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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Wednesday, September 13, called on voters to choose candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections who stand for good governance.They should vote for barangay officials who will take care of the resources the barangay, he said.The Bacolod City government will launch a Good Governance Code for candidates to sign and to serve as a guide for voters, Benitez said.Meanwhile, the 55 election areas of concern in Negros Occidental identified by the Army and police are subject to validation by the Regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (RJPSCC), Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Wednesday.RJPSCC will officially declare the election areas of concern on September 21, he said.*

A man who was hogtied and stabbed to death was found in a grassy area at Palanca Street near the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, Wednesday afternoon, September 13.Capt. Paul Vincent Pendon, Bacolod Police Station 2 commander, said initial findings show that the victim sustained multiple stab wounds and was “salvaged”.The victim had no tattoo, was about 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 25 to 35 years old, slim, and with fair complexion, he said.The victim was believed to have been left in the area since the street was dark and empty, he said.The victim was found at about 1:25 p.m. Wednesday and had been dead for more than 12 hours, police investigation showed.The police are still determining the identification of the victim and the culrpits.*

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said as of now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to join the highlight of the MassKara Festival in October.The visit is on the president’s calendar unless an emergency that he has to attend to crops up, Benitez said Wednesday, September 13.Meanwhile, Benitez said the 10 contingents joining the upcoming MassKara street and arena dance competition will receive assistance of P750,000 each.He said the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the allocation of P700,000 each and the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation will cover the additional P50,000.The 10 joining street and arena dance competition are barangays Granada, Sum-ag, Tangub, 34, Vista Alegre, Mansilingan, Handumanan, Cabug, 21 and 40.The SP also approved the granting of P300,...

All of the 48 jail personnel at the Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) tested negative for the use of illegal drugs in surprise tests conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Occidental in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, on Monday, September 11.The PDEA-Neg.Occ. conducted surprise tests on 37 male and 11 female jail personnel, the PDEA Region 6 reported.Chief Insp. Ian Karl Niaga, District Jail Warden of the MBDJ, said that the program is part of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s “Buhay Ingatan Droga’y Ayawan” or BIDA.The program is an initiative to ensure a drug-clear facility and reduce the drug demand in communities, he said.*

PACE chairman Ruben Diamante and director Chito Magalona (l-r) announce the SP approval of the CNA.*The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees on Tuesday, September 12, PACE chairman Ruben Diamante said Wednesday.This means the 2,270 regular and casual employees of the provincial government will receive annual collective negotiation incentives of P25,000 each every December from 2024 to 2026, he said.The CNA also grants special leave privileges such as filial leaves, Diamante said.Diamante said the SP gave Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson the authority to sign the renewal of the CNA with the PACE.The signing will take place when the governor is available, Diamante said.*

The rice distribution in Bacolod City.*Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday that the distribution of free rice to Bacolod residents who have not received their shares yet will resume on Saturday, September 16.The city government distributed rice assistance to 252, 633 Bacolod residents last weekend out of its 350,000 target, he said.Hopefully they can reach 80 percent of the target by Saturday, he said.The recipients receive 2 kilos each as part of the city’s assistance after Typhoon Goring hit Bacolod that was placed under a state of calamity on August 30.The mayor noted that the distribution of rice was low in areas where large subdivisions are located.The remaining unclaimed rice after Saturday will be become part of the city’s stockpile for emergency...

The National Electrification Administration’s confirmation of the results of the plebiscite on the joint venture agreement between Central Negros Electric Cooperative and Primelectric Holdings Inc. ends the process of appeal, CENECO general manager Arnel Lapore said Wednesday, September 13.“The National Electrification Administration (NEA) confirms the final result of the plebiscite as determined, proclaimed, and submitted to it by CENECO, with 98,591 votes for the approval of the JVA, and 6,899 votes against the same,” NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Alameda said in a memorandum on Tuesday, September 12.Lapore said NEA’s confirmation “ends the process of appeal or protest” of those who intend to question the results of the plebiscite.Almeda, in his memorandum, also directed ...

Thirty-seven Bacolod and Negros Occidental retailers received P15,000 each in government subsidy on Wednesday, September 13 to help them cope with the impact of the price cap on regular and well-milled rice.Retailers with licenses issued by the Business Permits and Licensing Office and are selling regular milled and well-milled rice within the price ceiling are entitled to receive the subsidy, Reginald Hudierez, Consumer Protection Unit head of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental, said.Under EO No. 39 which took effect September 5, the price cap for regular milled rice is P41 per kilo, and P45 per kilo for well milled rice.The DTI identifies the qualified beneficiaries for the one time payout to the retailers and the funds come from the Sustainable L...

The coastal cleanup drive in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City.*Bacolod City and other local government units in Negros Occidental marked President Ferdinand Marcos’ 66th birthday with coastal cleanups and feeding drives on Wednesday, September 13.More than 1,000 volunteers joined a coastal cleanup in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, to remove four truckloads or about 20,000 tons of waste.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the coastal cleanup was conducted in line with the president’s wish for community service.The Bacolod City government also conducted a dental mission to mark the president’s birthday, Benitez said.Another coastal cleanup will also be held in Barangay Singcang in Bacolod on Saturday, September 16.The coastal cleanups will be ongoing, Benitez sai...

The Provincial Health Office reported 27 deaths from leptospirosis, cholera and dengue in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, September 12.There have been 14 deaths and 111 suspected cases of leptospirosis in 28 Negros Occidental local government units from January 1 to September 2, the PHO reported.Murcia had the most number of leptospirosis deaths at 5.The top ten areas with the most number of leptospirosis cases are Talisay City, Murcia, Kabankalan City, Silay City, Himamaylan City, Sipalay City, Sagay City, Salvador Benedicto, Victorias City and Cadiz City, the PHO reported.The PHO also reported seven cholera deaths in Negros Occidental from January 1 to September 2.It also reported 65 suspected cholera cases and 15 confirmed cases in 18 local government units of the prov...