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COVID-19 Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant cases have been detected in Western Visayas, the Department of Health 6 announced on Wednesday, October 19.There are 60 XBB and five XBC cases that have been detected in the region, the DOH 6 said.However, no details were available on where the persons found positive for the new variants are located in the region.The cases are currently under investigation, the DOH 6 said.The XBB subvariant has been causing COVID-19 spikes in Singapore and other countries.Following the recent detection of the Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variants and recognizing their reported potential immune-escape characteristics, the DOH said vaccines remain effective in preventing severe and critical COVID-19, as well as deaths regardless of variant...

A barangay kagawad of Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental, was killed by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Monday, October 17, in the mountainous part of Barangay Tabon.The fatality was identified as Nonie Cadorna, who was just walking with his daughter on their way home when they were waylaid by two armed persons.The suspects immediately shot Cadorna multiple times.The NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command released a statement, claiming responsibility for the killing of the victim, whom they tagged as an intelligence asset of the army.*

Himamaylan evacuees go home*The remaining evacuees in Himamaylan City have returned home, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said on Wednesday, October 19.The Philippine Army informed the Himamaylan Incident Management Team (IMT) that sitios Medel, Campaya and Sig-ang had been cleared.The IMT distributed family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, assorted donated goods, medicines and vitamin supplements to the evacuees, and provided them with transportation to return home, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson said in a statement.Tongson thanked all those who provided assistance in the near two-week stay of the evacuees in the evacuation centers."Please continue praying for our city and our people,” he said.The...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has appointed new officers-in-charge of the Negros Occidental provincial government’s Comprehensive Health Program Division (CHPD) and General Services Office (GSO).The new OICs are Andrea Marie Boherom for the CHPD and Arnel Argusar for the GSO, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday, October 19.Boherom was appointed to the post effective immediately following the sudden demise of Amalia Billote who headed the CHPD.Argusar of the Procurement Services Division will head the PGSO effective November 1 with the retirement of Lucille Pines.*

Global Strategic president Mark Matsuyama, Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez and Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez (l-r) cut the ribbon at the opening of Global Strategic Business Process Solutions Inc. in Victorias City on Wednesday*Global Strategic Business Process Solutions Inc. in Victorias City held its grand opening on Wednesday, October 19.“We are really looking forward to more jobs and economic recovery in Victorias… Victoriahanons who are working in Bacolod won’t need to go to travel there anymore and they can be closer to their families, they can save money and time traveling,” Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said in his message.The mayor led the inauguration of the first and only Business Process Outsourcing company in Victorias City with Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (...

The Municipal Health Office of E. B. Magalona conducting an information drive on cholera and other food and water borne diseases.*The Municipal Health Office (MHO) is conducting a daily information drive on cholera and other food-borne and water-borne diseases in all 23 barangays of E. B. Magalona until November 3.Municipal Health Officer Dr. Edmundo Janeo Jr. said the MHO team is led by Dr. Frayne Marie Tampus of the Department of Health-Doctors to the Barrios assigned to E. B. Magalona, and Nurse Armalene Yocson, with the assistance of nurses and midwives assigned in the respective barangays.The information campaign, which emphasizes prevention and control of cholera, diarrhea, and other food and water-borne diseases by practicing food safety and water sanitation, is being he...

An Operation Smile beneficiary before and now*Operation Smile comes back to Bacolod to bring real smiles back to indigent children with cleft lip and palate deformities through free reconstructive surgery as part of the highlights of the 43rd MassKara Festival.Organized by the H.O.P.E. Volunteers Foundation Inc. in collaboration with the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation, Operation Smile Philippines Foundation Inc. and the Adventist Medical Center – Bacolod, this year’s mission after three years of inaction due to the pandemic brings a different meaning to the “Balik Yuhum” theme of the festival to the children who will soon be beaming with new smiles.On Friday, the organizers will be screening patients at Robinsons Mall Bacolod on who will be qualified for the scheduled reconstructive ...

The Negros Occidental and Bacolod City Joint African Swine Fever Task Force will stop all attempts to bring in live pigs, boar semen, pork and pork products from places affected with ASF, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson vowed on Tuesday, October 18.“Apprehensions will be made for as long as they try to bring such products in”, he said.It took some people by surprise but they had to react right away because it is very important to protect the province’s P6 billion swine industry, Lacson said, of the province’s recent ban on such products from Panay and Guimaras.The joint task force will keep a close watch of the BREDCO port and other points of entry, he said.ASF is a highly contagious disease of swine with an up to 100 percent fatality rate, there being no known treatment and vacci...

There has been a high increase in business confidence in Bacolod City, which is a sign of things to come, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.*Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Tuesday, October 18, that business firms’ sales during the ongoing MassKara Festival in Bacolod City have reached pre-pandemic levels.There has been a high increase in business confidence in Bacolod City, which is a sign of things to come, Benitez said during a MassKara media night celebration.The historic MassKara Festival being held at seven venues this year following the COVID-19 pandemic has not fallen short of people’s expectations, “in fact we did more,” Benitez said.Very seldom does a festival run for a three-week period with non-stop well attended activities, he said.Benitez said off...

The man who allegedly killed a teacher in Naga City, Cebu, was arrested Monday night, October 17, at the port of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.Nabbed was Elmar Alvarez Gemida, 24, of Barangay Ilaya, Calatrava town.He was linked to the killing of Jhun Leo Panares of Inuboran Elementary School in Barangay Inuboran, Naga, on Sunday, October 16. The victim was found with stab wounds inside the teacher’s office.Lt. Col. Jesus Mesahon, San Carlos police chief, said that the suspect used the victim’s motorcycle to travel to the province through a roll-on, roll-off vessel after the killing.He was intercepted after he was supposed to fetch his live-in partner at the seaport.He was unaware that the authorities had already reached out to his live-in partner for his arrest....