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Pryde Henry Teves and Roel Ragay Degamo (l-r)*The Commission on Elections en banc moved to annul the proclamation of Pryde Henry Teves as governor of Negros Oriental, and affirmed an earlier resolution declaring the near namesake of former governor Roel Ragay Degamo a nuisance candidate.The Comelec en banc issued a writ of execution on Tuesday, September 27, directing the Special Provincial Board of Canvasses (SPBOC) to convene on Monday October 3 to annul the proclamation of Teves as the winner of the May 9 polls.This came after it ruled with finality that Ruel Degamo was a nuisance candidate in the race for governor.The Comelec Second Division declared Ruel Degamo, whose real name is Grego Gaudia, a nuisance candidate in December 2021, but without a final Comelec en banc ...

The scene of the accident in San Carlos City on Wednesday, September 28.*San Carlos PNP photoA motorcycle driver was killed after he was hit by a police patrol car at Barangay Punaw, San Carlos City, Wednesday, September 28.Killed was Roy Valiente, 35, of Escalante City,Lt. Col. Jesus Mesajon, San Carlos City Police Station chief, said the police were on their way to the police station after patrolling the area when their vehicle overtook the tricycle it was tailing.The driver may not have noticed that there was an incoming motorcycle that caused the collision,Mesajon said.The patrol car driver hit the brakes, but the vehicle swerved and fell into the canal, he added.The victim was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.The driver of the patrol car, 37-year-ol...

Security troops during the send-off ceremony at the Bacolod City Police Office headquarters.*BCPO photoA total of 1,165 security personnel were deployed for the MassKara Festival, which will kick off on October 1.The Bacolod City Police Office, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP K9, Bureau of Fire Protection, Special Weapons and Tactics, Regional Mobile Force Battalion VI, and the Philippine Army were among the groups that were blessed during the send-off ceremony Thursday, September 29, at the BCPO headquarters.Guests of honor were Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) commander, and Pinky Mirano-Ocampo, MassKara Festival director.Also present were BCPO director, Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, and Bacolod Traffic Aut...

E. B. Magalona officials, led by Mayor Marvin Malacon, on Thursday visited residents of Sitio Tinapok in Barangay Batea where a cholera case was reported.*The cholera cases in Negros Occidental have increased to seven, with another case reported in Silay City, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, September 29.There are now five Silay City residents who have been hit with cholera, one of whom died. Victorias and EB Magalona have one cholera case each.The latest person confirmed to have been hit with cholera is a 51-year-old male from Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City, who is in stable condition at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Lacson said the number of cholera cases in Silay can get alarming. “The numbers are...

The Bakunahang Bayan PinasLakas Special Vaccination Day at the Murcia Public Plaza on Thursday.*Richard Malihan photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is calling on all local government units to intensify their COVID-19 vaccination and booster drives as Negros Occidental is still lagging behind.“Let us find ways and think up innovative plans not just to reach the desired numbers, but to achieve our desired end to win this fight against COVID-19,” said Lacson in his speech at the launching of the Bakunahang Bayan PinasLakas Special Vaccination Day at the Murcia Public Plaza on Thursday, September 29.“This booster vaccination campaign, meant to increase the number of Filipinos who have been given the COVID-19 booster, should be taken as seriously and earnestly as the first vaccination dri...

Lawyer Reynaldo "Lolan" Novero Jr.*The city administrator of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental has resigned.Lawyer Reynaldo "Lolan" Novero Jr. submitted his irrevocable resignation to Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda on Wednesday, September 28.Novero, in his letter to Miranda, said “I am hereby tendering my irrevocable resignation as city administrator effective today”.“I believe this sacrificial act of resigning will operate for the good of the city and for all Kabankalanons which is the only thing foremost in my mind. For this reason, I pray that God will give you the wisdom in our dream to promote and protect the general welfare of our constituents,” he added.Novero could not be reached for further comment.Miranda said Novero’s resignation was sudden, he does not kn...

Damage to rice and high value crops in three cities and two towns in Negros Occidental caused by heavy rains and flooding brought on by Typhoon "Karding" has reached P9,659,150Affected were 934 farmers tilling 735.24 hectares in 46 barangays from September 23 to 26, Provincial Agriculturist Edmundo Raul Causing said in a report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday, September 29.Bago City was the worst hit with rice crop damage placed at P7 million. Affected were 740 farmers tilling 520 hectares in 13 Bago barangays.Rice crop damage in Himamaylan City was P284,512, Sipalay City - P729,513, Cauayan - P708,815 and Hinoba-an - P849,800.Ten famers planting high value crops in Sipalay City also suffered P46,950 damages, the report said.*

Bacolod City is a finalist for the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2022 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Award in the highly urbanized city category.The city has advanced to the final judging scheduled on October 3, Jose Alejandro, PCCI’s chairman for LGU awards, informed Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.Bacolod has been asked to submit a video presentation that focuses on the significant initiatives introduced by the LGU in fast-tracking sustainable local economic development through ease of doing business initiatives and the most successful and effective initiatives between the LGU and private sector in ensuring inclusive growth.The city was named the “Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit” for 2021 by the PCCI besting 10 other finalists i...