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The Team Asenso Bacolod officials at Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan.*Team Asenso Bacolod officials led by Mayor Alfredo Benitez are in Japan and are expected back on Tuesday, November 8.Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said he has been designated acting mayor from November 4 to 7, while Councilor Israel Salanga is acting vice mayor.Former Councilor Ceasar Distrito said, in a Facebook post, that Benitez personally sponsored their trip.The officials in Japan are Rep. Greg Gasataya, Team Asenso councilors - Simple Distrito,Thaddy Sayson, Kalaw Puentevella, Al Victor Espino, Celia Flor, Jayson Villarosa, Vladimir Gonzales and Pao Sy, and barangay captains Rosinie Distrito (Singcang), Itik Talimodao (Granada), Noli Villarosa (Tangub), Rodney Carmona (Sum-ag), Donnie Dela Vega...

The acute gastroenteritis (AGE) deaths in Bacolod City have increased to ten, Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli, city health officer, said on Sunday, November 6.The AGE cases in Bacolod City are now 239, she said in her report covering September 1 to November 5.Cholera cases in Bacolod have also increased to 15, she said.The AGE deaths were in barangays Cabug and Tangub - two each, and barangays 3, 40, Alijis, Bata, Estefania and Mansilingan - one each.The barangays with 10 and above AGE cases from September 1 to November 5 were Mansilingan, Singcang, Taculing, Tangub, Banago, Vista Alegre, Cabug, Estefania, Sum-ag, and Villamonte.The cholera cases were in Alijis and Banago – three each, Granada, Handumanan and Sum- ag – two each, and 40, Mansilingan and Tangub - one each.Gen...

The Bantayan Park in Bago City all set for the celebration of Cinco de Noviembre on Saturday, November 5.* Andrew Altarejos photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson will sign an agreement for the implementation of P87.2 million in projects during the Cinco de Noviembre celebration at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon Park in Bacolod City on Saturday morning, November 5.The signing of the implementation management agreement between the provincial government and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project will cover approved subprojects of six cooperatives and associations for additional financing, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday.The projects are the SalvAntiCam Native Chicken Breeding, Production and Marketing Enterprise in Pontevedr...

The Supreme Court has designated Judge Phoebe Gargantiel-Balbin as the executive judge of the Regional Trial Courts in Bacolod City.Judge Raymond Javier said his term as executive judge expired on October 16.The term of an executive judge is only for two years, he said.Judge Therese Blanche Bolunia was designated 1st vice executive judge and Judge Juvy Victoriano-Dioso is 2nd vice executive judge, Javier said.Bago City Executive Judge is Mary Jennifer Protasio-Arches and Himamaylan City Executive Judge is Walter Zorilla.*

Jerry Gasendo*The Bacolod City police are investigating two persons of interest in the killing of a businessman at the Araneta highway in Barangay Tangub on November 2.Maj. Joery Puerto, Police Station 8 chief, said they are looking at the profile of the two suspects seen in closed circuit television footage.He said that the motive for the killing of 53-year-old Jerry Gasendo was drug-related. The victim allegedly “failed to pay for a drug transaction”, Puerto said.The victim was linked by a high-value drug suspect, street sweeper Mary Nessa Ong, who was earlier nabbed at Brgy. Taculing on October 27 that led to the recovery of P680,000 worth of suspected shabu.Ong claimed that the drugs recovered from her were supplied by Gasendo, Puerto said.The police said that t...

The fake lawyer was arrested in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City.*A 41-year-old woman who pretended to be a lawyer was arrested in a police entrapment operation in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, on Thursday, November 3.Jonelly Lacson met the complainant at a parlor in July and promised to help her partner get out of jail, Capt. Rondyl Tapang, Police Station 9 chief, said.The victim already gave the suspect P1,000, but was asked to give an additional P30,000.When the suspect was arrested during the entrapment operation, it was discovered that she was only pretending to be a lawyer, and was said to be a member of a non-government anti-crime community service group, which was a force multiplier of the police.Tapang called on the others who were victimized by the suspect to fi...

Houses destroyed in Silay City.*Mayor Joedith Gallego FB page photoThe number of houses destroyed by Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” in Negros Occidental have increased.An updated report from the Provincial Social Welfare Office on Friday, November 4, showed 118 houses destroyed and 1,148 damaged.In Bacolod 69 houses were destroyed and 114 were damaged, Pacita Tero, City Department of Social Services and Development head, said on Thursday.Flooding brought on by “Paeng” also affected 43,902 families with 171,830 members in Negros Occidental, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said in her updated report Friday.*

The P44.9 million flood control structure in Manapla*DPWH photoLives, properties and livelihood of the people of the coastal barangay of Punta Mesa in Manapla, Negros Occidental, are now safer from flooding with the completion of a P44.9 million flood control structure along the Dapdap River, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6 said Friday, November 4.The revetment wall project undertaken by the DPWH Negros Occidental 1st District Engineering Office is a 1.16-kilometer, 3-meter high stone masonry structure, the DPWH said.DPWH 6 Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno said the completed structure will reduce possible damage that may be caused by flooding and erosion of river banks.“This revetment wall will protect the river banks from erosion and prevent the possib...