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Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Negros Association of Chief Executives president*Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Negros Association of Chief Executives president, said he supports the move of Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson to meet with Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo to discuss the push for the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR).Lacson, who supports the creation of the NIR, is seeking a dialog with Degamo after the holidays.Degamo has announced his opposition to the creation of the NIR.“I really support Governor Bong’s move to reach out to Governor Degamo,” Benitez said.Benitez said he is willing to go with Lacson if he invites him.The mayor said he really hopes the NIR is created because it will be big help fo...

The scene of the accident in EB Magalona*A 15-year-old Grade 10 student crossing a pedestrian lane in front of a school in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, was hit by a speeding truck and died instantaneously on Thursday, December 15.Killed was Kevin Liscano who was crossing the highway at Brgy II-Poblacion, from the E. B. Magalona National High School where he and other students had attended a Christmas party.The Prime Mover truck driven by Dante Cabatuan Sebuguero, 47, of Crossing Kamatis, Sagay City, hit the boy’s head and dragged him for about 10 meters before it stopped, Maj. Kenneth Jay Gratones, E.B. Magalona police chief, said on Friday.Closed-circuit television footage showed the boy and about 10 other students crossing the pedestrian lane when the incident occurred...

The Bacolod delegation in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur*Forty-seven athletes and coaches from Bacolod City are in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, for the Batang Pinoy 2022 National Championships that kick off Saturday, December 17.The delegation arrived in Vigan on Friday, December 16.The Bacolod athletes are participating in five events – athletics, badminton, chess, table tennis and swimming.Batang Pinoy is an annual national youth sports competition for athletes aged 15 years old and below. This year’s games will end on December 22.*

The total suspected leptospirosis deaths in Bacolod City have increased to 10, with one new fatality, as of December 10, the City Health Office reported Friday, December 16.The CHO has recorded 42 suspected leptospirosis cases in Bacolod this year, which are 68 percent higher than last year.The age range of those affected were 1 to 68 years old.Leptospirosis is caused by the entry of the leptospira bacteria through wounds when in contact with flood waters, vegetation, and moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals.The CHO reminded the public to avoid wading in water, especially during floods, and to use boots or gloves when coming in contact with possibly contaminated water.It also stressed the need for prophylaxis - doxycycline, azithromycin, amoxicill...

Cristine Mansinares was former Negros Occidental tourism officer*Negrense Cristine Mansinares has been replaced as regional director of the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas.Mansinares, former Negros Occidental tourism officer, was replaced by Chrisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez, DOT Order 2022-15 said.The order did not state the new assignment of Mansinares.Mansinares, in a statement issued Friday, December 16, said in view of the publication of the list of newly-appointed officials of the DOT, “I wish to thank everyone, who, in one way or the other supported me in my role as regional director of DOT Region VI-Western Visayas”.“I have given the instructions to the DOT Region VI staff for the composition of a Transition Committee to plan for a smooth turnover of the O...

The Social Security System Visayas (SSS) West 1 Division has collected P7.1 million in delinquent payments from 42 out of 75 employers in Negros Island and Siquijor subjected to its Run after Contributions Evaders (RACE) operations from March to November, the SSS announced.The SSS again reminded erring employers of their legal obligations under Republic Act No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018 during its RACE Campaign in Silay City and La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Monday, December 12.Three sugarcane plantation owners, a restaurant, a common carrier and a fireworks distributor received written orders from the RACE Team headed by SSS Visayas West 1 Division head Lilani B. Benedian for non-remittance of contributions and non-production of monthly collection list.“T...

Former Commissioner Aina Magpale-Asirit of the Energy Regulatory Commission was the speaker at the Consumer's Assembly.*The Department of Energy (DOE) has agreed to a plan being pushed by Mayor Alfredo Alberto “Albee” Benitez to bring down power rates in Bacolod City.The DOE has verbally okayed his proposal, he is just waiting for an official reply so measures to lower power rates can be implemented, Benitez said at a Central Negros Electric Cooperative Consumers’ Assembly at the Acacia Hotel Function Hall in Bacolod City on Thursday, December 15.“Hopefully we will be able to see a reduction of our power cost in the near future,” Benitez said.Benitez, in an interview, said he has asked the DOE to allow the local government to aggregate all the power consumers of Bacolod as ...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has ordered the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation to fast track the investigation into threats made against teachers and students of St. John’s Institute in Bacolod City.Benitez met with representatives of SJI, Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, city police director, and Renoir Baldovino, National Bureau of Investigation Bacolod chief, at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, December 15, to address the problem.“We condemn any form of violence that threatens the security and public safety of Bacolod, specifically of the children studying at SJI,” Benitez said on his Facebook page.“The NBI and PNP are already on top of this and I also ordered them to fast track the investigation,” he added.Posts on the Fa...

No Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) against the Communist rebels has been declared for the holidays, Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said Thursday, December 15.The Army is continuing its regular security operations, he said.Pasaporte called on the rebels to abandon the armed struggle and return to the government so they can be with their families during the holidays and beyond.The Communist rebels in Negros are on the run after suffering major losses this year, he said. The Philippine Army engaged the rebels in 39 encounters this year where they suffered major losses, especially among their key leaders, Pasaporte said.The rebels in Negros are on the run and are unlikely to be able to gather and stage attacks during the Communist Party of ...

The area in Purok Katlingan where the demoliton was to take place.*The owner of the land at Purok Katilingban in Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, where some residents are set to be evicted has expressed interest in selling his entire property to the city government for its on-site housing program for illegal settlers, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Thursday, December 15.“We are now negotiating and discussing for a possible Yuhum Village or Yuhum residential site there”, Benitez said.It was a tenant of a section of the property, not the owner, who had sought a demolition order against the eight residents, Benitez said.The eight houses were up for demolition on Wednesday but following negotiations led by Benitez the affected families agreed to voluntary leave...