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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivering his departure statement.*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is joining President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his trip to the United States.Benitez, who is the chairman of the League of Cities of the Philippines and of the Western Visayas Regional Development Council, flew to the United States ahead of Marcos.The president left for New York on Sunday, September 18, to deliver the Philippine national statement at the 77th United Nations General Assembly, Malacañang announced.Marcos said his address will cover the Philippines’ vision of people-centered development, highlighting his administration’s thrust for economic recovery, food security, and agricultural productivity.During his visit, the President will meet UN Secretary-Gener...

The fare of modern PUJs has also been increase from P13 to P14 for the first four kilometers, plus P2.20 for every succeeding kilometers, the LTFRB said.*The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday, September 16, approved fare increases for modern and traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJ), public utility buses (PUB), taxis, and transport network vehicle services (TNVS).The increases will take effect October 4, or 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation, the LTFRB said in a statement.The LTFRB, responding to petitions filed by transport groups, “recognized the need for fare increases following the continuing rise in oil prices”, it added.The LTFRB granted a P1 fare increase for traditional PUJs or from P11 to P12...

Courtesy of Rey SiasonFormer Toboso vice mayor Jesse Rex Bartolome was arrested for alleged malversation of public funds at his home on Friday, September 16.The Toboso police were acting on a warrant of arrest issued by acting Presiding Judge Reginald Mercurio Fuentebella of the San Carlos Regional Trial Court Branch 59 on September 14. His bail was set at P72,000.The former vice mayor has already posted bail for his temporary liberty.The former official was charged with malversation of public funds or property, presumption of malversation (RPC Art 217) and malversation through falsification of public document.Also charged with Bartolome were three municipal employees, who are now in the custody of the police.The former vice mayor has already posted bail for his tem...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government will not reduce its casuals and job order workers because of budgetary constraints next year.“If ever we have to reduce, it’s really based on performance, not because of budgetary constraints,” he said Friday, September 16.“What we can do is review if they are really doing the job that they are supposed to do…we cannot be lenient now because our budget is lower by P760 million”, he said, referring to the reduction in the National Tax Allotment share of the province next year.Lacson submitted a proposed P5.1 billion 2023 budget for Negros Occidental to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for review on Thursday afternoon.Lacson said the budget is geared towards ad...

The tricycle that hit a parked truck.*Hinigaran PNP photoA driver died after his tricycle rammed into a parked truck Thursday night, September 15, along the highway in Barangay Pilar, Hinigaran town.Killed was Jonathan Sa-el of Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City.The truck driver had just parked on the side of the road to relieve himself when the tricycle suddenly crashed at the back of his vehicle, the police said.The tricycle was going fast when it happened and the truck driver did not put up an early warning device, they police added.The driver of the truck was detained by the police.*

The scene of the shooting incident.*Police Station 1 photoA man was shot to death in front of the Negros Occidental High School in Barangay 36, Bacolod City, Thursday night, September 15.Killed was 26-year-old Jason Romo.The victim was just sitting in a tricycle waiting for his girlfriend when he was attacked, Maj. Ramel Sarona, Police Station 1 commander, said.The suspect on board a motorcycle approached the victim and shot him in the head.Romo was taken to a hospital but he did not make it.Sarona said the victim figured in a fight with someone last week, so this is one of the motives for the killing that they are investigating.*

Preventive health assistance being provided at a clinic behind the Bacolod City Government Center.*The Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) has two components, it provides preventive and curative assistance, Valerie Anne Hollero, city consultant for health insurance and health care, said on Friday, September 16.In fact the city government is currently providing preventive assistance to 10,000 pre-screened residents from all barangays of Bacolod until September 30, she said.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Thursday stressed that the BacCHP will prioritize the poorest of the poor and will later be expanded to other sectors.Hollero said for the preventive aspect, the BacCHP works with the City Health Office (CHO) in the implementation of PhilHealth's e-K...

Feb Macabani Cayao who was rescued in the waters of Basay*A fisherman from Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, reported missing at sea was found alive on board his damaged motorized banca in the waters of Brgy. Bongalonan, Basay, Negros Oriental, at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, September 16.Mayor Daph Reliquias said rescued was Feb Macabani Cayao, 47, of Brgy. Asia, Hinoba-an.Cayao said at 12 a.m. on Friday he tied his motorized banca on a buoy in the waters of Brgy. Asia to fish when suddenly a huge wave hit and damaged his vessel.Hinoba-an was hit with heavy rains and rough seas on Friday, the mayor said.This prompted him to cancel all classes at Hinoba-an public and private schools Friday, he said.*

The Tourism Summit participants at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Friday, September 16.*Ronnie Baldonado photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson stressed that the tourism sector has the capacity to drive the province’s economic recovery, provide opportunities and employment, and affect environment and environmental saving efforts.The governor, in his message at a Tourism Summit to kick off the Negros Occidental 22nd Tourism Week Celebration at Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Friday, September 16, pointed out that “if there is anything the (COVID-19) pandemic re-affirmed, it is the fact that tourism is a core pillar of growth and opportunity”.He said more than two years into the pandemic, Negros Occidental is now opening up to travelers...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson presides over the first Provincial Integrated Water Security Council meeting*The Negros Occidental Provincial Integrated Water Security Plan for 2023 to 2030 was approved on Friday, September 16.It was approved at the first Provincial Integrated Water Security Council meeting at the SEDA Capitol Central Hotel in Bacolod City, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said“With the approval of this plan, it is now important to cascade this to the local government units because the participation of all LGUs is very crucial in the success of this water security plan,” he added.They are now proceeding to more systematic and organized interventions to improve water security in the province by virtue of the creation of the Provincial Integrated Water Security Council and ...