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Two missing children from Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City, were found in Kabankalan City, Wednesday, May 10.Mervelyn C. Niñal on Tuesday asked DIGICAST NEGROS to air her appeal for help after her sons aged 10 and 13 years old had not returned home since Sunday.Niñal said she then received a call on Wednesday morning that her sons were in the care of the Kabankalan City social welfare office so she went to pick them up.Her 13-year-old son said they left home to accompany a friend who wanted to return to his mother in Kabankalan City.They initially gathered scraps to earn money for food while they lived on the streets in Bacolod, he said.They then told the police that they were from Kabankalan and needed help to get home so they were turned over to the social welfare of...

The inflation rate for all income households in Negros Occidental declined further to 8.8 percent in April from 10.8 percent in March, the summary report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Bacolod City showed.In February, the province’s inflation rate was at 12.4 percent while in January, 12.2 percent.Meanwhile, Bacolod City remained at the previous month’s inflation rate of 8.7 percent.“In Negros Occidental, the decrease in inflation rate for the month of April was due to the slight annual decrease in some of the commodities,” PSA-Negros Occidental said in its May 8 report approved for release on Wednesday by Luis Gonzales, chief statistical specialist.These include food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, housing, water, electricity,...

Timor-Leste has denied the request of suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District) for political asylum, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Tuesday night, May 9.Timor-Leste has given Teves five days to leave their country.“Today, the Ministry of Interior of Timor-Leste confirmed that Representative Teves' application for political asylum has been denied,” it said.“In accordance with the decision of the Timor-Leste Government, Representative Teves has been granted a period of five days to depart Timor-Leste. During this time, he also has the option to file an appeal regarding the decision,” it added.The DFA confirmed that Teves is currently in Dili, Timor-Leste, where he submitted his application for political asylum.The solon, who is implicate...

Personnel of Bacolod City Police Office Station 10 conduct mobile patrol along the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Economic Highway in Barangay Cabug on Tuesday morning*All stations of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) are conducting round-the-clock mobile and foot patrol operations as part of the intensified security measures and anti-criminality campaign in the city.Col. Noel Aliño, acting city director, said on Tuesday, May 9, that he ordered the commanders of the 10 police stations and other units to increase visibility and set up standby points in their areas of jurisdiction.“This pertains to the program of Mayor (Alfredo Abelardo) Benitez for a safe and secure Bacolod City,” he added.Aliño said the command directive of Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, regional director of Poli...

A man was injured when a fire of unknown origin broke out at a residential compound in Barangay Bantayan in Dumaguete City on Tuesday.*A man was hurt in a fire of still unknown origin that destroyed residential homes and a warehouse in Barangay Bantayan in Dumaguete City on Tuesday, May 9.An initial report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said they received a callout at around 12:35 p.m. regarding the fire.City fire marshal, Chief Insp. Marlon Chomling, said the blaze spread so fast and was difficult to contain due to the presence of highly flammable materials such as paint and thinner.“We had to call in help from the other fire stations and private volunteer groups and used foam to douse the fire as it would only get bigger with water,” he said.Initially, at le...

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez *The Third District of Negros Occidental takes the lead in the celebration of the National Heritage Month this May as it hosts the Youth Forum on Heritage 2023 at Magikland in Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City, May 16 to 18.Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) together with the local governments of Victorias, Silay, Talisay, E.B. Magalona and Murcia, with the special participation of Bacolod City, welcome the partnership with the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.The National Heritage Month has been observed annually since 2003, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 439 and this year’s celebration carries the theme “Heritage: Change and Continuity”.The three-day forum wit...

Five truckloads of garbage were removed form from the Mambuloc Creek in Barangay 2, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, May 10.*Bacolod PIO photoThe massive cleanup of the Mambuloc Creek in Barangay 2, Bacolod City, to prevent flooding began Wednesday, May 10, Councilor Pau Sy said.They removed five truckloads of garbage from the Mambuloc Creek on day one, she said. The area to be cleared of garbage is about 30 meters in length and 12 meters in width, Sy said.She said they cannot say when the cleanup will be completed but are hoping it will be as soon as possible.Notices to vacate are being issued to 32 families living in the Mambuloc Creek danger zone, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said.The notices will be served Thursday, and recipients will be given 30 days to c...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has dismissed the former acting treasurer of Isabela, Negros Occidental, from the service for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and malversation of public funds amounting to P6.4 million.Nenette M. Escarda, cashier I of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office, barred from civil service examinations and her retirement benefits were forfeited in the decision dated Monday, May 8, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Tuesday.She was charged for the unauthorized removal of P2,600,000 in cash and P3,800,000 in checks totaling P6.4 million from the Municipal Treasurer’s Office of Isabela in January, which she claimed was then stolen from her house.The Commission on Audit also reported the f...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, MORE Power president Roel Z. Castro, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, and Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko (l-r) at the Negros Residences Tuesday.*Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer are supporting the proposed joint venture between Central Negros Electric Cooperative and MORE Power.MORE Power president and chief executive officer Roel Z. Castro explained the benefits of the joint venture to the provincial government officials at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City on Tuesday, May 9.Lacson said he is for the joint venture because based on MORE Power’s experience in Iloilo they will know how to bring down the frequency of power interruptions and reduce systems loss that will redound to the advantag...

The signing of the MOA at the Capitol*Richard Malihan photoThe signing of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Province-wide Health Systems memorandum of agreement is a historic moment for Negros Occidental’s health sector, Dr. Adriano Suba-an, DOH 6 regional director, said.Suba-an, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and the mayors of Negros Occidental signed the MOA at rites held at the Social Hall of the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City Tuesday afternoon, May 9.“It is a historical moment for Negros Occidental’s health sector because the local chief executives are giving their commitment to be part of the province wide health system we are establishing to be led by the provincial governor,” Suba-an said.It is a milestone not just for Negros Occidental, but for Western Visayas, he said....