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Sonya Verdeflor, Nena Nolido, Macky Maceda, Rolem Basiya and Matè Espina during the pre-judging of the median island contest at the PIO office in the Bacolod City Government Center.*Out of 32 entries, five were handpicked to vie for the final judging of the first median island design competition under Bacolod City’s clean and green program during the deliberation at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, June 15.The designs of Edmund Neil Mamon, Dominic Diocson, Clyde Louie De Guzman, Jam Meliton and the Caceres’ Group were named semi-finalists and they will present their concepts for the final judging next week, Mate Espina, Incoming Governor of Rotary District 3850, said Friday.The winning design will be implemented by the city, in collaboration with civic groups and...

The New People's Army (NPA) in Negros is on a rampage against civilians suspected as military informants, the 94th Infantry Battalion said.This comes after suffering defeats in recent gunbattles with Army soldiers in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, that claimed the lives of its key leaders, the 94th IB statement posted on its Facebook page Thursday said.It said Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, spokesman of Mt. Cansermon Command of the NPA's South Central Negros Guerilla Front, known as Central Negros 2, in a statement admitted that it had implemented death penalty against Michael "Kulot" Soledad in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City on June 2.Magbuelas claimed that Soledad played a big role in the raid conducted by Army soldiers against their unit on March 1 in Sitio...

Two persons were found dead in E.B. Magalona town and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, the police reported on Thursday, June 15.The body of Rodolfo Tañelon, 45, was found at a fishpond in Purok 2, Brgy. Pasil, EB Magalona, on Wednesday, June 14.Recovered beside his body was a homemade shotgun and pliers, the police said.Meanwhile, Angela Silva, 27, was stabbed to death by an unidentified suspect at San Juan Street, Brgy. 6, San Carlos City.Residents said they heard a commotion and when they looked out they saw the woman lying on the ground in a pool of blood, the police said.The victim sustained multiple stab wounds on different parts of her body and was pronounced dead at the San Carlos City Hospital.*

Leptospirosis deaths in Bacolod City have increase to five this year, the City Health Office reported Thursday, June 14.The latest fatality is a 53-year-old male from Barangay Bata, the CHO said.Previous fatalities who were all males were from Taculing, Banago, Handumanan and Villamonte.Of the 42 suspected leptospirosis cases in Bacolod this year, 37 are alive, the CHO said.The most common reason for complications and death is delayed seeking of assistance, the CHO added.Leptospirosis is spread mainly by contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals, especially rats.The CHO said to prevent leptospirosis:Keep the environment clean and dispose garbage properly to avoid rat infestation;Use mouse traps or other pest control measures...

Department of Health Regional Director Adriano Suba-an (6th from left) with DOH nurses Jenny Plaga, Daryl Grace Labacete, HEPO Designate Taryn Marie Poblador, NIP Coordinator Kristine Araño, MHO head Dr. Raymund Maguad, Mayor Gerry Rojas, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Aljun Santiago, Candelaria Salem, Maria Karmel Elemba, Ellen Nava and Leilani Pitallar (l-r)*Dr. Adriano Suba-an, Department of Health regional director, has congratulated the officials of Murcia, Negros Occidental, for attaining a 107.97 percent accomplishment and ranking first among all local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas in the MR OPV SIA (Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity) campaign.Suba-an personally congratulated the Murcia officials led by Mayor Gerry Rojas and Murcia Heal...

egros Occidental Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria*The Commission on Elections guidelines for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in October are out and the Joint Security Coordinating Center will be convened, Negros Occidental Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Thursday, June 15.Ananoria said he will meet with provincial officials of the Philippine National Police and Army next week to discuss the guidelines, potential private armed groups (PAGs) and insurgency concerns in the province that could affect the polls.The police on Wednesday said there are three potential PAGs in Negros Occidental that are being monitored.PAGs could affect residents’ right to vote, Ananoria said.The guidelines also include the criteria for determining election...

Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria*NegOr PIO photoNegros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria is sourcing funds of about P50 million for hog growers who have been affected by the African swine fever (ASF).This comes as hog deaths due to ASF continue to rise, although the spread of the virus has been contained so far in only three areas.In a statement issued Thursday, the Capitol said that aside from the financial intervention, the governor has also approved the release of 150 bags of rice each for the municipalities of Dauin and Sibulan, where ASF cases have been reported over the past weeks.Sagarbarria also met recently with the mayors to discuss the province’s current situation on the ASF and how to ensure that containment measures are sustained to prevent the further sp...

The aim is for the domestic airport in Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, to be operational by 2025, Mayor Benjie Miranda said on Thursday, June 15.In the meantime he is seeking permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for it to be rented out to flight schools and for use by small aircrafts to enable the city government to earn some income, Miranda said.There is a proposed P855 million budget for the airport being sought from the national government, he said.The city government also has a P40 million budget for airport development, such as the perimeter fence, terminal and tower for the initial use of smaller aircraft, Miranda said.The Kabankalan City government allocates P10 million a year for the airport development, he said.*

Soldiers carrying the bodies of the two slain alleged New People’s Army rebels.*62IB photoTwo alleged New People’s Army rebels killed in an encounter with 62nd Infantry “Unifier" Battalion soldiers on Tuesday in Brgy Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, have been identified, by their families.They were identified as Benjie Ebarle, alias Mar, and Roweno Fermiza Anobong, alias Wen, 46, of Brgy Macagahay, the 62IB reported on Thursday, June 15.Both were alleged members of the NPA Central Negros 1 front, it added.The cadavers were extracted from Sitio Cupad, Brgy Macagahay, Moises Padilla, and brought to Brgy Maytubig, Isabela, by a Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopter from the Tactical Operation Group 6.The cadavers were received by Moises Padilla Municipal ...