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The Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved an ordinance granting relief on delinquent real property taxes in Bacolod City for 2023, Councilor Al Victor Espino said Thursday, December 8.Espino, SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government chairman, said the ordinance that was approved Wednesday is geared towards generating payment of up to about P200 million in delinquent real property taxes.Real property owners in Bacolod City will be granted a 100 percent reprieve on penalties and surcharges on their tax delinquencies if they pay on or before January 1 to March 31, 2023, Espino said.If they pay from March to April 2023 they will get a 50 percent reprieve on penalties and surcharges, he added.The last time the city government granted such reprieve it generated P44 mill...

Caesar Distrito filing the MR before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas in Cebu City*A motion for reconsideration (MR) was filed versus the order to dismiss Noli Villarosa as barangay captain of Tangub, Bacolod City, before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas in Cebu City on Wednesday, December 7.Caesar Distrito, Villarosa’s lead counsel, said Candido Medalla had filed a case against the barangay captain for allegedly demolishing a cyclone fence that encroached on the right of way and sidewalk along Ramylu Drive in Tangub.The case had been dismissed by the Ombudsman but was reversed when the complainant filed an MR, which is not allowed under the rules, Distrito said.Villarosa acting in performance of his official function was just complying with a directiv...

Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government*The Sangguniang Panlungsod adopted a Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government decision to suspend the barangay captain and treasurer of Barangay 16, Bacolod City, for six months during its regular session Wednesday, December 7, Councilor Al Victor Espino said.The SP’s adopting the decision means it can now be enforced, he said.Barangay Captain Joseph de los Santos and treasurer Rachel Jamandre have been ordered suspended for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, the decision signed by Espino, chairman of the committee, said.The decision that is “final and immediately executory” was dat...

The drugs recovered during the buy-bust operation.*NOCPPO photoMore than P100,000 in shabu was recovered in a police buy-bust operation at the public market in Brgy. 2, Silay City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, December 6.Nabbed was 38-year-old Renato Espinosa of Sitio Dapdap Tuburan, Brgy. Lantad.Recovered from him were 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000, and the P2,100 buy-bust money.The suspect is now in the custody of the Silay police, facing drug charges.*

A suspected member of the New People’s Army surrendered to authorities at Barangay Kapitan Ramon, Silay City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, December 6.The rebel whose name was withheld by the police for security reasons was said to be from Barangay Tapi, Kabakalan City.The suspected rebel also surrendered his 12-gauge homemade shotgun and a rifle grenade. Both weapons are in the custody of the Silay police.*

Maj. Junji Liba, BTAO head, points to areas where the one-way rule will be implemented at a press conference with Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez Wednesday.*The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office expects to reduce traffic congestion in Bacolod City by 30 to 40 percent with an extended truck ban, clearing of obstructions and imposition of one-way schemes, Maj. Junji Liba, BTAO head, announced Wednesday, December 7.Liba joined Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at a press conference to announce measures to be implemented starting Monday to address the expected increase of traffic during the holidays.A truck ban will be imposed at the Bacolod Circumferential Road from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. as part of the city’s solutions, Liba said.All cargo and delivery trucks will be all...

The marijuana recovered from the high school student.*Police Station 9 photoA high school student was arrested for alleged possession of marijuana during a buy-bust operation Tuesday night, December 6, in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City.Nabbed was 19-year-old Jeremy Lumanog of Bago City.Three sachets of marijuana were obtained from Lumanog.Capt. Rondyl Tapang, Police Station 9 chief, said the suspect reportedly sold the items to his fellow high school students in Bacolod.Drug charges will be filed against him.*

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday, December 7, that he is also ordering a ban on the entry into Bacolod City of all live domestic and wild birds, from Luzon, Mindanao, Panay and Guimaras to protect the city from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) also known as “bird flu”.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued Executive Order 22-62, Series of 2022, on Tuesday banning the entry of all live domestic and wild birds, ready to lay pullets, and their products, including table eggs and manure from all four areas.Western Visayas is on high alert following the detection of its first case of the Avian Influenza (AI) Type A from samples taken from a backyard farm that is engaged in the egg-laying business in Roxas City, Capiz.Lacson said the Negros ban had to be enforced ...