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Jun222022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Vaccinating senior citizens vs. Covid-19 uphill battle

The provincial government is having a hard time convincing senior citizens to get vaccinated against Covid-19*Richard Malihan photoConvincing more senior citizens in Negros Occidental to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is an uphill battle.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said they targeted 15,000 senior citizens during their simultaneous provincewide mass vaccination drive this month but so far only 714 have been covered.The provincial government is giving rice assistance to senior citizens who agree to be vaccinated, and financial incentives to barangay health workers who are able to convince more residents to get inoculated.They will just keep on trying to convince more residents, especially senior citizens, to get vaccinated for their own protection, he said.T...

Jun222022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Scholarship program MOA for Negros brgy heads inked

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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos president, Fr. Don H. Besana, after the signing of the MOA. *Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos president, Fr. Don H. Besana, signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the “Scholarship for Local Leaders on Barangay Governance”, Wednesday, June 22.“This scholarship program for barangay officials is not just a pioneering initiative but a necessary step to develop the capacities of our barangay officials,” Lacson said.The scholarship aims to boost the managerial and leadership skills of local leaders through the provision of a one-semester - 15 units Certificate on Public Administration and Governance, a press release from the Capitol said.T...

Jun222022 by Mark GarciaNo Comments

Bagani to hold Pride Fest 2022

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Members of the Bagani Community Center*A health-based non-government organization, Bagani Community Center, will hold a Pride Fest on Saturday, June 25, in celebration of Pride Month to help Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Negros Occidental.This is the second Pride event hosted by Bagani since its establishment in 2019, where it will feature local talents from the LGBT+ community, as well as bring the advocacy for HIV education, awareness, and prevention.The event will start 9 a.m. at the pool area of Acacia Hotel.During the event, Bagani will launch its HIV-treatment hub, the first and only NGO-run treatment center on Negros Island, and a self-care HIV testing program.Bagani’s Hub Manager Butch Lavaro said the event will be a venue to celebrate pride, as well as adv...

Jun212022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Make arrests, don’t let suspects in shooting cases get away: guv

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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, June 21, that the police should arrest and file charges against the suspects in the spate of shooting incidents in Bacolod City to teach the culprits that they cannot get away with such crimes.Lacson and mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez met with the top police officials of Bacolod and Negros Occidental on Monday, following nine successive shooting incidents in the city this month.Present at the meeting was Bacolod police director, Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, and Negros Occidental police director, Col. Leo Pamittan.“We manifested our concern. What is important is if somebody gets shot, the police should identify the suspects and make actual arrests,” Lacson said.Lacson said it has to be that way to assure the publ...

Jun212022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Top ‘drug personality’ nabbed in San Carlos

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Jean Marquez Compacion on her arrest Tuesday, June 21.*San Carlos police photoThe number two top drug personality and the third most wanted person of the San Carlos City police in Negros Occidental was arrested at 7:53 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, six months after she eluded arrest in a buy-bust operation that yielded P10.2 million in shabu.Jean Marquez Compacion, 31, was arrested at her residence at Sto. Rosario, Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos, Lt. Ruby Aurita, the city’s police spokesperson, said.Compacion escaped during a police buy-bust operation in San Carlos City in January but her live-in partner Joel Rizardo was arrested with 1.2 kilos of shabu, Aurita said.She was nabbed by virtue of a warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 20...

Jun212022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Marcos’ prioritizing agriculture good move, Negros leaders say

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Rice farmers at Barangay Tuyom in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.*Ronnie Baldonado photoPresident-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s announcement that he will prioritize increasing the country’s food production when he takes over as concurrent head of the Department of Agriculture (DA) was hailed as a good move in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, June 21.This is a sign that he is giving high priority to agriculture, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.If the president leads the DA the response will be fast because right then and there he can make a decision that becomes executory immediately, Lacson said.“I think he just wants to tell us that he is really giving agriculture a priority, we being an agricultural country,” the governor added.Ramon Uy Sr., an organic farming...

Jun212022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez names director of 2022 MassKara fest

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Pinky Mirano-Ocampo and mayor-elect Alfredo "Albee" Benitez (right) meet on the MassKara Festival on Tuesday.*Patrick Lacson photoLawyer and event organizer Pinky Mirano Ocampo will head this year’s MassKara Festival.Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez has appointed her this year’s festival director, Ocampo confirmed Tuesday night, June 21.Benitez will announce the details of the festival in July, she said.Pinky Mirano Ocampo, seated 3rd from left, with the participants at the MassKara Festival meeting on Tuesday.*All those interested to help the festival were gathered by Benitez on Tuesday, Patrick Lacson said.They discussed the possible schedule of the festival that will take into consideration the COVID-19 situation in October, he said.Benitez said he...

Jun212022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

1 dead, 4 injured in mishap, raps readied vs. driver: PNP

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The scene of the accident in in Barangay Tinampaan, Cadiz City, on Monday, June 20.*The police are preparing to file charges for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against the driver of an Isuzu Canter that figured in an accident that caused the death of one and the injury of four in Barangay Tinampaan, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, at 4:20 p.m. Monday, June 20.The driver of the Isuzu Canter was identified as Julieto Discarten Jaranilla, 59, of Hacienda Reboton also in Barangay Tinampaan.The canter figured in a collision with a tricycle driven by Rodrigo Lucot Magbanua, 53, of Barangay Zone 2, Cadiz City, who died in the mishap, a police report said.The injured tricycle passengers were identified as Lucilyn Siason, 43, Karmen Toriado, 43, Eric Maguliman, 31 and Ther...

Jun212022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

City turnover of documents for transition set, Greg says

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The Bacolod transition teams will meet at the Bacolod City Government Center.*The transition teams of mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez and outgoing mayor Evelio Leonardia are set to meet at the Bacolod City Government Center 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, Rep. Greg Gasataya said.Gasataya, who heads the Benitez transition team, said they expect Leonardia’s camp to turn over documents that they requested through the Department of the Interior and Local Government.They have already completed the documents requested from the different departments and are ready for their turnover, Victoria Parreñas, secretary to the mayor, assured on Tuesday.Benitez takes over the helm of the Bacolod City government at noon of June 30.The oath taking rites of the new Bacolod officials will be...

Jun212022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

July 1 a holiday in San Carlos City

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San Carlos City is celebrating its Charter Day on July 1.*July 1 has been declared a special non-working holiday in San Carlos City.Proclamation No. 1373 said the special non-working day was declared to enable the people of San Carlos to celebrate the city’s Charter Day.The proclamation, which was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte, said public health measures should be observed during the celebration*