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Jocelle Batapa-Sigue took her oath as Department of Information and Communications Technology undersecretary, before DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy on Thurday.*Former Bacolod Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, newly appointed undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, took her oath of office before DITC Secretary Ivan John Uy on Thursday, August 4.Batapa-Sigue said she is deeply humbled and honored to assume the position “with the goal of helping our country leverage on digital innovation by including the countryside in the discussion”.She is inspired by direction set by Uy to include among his priorities the development of ICT-driven industries to generate more jobs and investments for the country, Batapa-Sigue said.“The DICT is well-aware of ...

The scene of the accident in Barangay Su-ay, Himamaylan City, on Tuesday.*Himamaylan PNP photoA motorcycle driver died after he figured in an accident at the highway of Barangay Su-ay, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, August 2.The motorcycle of 22-year-old Virgil Serilla fell while passing a broken part of the road.The victim, who fell from his motorcycle, landed on the opposite lane and an oncoming vehicle ran over his head.He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.The driver of the car, who is a village chief, has been released from police custody, after the victim’s family did not file a case.*

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer (right) with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, August 3.*President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer personal adviser for Western Visayas without a salary.Ferrer, who met with the president Wednesday, August 3, said he did not accept the position of presidential adviser with an equivalent rank of Cabinet secretary because it would mean his having to step down as vice governor.He will not abandon his post as vice governor because he has an obligation to the close to 820,000 Negrenses who voted for him, Ferrer said.Ferrer, who thanked the President for his trust and confidence said his being a Personal Adviser will give Negrenses a direct line to the president through him...

Social Security System officials hold a press conference on the SSS Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign in Bacolod City on Thursday, August 4.*Social Security System officials served Show Cause Orders to non-compliant employers in Bacolod City on Thursday, July 4, as part of the SSS Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign.The SSS Bacolod and Bacolod East branches have listed 1,911 employers under their jurisdictions with P81 million in contribution delinquencies, some of whom have already paid their obligations.SSS officials led by Lilani Benedian, SSS vice president for Visayas West 1 Division, said they served Show Cause Orders to five of six delinquent employers under the SSS Bacolod East Branch on Thursday, and more will be served on Friday.SSS is seri...

A scene from the controversial film “Maid in Malacañang.”*San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza is calling for a boycott of the controversial  film “Maid in Malacañang”.Alminaza described the film as “shameless”, and called on the people behind it to issue an apology.The movie supposedly depicts the last 72 hours of  the Marcos family in Malacañang Palace before they fled the country.A trailer of the movie showed the late president Cory Aquino playing mahjong with a group of nuns, which was condemned by critics.Aquino sought refuge overnight at the Carmelite monastery in Cebu during the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.Alminaza stressed that “the producer, scriptwriter, director and those promoting this movie should publicly apologize to the Carmelite nuns, ...

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz*The Negros Occidental provincial government surveillance against monkey pox and COVID-19 at the Bacolod Silay Airport and at seaports is ongoing, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Wednesday, August 3.“We have never abandoned our posts”, he assured.They are studying the possibility of requiring isolation areas for persons hit with monkey pox, he said.“The concern has been forwarded to the Hospital Operations Department so even if monkey pox strikes here we will have a health facility ready to address patients’ needs,” he said.Monkey pox is a viral zoonosis with symptoms similar to those seen in smallpox patients. Meanwhile, there were 34 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental on Wednesday bringing the total ...

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya *Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya has been elected to the Commission on Appointments composed of members from the House of Representatives and the Senate.The Commission on Appointments is a constitutional body composed of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate with the power to approve or disapprove appointments made by the President, the confirmation of which is required by the Constitution, Gasataya said Wednesday, August 3.“Thank you to my colleagues headed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, to the Nationalist People’s Coalition, my Asenso family headed by Mayor Albee Benitez and the Bacolodnons  for your continued support, “ he said in a Facebook post.*