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Feb72023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bago highlights local talents on National Arts Month

Bago Mayor Nicholas Yulo (center) and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres (right) award the cash prize to Albert Magbanua, who won first place in the 3rd Kurit-Baylan Supersized Canvas Painting Competition.*"Our aim is for these artistic endeavors to give recognition to our very own Bagonhon talents in the field of creative expression."This was stressed by Bago Mayor Nicholas Yulo at the opening of the city's celebration of the National Arts Month at the Bantayan Park on Monday, February 6.The city has prepared various artistic activities that are part of the seven art forms, the mayor said."In this month-long celebration of the arts, we also envisioned to highlight the word 'galing' which means excellence," he said, referring to "an excellent form of art as an allusion to artistic exc...

Feb72023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Mayor’s brother killed, body found in Valencia

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The brother of the mayor of Valencia in Negros Oriental was found dead with a bullet wound on the left side of his head at 8:33 a.m. Monday, February 6.Killed was Don Paulo Zartega Teves, 42, whose body was found in Purok 3, Barangay Calayugan in Valencia, the police said.He is the younger brother of Mayor Edgar Teves Jr., and son of former Mayor Edgar Teves Sr.The cadaver was wrapped in a blanket and plastic bag, the police said.*

Feb72023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

9-year-old girl first dengue death in Bacolod for 2023

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A 9-year-old girl is the first dengue death in Bacolod City this year, the City Health Office reported Monday, February 6. Bacolod City had 39 dengue cases as of January 28, the report said.This figure is 62.5 percent higher than the dengue cases in the same period last year, which were 24 and one death, the CHO added.The CHO said the 9-year-old girl who died in January was immunocompromised, with congenital anomalies.Meanwhile, Western Visayas had 453 dengue cases from January 1 to 28, the Department of Health reported Monday.Negros Occidental remained the topnotcher with 124 dengue cases, followed by Iloilo Province with 90, and Capiz with 43, the DOH said.A 7-year-old girl from Negros Occidental who died January 21 was the first dengue death in Western Visayas for 20...

Feb72023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

City accepts housing proposal, opening it to Swiss challenge

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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (center) at a press conference at the Bacolod City Government Center Monday.*The negotiated proposal of a Manila-based firm to build 10,000 housing units in Bacolod for informal settlers was accepted by the city government at 5 p.m. Monday, February 6, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.The proposal was made by WRS Holdings Inc., City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said.The next step will be the publication of the proposal and the invitation to other bidders to offer a Swiss challenge this February, he said.The Swiss challenge system allows third parties to make better offers for a project and the original proponent then has the right to counter or match any superior offers.Benitez said an initial 10,000 housing units will be...

Feb72023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Kabankalan evacuees go home after clashes

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The DSWD assistance being delivered to the evacuees.*The evacuees in Barangay Oringao, Kabankalan City, went home on Monday, February 6, Mayor Benjie Miranda said.The 283 families with 822 individuals evacuated to the Oringao covered court Sunday afternoon following clashes between New People’s Army rebels and government troops in Sitio Bugne, Barangay Oringao.There were three rebels killed, the Army said.The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Western Visayas distributed P1.4 million in relief assistance to the evacuees.The office of Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District), the Kabankalan City government, and non government agencies also assisted the evacuees.*

Feb72023 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Victorias to give schools TVs, laptops for teachers

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Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez.* Steven Laborte photoVictorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez announced on Monday, February 6, that 711 SMART TVs will be provided to all public school classrooms in Victorias City.Public school teachers will also receive laptops, he announced on the Victorias City government Facebook page.A total of 924 units will be given to them, including ALS teachers and non-teaching staff, Benitez said.The city government will distribute the SMART TVs and laptops during the opening of classes for School Year 2023-2024 scheduled in August this year.*

Feb72023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Kabankalan man killed, Sagay resident drowns

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A Kabankalanon was hacked dead while a Sagay City resident drowned in Negros Occidental during the weekend, the police reported on Monday, February 6.Esmeraldo Erna Calamba, alias Cosme, 66, of So. Cabangahan, Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, was killed Saturday, February 4.The suspect Joemar Tapalla Magdait, 23, of Brgy. Hilamonan voluntarily surrendered to the Kabankalan police.Magdait said that while he was catching fish at the stream near the house of the victim, the latter suddenly stoned him several times.Calamba said he got angry and hacked the victim using a sugarcane cutter on the hand, neck and head and fled.The suspect is now detained at the Kabankalan police station.Meanwhile, Oliver Bucabal Estera, 47, of Purok Tambis, Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City, drowne...

Feb62023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

PLO directed to investigate relieved Isabela treasurer

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The Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office has been directed to investigate the former acting treasurer of Isabela for the loss of the town government’s funds.“We have received the official endorsement for appropriate legal action,” Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas said Monday, February 6.Former Isabela acting municipal treasurer Nenette Mandadero Escarda said funds of the municipality that she brought to Bacolod City to be deposited in a bank were stolen from her house at Las Palmas Subdivision in Barangay Taculing, on January 21.Isabala Mayor Irene Montilla said according to Escarda the amount stolen was P3.8 million in checks and P2.6 million in cash but they are still investigating the exact amount.The Commission on Audit is investigating about P7 million in a...

Feb62023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

90 Bacolod City gov’t vehicles still not found

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These are among the Bacolod City government vehicles that have been inventoriedThere are still 90 out of the 500 Bacolod City government vehicles that have not been found, General Services Officer Gilda Lluisma said Monday, February 6.She said that 197 other city government vehicles are serviceable, 108 are unserviceable, 13 are undocumented and set to be verified, 88 were not reported and four were declared returned.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said show cause orders will be issued against those who fail to account for the vehicles assigned to them, which will be followed by investigations.Most of the vehicles that have not been found, including motorcycles, were assigned to the police, persons who have retired or are absent without leave.Lluisma said the uns...

Feb62023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Albee joining Marcos in Japan to draw investors for Bacolod

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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez is joining President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his official working visit to Japan from February 8 to 12.“I will be part of the official delegation to Japan,” Benitez said at a press conference on Monday, February 6.He will present Bacolod’s potential for tourism, manufacturing and information technology to investors, Benitez said.Just like when he joined the President on his trip to China, the mayor said he also hopes to find investors and investments for Bacolod City during the Japan visit to create more employment in the city.Benitez said his visit to China was very fruitful because investors who manufacture electric service vehicles are in Bacolod now doing their due diligence.Their proposal is to put up a factory in ...