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Jan122023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Lacson suspends all classes in Negros Occidental Friday

Flooding in Sitio Moog, Barangay Vista Alegre, Ilog, Thursday.*Gilbert Pineda Belnas photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has ordered the suspension of all classes in Negros Occidental on Friday, January 13, to ensure the safety of students amidst continuous heavy rainfall.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez also extended the suspension of classes in all elementary and high schools in Bacolod City to Friday.Lacson in Executive Order No. 23-02, Series of 2023 suspended classes at all levels provincewide starting 4 p.m. on Thursday to 11:59 p.m. Friday.However, the majority of the Negros Occidental town and city mayors had issued orders suspending classes for the whole day Thursday.Lacson said he ordered the suspension of classes “in order to protect our students whose health and saf...

Jan122023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Lacson: NIR could face difficulty before appropriations committee

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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson*It is good news that the substitute bill creating the Negros Island Region was approved by the House Committee on Local Government, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday, January 12.However, “this is just very preliminary, this is just a first step. What will be more difficult I think is when this will be elevated to the Committee on Appropriations,” Lacson said.“But it’s moving toward the creation of the NIR”, he added.Lacson said he has not been able to reach Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo to set a meeting on the NIR.Degamo is opposed to its creation.“We’re still hoping that at the end of the day Gov. Degamo will support the idea of an NIR,” he said.The substitute bill seeks the creation of an NIR...

Jan122023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Guv: SMC aiming to invest P21B, exploring sites for P2B feed mill

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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Rep. Gerardo Valmayor and the San Miguel Foods Inc. executives at the Governor’s Office Thursday.*Richard Malihan photoSan Miguel Corp. is exploring potential sites for P21 billion in projects, which include a feed mill and poultries among others, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.Rep. Gerardo Valmayor (Neg. occ., 1st District) and executives of San Miguel Foods Inc. met with Lacson at the Governor’s Office on Thursday, January 12.Out of the P21 billion, they are looking to invest in a P2 billion feed mill and Negros Occidental is among the areas around the country that they are exploring as a potential site, Lacson said.Lacson said Valmayor during the Nationalist People’s Coalition Christmas Party asked Ramon Ang, SMC president and c...

Jan122023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negros project to ensure water security, Lacson says

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The Negros Occidental provincial government is aiming to start its bulk water project this year to ensure water security for the province, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, January 12.Under the project water will be sourced from rivers and treated before being supplied to consumers, he said.Lacson said from January to May a feasibility study will be conducted, which among others will determine the potential sites for the project, he said.After which the Public-Private Partnership Center will bring in potential investors and bidding will be conducted, Lacson said.He said the push for water security comes hand in hand with the push for food security in Negros Occidental.*

Jan122023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

3 towns have new acting cop chiefs

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Doronila, Dangarang and Anacleto (l-r)*Three Negros Occidental towns have new acting police chiefs.PMaj. Eric Doronila was named acting police chief of Valladolid replacing PMaj. Wilfredo Benoman, who will be assigned at the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOCPPO) headquarters.PCpt. Emman Anacleto, who was previously deputy police chief of Pulupandan, will assume the post of acting chief of the town replacing PMaj. Ryan Villasario who will be designated Cadiz deputy police chief.PCapt. Ar-jay Dangarang who will assume the post as the acting Isabela police chief from PMaj. Joseph Partidas who will be assigned at the NOCPPO.PCol. Leo Pamittan, Negros Occidental police director, presided over the turnover rites at Camp Afredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City ...

Jan122023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Degamo denies rumors former guv returning

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Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo*It is not true that Pryde Henry Teves is returning as governor of Negros Oriental.“There are rumors circulating which has again stirred noise in the province, saying that the previous administration will be back to office…This is not true,” Gov. Roel Degamo said in a Facebook post on Thursday, January 12.Degamo said when he went to Manila as a devotee of Jesus, the Black Nazarene, some misinterpreted it as a sign that he would leave leave his gubernatorial post.“I would like to clarify that it is not true. The COMELEC en banc has issued a final decision and this is executory, a reversal is highly unlikely,” he said.Degamo urged Negros Oriental residents to “rely only on credible information and not to worry about groundless issues”.“...

Jan122023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Rain triggers 2 landslides, evacuation in north Negros

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The house destroyed by a landslide in Barangay Cabatangan, Talisay City.* Dionela Madrona photoHeavy rain triggered two landslides, flooding and evacuations in northern Negros Occidental on Wednesday, January 11.A landslide destroyed a house and injured an 8-year-old boy in Sitio Panlucasan, Barangay Cabatangan, Talisay City, Social Welfare Officer Dionela Madrona said.The boy who suffered from an eye injury was admitted at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.The five members of his family are now staying at the house of a relative and have been provided assistance by Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares, Madrona said.A landslide in Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, also partially blocked a road but was cleared later in the day, Zephard Caelian, ...

Jan112023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Guv places NegOcc on blue alert, majority of LGUs suspend classes

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Flooding in Sitio Tanao, Brgy. Poblacion 2, Sagay City, Wednesday.* Sagay PIO photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson placed Negros Occidental on blue alert and classes in almost all of the local government units in the province were cancelled as rain continued to pour on Wednesday, January 11.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez also suspended elementary and high school level classes in Bacolod City on Wednesday.Lacson suspended work at provincial government offices, except for those tasked with emergency response, at 4 p.m. Wednesday “for the safety of everyone.”Mayor Neil Lizares said the suspension of classes at all levels in Talisay City would continue until Thursday to give Talisaynons “a chance to recover from the after effects of the heavy downpour and because of the continuing for...

Jan112023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Pamittan has responded to resignation call – guv

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PCol. Leo Pamittan, Negros Occidental police director.*PCol. Leo Pamittan, Negros Occidental police director, has responded to the call of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and tendered his courtesy resignation, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, January 11.Abalos had called for all police colonels and generals to file their courtesy resignations in an effort to help purge the Philippine National Police (PNP) of cops involved in the illegal drug trade.The PNP Region 6 officers, including Pamittan, “came up with a common stand and offered themselves for further evaluation and assessment,” Lacson said.Lacson earlier said the call of Abalos for the courtesy resignations is still part of the war against drugs.“I understand they actually have names of these PNP...

Jan112023 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Alvarez optimistic on passage of substitute bill creating NIR

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Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District)*Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) is optimistic the substitute bill seeking the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR), which will include Siquijor, will be approved by Congress.The bill that states that the Negros Island Region would be composed of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Bacolod City and Siquijor was approved by the House Committee on Local Government on Tuesday, January 10, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said.Alvarez said the bill will then have to be approved by the House Committee on Appropriations, before moving to plenary debate for second reading and nominal voting for approval on third reading.The senators are waiting for the Lower House to approve the bill so they can m...