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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez are not lifting the rule on the mandatory use of face masks in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has issued an executive order lifting the mandatory use of face masks in his city from September 1 to December 31.The EO will automatically be lifted should there be a surge in COVID-19 infections in Cebu City, Rama said.Benitez said he does not believe it is time to lift the mandatory use of face masks in Bacolod City.“As of today there are continuous fresh new COVID-19 cases,” he said.The Department of Health (DOH) reported 20 new COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City and 24 in Negros Occidental on Monday.On Sunday Negros Occidental had 20 new COVID-19 cases and Bacolod City had 16, the ...

The United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) is supporting the planned importation program amounting to 150,000 metric tons of refined sugar proposed by the current Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board.UNIFED President Manuel Lamata said he wants to announce his personal support for the 150,000 MT import plan, after three other sugar federations and the millers group recommended the importation of 300,000 MT, similar to what the former SRA board had pushed.Lamata was referring to last week’s joint statement issued by the Confederation of Sugar Producers, the National Federation of Sugar Planters, PanayFed and the Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA).“Have these federations converted to being sugar traders? Logic dictates that if the 300,000 MT...

The Negros Occidental provincial government is providing financial assistance of P100,0000 to each local government unit (LGU) participating in the MassKara sa Panaad, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, September 5.The MassKara sa Panaad will be held at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, October 10 to16.Twenty-four Negros Occidental mayors joined a meeting on the MassKara sa Panaad with Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Sunday.LGUs not opening their pavilions during the MassKara sa Panaad will not be given assistance, Lacson said.Everyday the different districts of the province will have programs to entertain guests at the MassKara sa Panaad, he also said.This will be Negros Occidental's contribution to the MassKara, Lacson said...

The perspective of the proposed Panay Guimaras Negros bridge posted by Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar on his Facebook page Saturday, February 13.*Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the national government is sticking to its original plan to connect the Guimaras bridge to Negros Occidental through Pulupandan town.Lacson said the Negros Occidental Provincial Development Council (PDC) will move to endorse the bridge project in its next meeting.The governor said Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer informed him that the fourth district of Negros Occidental is now amenable to the bridge connecting to Negros through Pulupandan."We will need a Provincial Development Council resolution supporting that," the governor said.Lacson said for a while the national planners were t...

The scene of the crime in Barangay Sampinit, Bago City*An argument led to the death of an alleged drunk man and injuries to two others in Barangay Sampinit, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, September 2.Killed was Ferdinand Flores Jr., 25.Police said that the victim just had a drinking session with his friends at his neighbor’s birthday party when he went home, where he later figured an argument with his mother.Police said the victim allegedly attacked his mother, but his older brother, 28-year-old Nike Flores, pacified him.The victim then reportedly stabbed his brother twice.This prompted their father, Ferdinand Flores, to stop the commotion, but he, too, was stabbed.Nike Flores grappled for the weapon, and was able to grab the knife from the victim, who...

A area where the body of Fritz Buenafe was found.*EB Magalona PNP photoA man who was allegedly abducted from his home in Silay City, Negros Occidental, was found dead in nearby EB Magalona town on Saturday, September 3.He was identified as Fritz Buenafe, 32, of Barangay Lantad, Silay City.Capt. Eric Doronila, EB Magalona police chief, said the victim was allegedly taken by four unidentified men from his house on Friday, September 2.Two hours later, the victim was found dead by a watchman in a sugarcane field in Barangay San Jose, EB Magalona town. He was hogtied and had no upper clothes.The victim sustained three gunshot wounds.The police are still investigating the motive for the killing.*

The Negros Occidental and Bacolod officials meeting Sunday.*Pinky Mirano Ocampo FB page photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and the mayors of Negros Occidental met in Bacolod City Sunday, September 4, to discuss plans for the MassKara sa Panaad from October 10 to 16.Each congressional district will sponsor entertainment activities for the six-day event at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod, MassKara Festival director Pinky Mirano Ocampo said.Aside from the Negros Occidental local government units opening up their pavilions at the park for the MassKara guests, on October 10 the 1st District will sponsor an event, October 11 – 2nd District, October 12 – 3rd District, October 13 – 4th District, October 14 – 5th District, and October ...

The Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed P32,670,000 in educational assistance payouts to 11,248 indigent students in Western Visayas on Saturday, September 3.Of the beneficiaries 2,340 are elementary pupils, 1,896 high school students, 1,510 - senior high school and 5,502 – college, the DSWD reported.There were 2,793 beneficiaries in Negros Occidental who received P8,477,000. The 497 beneficiaries are elementary pupils, 406 – high school students, 392 – senior high school and 1,498 – college.The other beneficiaries of the payout in Western Visayas were in Aklan - 1,526 who received P4.1 million, Antique -1,334 – P3.5 million, Capiz -1,202 - P3.1 million, Guimaras 457 – P1.1 million, and Iloilo - 3,936 – P12.2 million.*

Bacolod Rep. Greg GasatayaThe groundbreaking of the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH) at Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod, is set on Friday, September 9.Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has confirmed that he will be joining the event, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said on Saturday, September 3.Gasataya authored the bill creating the BCGH in the Lower House, and Zubiri authored the measure in the Senate.They are hoping that the 120-bed hospital will be completed by 2024, Gasataya said.The P200 million for the construction of the other buildings outside the hospital has already been awarded and will start anytime, he said.The Department of Health is finalizing the floor plan for the P250 million main hospital building that hopefully can be bidded out in September, Ga...

The night market at Ballesteros Street.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe night market at Ballesteros Street in Bacolod City will be allowed to operate until October, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said Sunday, September 4.The night market will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, he said.He said so far 41 of 50 slots at the night market have been occupied.The vendors will be required to sell other items, and not just used clothing, he said.Meanwhile, about two of 17 restaurant owners at the Manokan Country who have been sent demand letters to pay their delinquent accounts have paid about P600,000, Maghari said.That brings the city’s collectibles down to P8 million.Those who fail to pay their delinquent accounts by the deadline on...