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The construction of the Negros Occidental Language and IT Center Global Campus in Talisay City*The Negros Occidental provincial government is creating project management teams to monitor the implementation of its big ticket projects and reshuffling some division heads, Provincial Administrator Rayfrado Diaz said Monday, July 11.He said the project management teams will be composed of representatives from different departments to ensure contractors’ compliance with specifications and time frames.If there is work slippage, catch up measures must be proposed by the contractor to be approved by the governor, Diaz said.The construction of the Negros Occidental Language and IT Center Global Campus in Brgy. Matab-ang, Talisay City, is ongoing and will also be monitored by a projec...

The Capitol's free shuttle service.* Richard Malihan photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government launched a free shuttle service for its employees starting Monday, July 11, to help them cope with the rising costs of fuel and transportation, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.The initial routes are from the Silay Public Plaza, DepEd in Bago City and the Murcia Public Plaza with departure time at 6:30 a.m.  Mondays to Fridays, he said.The shuttle vehicles will then depart from the Capitol for Silay, Bago and Murcia at 5:20 p.m., he added.           Those boarding the shuttle vehicles must present their provincial government identification cards and will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis....

A man was shot in his house at Brgy. Tortosa in Manapla on Saturday, July 9.*Manapla PNP photoThree more shooting incidents were reported in Negros Occidental during  the weekend.In Manapla, Marlon Castro, 51, was shot in his house at Hda. Fidel, Brgy. Tortosa in Manapla on Saturday, July 9.The suspect fired his gun from outside the house of the victim, who sustained gunshot wounds to his thigh.The gunman fled  while the victim was brought to Ikaayong Lawas Hospital at Victorias City.The motive of the incident has yet to be established.In Hinigaran, a commotion at a wake led to shooting and stabbing incidents at Sitio Ubay, Barangay Pilar Saturday night.The injured victims were identified as Marjun Garganta and Daryl Dionillo.Suspect Marlon Gargant...

One of the rescued security guards in Sipalay City.*A bank security guard drowned at a beach in Barangay 5, Sipalay City, at about 3:56 p.m. Sunday, July 10.The body of Jeoffrey Cabungcag, 27, a security guard from Barangay Libertad, Escalante City, was seen floating at sea. He was no longer breathing and had no pulse when he was rescued, Danilo Bogtae, Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services head, said.His companion Julius Arcangel, 23, also of Barangay Libertad, Escalante, was seen by the Barangay 5 Emergency Response Team in the middle of rough seas calling for help.Arcangel, who survived the incident, is also a bank security guard.*

COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City hit double digits on Sunday, July 10, the Department of Health reported.Bacolod City had 14 new COVID-19 cases and Negros Occidental had 7, the DOH report said.Bacolod had three cases on July 9, twelve on July 8, seven on July 7, four on July 6, nine on July 5, and six on July 4, the DOH reported.The DOH said Bacolod City now has 88 active COVID-19 cases. The city government has resumed its COVID-19 vaccination and booster drive in Bacolod malls and barangays.Meanwhile, three staff at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod have been hit with COVID-19 as of Sunday, Dr. Julius Drilon, CLMMRH chief, said.*

A man who was sitting at a sari-sari store was shot to death at Purok Bulak in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City Saturday night, July 9.*BCPO photoAnother shooting incident occurred in Bacolod City on Saturday night, July 9.Killed was 46-year-old Jovanie Gonzalez of Purok Bulak in Barangay Mandalagan.The victim was sitting in front of a sari-sari store near his house when he was attacked by an unidentified man on board a motorcycle.The police said the suspect, who was wearing a black helmet and jacket, alighted from his motorcycle and shot the victim with an unknown firearm. He fled after the incident.Gonzalez succumbed to a lone gunshot wound at the back of his head.Police have yet to determine the motive of the killing, but the initial investigation indicated that...

An unidentified man robbed a pawnshop and carted away a gun and cellphone.*Valladolid PNP photoAn unidentified man robbed RD Pawnshop at Rizal Street in Brgy. Poblacion, Valladolid, Negros Occidental on Saturday, July 9.Based on the initial police investigation, the suspect gained entry to the pawnshop by destroying the roof and the ceiling of the comfort room.The .38 caliber revolver that was placed inside the vault room and the cellular phone from the drawer were missing.The estimated time of the incident was between 3 to 5 a.m., the police said.The police are still investigating the incident.*

More COVID-19 vaccinations key to return to normal, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson says.* ADB photo“We want to go back to normal” and are calling on more residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to achieve this, Negros Occidental Gov.  Eugenio Jose Lacson said Sunday, July 10.“Down the road, we want to go back to normal, hence this call for more vaccination,” Lacson said in response to the appeal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday for local officials to support the COVID-19 booster campaign in order to safely resume face-to-face classes and fully reopen the economy.Face to face classes in Negros Occidental have started but not at 100 percent, Lacson said, adding that he still has to consult with the schools division superintendent.Negros Occidental remains to be...

The recoveries from a drug bust at Brgy. Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, on Sunday, July 10.*BCPO photoMore than P500,000 worth of drugs were seized and three suspects were captured, including two suspected high-value targets, in a police buy-bust operation at Brgy. Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, early Sunday, July 10.Nabbed were  Cyril “Toto Cyril” Gepielago, 49,  Julius "Pioky” Londres, 42, and Pearly Mae “Liming” Panes, 30. Gepielago and Londres were tagged by the police as high-value individuals in the anti-drugs campaign.During the bust, the police recovered 77 grams of suspected shabu worth P523,600 from the suspects, the P1,000 in marked money, a sling bag, a coin purse, and P200 in cash believed to be proceeds from the sale of drugs.The suspects, who wil...