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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (2nd from left) with Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Gov. Jose Riano and Vice Gov.-elect Armando Gutierrez (l-r) at the Capitol in Bacolod City Monday, June 20.* Richard Malihan photoRomblon officials are in Negros Occidental to learn about its best practices for replication in their province.Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Gov. Jose Riano and Vice Gov.-elect Armando Gutierrez and their team met with Negros Occidental officials led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer at the Capitol in Bacolod City Monday, June 20, where they were briefed on the programs of the provincial government.Lacson said Riano brought in his team to learn about the Negros Occidental’s one hospital command system.Riano, who has k...

The scene of the shooting incident at Rizal Street, Brgy 26, Bacolod City, Sunday.*The shooting incidents in Bacolod City rose to eight this month with one person killed and two persons injured on Friday and Sunday, June 17 and 19.Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 director, has ordered the local police to conduct thorough investigations on the series of shooting incidents, make arrests and file charges against the suspects, Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, Bacolod police spokesperson, said Sunday.Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo Albee Benitez said he and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson are meeting with the city and provincial directors to discuss what is needed to halt the spate of killings.Asked if he will seek the replacement of Bacolod police directo...

Twelve congressmen are jointly filing a bill seeking the establishment of the Negros Island Region (NIR), which will include the provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental and Siquijor, on the first day of the 19th Congress on July 1, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg., Occ., 3rd District) said Saturday, June 18.The agreement in the proposed bill is that regional offices of infrastructure-type agencies will be located in Bacolod City with extension offices in Dumaguete City, he said.The social welfare agencies will be in Dumaguete City with extension offices in Bacolod City, he added.The Negros Occidental representatives supporting the bill along with Benitez are Gerardo Valmayor – 1st District, Alfredo Marañon III – 2nd District, Juliet Marie Ferrer – 4th District, Emilio Yulo III ...

Rep Francisco Benitez took his oath as reelected representative of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental before Silay Mayor Mark Golez at the Magikland Activity Center in Silay City, Saturday.* Ronnie Baldonado photoRep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said several of his bills, including one that will expand the capacity of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City from 100 to 300 beds, are awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte to become laws.If the president does not veto the bills they could just lapse into law, he added.Benitez, who celebrated his birthday Saturday took his oath before Silay Mayor Mark Golez at the Magikland Activity Center in Silay City.Silay vice mayor-elect Thomas Maynard Ledesma and councilors Ryan ...

Liza Araneta Marcos, Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo "Albee" Benitez and Councilor Cindy Rojas (l-r) at president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s thanksgiving party.*Presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has promised to support Bacolod City’s housing program, the establishment of the Negros Island Region and the construction of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge, Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said Saturday, June 18.Benitez, who met with Marcos recently, said they discussed plans and strategies on how to solve the housing problem in the country.Benitez, during his term as congressman of the third district of Negros Occidental, authored the bill that led to the creation of the Department of Housing.The Negros Island Region is acceptable to Marcos, Benitez also...

Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Benitez delivering his state of the district address at the Magikland Event Center in Silay City on Saturday, June 18.*Ronnie Baldonado photoRep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said on Saturday, June 18, that the Lower House is pushing for fuel and fertilizer subsidies for farmers amid the rising prices of farm inputs.Benitez noted that there has been a drop in sugar production due to increasing fuel and fertilizer costs.Oil firms are expected to implement another increase in the prices of fuel products on Tuesday, June 21.Prices of diesel may increase by P2.50 to P2.60, while gasoline prices may go up by P0.50 to P0.60 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said.As of June 14 the prices of gasoline have gone up by P28.70 per l...

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...