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OCD-6 photoBoard Member Andrew Montelibano said he is looking into reports of illegal quarrying and logging in Negros Occidental.He received a complaint today, January 19, that a bridge in Manapla was damaged because of illegal quarrying, Montelibano said.He said next week he will begin the inspection of quarry operations in the third district to determine if non-compliance with environment rules caused the recent flooding.Violators will be penalized, he said.There are 1,000 pending quarry applications pending before the Provincial Environment Management Office, which need to be reviewed, he said.Montelibano said he is also getting reports of illegal logging near the first district of Negros Occidental that he will investigate.The flood in the third district is...

Bacolod DRRM photoAn EB Magalona resident was on the same plane with the first Filipino who tested positive for the United Kingdom (UK) COVID-19 variant, Mayor Marvin Malacon confirmed tonight, January 19.The EB Magalona resident has tested negative for the virus but has been placed under 14-day quarantine as a precaution, he added.The Department of Health (DOH) on January 13, confirmed the presence of the UK COVID-19 variant in the country after samples from a Filipino who arrived from the United Arab Emirates on January 7 yielded positive genome sequencing results.Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental provincial government is lodging a complaint with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases against the entry of five Overseas Filipino Work...

Screenshot from Aling Malaki's YouTubeThe Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) claimed that 13 state troopers were killed in separate encounters in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, during the weekend, a claim that was vehemently denied by the Philippine Army.Marco Valbuena, CPP information officer, in a statement today, January 19, claimed the troopers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion ”got into a misencounter with their local paramilitary unit in the same vicinity and 13 troops were reportedly killed in the ambush as the New People’s Army fighters detonated an explosive against the soldiers.”“The ambush was the only encounter that day between the NPA and the 62nd IB troops, contrary to claims by the AFP that four encounters took place,” he said, adding that the Army did not...

The Social Security System has temporarily closed its Bacolod office at Lacson Street today, January 19, and tomorrow, January 20, for sanitation and disinfection.An SSS advisory said the move was a precautionary measure against the coronavirus pandemic.Normal operations will resume on Thursday, January 21.Members with branch appointments on the said dates have been rescheduled to Thursday.Those with queries may contact SSS Bacolod at 09451772270 and 0933-4623-086, or send an email to bacolod@sss.gov.ph.*

Bacolod to join region-wide launching of Measles-Rubella Oral Polio vaccinationThe City of Bacolod, spearheaded by the City Health Office (CHO), is one with Western Visayas in the region-wide launching of Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR OPV SIA) Campaign on February 1.The simultaneous kickoff activity will start at 9:30 a.m. in respective city and provincial health offices, that will feature a ceremonial vaccination of a child to be done by a health worker, a press release from the Bacolod City Public Information Office said.Dubbed “Chikiting Ligtas,” the MR OPV SIA campaign, organized by the Department of Health – Western Visayas Center for Health Development, is slated until Feb. 28.It aims to immunize 95 percent of all child...

Twelve employees of the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD6) in Iloilo tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).All 12 have mild symptoms – one is admitted in a hospital, two are facility quarantined and the rest are on strict home quarantine, Dr. Emilia Monicimpo, DOH-CHD6 director, said Saturday, January 9.Contact tracing is still ongoing in coordination with the local government units and in support of the Barangay Health Emergency and Response Teams, she said.All identified close contacts in the workplace have already been notified and placed under quarantine, Monicimpo added.Disinfection and decontamination of the DOH-CHD6 office have been done, she also said.The DOH-CHD6 will continue to be open to s...

A councilor of Sta. Catalina town in Negros Oriental was shot to death by motorcycle-riding suspects today, January 10.The fatality was identified as Councilor Rhode Anthony Melodia, 29, of Barangay Poblacion.Based on the initial police investigation, the victim was washing his vehicle when three unidentified persons, onboard on two motorcycles, appeared and shot him two times.The suspects then fled, while the official was brought to Bayawan District Hospital where he expired.Recovered from the scene were four empty shells of .45 caliber pistol.Police are still investigating the incident and have yet to establish the motive of the killing.*