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Dengue cases in Negros Occidental have increased by 126.16 percent this year, which is the highest in Western Visayas, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Thursday, May 19.There have been 389 dengue cases in Negros Occidental from January 1 to May 7, or an increase by 217 cases compared to the 172 cases in 2021, he said.Five persons have also died from dengue in Negros Occidental this year, compared to three in 2021, he said.La Carlota City, Himamaylan City, Calatrava, Talisay City and Toboso have one dengue death each this year, Tumimbang said.San Carlos City has the highest number of dengue cases at 36, followed by Hinigaran with 34, La Carlota City – 32, Himamaylan City – 30, Sagay City – 24, Cadiz City – 21, Kabankalan City – 21, Calatrava -18, Cauayan...

Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and Leo Rey Yanson (7th and 3rd from left) with other Marcos supporters at the party Wednesday.*Dolly Yasa photoPresumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos, thanked Negrenses for their support at a party for supporters in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, May 18, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said.The party was hosted by Leo Rey Yanson at his family rest house in Barangay Bubog, Ferrer said.Marcos and his wife thanked Leo Rey and the Yanson family, owners of the biggest bus firm in the country, and all their volunteers and supporters in Negros Occidental and Bacolod via video from Australia that was beamed on a widescreen at the party."We will never forget all of your help for the rest of our lives,” ...

A four-day stepped up provincial vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease is being readied in Negros Occidental, while a close watch is up against the entry of the COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Thursday, May 19.The provincial vaccination days will be held to step up the campaign so more local government units in Negros Occidental can be downgraded to Alert Level 1, he said.So far, only seven of the 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental are under Alert Level 1, while the rest are under Alert Level 2 because of their low COVID-19 vaccination rate.Negros Occidental has vaccinated 62.68 percent of its target population, making it the lowest performer in Western Visayas, a Department of Health 6 report Wednesday, May 18, showed. ...

Police Station 9 photoA 28-year-old man who accidentally fell off a roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) vessel bound for Bacolod City Wednesday, May 18, was rescued by local fishermen.Michael John Balsomo of Barangay Balicotoc, Ilog, Negros Occidental, a call center agent, said he was just getting fresh air when he slipped beyond the railings and fell into the sea.He was floating in the sea for five hours when he was spotted by fishermen at Polo Bilo, 10 kilometers from the Barangay Pta. Taytay, Bacolod, shoreline.He was then brought to the barangay hall where he was given medical assistance.*

Negros Occidental has no plan to close its borders with Iloilo after three highly transmissible Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 cases were detected there, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, May 18.“We’ll have to observe how it goes,” he said, pointing out that the sub-variant has been detected not only in Western Visayas but in other parts of the country.COVID-19 admissions in hospitals are very low so most likely these are very mild cases, he said.“In the meantime, we don’t intend to close our borders, I think it’s too early for that. Let’s just do our share and protect ourselves,” Lacson said.Right now there is really no reason for large crowds to converge because the campaign period is over, he said.He stressed the need to continue to wear face masks.Two Omic...

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Hanky Lee (right) with Joey Gaston at the Chapel of the Cartwheels in Manapla.*Ronnie Baldonado photoTourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said she brought hotelier Hanky Lee to Negros Occidental on Wednesday in the hope that he will invest in the province.“I hope he really decides to put up a hotel here,” said Puyat, who was in Negros Occidental on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 17 and 18.Lee is the owner and founder of the Filipino vintage-modern The Henry hotels, that have stories to tell of the localities they are located in, she said, citing the rich heritage Negros Occidental has to offer.Lee was so surprised with what he saw, he wants to return to Negros and bring his friends, she said.Local and foreign tourists...

The new Provincial Administration Center (PAC) could still be built at Aguinaldo Street in Bacolod City, and not in Talisay City as planned.That is because if it is built on property owned by the provincial government in Talisay City the Government Procurement and Policy Board has ruled that a rebidding would have to be conducted, and it is not certain if the winning contractor, Dynamic Builders, will agree to that, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, May 18.Ricardo Yanson Jr. is the president of Dynamic Builders.Lacson said he is waiting for the reply of the contractor, which he hopes to receive before the end of the month.The contractor is holding a legitimate contract to build the PAC in Bacolod so his reply is needed, he added.They will proceed depending on the...