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Negros Occidental still has the highest number of dengue cases in Western Visayas, while Bacolod City has two new deaths.Western Visayas had 169 new dengue cases on October 1 covering morbidity week 39, for a total of 13,224 this year or an increase by 605 percent compared to 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Tuesday, October 11.The region’s dengue deaths this year are 76.Negros Occidental had 64 new cases during morbidity week 39 for a total of 4,738 this year, or an increase by 989 compared to 2021, the DOH said. The province also has 28 dengue deaths this year.Meanwhile, the City Health Office reported two new dengue deaths in Bacolod City during morbidity week 39 for a total of 12 this year.The fatalities were 6-year-old females from barangays 8 and Tacu...

Top ranking NPA leader Romeo Nanta, alias Juanito Magbanua, who was killed in an encounter in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Monday, October 10.*30rd IB photoA ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader was killed in the fifth encounter between government and rebel forces in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, 5:25 p.m. Monday, October 10.Killed was Romeo Nanta, alias Juanito Magbanua/Juaning/Jack, who was the commanding officer of the NPA’s Regional Operational Command of the Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros and the spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command.Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, in a statement released Tuesday, October 11, said that Nanta was previously arrested in 2011 for murder, frustrated murder, robbery and dam...

Pryde Henry Teves addressing his supporters from the steps of the provincial Capitol in Dumaguete City before stepping down as governor of Negros Oriental on Tuesday afternoon, October 11.*Alex Pal photoPryde Henry Teves voluntarily stepped down as governor of Negros Oriental Tuesday afternoon, October 11, to allow a peaceful transfer of leadership to Roel Degamo, pending a Supreme Court (SC) ruling on his bid for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).Teves left the Capitol shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday after speaking to his supporters, some of whom were teary eyed, from the steps of the provincial Capitol in Dumaguete City.Degamo, the former governor of Negros Oriental, is expected to assume his post as governor at the Capitol on Wednesday, October 12.The Commission on Elect...

Residents of Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan, leave their homes as armed clashes between government and rebel forces continue.*Mary Jane Faduga photoThe number of evacuees in Himamaylan City increased to 16,976 following the latest clash between government and rebel forces in Barangay Carabalan, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Merle Garcia said on Tuesday, October 11.The number increased by 1,952 persons from Monday when the evacuees were at 15,024.Romeo Nanta, alias Ka Juanito Magbanua, commanding officer of the New People’s Army Regional Operational Command – Negros and the spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, was killed in an encounter in Sitio Medel, Brgy Carabalan, at 5:25 p.m. Monday, the Army reported.It was the fifth encounter in Carabalan since Thursd...

Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo inspecting the area in Sitio Manaol, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, in August.*Moises Padilla LGU photoThe Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has recommended that the areas in sitios Manaol and Santos-Santos in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, that were affected by slow moving landslides be declared high risk/danger zones and no build zones.The MGB submitted their findings and recommendations to Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo on Monday, October 10.Yulo had asked Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. to send a geologist to the area to assess the extent of the danger posed by new fissures or cracks on the ground to guide them in their plans to ensure the safety of residents.In the recommendation submitted by Leilanie Suerte, MGB supe...

Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Mangilmutan and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (l-r) at the MassKara sa Panaad Monday night.*Richard Malihan photoThe opening of the pavilions of the towns and cities of Negros Occidental at the Panaad Park in Bacolod City to visitors once every month is initially being eyed, Victorias Mayor Javier Benitez, Negros Association of Chief Executives president, said Monday, October 10.The pavilions at the park usually only open annually for the week-long Panaad sa Negros in the summer.The annual Panaad sa Negros has not been held for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic but will be celebrated again in 2023.Benitez said after the Local Government Units spent for the repairs of their pavilions they should at least ...

The Bacolod City Police Office welcomes the additional policemen to secure the MassKara festivities.*BCPO photoMore policemen have been deployed to augment the security at the ongoing MassKara Festival in Bacolod City.The 189 policemen from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 arrived in the city Monday, October 10.Of the additional personnel, three were commissioned officers while 186 were non-commissioned officers.They have already been deployed to provide security and police presence at all MassKara-related venues and activities.More than 1,400 uniformed men and force multipliers were also deployed at the start of the festivities on October 1.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family are expected to join the festival highlight on October 23.*

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the awarding of outstanding Negrense women who excel in agriculture and whose exceptional achievements have had a positive impact on the community at rites held on Monday, October 10.The Recognition for Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (REWARD), spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Gender and Development (GAD) Negros Occidental, was held at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.Board Member Rita Gatuslao, Executive Assistant to the Governor and Action Officer of the Provincial GAD Focal Point System, Marie June Castro, and Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Edmundo Raul Causing, joined the awarding rites.The awardees for Women Engaged in Agriculture and Fishery Category are Gemma Delos Reyes of La Cas...

Soldiers assisting evacuees in Himamaylan City.*CSWDO photoHimamaylan City in Negros Occidental declared a state of calamity Monday, October 10, amid the series of encounters between government soldiers and rebels in one of its hinterland barangays.An encounter on Saturday left two government soldiers dead and six others injured, while a rebel was killed in a fifth clash between the 94th IB and about 10 New People Army rebels in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan, at about 5:30 p.m. Monday, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade commander, said.It was the fifth clash in Carabalan since Thursday.The Army is continuing its pursuit operations of the rebels who have split up into small groups and have sought cover in sugarcane fields, Pasaporte said.On the recommendation...

A festive start to the MassKara sa Panaad Monday night* Ronnie Baldonado photoThe MassKara sa Panaad kicked off with lively festival dances from the towns and cities of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, in what was described as a groundbreaking show of unity, on Monday, October 10.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and the mayors of Negros Occidental, and Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and the officials of Bacolod City gathered for the start of the week-long festivities at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod.Lacson, who rang a train bell to officially signal the start of the festivities, said “today’s MassKara sa Panaad is a groundbreaking event. As far as I can remember, this is the first time Negros Occidental was invited to join the MassKara Festival”.Negros Occiden...