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The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the 2023 budget on Wednesday.*The P3.250 billion 2023 budget of Bacolod City was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, December 7, Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said.The budget for Bacolod in 2023 will be the same as what was allotted in 2022 despite a drop in the city’s National Tax Allotment by P302.6 million next year.The NTA cut will be compensated by an increase in local revenue collections, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said earlier.The bulk of the budget was allocated for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures at P1.413 billion, or 43.51 percent of the fund, followed by Personal Services at P910.710 million, or 28.02 percent.Sayson said included in the budget is P50 million for the Bacolod City Co...

Negros Occidental representatives Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong, Manuel Sagarbarria and Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (l-r)*The three Negros Oriental representatives on Wednesday, December 7, said they will continue to push for the creation of the Negros Island Region despite opposition from Gov. Roel Degamo.Negros Oriental representatives Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong – 1st District, Manuel Sagarbarria – 2nd District and Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. - 3rd District are co-authors of House Bill 1446 that seeks to create Region VI B along with all the representatives of Negros Occidental.The proposed Region VI B will be composed of Negros Occidental and Oriental, and Siquijor.Negros Oriental and Siquijor are currently part of Region 7, while Negros Occidental belongs to Region 6.Degamo c...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson ordered a total ban on the entry into Negros Occidental of all live domestic and wild birds, ready to lay pullets, and their products, including table eggs and manure, from Luzon, Mindanao, Panay and Guimaras on Tuesday, December 6.Lacson, in Executive Order 22-62, Series of 2022, said the ban was imposed to protect Negros Occidental from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).Avian influenza cases have recently been detected in Roxas City, Capiz, the Department of Agriculture reported.The Negros Occidental provincial government reserves the right to impose a total ban on poultry from other areas in the Visayas with probable cases of HPAI, the governor said in his EO.Raw poultry meat, processed and unprocessed, will be allowed entry into Negro...

The Negros Occidental provincial government may seek the help of the National Bureau of Investigation to go after persons pretending to be Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said Tuesday, December 6.Although he admitted that calls made from cellular phones could be difficult to trace.The latest prankster pretending to be the governor called the Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City to make a reservation for an event.However, the resort owner’s son verified if the governor had really made the call, Diaz said.Resort and restaurant owners have been warned about these impostors, and to verify such calls, Diaz said.The governor never calls personally to make a booking, Diaz pointed out.Three fake bookings at restaurants in Silay a...

The Senate Committee on Local Government approval of the bills seeking to revive the Negros Island Region “gives us so much hope that NIR will happen", Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, December 6.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said while the legislators push for the passage of a law creating the NIR, he is hoping that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the meantime issues an executive order to hasten bringing national government agencies’ services closer to the people of Negros.Benitez said he spoke to Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and they agreed to submit different options to the president for his approval.The president could issue an executive order either creating an NIR or sub regions, Benitez said.“We will see what t...

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II*A revamp of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) will be undertaken to upgrade and professionalize its operations, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said Monday, December 6.The Office of the Governor has issued a show cause order to Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, PDRRMO head, to explain his alleged failure to liquidate P3 million in financial assistance to the Amity Public Safety Academy Inc. (APSA) and conflict of interest.Twelve PDRRMO contract of service drivers have been terminated, two employees have resigned and others are facing charges.They want to hire new drivers who have Technical Education and Skills Development Authority National Certificates II to ensure professional ...

The place where a minor was killed by her cousin.*La Castellana PNP photoA 16-year-old girl stabbed and killed her cousin allegedly over gossip at Barangay Cabacungan, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Monday, December 5.The victim was a 17-year-old girl. Both their names were withheld by the police for being minors.The cousins went for a walk, but when they arrived at a secluded area, the 16-year-old suspect allegedly confronted her cousin about gossip she had allegedly spread.The suspect who was armed with a knife then stabbed her cousin multiple times.The minor suspect surrendered to authorities on Tuesday, December 6, accompanied by her father.She was referred to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.Police continue to investigate the incide...

The man arrested in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, on Monday.*BCPO photoThe Top 8 person on the target list of the Bacolod City Police Office was arrested following the service of a warrant in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, Monday, December 5.Nabbed was 34-year-old Joejan Villar, who was also in the target list of the provincial and regional offices of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. He had an arrest warrant for possession of illegal drugs.But instead of submitting himself to the police during the arrest, the suspect tried to run away and shot at a policeman.Fortunately, the policeman dodged the bullet.Policemen later cornered Villar, arrested him and seized his weapon.*

There is a decrease by 12.87 percent or P780 million in the 2023 Negros Occidental provincial government budget.*Ronnie Baldonafo photoThe Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved the P5.14 billion budget of Negros Occidental for 2023 at its regular session on Tuesday, December 6.The SP approved P4,952,981,428 for the General Fund and P190,379,525.15 for the operation of the Economic Enterprise Development Department.There is a decrease by 12.87 percent or P780 million in the 2023 budget compared to this year because of the reduction in the province’s share of the National Tax Allotment, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, on his submission of his proposed 2023 budget to the SP in September, said “we are faced with the responsibility to lead...

Bumper-to-bumper traffic caused by road repairs in Bacolod City.*Three measures will be adopted to help ease traffic in Bacolod City this Christmas, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Tuesday, December 6.Truck ban hours will be increased, a one way traffic system will be implemented, and strict enforcement of no parking in identified areas through clamping of vehicles will take effect on Monday, he said.The measures to ease traffic were reached at a Bacolod Traffic Authority Council meeting Tuesday, he said.These are experimental for the month of December, he said.Benitez said they will start dissemination of information on the three measures Wednesday.*