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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Dr. Renante Decena (right)*Dr. Renante Decena has committed to the development of the food security program of Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, June 14.Decena, 62, is retiring as provincial veterinarian on June 30 and is taking on the job of provincial consultant on food security on July 1, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday.Diaz said there are two prospects for OIC provincial veterinarian and the governor still has up to the end of the month to make his choice.There is an urgent need for the provincial government to put a food security program in place amid the prospects of a world food crisis, he said.Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program has been expanded to San Carlos C...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco Jr. (1st and 2nd from right) led the signing of the MOA.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco Jr. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the operationalization of Kabankalan City Animal Hospital at the Capitol in Bacolod City Tuesday, June 14.It is a collaborative program of the Kabankalan City government and the provincial government for the benefit and welfare of animals in Kabankalan City and in all neighboring LGUs.The provincial government will allocate a budget for the procurement of the necessary furnishings and fixtures, equipment, supplies, and biologics needed for the operation of the animal hospital, the MOA said.It will also provide technical ...

Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo "Albee" Benitez said he is aiming to start the construction of affordable onsite condominium-like housing units as shown in photo for Bacolod informal settler families in the first year of his term as mayorMayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said he is raising up to P5 billion to kick off the first phase of an affordable onsite housing program for informal settler families (ISF) in Bacolod City.“We are looking at raising between P3 to 5 billion for phase one of our housing program. We will issue LGU bonds so we are coordinating with the national treasury and the Department of Finance on how to go about it,” Benitez said Monday, June 13.Benitez said he is aiming to start the construction of affordable onsite condominium-like housing units for Bacolod ...

The total number of Negrenses vaccinated in the four-day simultaneous provincial COVID-19 vaccination drive in June remains short of the target.The total general population vaccinated were 15,291 and senior citizens were 890 for a total of 16,181, a report from Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Monday, June 13.The target was to vaccinate 23,305 residents a day for a total of 93,220 in four days.Negros Occidental has fully vaccinated 63.79 percent of its target population and 58.82 of its target senior citizens, making it the lowest performer in Western Visayas, the Department of Health reported Monday.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Negros Occidental will not be able to fully vaccinate 100 percent of its target population this June.“We are sti...

Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist) is spearheading the filing of a bill to revive the Negros Island Region.*A bill seeking the revival of the Negros Island Region will be filed on the first day of the 19th Congress on July 1, Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist) said Monday, June 13.Paduano said he will refile his previous bill for the legislative creation of the NIR composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental, and possibly Siquijor.He could refile the bill by himself or may be joined by all of the Negros Island representatives, Paduano said.Rep. Jake Vincent Villa, who is the incoming governor of Siquijor, expressed interest in his province joining the NIR during a Visayan bloc meeting, Paduano said.Paduano said they will also have...

The new wage increase will affect the sugar industry a lot, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, June 13.Some planters leasing farms have said they may not continue to do so after they harvest their current crop, he pointed out.On top of the new wage increase, the sugar industry if also affected by the high price of fuel and fertilizer, he said.“It’s a difficult year that we are facing,” Lacson said.“If it is still possible to appeal, that’s the right of our business sector to make an appeal,” he said.Frank Carbon, executive director of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they have filed a notice of appeal before the National Wages and Productivity Commission.The business sector can only afford a wage increase of from P25 t...

Dr. Renante Decena is retiring on June 30.*Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Renante Decena, is retiring on June 30.However, he will continue serving the provincial government as consultant on food security starting July 1, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, June 13.Decena, who is 62 years old, has been in the government service for 38 years.He has recommended Dr. Placida Lemana, chief of the Animal Health Division, to replace him as provincial veterinarian, Decena said.Lemana, who has worked for the provincial government for 26 years, has a master’s degree in public administration, he said.Lacson said they have a few days more to decide on who the new provincial veterinarian will be.*

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson wants Negros Occidentals chickens protected.*Levi Trio photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has directed the mayors of Negros Occidental to strengthen the biosecurity measures in poultry and gamefowl farms in their towns and cities to protect the province’s P8 billion industry, Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said Monday, June 13.Lacson, in a memorandum to the mayors on Monday, said in view of the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic Avian influenza in different parts to country, particularly in Luzon and Mindanao, it is necessary to continuously strengthen the province’s animal biosecurity program in order to protect the multibillion-peso poultry and gamefowl industry of Negros Occidental.Pursuant to Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991,...