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Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya delivers a message to senior citizens who are beneficiaries of the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang rice assistance in Barangay 1 on Wednesday.*BCCO photoAn initial 23,665 senior citizens in Bacolod City have received rice assistance under the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang, a major initiative under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program.As of Thursday, a total of 236,650 kg. have been distributed, with each identified beneficiary receiving 10 kg. for the first of the four tranches of rice aid totaling 40 kg.In a statement, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the rice distribution will continue until November for senior citizens aged 65 and above who do not receive any social pension.“We thank the national government through President Bongbong Marcos for this program. W...

Himamaylan City Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. and Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival (2nd and 3rd from left, respectively) exchange tokens during the ceremonial signing of a sisterhood agreement at Shangri-La Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City on Wednesday afternoon (July 15, 2026). They were joined by Grace Sheila Avanzado (right), executive director of the Cebu Sister Cities Commission, and engineer Jovil Zayco, local government relations unit officer of Himamaylan City.*Cebu City PIO photoCebu City and Himamaylan City have forged sisterhood ties to promote cooperation in governance and development initiatives, and to share programs and best practices.The sisterhood agreement was signed by Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Himamaylan City Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. in a ceremony ...

Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr.*The Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office (PLO) will file a motion for reconsideration to a Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) ruling that set aside the 2020 dismissal of Attorney IV Ernie E. Magaspag and ordered his immediate reinstatement with full backwages. Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said  on Wednesday, July 15, that the provincial  government has 15 days to file the appeal, maintaining that their original decision to dismiss the lawyer is firmly supported by substantial evidence on record.Nellas said that filing the motion for reconsideration will effectively put Magaspag's court-ordered reinstatement on hold while the case is reviewed.The11-page CSC decision promulgated on June 17, ruled tha...

The body of a 44-year-old fisherman who was swept away by strong floodwaters in Guihulngan City was found floating at sea early Wednesday, July 15.The victim was identified as Ritchel Ignacio, a resident of Sitio Bateria, Brgy. Poblacion.Fellow fisherman Jestony Pacunla discovered the body at around 5:44 a.m. near a fish aggregating device close to the shoreline of Sitio Bateria while returning from a fishing trip.Pacunla said he searched the area because Ignacio was his friend and fellow fisherman.The victim’s sister, Judilyn Ignacio, confirmed his identity.Ignacio had been missing since Monday evening, July 13, after he was swept away by strong river currents while attempting to help secure a pump boat.Witnesses earlier said they tried to stop him because of the d...

RSSI attacking sugarcane in Negros.* SRA photoGovernor Eugenio Jose Lacson approved on Wednesday, July 15, the allocation of ₱24,968,575.56 to finance the Provincial Biosecurity Task Force’s fight against Red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) that have attacked Negros Occidental’s sugarcane fields.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the six-month funding is geared towards saving the province's l 2026 sugarcane crop.He added that the task force has already drawn up a comprehensive battle plan and will begin field operations next week.This is a race against time and the task  force will complement  the work undertaken by the Sugar Regulatory Administration, which is the lead player, Diaz said.The biosecurity initiative allocates funding for field inspec...

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrested 10 drug suspects and seized P344,760 worth of suspected shabu during operations conducted from July 6 to 12.The BCPO said 10 anti-drug operations during the week resulted in the confiscation of about 50.7 grams of suspected shabu.Police also arrested 10 wanted persons, including three most wanted persons and seven others with pending warrants.One operation against illegal gambling led to the arrest of two individuals and the confiscation of P250 in alleged bet money.Meanwhile, six loose firearms were surrendered to authorities during the reporting period.*