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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson signed a declaration to support measures to eradicate tuberculosis in the province on Thursday, October 12.The declaration was signed during the “Yes! We Can End TB!” forum organized by the Philippine Alliance to Stop TB (PASTB) – Visayas Coalition and Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP)- Iloilo.Benitez pledged to end TB within the community while working with various stakeholders.“We stand in solidarity with the PASTB-Visayas Coalition in heeding the call to strengthen community engagement by empowering and involving public and private organizations in our local medical responses – bridging the gaps in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment,” he said.The forum provided an...

Loreta Villarin Alacre*There was still no word on the whereabouts of the Negrense caregiver working in Tel Aviv, Israel, who disappeared while attending a music festival near the Gaza Strip that was attacked by Hamas militants on Saturday.Loreta Villarin Alacre, 49, of Sitio Camay-an, Brgy Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City, was still missing, her sister Annabella Alacre said on Thursday, October 12.She said they were still awaiting for word from the Department of Migrant Workers.They also sought the help Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to hasten the search for her sister, Annabella said,“We are hoping she is still alive”, she said.“We’re all looking for her. We’re all trying to contact her directly”, Lacson said.Loreta’s boyfriend who was injured was found alive is an...

Rep. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez*Rep. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said on Wednesday, October 11, that he expects the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) franchise to be approved by Congress in the first quarter of next year.Benitez said that House Bill 9310, a bill that seeks to give the NEPC franchise, will be taken up in the House of Representatives when it resumes its sessions on November 6.This franchise bill came after the joint venture agreement between Central Negros Electric Cooperative and Primelectric Holdings Inc. was approved through a plebiscite.The bill was authored by Benitez with Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) and Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod Partylist).Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya ha...

The participants at the stakeholders consultation*The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) is initiating measures to help boost productivity and profitability in the sugarcane industry, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, its executive director, said Tuesday, October 10.The DOST-PCAARRD and the Philippine Sugar Research Institute (PHILSURIN) held a stakeholders consultation at Nature’s Village in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, where they discussed holistic and scientific approaches to addressing the concerns of the country’s sugarcane industry, Ebora said.“We are looking at developing technologies to address those concerns and at the same time looking at policies that can be amended,...

A huge crowd gathered to buy rice at P25 a kilo.*CPG photoA huge crowd gathered to buy rice at P25 a kilo at the Food Terminal Market of Occidental Negros (FTMON) at the North Capitol Road in Bacolod City on Thursday, October 12.The Bigasan ng Bayan was open to everyone, but prioritized senior citizens and Persons With Disabilities, who were allowed to buy 5 kilos of rice each.The Negros Occidental provincial government partnered with the Federation of Irrigators Association of Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS) for the program.Lacson said he was surprised that the FIACN-BRIS voluntarily offered to sell their rice at P25 per kilo to share and give back to the community.“When I received the letter of this irrigators’ group I was pleasantly surprised...

NVC President Millie Kilayko and Executive Director Inah Uytiepo (second and first from right) receiving the award from Nastassja Quijano of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, Health Undersecretary Beverly Ho, Dr. Eddie Dorotan of the Citizenship Awards Selection Committee, and Senen Sarmiento, Galing Pook Foundation chairperson (l-r).*The Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation was one of five 2023 Galing Pook Citizenship Awards winners at rites held at the One Esplanade in Pasay City on Thursday, October 12.Mel Senen Sarmiento, Galing Pook Foundation chairperson, handed the NVC’s trophy to its president Millie Kilayko.There were 40 nominees from around the country and the number was narrowed down to 10 finalists.Aside from NVC the four other winners wer...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his message to the people of Bacolod, said the MassKara Festival, otherwise known as the “festival of many faces”, has stood as a testament to the tenacity, optimism, and faith of Bacolodnons despite the burden of their adversities.“As you celebrate this significant occasion, I am one with the Filipino people in commending your profound determination to conserve your shared identity and present what Bacolod City has to offer, from its vibrant culinary scene to its flourishing artistic landscape,” he said.“As you embark on the path of progress, may you continue to nurture creativity and compassion by sharing your talents and skills to all sectors of society,” he added.May Bacolod bring smiles not only to the citizens of Negros Occidental, but al...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared October 30, a Monday, a special non-working day to allow Filipinos to cast their votes in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections.“It is imperative that the people be given the full opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their right of suffrage,” according to his proclamation, which was made public on Wednesday, October 11.Comelec welcomed the declaration saying it would help achieve its goal of a 75 percent voter turnout."We actually hoped that October 31 will also be included (in the proclamation). Whenever the non-working days are long, the people will go home to their provinces and make sure they'll be able to cast their votes," Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said.He added that th...

Contestant No. 10 Elli Rose Elola*MBM photoA mental health advocate who aspires to inspire courage and bravery amid challenges takes the stage as she vies for the Miss Bacolod MassKara (MBM) crown this year.Elli Rose Elola, 23, a Psychology graduate from the University of the Philippines-Visayas, brings her advocacy on mental health as she starts her MBM pageant journey.“I realized that it is important to embody courage and bravery because it is also an opportunity for others to learn from my experiences,” she said when asked about the struggles she underwent in the past and the lessons she learned from them.Her biggest struggle was during the COVID-19 pandemic when she juggled working, being a student, and joining pageants, Elola said.Her mother also died of cancer dur...

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson*Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson submitted the P5,434,644,700 proposed 2024 Negros Occidental annual budget to the Sangguniang Palalawigan through Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer for approval on Tuesday, October 10.The proposed 2024 General Fund Annual Budget is 5.66 percent higher compared to the P5.14 billion this year, Lacson said.The governor, in his budget message to the SP, said “things are looking up for the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors, and businesses are picking up. These are great indicators that our efforts and hard work are paying off”.“The destructive impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods, health and food system has steadily decreased over the past years,” he added.The increase in the National Tax Allotment shar...