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An environmental group called on Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya to present a clear and time-bound plan for addressing the city’s waste problem during his State of the City Address this afternoon, July 8.The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment issued the statement hours before Gasataya’s address, urging the city government to fully implement Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.NICE said Bacolod is already struggling with the volume of waste it generates and questioned proposals that would allow the city to receive garbage from other local government units.The group alleged that the city’s landfill is filling up rapidly, while residents of Brgy. Felisa continue to experience foul odors, clogged waterways, flooding, and possible heal...

The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) held a public hearing on Tuesday morning, July 7, on a proposed ordinance designed to shield the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen from large commercial fishing vessels.“There is an  ordnance protecting small fishermen but we want to strengthen it that is  why we  held a public hearing”, Board Member Andrew Montelibano, SP Committee on Environment chairman, said.“We drafted the ordinance but we are giving the small fishermen 15  days  to submit their inputs on what they  want revised or added”, he said.Also present at the hearing were representatives of local  government units who will also submit their proposals,  Montelibano said.        &...

The damaged tombs at the Burgos Public Cemetery.*BCCO photoThe Bacolod City  government will shoulder all expenses for the mass transfer of approximately 450 human remains from deteriorating tombs at the Burgos Public Cemetery to a newly constructed bone vault at the Handumanan Public Cemetery.City officials  issued the assurance during a meeting with over 100 affected families at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) lobby on Tuesday, July 7, to iron out the phased relocation plan, which was prompted by severe typhoon damage that has left some remains exposed.During the dialog representatives from the General Services Office (GSO) and the City Administrator’s Office explained the urgent need to move the remains from the damaged niches situated along the cemetery...

Police arrested two drug suspects and seized suspected shabu, marijuana, and an unlicensed firearm during a buy-bust operation in Cadiz City on Tuesday morning, July 7.The suspects were identified as alias “Kim,” 27, a businessman classified as a high-value individual, and alias “Neil,” 30, a street-level individual.The operation was conducted at around 6:26 a.m. along Springfield Street in Villa Miramar 2, Brgy. Daga.Police said the operation was launched after information indicated that Kim was allegedly using his coffee shop business as a front for illegal drug activities.Authorities said surveillance and coordination with barangay officials later validated the information.Kim was arrested after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover officer i...

A 39-year-old vendor who had been reported missing was found dead inside an irrigation structure in Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday morning, July 7.Police identified the victim as Edmon Puerto, a resident of Purok Goldenfield, Brgy. Atipuluan.His body was discovered submerged in the irrigation structure at Purok Narra, Brgy. Malingin, at around 7:20 a.m., the police said.Police said the victim was found by his brothers while they were searching for him.Brgy. Atipuluan Captain Elvira Zulueta reported the discovery to the Bago City Police Station at around 8:05 a.m.Responding police personnel, including members of the SWAT team and the investigator-on-case, proceeded to the area.The victim sustained multiple injuries on different parts of his body.He was ...

Luisa Medel National High School also went on alert after receiving a threatening message on its official Facebook page.*LMNHS Facebook page photoPolice have heightened security and launched a full-scale investigation following threats targeting some  educational institutions, including the University of St. La Salle (USLS) and Luisa Medel National High School in Bacolod City.The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) said the Bacolod City Police Office moved quickly to conduct security assessments and deploy additional personnel to secure the affected campuses.In response to a threat directed at its campus, USLS suspended face-to-face classes from Monday until Wednesday, shifting students to synchronous online learning.While university officials clarifi...

The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region served a show cause order on the driver involved in the  road crash in Valladolid, Negros Occidental, Sunday, that left two dead and one injured.LTO-NIR said the order was served at around 9:05 p.m. on Monday, July 6, at the Valladolid Municipal Police Station.The enforcement team initially went to the driver’s residence at around 3:45 p.m. but was informed that he had already been detained at the police station.Personnel proceeded to the station and waited for the completion of the inquest proceedings before formally serving the order.The show cause order requires the driver and the registered owner of the vehicle to explain why administrative sanctions should not be imposed over the incident.LTO-NIR said the dri...

Security forces at the Silliman campus Monday night.*The Weekly  Sillimanian/Myke Catilogo photoSilliman University (SU) in Dumaguete City  has been declared safe and its campus lockdown lifted following a thorough security assessment conducted by university security forces and local law enforcement. The official clearance came after a bomb scare Monday prompted a campus evacuation and  a swift, coordinated response from the Philippine National Police and various emergency units. The SU administration , in a statement posted on its Facebook page, praised the campus community for their awareness, cooperation, and patience while authorities meticulously swept and secured the university premises.The university thanked a wide network of responding agenc...