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Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who is joining President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his state visit to China from January 3 to 6, hopes to find economic partners who can help develop Bacolod City.Benitez said he hopes to find investors for infrastructure projects in Bacolod, and tap into the large tourists potential of China.Of the 1.4 billion Chinese citizens, Benitez pointed out that about 150,000 million have passports, which is a sizable number of potential tourists coming from China.On talk that the president’ son, Vinny, will run for congressman of Bacolod should a second congressional district be created for the city, Benitez said he has not discussed the matter with him.If he shows interest it will be a welcome development, Benitez said.Benitez is optimistic that a...

Negros Occidental and Bacolod City had 43 leptospirosis deaths and 42 dengue deaths this year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Wednesday, December 14.There were 34 leptospirosis deaths in Negros Occidental and nine in Bacolod City.The leptospirosis cases in Negros Occidental where 225 from January 1 to December 3, or a 221 percent increase from last year, making it the topnotcher in Western Visayas, the DOH reported.Bacolod City had 41 leptospirosis cases this year or an increase by 64 percent, it added.Western Visayas had 596 leptospirosis cases with 81 deaths from January 1 to December 3 or an increase by 74 percent, DOH added.Leptospirosis is caused by the entry of the leptospira bacteria through wounds when in contact with flood waters, vegetation, moist soi...

The participants of the bulk water meeting on Thursday.* Barbara Mijares photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government is aiming to conduct the bidding for its bulk water projects in June 2023, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, December 15.The first meeting of the Technical Working Group, the core group for the public private partnership projects of Negros Occidental, with the Capitol’s partners from the PPP Center and its consultants was held Thursday.The TWG members will be making the feasibility study on the Malogo and Imbang bulk water projects, which will include the terms of references for the bidding, he said.Private partners will be invited to invest in the bulk water projects, he added.The bulk water projects are being undertaken to ensu...

The scene where the two victims were attacked by riding-in-tandem suspects in Sipalay City on Wednesday.*Sipalay PNP photoA man was killed while another was injured in a shooting incident at Barangay Mambaroto in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, December 14.Killed was 40-year-old Jomel Espora while his rider, 23-year-old Rogie Fajardo, was injured.The police said the two victims were on board a motorcycle when they were stopped by riding-in-tandem suspects and shot several times.Espora was dead on arrival, while Fajardo is being treated at a hospital in Bacolod.The police are still investigating the motive for the killing.*

A bullet at the crime scene*Isabela PNP photoIt may have been a case of mistaken identity that caused the killing of a 74-year-old man in Barangay 5, Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, December 14, the police said Thursday.Killed was Narciso David.Police said unidentified men went to victim’s house and searched for his son-in-law.But because it was dark, they immediately shot the victim several times which resulted in his death.The son-in-law of the victim said he may have been the target of the armed men because he had received threats, the police said.A police investigation is ongoing.*

The two sugarcane trucks that were burned in Toboso on Wednesday.*Toboso PNP photoTwo sugarcane trucks were burned at Barangay Tabun-ac in Toboso, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, December 14.Maj. Jun Ray Batadlan, Toboso police chief, said eight armed men entered the property and gathered its workers.They then poured gasoline and set the engines of the two trucks on fire.It is possible that members of the New People’s Army did it, Batadlan said.The police identified the owner of the trucks as Teotimo Ballesteros Jr. of Bacolod City.Police have yet to establish the motive for the incident.*

The Ford Everest that was hit by a bullet at the SM City Bacolod parking lot.*Mel Sarona photoA Bacolod businessman’s vehicle was shot at as he was about to open its door at the south parking lot of SM City Bacolod at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, December 15, Maj. Ramel Sarona, Police Station 1 chief, said.Businessman Cesar Ledesma, 72, of Barangay Alijis, Bacolod, heard gun fire as he was about to enter his Ford Everest and when he looked the door on the driver’s side had been hit by a bullet, Sarona said.The police are investigating if the shooting is related to a land dispute. Ledesma is engaged in the real estate business.The Toyota HiAce Grandia parked beside the vehicle of Ledesma was also hit by a bullet, Sarona said.Sarona said the Grandia was not owned by Valladolid Vic...

Mayor Alfredo Benitez holds a dialog with the affected families at Purok Katilingban in Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, Wednesday afternoon.* Bacolod PIO photoMayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez defused mounting tension that could have turned violent at Purok Katilingban in Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, where a Supreme Court order for the demolition of eight houses of informal settlers was set to be enforced on Wednesday, December 14.Benitez and City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. went to the area to hold a dialog with the barangay officials, implementing sheriff Ariane Magallanes, the families whose houses were to be demolished, and the authorized representative of the possessor of the land for the temporarily halt of the demolition.Pancho Arizala, one of the resid...