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Representatives of environment groups submitting their statement of opposition to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental.*Various groups, led by San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, submitted a statement of opposition to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental with the demand to urgently revoke the Resolution of Non-Objection (RONO) enacted by the SP with regard to the planned construction of a 300 MW Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Combined Cycle Power Plant in San Carlos City, a press release  from the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development said Thursday, July 21.“We maintain that the resolution of non-objection from the Provincial Board is premature, invalid, and is not representative of the multiple stakeholders from San Carlos who openly objected ...

The encounter site in Brgy. Sandayao, Guihulngan City.*303rd IB photoThe family of the suspected rebel who died in an encounter with the state troopers in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, claimed his cadaver Thursday, July 21, at St. Francis Funeral Home.The family of Pompeo Landesa said that he joined the New People’s Army in 2005, the Army reported.His family urged his comrades to surrender to the authorities so they will not suffer the same fate.Landesa was among the rebels encountered by the troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion after they responded to the reported presence of the rebels in the area that led to the firefight.The killed rebel was said to have warrants of arrest for illegal possession of firearms, and murder.Recovered from the encounter site were...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (3rd from left) and the rest of the officials of League of Cities of the Philippines take their oaths before Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. (left) on Thursday, July 21.*Al Victor Espino photoBacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez was elected chairman of the League of Cities of the Philippines during the 69th LCP General Assembly at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City on Thursday, July 21.“It’s a great honor  for me and Bacolod City,” Benitez said.Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was elected  LCP  president, the post previously held by former Bacolod mayor  Evelio Leonardia.Benitez, Rama and the rest of the newly elected LCP officials took their oaths of office before Local Government Secretary  Benjam...

The P1.1 million in suspected shabu recovered in Kabankalan City on Wednesday, July 20.*Kabankalan PNP photoA buy-bust operation in Brgy. Camugao, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, led to the confiscation of P1.156 million worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of two persons on Wednesday, July 20.Nabbed were Jomy “Toto” Consular, 42, and Leosella “Shela” Consular, 27,  of Brgy. Hilamonan.Recovered from their possession were 170 grams worth of suspected shabu, the boodle money, two mobile phones, and a tricycle.The suspects are now in the custody of the Kabankalan police and are facing drug charges.*

The Provincial Health Office is launching the  “Sabayang 4-5-6 sa Negros Occidental” in the top ten dengue-hit local government units of the province from July 26 to August 2, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, July 21."Sabayang 4-5-6" is the implementation of the 4S (search and destroy breeding sites, seek early consultation, self-protection, and say “yes” to fogging only in hotspot areas) strategy.As of July 16 the Provincial Health Office recorded 2,375 dengue cases and 11 deaths in Negros Occidental or an 857.66 percent increase from last year.In relation to the regionwide “Sabayang 4,5,6” strategy of the Department of Health, the provincial government will be conducting on-site monitoring  for dengue preparedness and  response, a dengue a...

There are five local government  units in Negros Occidental who had more than 30,000 residents still unvaccinated against COVID-19 among their target populations as of July 16.The topnotcher is Kabankalan City  that needs to vaccinate 54,446 residents to reach its target,  San Carlos City - 50,506, Bago City – 38,089, Calatrava – 34,261 and  Cauayan - -32,519, a report from Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz showed Thursday, July 21.The province has fully vaccinated 66.04 percent or 1,385,900 residents out of its 2,098,421 target population, and 71.37 percent or 1,497,683 residents of the target have been vaccinated with at least one dose.  The two LGUS that have vaccinated below 50 percent of their target population with first doses are Calatrava ...

The body of the nurse found in the yard of her home in Valencia, Negros Oriental, Wednesday, July 20.*NORPPO photoA nurse who was reported missing was found buried in the backyard of  her home at Barangay Palinpinon in Valencia, Negros Oriental, Wednesday, July 20.Maribel Glazier, 32, was reported missing by her friends since last week because they could no longer contact her.The police said they went to the victim's home and discovered she was buried in the yard of her house because of the  foul odor .The victim was found to have sustained a wound.The victim's husband, an American national, was reportedly considered as the primary suspect after he surrendered to the authorities. He is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.Police are s...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Ramon Uy Sr. of the RU-EcoAgri Foundation at the tramline turnover.*Gov. Eugenio Jose  Lacson led the turn over of the Tagukon Agricultural Tramline Project in Sitio Minaluha, Brgy. Tagukon, Kabankalan City,  Thursday, July 21, aimed at reducing travel time of product hauling from the farm source and enhance agricultural productivity and income of local farmers.The project costs P2,026,251 and built with two towers, landing pads, waiting shed, engine room, carriage, pulleys, and cables.Its maximum carriage assembly capacity is P350 kg and takes two minutes and 20 seconds per tramline trip from tower A to B, with a 320 m distance.The Minaluha Diversified Farmers Association (MIDIFA) and Bagacay Diversified Farmers Association (BADIFA) a...

The reassigned  hospital chiefs of eight Negros Occidental  provincial government-run hospitals have 15 days to transfer  to their new posts,  Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, July 21.They are asking for time for a transition, which was granted for humanitarian reasons,  Diaz said.The reshuffling was done to improve hospital services, he said.The aim is to change the image of government-run hospitals to really be caring towards their patients, he said.Dr. Mary Ann  Maestral, chief of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City has not been transferred to a new post.Those transferred are Dr. Claudelia Josefa  Pabillo to the Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City, Dr. Myre Parpa - Lorenzo D. Zayco Dis...

The sea cow locally known as “dugong” that was found dead in the Macahulom Reef *Sagay PIO photoA very rare sea cow locally known as “dugong” was found dead in Macahulom Reef within the Sagay Marine Reserve in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, July 18.The last time a dugong was stranded in the area was in 2000.The dead sea cow was a female adult measuring 2.95 meters with an estimated weight of 300-350 kilograms in an advanced state of decomposition, Jose Roberto Togle, head of the Resource Management Section of the Sagay Marine Reserve, said Thursday, July 21.Bantay Dagat Volunteers Dionesio Pahayahay, Francis Gopio, and Paolo Hulleza were on duty at the Macahulom Watchtower when they saw the dead animal at around 9 a.m. on July 18 and reported the sighting to ...