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Eva Lawler (third from left), Minister for the Northern Territory in Australia, welcomed Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, Honorary Consul Januario Rivas, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Executive Assistant Charina Magallanes Tan and Dr. Cristina Orbecido (l-r) at the Darwin Parliament House, on Thursday.*Negros Occ. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and International College of Advance Education (ICAE) chief executive officer, Sean Mahoney, signed a Memorandum of Agreement for a “Study Now, Pay Later” Australia Scholarship Program, in Darwin, Australia, on Wednesday, November 9.The recipients of the scholarship are qualified and deserving Negrense students in the field of hospitality, tourism, and cookery Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday.They wil...

The scene of the accident at the Circumferential Road Thursday.*Police Station 6 photoA 25-year-old Bacolod City Hall employee was injured when his motorcycle collided with a truck Thursday morning, November 10, in front of Espinos Village along the Circumferential Road.The victim was identified as Raymond Anian, who is currently being treated at the hospital.The victim’s motorcycle was being towed by a tricycle when the rope broke. The towed motorcycle swerved and crashed into the incoming truck, the police said.*

A public well in Purok Luhod Luhod, Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod, was temporarily closed by the City Health Office (CHO) after its water tested positive for cholera.Dr. Grace Tan, head of the Environmental Sanitation Division of the City Health Office, said they had water from the well tested after they received reports of residents suffering from diarrhea.Mandalagan Barangay Captain Paul Anieve said they will place chlorine in the well and close it for 24 hours so it can be disinfected.Some residents in the area had objected to the closure of the well because it is their only source of water.They said they were only using the water for their laundry and for washing in the kitchen.Tan told them they could get infected by using contaminated water for washing their utensi...

“I admire Iloilo City. In fact, idol ko gid si Mayor Jerry Treñas”, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, November 10.Treñas was earlier reported to have questioned what he said was “Benitez claim that Bacolod had surpassed Iloilo City”.“Ang napiyerdihan ta gid lang sa Bacolod, ang ila wind energy kay 'syado gid kahangin didto sa Bacolod (we have only lost to Bacolod in its wind energy, because there is so much air in Bacolod)”, he said.Iloilo City is way ahead of Bacolod in other aspects, he said.Benitez on Thursday said he and Treñas have long been friends, “I look up to him as a mentor and a yardstick of leadership and initiative.”The mayor also said he is proud of Bacolod’s recovery so far.Treñas, in a Facebook post on Thursday, said “the deve...

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, and councilors Simple Distrito and Thaddy Sayson (l-r)*Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and nine others, including some councilors, who joined Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on a trip to Japan last week have also tested positive for COVID-19.The group returned to the Philippines on Monday, November 7.Benitez had himself tested for COVID-19 on their arrival for a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos and the result was positive.Gasataya said he along with the city councilors, barangay captains, and their Team Asenso Bacolod allies who joined Benitez on the trip immediately self-isolated and also had themselves tested for COVID-19.The congressman said he has been in self-isolation since Monday and is okay. He is still attending congressiona...

Mayor Miguel Peña and Public Works and Highways Senior Undersecretary Emil Kiram Sadain (3rd and 4th from left) in Pulupandan Thursday.*The bidding for the detailed engineering design of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) bridges is set to be held in December, Public Works and Highways Senior Undersecretary Emil Kiram Sadain said Thursday, November 10.Sadain and Mayor Miguel Peña inspected the shoreline of Brgy. Tapong in Pulupandan where the bridge alignment to Negros from the Guimaras side will connect.The PGN project, initially estimated at P185 billion, will be 32.47 kilometers long with two-sea-crossing bridges connecting Panay-Guimaras-Negros.The PGN Island Bridges Project Team has completed its feasibility study, and the preparation of the detailed engineering design wi...

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya*The House Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a bill seeking the creation of a Bacolod Special Economic Zone on Thursday, November 10, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said.Gasataya, who filed House Bill 292, said the economic zone would help bring progress to Bacolod City through increased local and foreign investments, more jobs and better wages, exports, an increase in the value of property and a lot of business opportunities.“As Bacolod recovers from COVID-19, it is imperative that we boost economic activities in our city”, Gasataya said.Gasataya, in his House Bill 292 explanatory note, said Bacolod City has theamenities to accommodate both local and foreign investments and further economic growth with little to no congestion issues in compar...

About 2,800 drivers of traditional jeepneys could be displaced with the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program in Bacolod City, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Wednesday, November 9.That is because only 1,000 modernized jeepneys were approved for Bacolod that has 3,800 traditional jeepneys, he said.Traditional jeepneys have the capacity for 18 passengers and the modern jeepneys - 29, Familiaran said.That means Bacolod would need 2,000 modern jeepneys, he said.Familiaran said there are currently 373 modernized jeepneys that can accommodate drivers of traditional jeepneys.*

The recovered drugs in San Carlos City on Tuesday.*San Carlos PNP photoTwo street-level individuals were arrested in a drug bust at New Era Street, Brgy. 4 in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, November 8.Nabbed were Kane Sabellano, 22, and Michael Bacus, 27.Their arrest came after they sold suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer.Recovered from their possession were 7.2 grams of shabu worth P48,960, a coin purse, lighter, and the P800 buy-bust money.The suspects are now in the custody of San Carlos police, facing drug charges.*

The Bacolod SP session was held online as some councilors are self-isolating after being close contacts of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez who tested positive for COVID-19.*The city government is expected to check the fuel pumps of all gasoline stations in Bacolod for proper calibration.The resolution requesting the City Treasurer’s Office Licensing Division and Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to strengthen the inspection, testing, calibration, and sealing of fuel pumps in all gas stations in the city was approved during the Sangguniang Panlungsod regular session on Wednesday, November 9.The measure, authored by Councilor Kalaw Puentevella, said the government shall protect the public against deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable sales, acts and practices.All retail outlets sh...