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There are penalties for violating traffic rules in Bacolod, the city government warned Thursday, January 5.The one way traffic scheme along Aguinaldo, Gatuslao and some sections of Lacson streets remain, along with the Circumferential Road truck ban at certain hours, a post on the Bacolod City Facebook page said.The fine set under City Ordinance No. 62, Series of 1989 for obstruction is P100, ignoring traffic signs - P100 and reckless driving/driving which endangers life and/or property- P100.The fines for violation of the truck ban under City Ordinance No. 542, Series of 2011 are: first offense - P1,000, second offense - P3,000 and third offense - P5,000, without prejudice to the filing of a criminal charge in court against the driver.There is a complete truck ban along th...

Zeaphard Caelian, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head*The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has identified 317 flood and landslide pone barangays in Negros Occidental, Zeaphard Caelian, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head, said Wednesday, January 4.The flooding risk of 56 barangays is very high and high for 126 others, while the landslide risk of 20 areas is very high and high for 115, the MGB said.Caelian said the Negros Occidental provincial government has activated its “Oplan for: Listo sa Pag-ulan” in preparation for any eventuality caused by low pressure area-induced rains.It has been raining for five days in Negros, which could cause flooding and landslides, he said.The plan provides guidelines for local government units on how t...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson delivering his New Year's message on Wednesday.*There are already three investors interested in the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project, which bidding is set in July, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, January 4.The bulk water project that will be undertaken through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) will include Bacolod City, he said.Private investors will not invest if Bacolod is not included because they want to ensure that they make a profit, the governor said.Lacson, who outlined his targets for 2023, said the provincial government will also push forward the development of the bamboo industry for its Safe Water Project.Several local government units have shown serious intent to be the bamboo capital of the pr...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is part of the Philippine delegation led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in China.*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday, January 4, that the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “is an important step in continuing the strong relationship between the Philippines and China”.Benitez is part of the delegation of Marcos that arrived in China Tuesday evening for a three-day state visit.“I am honored to be a part of the Philippine delegation to visit the People’s Republic of China.The delegation, headed by our President and First Lady, was warmly received at the airport,” Benitez said.This will be the first bilateral and official visit of President Marcos to China, he added.Benitez said he hopes to attract C...

Negrense Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr. was among those absolved by the Office of the President.*The Office of the President has dismissed the case for grave misconduct, grave dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service lodged against the former members of the Sugar Board for the issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 (SO No. 4) authorizing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar in August last year.The Office of the President in a 10-page decision absolved then Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio S. Sebastian, Administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, and board members Roland B. Beltran and Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr., who have since resigned from their posts.However, the decision also admonished the respo...

The protest in front of the Bacolod City Government Center *Amlig Tubig members called for the removal of the 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on water services at a rally in front of the Bacolod City Government Center on Wednesday, January 4.They also called for the reinstatement of “illegally dismissed” Bacolod City Water District employees.Noli Rosales, BAYAN Negros spokesperson, said they are calling on Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez to see to the removal of that 12 percent VAT on water services.“With families already reeling from the high costs of food, fuel, and other basic commodities due to a worsening Philippine economy amid the record-high inflation in the country, the 12 percent VAT in our water utility bills under Primewater is an extra burden to...

There were 63 fireworks-related injuries in Negros Occidental and four in Bacolod City from December 21 to Tuesday, January 3.Those injured in Negros Occidental increased by 103 percent with only 31 recorded in 2021, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said.There were only four firecracker victims in Bacolod, the City Health Office reported.The most number of injured in Negros Occidental were in Bago City that had 10, Talisay City – 7, Cadiz City and Sagay City - 4 each, Binalbagan, Kabankalan City, Silay City and La Castellana - 3 each, Escalante City, Valladolid, San Enrique, Calatrava and Himamaylan City – 2 each, and Isabela, Pulupandan, San Carlos City, Murcia, Cauayan, Hinigaran, Manapla, Hinoba-an and La Carlota City – 1 each.The PHO report said 42.9 per...