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The newly elected officers Nea Cecile Quiachon, Juliana Ballesteros-Carbon, Keith Balbin, Gerry Llena, Arleen Medina, Lian Dominic Gumban and Gabriel Sinco (l-r).*Lawyer Gerry Llena was elected president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines -Negros Occidental Chapter at polls held at the Bacolod Hall of Justice lobby on Saturday, February 25.Elected vice president was Ramon Antonio Pandan, secretary – retired judge Gorgonio Ybañez, treasurer- Juliana Ballesteros – Carbon, auditor - Woodrow Guanzon, and public relations officer - Nea Cecile Quiachon.Members of the Board of Directors are Keith Balbin, Arleen Medina, Kevin Ramos, Gabriel Sinco and Lian Dominic Gumban.The newly elected officers will begin their 2-year terms starting April 1, 2023, Carbon said.The cu...

The mayor of Ayungon, Negros Oriental, is facing a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide after his vehicle accidentally hit a senior citizen crossing the highway in his town at 10 p.m. Friday, February 24, a police report said.Mayor Dennis Amancio, 57, was driving a Nissan Navara that hit Manuel Garson Palallos, 67, at the highway in Barangay Awaan, Ayungon, a police report said.The police received a phone call from the mayor that he was involved in a traffic accident.Initial police investigation showed that the mayor was traveling from Tayasan, Negros Oriental, going to Brgy. Tampocon I, Ayungon, when the victim suddenly crossed the road and was accidentally hit.The victim was rushed to the Bindoy District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The...

Expect fuel prices to go down starting Tuesday, February 28, until March 6, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said on Saturday.Diesel prices should go down by P1.20 to P1.40 per liter, and gasoline by P0.70 to P0.90 per liter.The Department of Energy (DOE) last week reported that prices since the start of the year had logged a net increase of P6 per liter for gasoline and overall decreases of P1.10 per liter for diesel and P0.50 per liter for kerosene.*

The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) management announced on Sunday, February 26, that its Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology will be limiting its hospital admissions to "extreme emergency cases only" effective immediately.The dedicated areas for orthopedic patients are at full capacity, the CLMMRH advisory said.“For the meantime, the potential patients are advised to seek other healthcare facilities for medical intervention. The medical professionals are currently doing their best to assess patients who can be discharged as stable,” it added.The hospital will strictly enforce the Patient Transfer Coordination Protocol. All patient transfers must be coordinated through the Hospital Operations Center through these hotlines 0917-1007093 or 70...

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the launching of the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) at Cauayan District Hospital, Friday, February 24.With its official launching, all NOCHP cardholders, particularly in the Sixth District of the province, may now avail of free medical and health services at the hospital, a press release from the Capitol said Saturday.Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara led the ceremonial acceptance of the program, together with Hospital Chief Dr. Maricel Dida, NOCHP Head Andrea Marie Boheron, and other local officials.NOCHP is a health insurance for indigents, spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, in collaboration with the 31 component cities and municipalities of the province, six Congressional Districts, PhilHe...

The Negros Occidental Hospital Operations Department (HOD) management said on Friday, February 24, that all decisions arrived at on the operations of provincial government hospitals are “data driven and is never political because health has no political color”.The HOD statement was issued in response to a Facebook post circulating, which alleges that after politics reared its ugly head the Level 1 status plan for the Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital (MJMDH) in Sipalay City has been dismissed and it will continue as a 75-room infirmary.“Even pre-pandemic, the very low census was already a problem for the hospital. Several schemes, including several changes in management, were implemented just to boost admission but residents still preferred the City Infirmary,” the HOD state...

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares is from Negros Occidental*Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said on Friday, February 24, that he has serious concerns about the impact of the construction of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island bridges on the environment and on the country’s debts.The construction of the P189.53 billion PGN bridges will start in 2025 once the Detailed Engineering Design is completed on schedule and approved for funding and implementation, the National Economic and Development Authority in Western Visayas announced on Thursday.Colmenares said the plan does not fully consider the impact of the project on marine mammals as well as the environment.“We call on relevant agencies to insist on first studying this very important aspect in their plans. W...

The Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) cases in San Carlos City, the majority of which were amoebiasis positive, reached 205 on Friday, February 24.The active admitted cases at the San Carlos City Hospital were 61, hospital spokesperson Charlen Pol Anlap said.On Wednesday a 3-year-old child suffering from severe dehydration was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. It was not determined if the child was positive for amoebiasis, or had been hit by some other bacteria, she said.The child came from Barangay Buluangan that has had the highest number of cases at 31, she said.The San Carlos City Hospital admitted 119 amoeba positive cases and 86 AGE cases from February 1 to 24, she said.Anlap said they also had patients who are Bureau of Jail Management and Penology inmates suff...

The scene of the shooting incident.*PNP photoA Criminal Investigation and Detection Group policeman and two suspected gunrunners were injured in a shooting incident in Bacolod City at 11:05 a.m. Friday, February 24.Injured were PCpl Rey Sivestre of the CIDG Bacolod, and the suspects Michael Carion Bintoroso, 44, of Brgy. Codcod, San Carlos City, and Alex Bajita Villegas, 33, of Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod, a Police Station 6 report said.CIDG-Bacolod operatives conducted a gun buy bust operation in front of Socorro Subdivision Phase 2 at the Circumferential Road in Brgy. Taculing, the report said.Sivestre, who acted as a gun buyer, and the suspects met inside a Mitsubishi Montero owned by the CIDG.When the suspects sensed that the buyer was a policeman they grappled with a ...

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said on Friday, February 24, that red tagging will never stop his commitment to peace and justice.“I cannot be silent amid violence and injustices,” Alminaza, who is the Pilgrims for Peace convenor, said in a statement.He said he was the subject of red-tagging by the SMNI's television program “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” during its February 22 segment where its hosts called his advocacy “diabolical and demonic”.SMNI is the media outfit of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy,“As this TV program continues to malign and even invoke vicious threats against the work of church-people, bishops and pastors, dedicated activists, and ordinary persons we should never be afraid, but rather be brave in speaking for the truth on behalf of the victims of injustice”, Almi...