truck, driver sustains fatal head injury

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The motorcycle that hit the parked truck*PNP photoA 39-year-old man died when his motorcycle accidentally bumped a parked truck with no early warning device at Purok Kamansi, Circumferential Road in Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, at 10:10 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, the police said.Killed was Ruben Canayan of Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City,Canayan was driving his Suzuki Raider 150 when it bumped the rear of a Mitsubishi trailer truck that was parked beside the road with no early warning device which resulted to a fatal injury to his head, the police reported Wednesday.The truck driver was identified as Noel Maquiñana, 62, of Brgy. Manta-angan, E. B. Magalona.*

Feb222023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Calatrava man killed

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The scene of the crime in Calatrava.*PNP photoA Calatrava resident was shot to death while he was eating supper in his house at Barangay Minaotok in Calatarava, Negros Occidental, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 20.Killed was 40-year-old Arnie Melitante Casipong, alias “Toloy”.The victim was eating inside his house when unidentified armed suspects entered and shot him twice on the head causing his instantaneous death, the police reported Wednesday.Recovered from the crime scene were a fired cartridge case of an alleged .45 caliber pistol, one deformed slug and a fired cartridge case of an M-16 riffle.*

Feb222023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod going cashless for markets, transportation

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Bacolod City is adopting QR PH Digital Payments for all business establishments and local transportation in line with the Paleng-QR PH Program as stipulated in City Ordinance No. 1019.The Department of the Interior and Local Government and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 Series of 2022 on the Paleng-QR, which established guidelines enjoining Local Government Units’ (LGUs) participation in the Paleng-QR Ph Program on June 22, 2022.The BSP informed the Bacolod government that the city has been included in their priority list to launch the program in the middle of February this year.Transitioning to the digitalization of payments proves to be effective in facilitating the continuation of business and government transactions amid mobility ...