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Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia (center) receives the SP resolution honoring him from councilors Archie Baribar, Renecito Novero, Israel Salanga and Em Ang (l-r) during the 84th Charter Day rites.*The Sangguniang Panlungsod honored the contributions and service of outgoing Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia in a resolution that was handed to him at the city’s 84th Charter Day Celebration Saturday, June 18.The outstanding 2021 Bacolod taxpayers were also honored during the Charter Day rites at the Bacolod City Government Center.SP Resolution No. 441, which was given to Leonardia during the charter day rites, expressed the Sanggunian's profound affection, respect, admiration and gratitude to Leonardia for his quintessential record of service to the city and for being, as of date, the long...

Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez to introduce members of Truth Commission on June 28.*A former state auditor will head the Bacolod City Truth Commission, mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said on Saturday, June 18.The Truth Commission, which will be composed of professionals, will be under the City Legal Office.Its members will be introduced on July 28, Benitez said.Incoming City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III will be a member of the commission, he added.The Truth Commission will not only look at past Bacolod City government transactions but will recommend how “we should conduct ourselves so that we don’t have any unqualified audit findings in the future and how to be more transparent”, Benitez said.The Emergency Operations Center that was created a...

Raps filed against Olivia Yanson by her four children were dismissed by the Department of Justice for being “hearsay with inadmissible evidence”.*The Department of Justice dismissed the complaints filed by the Yanson 4 siblings against their mother, two siblings and four others for alleged perjury, falsification of public documents and qualified theft in connection with the management of Rural Transit Mindanao Inc., Bachelor Express Inc. and Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc. for being “hearsay with inadmissible evidence.”Dismissed were the complaint affidavits filed by lawyer Sigfrid Fortun in behalf of the Yanson 4 - Roy, Emily, Ricardo and Celina against their mother Olivia Yanson, their siblings Ginnette Dumancas and Leo Rey Yanson, and Anita Chua, Danie Nicolas Golez, Rey Ardo a...

Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana and lawyer Lyzander Dilag discuss the killings in Bacolod City at a press conference in Bacolod City on Friday, June 17.*Another person was killed in a drug related incident Thursday night, June 16, bringing the shooting incidents in Bacolod City to six this month.Many Bacolod residents are alarmed by the spate of violence that has occurred in Bacolod City in the last few days, the incoming Benitez administration is committed to do whatever it can to strengthen the capabilities of the Bacolod police in the maintenance of peace and order and crime prevention, lawyer Lyzander “Bong” Dilag, spokesperson of mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said at a press conference Friday, June 17.Adonis Alabado Matulac, 54, was on board a scooter at Lacson Extension in...

Rescuers brought the injured lighting victims to the Merceditas Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay City.* Dionilo Bogtae photoLighting killed a teenager and critically injured three others in a mountainous area of Sitio Don Jose, Brgy. Manlucahoc in Sipalay City Friday afternoon, June 17.They were planting mangium tress when lighting hit them, Dionilo Bogtae, Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services head, said.Killed was Yanyan Escarlan, 17, and critically injured were Harry Villacora, 16, John Rey Villacora, 20, and Ma. Krestina Lavilla, 20, who were brought to the Merceditas Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay City, Bogtae said.A fifth person who was standing a distance away from the four was not hit, he added.“It was very hot and it suddenly rained, they...

Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) announced Friday, June 17, that it is deferring the implementation of refunds to its consumers for its net over-recoveries of P237,949,425.51 incurred from February 2004 to December 2017.CENECO said its average residential rate for the billing month of June is P12.1171/kwh, an increase of P0.9770/kwh, from last month’s rate of P11.1401/kwh.The P0.9770/kWh rate hike can be attributed to the increase in generation, transmission and system loss charges caused by the surge in fuel rates, increase in power cost and other pass through charges such as VAT, it said.Ervin Stan Leo Ticar, CENECO acting general manager, said that the cooperative received a Notice of Resolution issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on the P237,949,425 ove...

Preliminary investigations of three doctors and two staff at two Negros Occidental provincial government hospitals are ongoing, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Friday, June 17.The investigations stem from patients’ complaints lodged before the Department of Health that were forwarded to the provincial government for action, he said.Two doctors at the Ignacio L. Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela are under investigation for alleged “maltreatment” of a patient, Nellas said.A doctor and two staff at the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital in La Carlota City are also under investigation for alleged corrupt practices involving medical supplies, he said. The doctor was included in the complaint for alleged command responsibility, he added....

The proposed housing units for Bacolod*There is no conflict of interest in Joly Homes Foundation’s helping the onsite housing program to be implemented by mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez in Bacolod City, his spokesman lawyer Lyzander Dilag said Friday, June 17.Benitez said on Monday, June 13, that he is aiming to start the construction of affordable onsite condominium-like housing units for Bacolod informal settler families (ISFs) in the first year of his term as mayor.The Joly Homes Foundation staff are starting the social preparation for the project, because before the plan is executed it needs to be accepted by the intended beneficiaries, Benitez said.Opponents of Benitez claim that tapping the foundation is in conflict of interest since it was founded by his family....

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will be the guest speaker at 84th Anniversary of Bacolod City.*Bacolod City is marking its 84th Charter Anniversary at the Bacolod City Government Center at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 18.Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will be the guest speaker at the celebration, which theme is “Surviving the crisis, rising above and beyond”.Bacolod’s top taxpayers will be awarded during the program.Republic Act 11146 declares June 18 as Bacolod’s Charter Day and an annual public holiday in the city, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said.*

Mayor Evelio Leonardia has ordered the City Health Office to intensify its Barangay Anti-Dengue efforts following the recent rise in dengue cases in Bacolod City.Bacolod had 207 dengue cases with four deaths as of June 11, a press release from the City Public Information Office said Friday, June 17.This year’s cases are 137.3 percent higher compared to the 87 cases and two fatalities in the same period in 2021, Bacolod City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (BCESU) data showed.“Much like COVID-19, dengue is no laughing matter. We cannot afford another pandemic,” Leonardia said, urging barangay leaders and health workers to coordinate with the CHO as they conduct their anti-dengue programs to curb the spread of the illness.The mayor also advised residents to maintain cleanli...