Top Stories

The House of Representatives on Wednesday , May 31, voted to suspend Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District) for another 60 days over his continued unauthorized absences and disorderly conduct which resulted in his failure to perform his duties as House member.This after the House plenary -- with 285 affirmative votes, no negative votes and one abstention -- adopted the recommendations made by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges headed by COOP NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, through Committee Report 660.The committee report said it found “the unauthorized absences of Teves, aggravated by his act of political asylum in Timor-Leste, resulted in his failure to perform his duties as House Member.”“His actions and all its consequences have compromise...

Pigs culled in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, to prevent the spread of suspected ASF being buried on Wednesday. May 31.*Twelve sick pigs died in Purok Paghidaet, Barangay Tangub, while 23 others were culled on Wednesday, May 31, as a precaution against the spread of suspected African swine fever (ASF), Barangay Captain Noli Villarosa said.The Bacolod City government is waiting for the Bureau of Animal Industry test results of pig blood samples from Tangub, after two were suspected to have died from suspected ASF, Acting Bacolod Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Tuesday.Villarosa said the 35 affected pigs belonged to two hog raisers.They were hesitant about having their 23 other pigs that were still healthy killed, he said.However, they agreed to the culling of the pigs by...

Children crossing the Otap Overflow in Barangay Manlucahoc, Sipalay City.*Jake Ligo photoBacolod City and several other local government units are extending their suspension of classes to Thursday, June 1, due to expected heavy rains brought on by the convergence of Typhoon Betty and the southwest monsoon.Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran declared the suspension of classes in Bacolod after consulting with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.Talisay City, Silay City, Murcia, Isabela, Kabankalan City, Himamaylan City, Bago City, Pulupandan and EB Magalona have also cancelled classes on Thursday.On Wednesday Bacolod City and 15 LGUs in Negros Occidental had also cancelled classes because of anticipated heavy rains.The 15 LGUs were Pontevedra, Silay City, H...

Gov. Carlo Jorge “Guido” Reyes*Vice Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, 38, took his oath of office as governor of Negros Oriental hours after the death of Gov. Carlo Jorge “Guido” Reyes on Wednesday morning, May 31.Reyes, 62, who had reportedly been suffering from lung cancer died at a hospital in Metro Manila.He died nearly three months after he took over as governor of Negros Oriental after Gov. Roel Degamo was assassinated in Pamplona on March 4.Sagarbarria took his oath as governor before Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio Jr. Wednesday afternoon.Vice Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, taking his oath as governor*Judy F. Partlow photoBoard Member Jake Reyes also took his oath as vice governor by virtue of the rules of succession, Provincial Director Farah Gentuya of the...

The Diocese of San Carlos has declared a climate emergency and plans to create a climate emergency plan in line with this year’s celebration of the encyclical “Laudato Si” with the theme “Hope for the Earth. Hope for Humanity.”Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, in a pastoral letter during the Laudato Si week held May 21 to 28, said that they acknowledge the urgency to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and this declaration is a commitment of the Diocese to take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.The pastoral letter contained the six steps that the Diocese will take in contributing to the deceleration of global warming.These steps are the establishment of “Lunhaw Ecology Ministry” in all the jurisdictions of the diocese, the development of a climate emergency ...

The scene of the Kabankalan City accident*PNP photoAn ambulance accidentally hit a 70-year-old man resulting in his death in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, May 30.Angeles Arsalem, 70, was crossing the street when he was hit by a Sipalay City ambulance at Aguilles Zayco Avenue in Brgy. 9, the police said Wednesday.The ambulance driver was identified as Ferdinand Baladhay, 29, of Brgy. 2, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.PLt. Col. John Joel Batusbatusan, Kabankalan City police chief, said the family of the victim reached a settlement agreement with the suspect and no charges will be filed against him.*

PCol. Noel Aliño distributing the cellular phones* BCPO photoA total of 61 barangay chief tanods in Bacolod City received cellular phones from the Bacolod City Police Office as it launched its “Dial B” program at the BCPO grounds in Brgy. Taculing, Tuesday, May 30.BCPO, in a press release, said it launched “Dial B” to establish an emergency hotline where the community watchmen can directly call PCol. Noel Aliño, Bacolod police acting director, to ensure “timely conveyance of situation reports, updates, and requests for police assistance through SMS and calls 24/7”.It said that chief tanods are the “watchmen” in the barangay and they are often in the frontlines during incidents, public disorders, and disasters, together with the police, adding that they play a vital role in keep...

A dead pig being buried in Bago City* Bago City Veterinary Office photoNegros Occidental has been hit with its first confirmed African swine fever (ASF) case.The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confirmed that one blood sample from a pig in Barangay Mabini, Pulupandan, tested positive for ASF, Agriculture Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said on Wednesday, May 31.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government has not received an official copy of the report but has already implemented security measures in accordance with BAI protocols.“We have to be very careful, let’s not rush and declare the province ASF infected because just in this (Pulupandan) case there were four samples taken, and only one came out positive,” he said.“We will isolate...

The measles-rubella and bivalent oral polio vaccine supplemental immunization activity (MR bOPV SIA) in Western Visayas has been extended until June 16, Dr. Adriano Suba-an, Department of Health 6 regional director, said Tuesday, May 30.Negros Occidental is still leading in the vaccination drive in Western Visayas, he said.The conduct of the MR bOPV SIA is an essential step to ending viral transmission, mitigating potential outbreaks, and closing the immunity gap against measles, rubella, and poliovirus, the DOH said.Western Visayas has vaccinated 509.102 or 77.13 percent of its target, with 117,949 remaining unvaccinated children for the MR vaccine as of May 30, Suba-an said.Negros Occidental is the top performer in WV having vaccinated 191, 324 or 84.95 percent, with 20,1...

Seized pork products from Cebu that is an ASF-hit area being destroyed in Sipalay City.*Sipalay FB page photoThe detection of African swine fever (ASF) cases in Bacolod City is affecting the shipment of pigs from Negros Occidental to other parts of the country, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, May 30.The effect of the Bacolod announcement has been negative, he said.There are reports that some people are lobbying against the loading of pigs from Negros Occidental on vessels for shipment to other areas, he said.There has been no official laboratory findings of the presence of ASF in Negros Occidental so far, Diaz said.The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported 455 more pig deaths from illnesses in Negros Occidental on Tuesday bringing the total n...