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Dr. Ernell Tumimbang*The Negros Occidental Provincial Infectious Disease Action and Control Council (PIDACC) needs to be reactivated as a proactive measure against the threat of monkeypox, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, said Friday, August 5.He has recommended the activation of the council that focuses on emerging and remerging diseases to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, Tumimbang said.The PIDACC is headed by the governor, he said.While no monkeypox cases have been detected in Negros Occidental, they need to begin preparations, he said.Hospitals and local government units need to be prepared, Tumimbang stressed.“We need to focus on advocacy, monitoring and surveillance,” he said.Tumimbang said with the ...

The scene of the shooting incident.*Isabela PNP photoA man was injured after he allegedly ran amok at Zone 3, Brgy. Tinongan, Isabela, Negros Occidental, Thursday, August 4.Injured was 38-year-old Ramil Cardona.Initial investigation showed that the victim who was armed with a bolo allegedly attacked the barangay chairman, identified as 58-year-old Eugenio Sambrona, after the latter responded to the alarm and scandal incident.This prompted Sambrona to shoot the victim, who was allegedly suffering from mental disorder.After the incident, the barangay chairman surrendered to the police and turned over his .45 caliber pistol with one magazine loaded with six live ammunition along with his firearm’s registration and permit to carry.The victim sustained gunshot wounds on ...

SSS officials serving a Show Cause Order in Bacolod City on Friday, August 5.*The Social Security System will be constrained to file criminal complaints against employers who fail to respond to Show Cause Orders for them to pay their delinquencies, Lilani Benedian, SSS vice president for Visayas West 1 Division, said Friday, August 5.SSS officials served six more Show Cause Orders to non-compliant employers in Bacolod City on Friday as part of the SSS Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign.Employers who continue not to pay contributions for their workers will face criminal complaints for violation of Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018.Benedian said they have started serving Show Cause Orders to the top 20 percent of the delinquent employers covere...

LMP-NegOcc chapter officials led by Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Antonio Peña took their oaths before Calatrava Mayor Marilyn Era*Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Antonio Peña was elected president of the League of Municipalities of Philippines – Negros Occidental chapter at Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod City on Friday, August 5.“I feel very honored to be elected…I will strive to do my best to serve my fellow mayors and to render help in the best that I can, especially to the first time mayors,” he said.He also thanked all his fellow mayors for electing him president of the league.Elected vice president was Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan of La Castellana, secretary – John Rey Tabujara of Cauayan , treasurer – Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra, auditor- Daph Anthony Reliquias of Hinoba-an and publ...

President Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr. has appointed a member of the Confederation of Sugarcane Planters Associations (CONFED) as acting member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board representing the planters. Aurelio Gerardo Javellana Valderrama Jr., CONFED board member, was appointed in a document signed by the president on August 2.CONFED president Raymond Montinola said on Friday, August 5, that their group along with the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Panay Federation and the Philippine Sugar Millers Association have recommended the retention of Hermenegildo Serafica as SRA administrator.He said  for the  Sugar Board they have recommended the appointment of Butch Alisla as millers representative  and Valderrama for the planters....

One of the two arrested in the NBI raid*The National Bureau of Investigation arrested two persons believed to be part of a gambling syndicate for illegally posing as Small Town Lottery (STL) operators in the vicinity of the Libertad Public Market in Bacolod City shortly before noon on Friday, August 5, NBI Bacolod chief Renoir Baldovino said.Nabbed were Reynne Magbanua Lopez and Arjens Arro Esbida of Bacolod City, who are facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree1602 as amended by Section 3 Paragraph C of Republic Act 9287, an act increasing the penalties for illegal numbers games, Baldovino said.Baldovino said the NBI raided the operations of the two at corner Libertad and Mabini streets for posing as STL operators without a franchise or permit from the Philippine Ch...

The man injured in the shooting incident.*Himamaylan PNP photoA tricycle driver was injured in a shooting incident at Nanding Gatuslao Street, Carabalan Road, Brgy. 3, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, August 3.Injured was Ronald Gane, 48.Police said that the suspect identified by the police as 49-year-old Charlie Canieso and his companion were approaching two men at the city’s old market and opened fire, but the bullet was warded off by a bystander and hit the victim on his left arm.This prompted bystanders to maul the suspect while his unidentified companion fled the scene.The victim was brought to a hospital, while the suspect is now in police custody.

PCL Negros Occidental president Ryan Gamboa presents a plaque of appreciation to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the summit on Thursday*Richard Malihan photo“Let us not allow pandemic fatigue.”That was stressed by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson in his speech at the Western Visayas Philippine Councilors League unity summit at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City Thursday, August 4.The theme of the summit is “One Region, One Goal for a United PCL”.Lacson said with all the challenges being faced, local officials of the region cannot afford not to be united in working towards recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.“Now it is quite clear that the pandemic might be here longer than we thought,“ he said, noting that as officials they know how the COVID...

The Barangay Singcang-Airport assistant secretary who was found dead Thursday.*Police Station 8 photoThe assistant secretary of Barangay Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City was found dead at Alice Street in their village past 2 a.m. Thursday, August 4.The victim was identified as Reynaldo Apuhin of Prk. Sampaguita 2, Barangay Singcang-Airport.He sustained injuries on his chest and neck.Maj. Joery Puerto, Police Station 8 chief, said the victim was last seen running after two men, which was caught on a closed-circuit television camera.Puerto said it was not clear if the victim was able to catch the two, who may be behind the killing.Police have yet to establish the motive for the incident.*

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue took her oath as Department of Information and Communications Technology undersecretary, before DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy on Thurday.*Former Bacolod Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, newly appointed undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, took her oath of office before DITC Secretary Ivan John Uy on Thursday, August 4.Batapa-Sigue said she is deeply humbled and honored to assume the position “with the goal of helping our country leverage on digital innovation by including the countryside in the discussion”.She is inspired by direction set by Uy to include among his priorities the development of ICT-driven industries to generate more jobs and investments for the country, Batapa-Sigue said.“The DICT is well-aware of ...