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The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City has been limiting  admissions at its Department of Pediatrics to "extreme emergency cases".It was determined a week ago that certain patient watchers had become ill during their stay at the low risk areas and eventually tested positive for COVID-19, a hospital advisory had said on July 22.The doctors and nurses who were by contact tracing determined to have been exposed were isolated after testing positive as well, the advisory said. This had affected the manpower availability of the Pediatric Ward, it said.The hospital management assured that the situation had been contained to prevent further transmission.*

Silay City Councilor Ryan Gamboa*Silay City Councilor Ryan Gamboa said on Sunday, July 31, that he will run for vice president of the Philippine Councilors League-Negros Occidental (PCL-NO) chapter.Gamboa, who is current PCL-NO president, said he will abide by the Love Negros and United Negros Alliance coalition agreement to field La Carlota City Councilor Julius Martin Asistio for the presidency.He said Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has talked to him and he will abide by their party’s decision to run as Asistio’s vice president. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served for three years as PCL president and ex-officio board member,” he said.They will be finalizing the entire PCL-NO  line up of the coalition this week, he said.However, they cannot prevent...

Negros Occidental’s active COVID-19 cases are nearing 100.The province had 12 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, July 2, bringing its total active cases to 99, the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) reported.Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, Negros Occidental has had 1,978 deaths and 39,685 recoveries, the PIMT said.Meanwhile, Bacolod City had 17 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday and 15 on Sunday, the Department of Health reported.*

Two men were arrested in a buy-bust operation for firearms at Prk 1, Brgy Laga-an, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Friday, July 29.Nabbed were furniture maker Renato Delima, 49, and businessman Danelson Amolo, 57, both of Calatrava.During the bust, the suspects yielded a 12-guage shotgun, two .45 caliber pistols with two magazines and six live ammunition, the P100 buy-bust money, the P69,900 boodle money, and a sling bag.The suspects are now in police custody, facing charges for illegal possession of firearms.*

The man (right) who was arrested in Escalante City Saturday, July 30.*NOCPPO photoA man was arrested after he and his companions chased and fired a gun at a moving Ceres bus at the national highway of Crossing Cristobal, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City in Negros Occidental Saturday, July 30.Nabbed was Joefel Sante, 19, of Purok Makiangayon 2, Echarri Street, Barangay Balintawak, Escalante.Police said the conductor of the bus had sought the help of the police after they were chased by motorcycle-riding suspects.Responding policemen chased the suspects, but were only able to catch Sante.The driver reportedly didn’t stop the bus to pick up the suspects after one of them was seen with a pipe, and  there was also a previous incident of a hold-up in the area, a police re...

A farmer was shot to death at Purok 10, Barangay Inayawan, Cauayan in Negros Occidental on Friday, July 29.The fatality was identified as Panpelo Maban, 61.Police said that the victim and his wife were in their nipa hut in their farm when four unidentified men arrived to talk to him.When his wife left, the suspects shot Maban several times with an M-16 rifle. He died instantly.Police have yet to establish the motive of the incident.*

Vice President Sara Duterte*Vice President Sara Duterte will be the keynote speaker at the 25th Charter Day  Anniversary of Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, August 2, Mayor Benjie Miranda said Sunday.She has confirmed her attendance, he said.The charter day program to be held at the Kabakalan City Freedom Park will also be attended by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District), a program of the event showed.However, Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, who is  supposed to deliver the closing remarks at the program, said on Sunday that the  visit of the vice president had not been confirmed as of Saturday.*

Former president Fidel Ramos during a visit to Bacolod City flanked by then governors Emilio Osmeña of Cebu and Rafael Coscolluela of Negros Occidental (right).*Negros Occidental and Bacolod City officials lauded former president Fidel Ramos who passed away on Sunday, July 31, for bringing renewed economic growth and political stability to the Philippines.Ramos, who was 94, was the 12th president of the Philippines serving from 1992 to 1998.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Negros Occidental, together with the entire country, is saddened by the passing of the former president.“He will be remembered for his peace agreements, for encouraging family planning practices, bringing about economic reforms which led to the deregulation of major industries and renewed investor confidence...