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Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya*The House Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a bill seeking the creation of a Bacolod Special Economic Zone on Thursday, November 10, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said.Gasataya, who filed House Bill 292, said the economic zone would help bring progress to Bacolod City through increased local and foreign investments, more jobs and better wages, exports, an increase in the value of property and a lot of business opportunities.“As Bacolod recovers from COVID-19, it is imperative that we boost economic activities in our city”, Gasataya said.Gasataya, in his House Bill 292 explanatory note, said Bacolod City has theamenities to accommodate both local and foreign investments and further economic growth with little to no congestion issues in compar...

About 2,800 drivers of traditional jeepneys could be displaced with the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program in Bacolod City, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Wednesday, November 9.That is because only 1,000 modernized jeepneys were approved for Bacolod that has 3,800 traditional jeepneys, he said.Traditional jeepneys have the capacity for 18 passengers and the modern jeepneys - 29, Familiaran said.That means Bacolod would need 2,000 modern jeepneys, he said.Familiaran said there are currently 373 modernized jeepneys that can accommodate drivers of traditional jeepneys.*

The recovered drugs in San Carlos City on Tuesday.*San Carlos PNP photoTwo street-level individuals were arrested in a drug bust at New Era Street, Brgy. 4 in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, November 8.Nabbed were Kane Sabellano, 22, and Michael Bacus, 27.Their arrest came after they sold suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer.Recovered from their possession were 7.2 grams of shabu worth P48,960, a coin purse, lighter, and the P800 buy-bust money.The suspects are now in the custody of San Carlos police, facing drug charges.*

The Bacolod SP session was held online as some councilors are self-isolating after being close contacts of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez who tested positive for COVID-19.*The city government is expected to check the fuel pumps of all gasoline stations in Bacolod for proper calibration.The resolution requesting the City Treasurer’s Office Licensing Division and Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to strengthen the inspection, testing, calibration, and sealing of fuel pumps in all gas stations in the city was approved during the Sangguniang Panlungsod regular session on Wednesday, November 9.The measure, authored by Councilor Kalaw Puentevella, said the government shall protect the public against deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable sales, acts and practices.All retail outlets sh...

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya authored House Bill 293.*The House Committee on Transportation approved the bill seeking the creation of a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Bacolod City on Wednesday, November 9.House Bill 293, authored by Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, was approved during the Committee’s regular meeting.LTFRB officer-in-charge, Engr. Riza Marie Paches, expressed their full support for the bill to ensure the delivery of efficient and effective services to the public, Gasataya said.“The LTFRB also acknowledged our primary concern on the accessibility of the LTFRB office for Region 6 as it is situated on a separate island from Negros and Bacolod City,” he added.Gasataya thanked the LTFRB, and the House Committee on Transportati...

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and his supporter Juwin Estiñoso.*Norppo photoThe family of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo is calling for justice for the death of his supporter Juwin Estiñoso.Estiñoso, who ran for councilor in the recent election, was gunned down outside the Bayawan City High School in Bayawan City on Monday, November 7.Estiñoso was at his foodcart outside the school when he was approached by a gunman pretending to be a customer who shot him several times.The governor said Estiñoso was fifth person killed in the province in two days.His administration will launch an anti-criminality campaign to maintain peace and order in the province, Degamo said.*

Acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and a Department of Public Works and Highways official will inspect the possible site where the planned Guimaras-Negros bridge will connect in Pulupandan town on Thursday, November 10.Ferrer said he along with a DPWH undersecretary and Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña will visit the proposed site.The acting governor said he wants to discuss the funding for the Guimaras-Negros Bridge because he has received information that there are funds only for the Panay-Guimaras bridge.Ferrer said he believes that there are a lot who are willing to fund the Guimaras-Negros bridge.He hopes the bridge will be realized during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ferrer said.NIR BETTERThe acting governor also said he is in favor of creatin...

Negros Occidental Acting Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer (right) and presidential son William Vincent “Vinny” Marcos during the presidential campaign.*Negros Occidental Acting Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer said it is too early to speculate that presidential son William Vincent “Vinny” Marcos will run for congressman of Bacolod City in the next election, and he has not heard him mention any such plan.Ferrer was reacting to rumors that the presidential son will run for congressman of Bacolod when a second congressional district is created.He does not know where talk that Marcos will run for congressman of Bacolod City came from and the presidential son may not even know about it, Ferrer said.The elections were just over, 2025 is a long way off, Ferrer, a close friend and supporter of the Marcoses,...

Consul General Hideki Yamaji turns the books over to Negros Occ. Board Member Rita Gatuslao, Provincial Librarian Rio Rio Lynne Panisa, and April Duran of the Special Projects and Concerns Division.*Consul General Hideki Yamaji of the Japanese consulate in Cebu led the turnover of books to the Negros Occidental Provincial Library in Bacolod City, on Wednesday, November 9.The books were received by Negros Occ. Board Member Rita Gatuslao, Provincial Librarian Rio Rio Lynne Panisa, and April Duran of the Special Projects and Concerns Division.The Read Japan Project was implemented in cooperation with the Nippon Foundation and the Japan Science Society together with the Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu.Negros Occidental Acting Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer hands gifts to Consul General...

Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez delivering his House Bill 05 sponsorship speech.*The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 05 or the In-City Housing Bill on second reading on Wednesday, November 9.Rep. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), who authored and sponsored the bill for the establishment of an on-site, in-city, near-city, or off-city local government resettlement program,refiled it in the 19th Congress.He said the bill aims to uphold the rights of the urban poor to the city, save informal settler families from being relocated to faraway relocation sites, and empower informal settler families to design for themselves the development of their community through the People's Plan.Benitez, in his sponsorship speech, said "House Bill No. 5 aims ...