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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, November 3, that the declaration of a state of calamity in Western Visayas will hasten the release of aid to residents affected by Tropical Storm “Paeng”.“Paeng” destroyed 180 houses and damaged 1,103 in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.Flooding brought on by “Paeng” also affected 43,448 families with 170,043 members in Negros Occidental, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said in an updated report on Thursday.She said 18 families with 88 members remained at evacuation centers on Thursday.“Paeng” destroyed 111 houses and damaged 989 in Negros Occidental, Garcia added.In Bacolod 69 houses were destroyed and 114 were damaged, Pacita Tero, City Department o...

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) recorded a significant decrease in crime incidents for October 2022, with a drop by 40 incidents or 34.48 percent compared to October of 2021.The BCPO records show only 76 crime incidents this October compared to 116 incident in 2021, a BPCO press release said on Wednesday, November 2.Of the total incidents, 55 are peace and order indicators while 21 are public safety indicators.The index crimes or eight focus crimes also had a remarkable decrease at 12 incidents compared to 23 incidents last year or equivalent to 47.82 percent.Meanwhile, the non-index crimes slightly decreased from 61 to 43 or the equivalent of 29.5 percent.The public safety indicators decreased from 32 in 2021 to 21 for the same period in 2022. These comprise the ...

One more suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was found dead following a series of encounters with State troopers in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on October 29.The fatality was identified as Marlon Albino, alias Max, of Sitio Nabanwagan, Brgy. Trinidad, and was said to be a member of SDG Pltn, CN1, KR-NCBS.His body was found at Barangay Buenavista on October 31 following a tip from a concerned citizen.Another suspected rebel identified as Michael Asuncion, alias Raymund, was also killed in an encounter with government soldiers in Guihulngan on October 29.The Army have assured residents of their safety amid the pursuit operations.They called on the rebels to surrender and return to the fold of the law.*

The 3rd Quarter Provincial Health Board meeting presided by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (left) on Wednesday.*There have been 623 typhoid fever cases in Negros Occidental and six deaths this year, while the cholera cases in the province have increased to 20, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported Wednesday, November 3.There have also been 457 acute gastroenteritis cases in the province this year, the PHO also reported at the 3rd Quarter Provincial Health Board meeting presided by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.A Provincial Food and Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee was created during the meeting.Lacson said 11 of the 31 local government units in Negros Occidental have created similar committees and he is encouraging th...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is issuing an executive order extending the COVID-19 Alert Level 2 status in Negros Occidental until November 15 and requiring the wearing of face masks in all provincial government buildings.“In my executive order I will specifically say that in all dealings inside a provincial government building, face mask is mandatory,” he said Wednesday, November 2.The Department of Health in its COVID-19 alert level classifications for November 1 to 15 extended Negros Occidental’s AL 2 status, while Bacolod remains under AL 1.Although President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 7 on October 28 allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor settings, Lacson said he believes the local autonomy of Local Government Units allows him to req...

"Paeng" destroyed 107 houses and damaged 936 in Negros Occidental, including in Silay City as shown above.* Mayor Joedeth Gallego FB page photoPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. placed Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, under a State of Calamity following the devastation caused by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, in an executive order issued Wednesday, November 2.The State of Calamity will remain in force and effect for six months unless earlier lifted by the president.Negros Occidental suffered losses of P257.8 million in crops and livestock, reports submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday showed.There were also 107 houses destroyed and 936 damaged in Negros Occidental, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said.PRICE CONTROLThe president...

Jerry Gasendo was killed at the Araneta highway in Barangay Tangub.*BCPO photoA businessman and artist was shot to death by unidentified riding-in-tandem suspects at the Araneta highway in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, November 2.Killed was 53-year-old Jerry Gasendo of Lizares Extension, Barangay 40.Maj. Joery Puerto, Police Station 8 chief, said the victim was tailed by the two suspects on board a motorcycle. When they reached in front of EC Gas, they shot the victim several times.He said the victim fell to the ground and sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head.He was brought to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The suspects fled after the incident.Recovered from the scene were two fired ...

The African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force seized 4,450.28 kgs. of pork products and piglets with an estimate market value market value of P448,125.10 at Negros Occidental and Bacolod City entry points in October, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Wednesday, November 2.OIC Provincial Veterinarian Placeda Lemana said P381,558.10 of the seized products were shipped back to their points of origin, while P66,567 of the products were confiscated and burned.They were seized at the Bacolod–Silay Airport, Banago and BREDCO ports in Bacolod, Escalante Port, San Carlos Port, Hinoba-an and Kabankalan animal quarantine checkpoints, Kabankalan City , Cauayan and Victorias City markets, and in Silay City and EB Magalona.Diaz said for the Bacolod ports 924.69 kgs. of pork products...

The flag flies at half-mast in front of Capitol in Bacolod City for Roque Puentebella Hofileña Jr. *Barbara Mijares photoThe Philippine flag in front of the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City is flying at half-mast for a Negrense historian who passed away at his home in Bacolod City on Sunday, October 30.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday ordered the lowering of the Philippine Flag to half-mast as a sign of mourning for Roque Puentebella Hofileña Jr. from Wednesday until Friday, November 4.Hofileña, 83, served the province of Negros Occidental for 35 years from 1968 to 2003, retiring as Provincial Planning and Development Officer.His daughter, Olive Hofileña Javier, said he had a bad fall after which his health deteriorated.He was loved and r...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the city government is distributing free school supplies to 70,735 public pre-school and Grades 1-6 students of Bacolod City.*Negros Occidental and Bacolod City public elementary and high schools began full face-to-face classes starting Wednesday, November 2.The Department of Education Division of Negros Occidental began 100 percent face-to-face classes but there were students whose houses were hit by floods who were absent, DepEd Negros Occidental spokesman Ian Arnold Arnaez said.He also said some big schools in the division were faced with lack of classrooms and teachers.In Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the city government is distributing free school supplies to 70,735 public pre-school and Grades 1-6 students.The...