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Dr. Ernell Tumimbang inspects the water sources in Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City.*Cholera has hit five Negros Occidental residents and an 88-year-old woman from Silay City died, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, September 27.The 88-year-old woman from Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City, who was admitted at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) on September 17 died on September 22, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said.The 88-year-old, who was living alone, was a high risk patient because of her age, he said.The two other Silay City residents hit with cholera are a 22-year-old female from Hacienda Consolacion, Guinhalaran, and a 29-year-old female from Barangay Lantad, who were also confined at the TLJPH, Tumimbang said....

NVC president Millie Kilayko (right) delivering aid to Marawi.* Aeson Baldevia photoThe Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation Inc., a Negros Occidental based NGO, will be awarded by the Ateneo de Manila University its Parangal Lingkod Sambayan Award, which recognizes outstanding public service of individuals or organizations, on November 22.Ateneo, in its recognition announcement Tuesday, September 27, said NVC “epitomizes what the power of the human spirit can do.” It especially recognizes how NVC “harnesses individuals’ energies, resources, talents, and skills to help those most in need” through its nutrition, education and livelihood programs, it said.NVC president Millie Kilayko said their foundation “never intended to be big but simply wanted to focus on serving ...

A man drowned in Sagay City Sunday, September 25.*Sagay PNP photoA man drowned in the Himoga-an River at Brgy. Fabrica, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, September 25.The fatality was identified as Jojie Ayo, 33, of Eusebio Heights, Brgy. Paraiso in Sagay.Based on the police investigation, a witness saw the victim swimming in the shallow portion of the river, and did not surface after he sunk because of the heavy backpack he was seen carrying.When rescuers retrieved the Ayo’s body, there were no signs of struggle but noted that the victim smelled of intoxicating liquor, police said.He was rushed to Alfredo Marañon District Memorial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.*

The drugs recovered from a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.*PDEA photoAnother suspected drug den in Bacolod City was dismantled while four persons were arrested in a buy-bust operation at Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, on Sunday, September 25.Nabbed were suspected drug den maintainer Jonnel Canete Cordero, and his three visitors, Danilo Villaram Dela Cruz, Mayu Tadayca Sayson and Mary Jane Bedoa Cordero.Seized during the operation were 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000, the buy-bust money, and drug paraphernalia.The suspects are now in the custody of PDEA and facing drug charges.*

The Bacolod City Police Office will enforce a gun ban during the MassKara Festival from October 1 to 23.Lt.Col. Sherlock Gabana, BCPO public information officer, said not only guns and bullets will be banned but also deadly weapons such as knives.The police will also implement checkpoints, as well as monitor the festival sites every night.Smoking and the use of vape will also be prohibited in non-designated areas, he said.The send off ceremony of the police force along with other security personnel who will be deployed during the MassKara will be on September 29.The MassKara welcome party will be held on October 1.*

The Department of Social Welfare and Development announced on Monday, September 26, that it has provided P129.7 million in educational assistance to 46,055 indigent students in Western Visayas.The DSWD Educational Assistance Payout covered the period from August 20 to September 24.There were 10,375 elementary pupils, 8,639 students in high school, 6,037 in senior high school and 21,004 in college who received assistance, the DSWD 6 said.Distributed in Iloilo province was P45.3 million to 14,999 recipients, Negros Occidental – P37.2 million to 13,292, , Capiz – P14.4 million to 5,277, Antique – P13.9 million to 4,983, Aklan – P12.5 million to 4,872, and Guimaras - P6.1 million to 2,632.*

Rescue operations in Cauayan town on Monday*Cauayan BFP photoThe suspension of travel from Negros to Manila was lifted Monday morning, September 26, and classes in 24 Negros Occidental towns and cities are set to resume on Tuesday.Typhoon “Karding” exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility Monday night.The Philippine Coast Guard lifted sea travel from Bacolod to Batangas and Manila Monday morning.Rains brought on by “Karding” caused the evacuation of 4,822 families with 16,448 members in two towns and a city in southern Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.There were 16,091 residents of barangays Gil Montilla, Mambaroto and Maricalum who evacuated, 317 residents of barangays Bagroy, San Teodoro and San Vicente in Binalbagan, and 40 from bar...