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Strengthened health monitoring systems at entry points into Negros Occidental and Bacolod City will be enforced two weeks ahead of the MassKara Festival that kicks off on October 1, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, said on Tuesday, September 6.The monitoring against monkeypox and COVID-19 will have to be strengthened with a huge influx of visitors expected for the MassKara, he said.Tumimbang said Bacolod City Health Officer Ma. Carmela Gensoli called a meeting to discuss the CHO’s preparations and protocols, and for a coordinated response with the provincial government.Visitors arriving at the Bacolod Silay Airport and at seaports in Bacolod and other areas of Negros Occidental will be closely monitored, he said.Negros Occidental and Bacolod City composite t...

Human remains that were found in an abandoned house in Barangay Mansilingan.*Police Station 7 photoTwo minors found the remains of a person in an abandoned house in Prk. Kahirup A, Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City Sunday, September 4.The children were cleaning the place when they saw the bones in a pile of broken beds and garbage, the police reported Tuesday.Capt. Elmer Bonilla, Police Station 7 chief, said the discovered remains belonged to a man who was mentally handicapped.He said the person used to go around the barangay, but was not seen for several years.The police has coordinated with Scene of the Crime Operatives to investigate the cause of the man's death.*

Dengue deaths in Negros Occidental have hit 27 with three new fatalities, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, said Tuesday, September 6.Negros Occidental has recorded 3,956 dengue cases from January 1 to August 27 or a 1008.12 percent increase compared to the same period last year.However, the dengue cases in the province have been decreasing in the last four weeks, Tumimbang said.The dengue deaths this year were reported in Hinigaran – four, Himamaylan City and Calatrava - three each, Talisay City, Murcia, Sagay City and Isabala – two each, and Toboso, La Carlota City, Victorias City, Manapla, Pontevedra, Bago City, Silay City, La Castellana and EB Magalona – one each, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported.The top five areas with the highest number of de...

The Provincial Health Office is pushing a house-to-house COVID-19 campaign to vaccinate senior citizens in upland barangays of Negros Occidental.This is being conducted as part of the Department of Health’s “PinasLakas” nationwide campaign since many elderly residents cannot go to vaccination sites in the lowlands, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said on Tuesday, September 6.“We have to go to the hinterlands. House-to-house is still the most effective way of looking for these seniors to be vaccinated,” he said.The “PinasLakas” target is to vaccinate 90 percent of senior citizens and administer booster shots to a least 50 percent of the adult population by October 8.The Negros Occidental vaccination performance as of September 3 showed that 1,425,719 residen...

Councilor Julius Martin Asistio and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer (right) at the Negros Occidental SP session at the Capitol in Bacolod City, Tuesday.*La Carlota City Councilor Julius Martin Asistio assumed his post as Philippine Councilors League representative to the Negros Occidental Sagguniang Panlalawigan (SP) at its regular session, Tuesday, September 6.The SP during its session approved the appointment of retired provincial veterinarian Renante Decena as consultant for animal welfare and management of the province, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said.They, however, deferred approval of the appointment of Engineer Leo Van Juguan as consultant for mining geosciences and quarry operations as he was not present at the session, Ferrer said.Asistio, who was recently elected p...

The ongoing construction of the Bacolod City coliseum*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Tuesday, September 6, that he is meeting with the contractors building the P800 million Bacolod City coliseum in Barangay Alijis to discuss the repurposing of at least 10 to 20 percent of the funds allocated for it.The mayor said the aim is to reduce the P800 million intended for the coliseum, which was borrowed by the previous city administration from the Development Bank of the Philippines, by about P80 toP160 million.The construction of the coliseum started during the Leonardia administration.Benitez said he is meeting with the contractors this week or next week. The repurposed funds will then go back to the bank, he said.The city government can then apply for another...

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez*Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) filed House Bill 4400 to mandate Internet Service Providers to provide data rollover in internet subscriptions.The bill also provides penalties for non-compliance.The bill aims to mandate Internet Service Providers to provide affordable options on Internet data subscription, including subscription plans and promos with data rollover, he said.Instead of unused data expiring at the end of the subscription period, it will be added to data allocation for the following subscription period or until end of the calendar year, Benitez said.This effectively lowers the cost of Internet data and saves the user money that they could use for other needs, he said.It will be great help for student...

Four Bacolodnons were arrested after they were allegedly caught siphoning fuel from a reserve tank in Barangay Poblacion, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Monday, September 5.Nabbed were Barangay Banago residents Rommel Negre, 38, Emilio Lumantad, 41, and Rogelio Pendon, 39; and Rosine Marie Tentiya, 30, of Barangay 1.A concerned citizen reported to the police that a suspicious red pick-up truck was parked in front of a cell site.When the police validated the report, they caught Lumantad allegedly stealing a crude oil at the cell site while the others were waiting in the vehicle.Recovered from their possession were a bolt cutter, a hack saw, and 15 containers, including the one loaded with crude oil.Also recovered from them were two homemade shotguns with seven live ammuniti...

A drinking session among neighbors turned fatal after one of was killed at Barangay Suba, Calatrava, Negros Occidental on Sunday, September 4.Killed was Warlito Fernandez Jr., 42.The victim, the suspect identified as 30-year-old Jay-r Arquilita and two others were enjoying a drinking session when an altercation ensued, Maj. Lumyaen Lidawan, town police chief, said.This allegedly prompted the suspect to stab the victim multiple times. He then escaped while the victim was brought to Calatrava Municipal Hospital where he died.The suspect was arrested in a pursuit operation, but the bladed weapon used in the killing was not recovered.He will be charged with homicide.*