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Jan202021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod prepares COVID mass vaccination centers

City PIO photoThe Bacolod City government has started preparations for its mass vaccination drive versus COVID-19 that could begin as early as next month, City Administrator Em Ang said today, January 20.The Bacolod CoVac (COVID-19 Vaccination) Council held a meeting with the city’s barangay captains at the Bacolod Government Center Tuesday, January 19, to discuss preparations for 22 vaccination centers.Ang said Bacolod is expected to get a share of the national government purchased Sinovac vaccines, and the Pfizer vaccines from the World Health Organization that could arrive as early as next month.The 650,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines purchased by Bacolod City are expected to arrive in the third quarter of this year, Ang said.The 650,000 doses will cover 325,000 B...

Jan202021 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

17 brgys in Negros Occidental susceptible to floods, landslides

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The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) identified 17 barangays in Negros Occidental that are susceptible to floods and landslides.Based on the MGB data released today, January 20, the flood and landslide-prone villages in the province are: Celestino Villacin and VF Gustilo, Cadiz City; Lalong, Calatrava; Canlusong and San Isidro, EB Magalona; Canlandog and Pandanon in Murcia, and Puey, Sagay City;Bagong Silang, Bunga, Igmaya-an, Kumaliskis, Pandanon, Salvador Benedicto; Patag, Silay City; Cabatangan and San Fernando, Talisay City; and Barangay 11, Victorias City.In the data, the barangays were also classified based on their susceptibility to floods and landslides.Areas classified with “very high” susceptibility to landslides were Celestino Villacin in Cadiz, Canlusong ...

Jan202021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

No illegal logging in north Negros: PENRO says

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OCD-6 photoThere is no illegal logging in northern Negros Occidental, but there have been some reports of kaingin operations, Edgardo Rostata, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said today, January 20.Board Member Andrew Montelibano said he had received reports of illegal logging near the first district of Negros Occidental, which he said is subject to verification.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he has not heard of illegal logging in the first district but if Montelibano has any information he can always come forward and give a report.Rostata said what the PENRO has monitored are small scale kaingin operations in Salvador Benedicto.Kaingin is the technique of clearing land by slashing and burning underbrush and trees.There has al...

Jan202021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Capitol drawing up new list for tourism workers’ cash aid

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Capitol photoNegros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has instructed provincial tourism officer Jennylind Cordero to again start accepting names of displaced tourism workers who can avail of the P5,000 cash assistance being offered by the Department of Tourism.Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Tuesday, January 19, asked local government officials to spread the word that a P3 billion fund is available for the purpose, and so far only 20 percent of it has been availed of, Lacson said.Puyat said the December 2020 deadline for application for the cash assistance has been extended to June this year.So far P50.9 million has been distributed throughout Western Visayas, and P8.7 million in Negros Occidental to 1,754 beneficiaries, Romulo-Puyat said. She hopes more...

Jan202021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez seeks DHSUD help for 3rd District residents

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Rep. Francisco Benitez in a virtual meeting with Secretary Eduardo del Rosario*Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) met with Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo del Rosario recently to seek assistance for the victims of the recent floods that hit northern Negros Occidental.He asked for assistance to families whose houses were destroyed in the third district of Negros Occidental and to Local Government Units for urban planning to manage risks from natural hazards and promote sustainable urbanization, Benitez said today, January 20.“We need to process for National Housing Authority and the DHSUD help to come to those whose homes have been destroyed,” he said.“We will know more specifics perhaps by next week,” he added. ...

Jan202021 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Cops seize more than P450K in drugs, nab 10 in Bacolod

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BCPO photoMore than P450,000 worth of drugs were seized while 10 persons were arrested in separate police buy-bust operations in Bacolod City in three days.Nabbed at Barangay 2 on Monday night, January 18, was Arielle Discutido, a street-level individual, while her companion, Romulo Hamantoc, a high-value target, escaped during a police buy-bust operation.Recovered from Discutido were seven sachets of shabu worth P123,500 and P2,000 in marked money, Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, Bacolod City Police Office spokesperson, said.In another buy-bust operation, 32-year-old Michael Libre of Barangay Vista Alegre was arrested on Tuesday night, January 19, at Barangay Alijis.The suspect, who was said to be a street-level target, yielded four sachets of suspected shabu worth P40,800, and ...

Jan202021 by Digicast Negros StaffNo Comments

Mayor to consider proposals on tax, biz permit adjustments

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City PIO photoThe Bacolod City government is open for any proposal that can help the local tourism industry recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said during the tourism stakeholders’ meeting, organized by the Department of Tourism, at the Seda Capitol Central here Tuesday (January 19).“If you (tourism stakeholders) have any proposal, we are willing to go over them; we are open to that. If we can hear your proposal, I can take it up with the SP (Sangguniang Panlungsod),” Leonardia told the stakeholders from the public and private sectors.Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat called for a tourism stakeholders’ meeting Tuesday, January 19, to discuss with the provincial and city governments, and the various stakeholders from private and pub...

Jan202021 by Digicast Negros StaffNo Comments

Photo of the Day (January 20, 2021)

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Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia leads the COVID-19 Vaccination Council meeting on Tuesday, January 19, at the Government Center.*City PIO photo

Jan192021 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Avail of P3.1B fund to assist tourism workers, DOT urges

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Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in Silay City at the start of her three-day visit to Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.*CPG photoTourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat today, January 19, asked local government officials to spread the word that a P3.1 billion fund has been allocated to enable qualified displaced tourism workers to avail of P5,000 each in cash assistance.Romulo-Puyat, at a tourism stakeholders meeting at Seda Capitol Central in Bacolod City this afternoon, said the displaced workers and back-to-work employees working “flexi hours” should avail of the one-time cash assistance now, otherwise, the fund will revert back to the national treasury.So far, only 20 percent of the P3.1 billion Bayanihan 2 fund has been distributed, she said.President Rod...