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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, October 2, that he has no problem with the scrutiny of the confidential funds of local government units.“If they need to look into confidential funds of all local government units so be it,” he said.The Negros Occidental provincial government has allocated P8 million for confidential funds for the whole year, Lacson said.There is also an allowable amount for LGU confidential funds, he said.“For as long as we're within that limit I see no problem with it,” Lacson said, adding that no additional funds have been sought.Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri was earlier quoted as saying that any legislative proposal to clip the authority of national state agencies to use confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) shoul...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he has never stopped using a face mask since the COVID-19 pandemic.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, October 2, that requiring the wearing of face masks amid an increase in flu-like symptoms among students is left to the discretion of school officials.“It’s at the discretion of schools because it will be the problem of the schools if it really spreads among students,” he said.Lacson pointed out that face masks will not only protect one from COVID-19 but from other viruses.“There seems to be a virus happening now, not only here but also in Manila, where some of the schools actually went back to online schooling,” Lacson said.The governor said he has never stopped using a face mask since the pandemic.In the past ...

*File photoMore than 2,000 policemen will be fielded for the MassKara Festival this October, PCol. Noel Aliño, Bacolod police director, said Sunday, October 1.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife, Liza, are expected to attend the highlight of the festival, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said earlier.Aliño said the Bacolod police went on full blast security operations for the festival starting Sunday.He has requested the police regional office for 1,000 additional policemen to augment the about 1,000 Bacolod police force during the festival, Aliño said.The 1,000 additional policemen have not arrived yet but the send-off of troops for the festival will be on October 5 in time for its official opening on October 6, he said.On top of security for the fe...

Col. Noel Aliño, Bacolod police director, during a press conference on Sunday, October 1.Four Bacolod City policemen and a non-uniformed personnel have been relieved from their assignments pending an investigation into their alleged link to an illegal police recruitment scam, which involved mostly residents of La Castellana town in Negros Occidental.They were relieved and they turned in their firearms but it is not an indication that they are guilty, no case has been filed against them yet, Col. Noel Aliño, Bacolod police director, said Sunday, October 1.Charges for large scale estafa were filed against La Castellana Councilor Donato Domaguit and Mary June Abao Delos Santos before the Negros Occidental Prosecutor’s Office on September 20 for their involvement in the allege...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez with the 15 Miss Bacolod MassKara bets during their press presentation at the Atrium of SM City Bacolod Sunday.*Mate Espina photoA hardware cashier, pageant repeater, athlete, and a woman living in one of Bacolod City’s resettlement areas are among the 15 candidates vying for the crown in this year’s Miss Bacolod MassKara (MBM) who were presented to the press at SM City Bacolod on Sunday, October 1.The 15 candidates were officially sashed and answered questions from the media and Bacolod Yuhum Foundation, the festival organizer.The 15 candidates are Georgette Ysabelle Millan, Therese Pira-an, Tracy Mae Sunio, Marianel Tan, Geralyn Joy Basto, Allona Nejar, Jada Biaxyl Celeste, Janine Cabrillos, Cailah Jhane Delarma, Elli Rose Elola, Rose Mariel San...

The Nissan Terra that turned upside down at the corner of North Capitol Road and Gatuslao Street on Sunday* Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade photoFive persons sustained minor injuries in an accident that caused a white Nissan Terra to turn upside down at the corner of North Capitol Road and Gatuslao Street in Brgy. 8, Bacolod City, 9:13 a.m. Sunday, October 1, the police reported.The Nissan Terra driven by Geona Jumawan Gutierrez, 34. and a public utility jeepney (PUJ) driven by Fernando Gino Allera, 48, figured in the accident at the intersection, PCapt. Glenn Montaño, Police Station 2 OIC, said.Injured were Gutierrez of Barangay Taculing and her 6-year-old son, Allera – the driver of the Bata-Libertad PUJ, and his passenger Ma. Merly Babylon, 23, and Joel Barangan, 53, the ...

Senator Loren Legarda (3rd from left) at the 37th Negros Trade Fair at Glorietta 2 in Makati City with Christina Gaston, Arlene Infante and MaryAnn Féria Colmenares (l-r) of the Association of Negros Producers on Sunday, October 1.*The sales at the 37th Negros Trade Fair at Glorietta 2 in Makati City on Saturday, September 30, surpassed the total sales of its 36th edition last year, NTF vice chairperson MaryAnn Feria Colmenares said on Sunday, October 1.The total sales on Saturday was P40,633,490.80, she said.The P40.6 million figure will further increase when the sales report from the last day of the trade fair on Sunday comes in, Colmenares said.The 36th NTF last year had P33.3 million in sales and booked orders for a total of P39 million, she said.The daily s...

The 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers seized firearms and ammunition in two encounters with remnants of New People’s Army Central Negros 2 at Sitio Bulasot, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, October 1.The first engagement occurred at 8:15 a.m. when the 94IB soldiers received reports from the villagers of the presence of armed NPA rebels conducting extortion and harassment activities in the area, Capt. Eduardo Rarugal Jr., 94IB Civil Military Operations Officer, said.The 94IB swiftly mobilized its forces, which resulted in a 10-minute firefight with the NPA rebels and the recovery of one M653 5.56mm rifle, ammunition and subversive documents, he said.The 94IB soldiers pursuit operations against the withdrawing rebels resulted in a second encounte...

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-6 may release its decision on the P100 wage hike petition for Western Visayas by mid-October, Labor Regional Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr. said on Friday, September 29.Rodriquez, who chairs the RTWPB 6, told DIGICAST NEGROS they were done with the consultations in the various WV provinces and would hold a final hearing at the National Economic and Development Authority office in Iloilo City on October 5.The hearing is open to all interested parties in Western Visayas, he said.“As soon as the hearing is finished we will sit down and decide on how much will be allowed,” he said, of the wage hike.The amount of the wage increase to be granted by the RTWPB will depend on the outcome of the public hearing and the economi...