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The Carabalan evacuees in October*The Department of Social Welfare and Development began distributing cash assistance to 3,166 residents of Barangay Carabalan in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, who were affected by the armed conflict between government and rebel forces last month.Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson said each family received P3,000.The DSWD distributed the cash assistance to 1,927 recipients at the Carabalan Covered Court on Thursday, November 3.The distribution to 1,239 more recipients will be held on Friday, November 4.Gunbattles between government and rebel forces caused residents of Carabalan to evacuate for almost two weeks in October, which disrupted their means of livelihood.*

Members of the Bago City Council with City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rosievel Dimatulac (left), City Environment Management Officer Vicente Mesias (second from right), City Information Officer Ace Balboa (right) lead the opening of the three-day Natural Wonders of Bago Photo Exhibit featuring the works of acclaimed Negrense photographer Engineer John Kimwell Laluma (third from right) at the Bantayan Park Thursday, November 3.*Bago PIO photoAfter a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the physical celebration of the Al Cinco de Noviembre in Bago City is back this year with various activities to be highlighted on Saturday, November 5.Al Cinco de Noviembre, also known as Negros Day, is celebrated every November 5 to commemorate the Negrenses’ revolt against...

The baby that was found dead Wednesday.*La Carlota PNP photoA lifeless baby was found at Barangay Nagasi in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, November 2.Two farmers passed by a sugarcane plantation and smelled foul odor, the police said.When they checked where the smell was coming from they saw a baby inside a plastic bag that was already in a state of decomposition.The police have yet to determine who the mother of the baby is or who left it behind.*

City government to declog 300 kilometers of drainages.*Albee Benitez FB page photoThe city government is conducting massive dredging of waterways and declogging drainages to reduce flooding in Bacolod, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, November 3.Benitez, who held a Task Force Baha meeting, said eleven more flood prone areas in the city were identified during Tropical Storm “Paeng” for a total of 33.The City Engineer’s Office recommended that aside from the dredging of rivers, declogging of 300 kilometers of drainages need to be undertaken, he said.Additional drainage work was also discussed, he said.The City Engineer’s Office will coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways to avoid duplication of work, he said.A temporary shelter for...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, November 3, that the declaration of a state of calamity in Western Visayas will hasten the release of aid to residents affected by Tropical Storm “Paeng”.“Paeng” destroyed 180 houses and damaged 1,103 in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.Flooding brought on by “Paeng” also affected 43,448 families with 170,043 members in Negros Occidental, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said in an updated report on Thursday.She said 18 families with 88 members remained at evacuation centers on Thursday.“Paeng” destroyed 111 houses and damaged 989 in Negros Occidental, Garcia added.In Bacolod 69 houses were destroyed and 114 were damaged, Pacita Tero, City Department o...

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) recorded a significant decrease in crime incidents for October 2022, with a drop by 40 incidents or 34.48 percent compared to October of 2021.The BCPO records show only 76 crime incidents this October compared to 116 incident in 2021, a BPCO press release said on Wednesday, November 2.Of the total incidents, 55 are peace and order indicators while 21 are public safety indicators.The index crimes or eight focus crimes also had a remarkable decrease at 12 incidents compared to 23 incidents last year or equivalent to 47.82 percent.Meanwhile, the non-index crimes slightly decreased from 61 to 43 or the equivalent of 29.5 percent.The public safety indicators decreased from 32 in 2021 to 21 for the same period in 2022. These comprise the ...

One more suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was found dead following a series of encounters with State troopers in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on October 29.The fatality was identified as Marlon Albino, alias Max, of Sitio Nabanwagan, Brgy. Trinidad, and was said to be a member of SDG Pltn, CN1, KR-NCBS.His body was found at Barangay Buenavista on October 31 following a tip from a concerned citizen.Another suspected rebel identified as Michael Asuncion, alias Raymund, was also killed in an encounter with government soldiers in Guihulngan on October 29.The Army have assured residents of their safety amid the pursuit operations.They called on the rebels to surrender and return to the fold of the law.*

The 3rd Quarter Provincial Health Board meeting presided by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (left) on Wednesday.*There have been 623 typhoid fever cases in Negros Occidental and six deaths this year, while the cholera cases in the province have increased to 20, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported Wednesday, November 3.There have also been 457 acute gastroenteritis cases in the province this year, the PHO also reported at the 3rd Quarter Provincial Health Board meeting presided by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.A Provincial Food and Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee was created during the meeting.Lacson said 11 of the 31 local government units in Negros Occidental have created similar committees and he is encouraging th...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is issuing an executive order extending the COVID-19 Alert Level 2 status in Negros Occidental until November 15 and requiring the wearing of face masks in all provincial government buildings.“In my executive order I will specifically say that in all dealings inside a provincial government building, face mask is mandatory,” he said Wednesday, November 2.The Department of Health in its COVID-19 alert level classifications for November 1 to 15 extended Negros Occidental’s AL 2 status, while Bacolod remains under AL 1.Although President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 7 on October 28 allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor settings, Lacson said he believes the local autonomy of Local Government Units allows him to req...

"Paeng" destroyed 107 houses and damaged 936 in Negros Occidental, including in Silay City as shown above.* Mayor Joedeth Gallego FB page photoPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. placed Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, under a State of Calamity following the devastation caused by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, in an executive order issued Wednesday, November 2.The State of Calamity will remain in force and effect for six months unless earlier lifted by the president.Negros Occidental suffered losses of P257.8 million in crops and livestock, reports submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday showed.There were also 107 houses destroyed and 936 damaged in Negros Occidental, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said.PRICE CONTROLThe president...