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More tourists are expected during the MassKara Festival in October.*Ronnie Baldonado photoBacolod tourist arrivals are expected to hit 600,000 by the end of 2022, or a 284 percent increase from last year, City Tourism Officer Tere Quebrar Manalili said on Tuesday, August 9.Manalili, who spoke at a Tourism Stakeholders Meeting at Acacia Hotel in Bacolod, said in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic the city had about 803,000 visitors.In 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the number dropped to 143,000 visitors or by 82 percent. In 2021 there was slight increase by 3.12 percent with 147,000 arrivals in Bacolod, she added.“Slowly, we’re picking up the pieces with increasing visitor arrivals at 19,000 in January, 24,000 in February, 35,000 in March, 38,000 in April, 46,000 in May ...

Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer wants Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr. and Hermenegildo Serafica (l-r) removed*Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer on Tuesday, August 9, said he is lobbying for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to revoke the appointment of Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr.   as acting member of the Sugar Board representing the planters.He is also pushing for the removal of Hermenegildo Serafica as administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) "to protect the sugar industry", Ferrer said. There have been numerous complaints against Serafica, someone more qualified should be appointed in his place, he said.The vice governor said he has recommended to the president  that  former Murcia mayor Esteban “Sonny”  Coscolluela, who ac...

The area where the Bago resident’s body was found.*Bago PNP photoA 36-year-old man drowned in a river in Brgy. Mailum, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 7.The fatality was identified as Chris John Napal, a STL bet collector.According to the victim’s family, he had a drinking session with his cousin the day before, then went home.Police said the victim may have drowned due to the strong current brought on by heavy rains when he crossed to the other side of the river where his house was located.Hours later, a resident found the body of the victim lifeless in the river.*

The Commission on Elections in Bacolod City has disapproved 32 voter applications for failing to meet the registration requirements, local election officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña said Monday, August 8.Of the 41 voter applicants who were called to the Election Registration Board hearings, 32 were found to be no longer living in the barangays where they want to vote, she said, adding that most of them are from Barangay 19.At least 10,293 registrants in the city have applied for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set on December 5.Caña said that those whose applications have been disapproved can still seek a petition for inclusion.Meanwhile, the poll body is set to de-list the double registrants and voters who have already passed away.*

The National Bureau of Investigation on Monday, August 8, warned the financier and coddlers of a fake Small Town Lottery (STL) syndicate operating in Negros Occidental that they will face imprisonment.An investigation on the identity of the financier of the fake STL betting stations in Negros Occidental is underway, NBI Bacolod chief Renoir Baldovino said.He warned persons behind the fake STL operations, including those operating its betting stations and collecting bets, that they will face prison terms of from 10 to 12 years.“We want to find out why they have been emboldened to carry out such illegal operations after the elections,” Baldovino said.It is premature to say that they are being protected by some local officials, the NBI is still investigating the matter, he sai...

The scene of the shooting incident in Brgy. Marcelo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 7.*Calatrava PNP photoA man was gunned down by unidentified suspects at Sitio Kamao, Brgy. Marcelo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 7.Killed was resident Rodel “Peter” Nobleza, 37.The victim and  two teenagers were on board a motorcycle when they were flagged down by five unidentified armed men, a police report said.The suspects told the two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, to alight from the motorcycle and turn around, then shot the victim three times.The assailants then fled to the upper part of the sitio while the victim was brought to Calatrava District Hospital where he was declared dead.Police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.*

Bacolod Councilor Celia Flor, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III and City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. (l-r) inspecting the Manokan County on Monday, August 8.*CPG photoThe Bacolod Joint Market Inspection Team conducted a surprise inspection on Monday, August 8, of the Manokan Country, whose occupants along with those of the three main  public markets have rent arrears  totaling P34 million.Bacolod Councilor Celia Flor, Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse chair, said they conducted the surprise inspection to see how the city can improve the Manokan Country, ensure compliance of the Sanitation Code and find a solution to occupants’ arrears in rent.Flor said one establishment had already encroached into an area where a park put up ...