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The CHO inspection of ambulant vendors*Cases of food and water borne illnesses in in Bacolod City have increased to 486, with 17 Acute GastroEnteritis (AGE) related deaths as of December 10, Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli, City Health Officer, reported on Saturday, December 17.Thirty Bacolod residents have tested positive for cholera so far, she said.There were 23 additional AGE cases reported from December 4 to 10, she also said.Bacolod barangays with 10 and above AGE cases from September 1 to December 10 are Mansilingan, Banago, Pahanocoy, Handumanan, Singcang, Vista Alegre, Bata, Granada, Taculing, Sum-ag, Cabug, 30, Mandalagan, Estefania, 35, Tangub, Villamonte and Alijis.To curb the rise in AGE cases the CHO continues to inspect school canteens and toilets, and water refillin...

CPP founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison.*PRWC website photoThe Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has declared a ten-day period of mourning following the death of its founding chair Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, but this will not stop government troops from going after the armed rebels operating in the Visayas and the rest of the country.Sison, 83, died Friday after two weeks of hospital confinement in Utrecht, the Netherlands, 10 days before the 54th founding anniversary of the CPP on December 26.“It does not change our stand on running after the rebels, for as long as they are holding firearms…there will be no ceasefire,” Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, acting head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command (VISCOM), said on Sunday, December 16.“We do not rejoice on ...

The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) has announced the Top 12 Provincial Government offices, departments, and hospitals of Negros Occidental, which are compliant with RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.The Provincial Capitol Solid Waste Management Task Group led by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz spearheaded the conduct of the Local Search for the Best Office/Hospital compliant with RA 9003 for 2022.In the Top 12 are the Food Terminal Market of Negros Occidental, Ignacio L. Arroyo Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Isabela, Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary, Negros Occ. Scholarship Program Division, Office of the Provincial Administrator, Office of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial Assessor's Office, Provincial General Ser...

Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria*Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria is urging the public to register to vote during the holidays.There was a large turnout of registrants in the first two days from the start of the Commission on Elections’ resumption of its registration of voters on December 12.However, in the succeeding days the numbers decreased, he said.There have only been two to three registering at Comelec offices in the towns and cities of Negros Occidental lately, he noted.There are no registrants at all in some areas, he said.It is better to register now while there are no lines rather than waiting for the deadline rush, he said.The registration of voters ends on January 31.The baranga...

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Negros Association of Chief Executives president*Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Negros Association of Chief Executives president, said he supports the move of Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson to meet with Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo to discuss the push for the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR).Lacson, who supports the creation of the NIR, is seeking a dialog with Degamo after the holidays.Degamo has announced his opposition to the creation of the NIR.“I really support Governor Bong’s move to reach out to Governor Degamo,” Benitez said.Benitez said he is willing to go with Lacson if he invites him.The mayor said he really hopes the NIR is created because it will be big help fo...

The scene of the accident in EB Magalona*A 15-year-old Grade 10 student crossing a pedestrian lane in front of a school in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, was hit by a speeding truck and died instantaneously on Thursday, December 15.Killed was Kevin Liscano who was crossing the highway at Brgy II-Poblacion, from the E. B. Magalona National High School where he and other students had attended a Christmas party.The Prime Mover truck driven by Dante Cabatuan Sebuguero, 47, of Crossing Kamatis, Sagay City, hit the boy’s head and dragged him for about 10 meters before it stopped, Maj. Kenneth Jay Gratones, E.B. Magalona police chief, said on Friday.Closed-circuit television footage showed the boy and about 10 other students crossing the pedestrian lane when the incident occurred...

The Bacolod delegation in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur*Forty-seven athletes and coaches from Bacolod City are in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, for the Batang Pinoy 2022 National Championships that kick off Saturday, December 17.The delegation arrived in Vigan on Friday, December 16.The Bacolod athletes are participating in five events – athletics, badminton, chess, table tennis and swimming.Batang Pinoy is an annual national youth sports competition for athletes aged 15 years old and below. This year’s games will end on December 22.*

The total suspected leptospirosis deaths in Bacolod City have increased to 10, with one new fatality, as of December 10, the City Health Office reported Friday, December 16.The CHO has recorded 42 suspected leptospirosis cases in Bacolod this year, which are 68 percent higher than last year.The age range of those affected were 1 to 68 years old.Leptospirosis is caused by the entry of the leptospira bacteria through wounds when in contact with flood waters, vegetation, and moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals.The CHO reminded the public to avoid wading in water, especially during floods, and to use boots or gloves when coming in contact with possibly contaminated water.It also stressed the need for prophylaxis - doxycycline, azithromycin, amoxicill...

Cristine Mansinares was former Negros Occidental tourism officer*Negrense Cristine Mansinares has been replaced as regional director of the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas.Mansinares, former Negros Occidental tourism officer, was replaced by Chrisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez, DOT Order 2022-15 said.The order did not state the new assignment of Mansinares.Mansinares, in a statement issued Friday, December 16, said in view of the publication of the list of newly-appointed officials of the DOT, “I wish to thank everyone, who, in one way or the other supported me in my role as regional director of DOT Region VI-Western Visayas”.“I have given the instructions to the DOT Region VI staff for the composition of a Transition Committee to plan for a smooth turnover of the O...