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The Masskaride route.*More than 2,500 bikers are expected to flood the streets of Bacolod in their best MassKara costumes for the Masskaride on October 1 after the official kick off of the first MassKara Festival under Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.This is the first MassKara costume fun ride and over the weekend, organizers announced that they already have 2,526 registrants and counting.The fun ride is open to bikers’ 15-years and older who will traverse a 20-kilometer stretch that will kick off from the Bacolod City Government Center at 5:45 a.m. on October 1.The route will pass through major Bacolod streets covering the Circumferential Access Road towards Barangay Bata, proceeding to Mandalagan-Lacson, Gatuslao St., the Public Plaza, Rizal Street and onwards to M...

The Patent Ductus Arteriousus (PDA) surgery.*CLMMRH photoThe Cardiovascular Surgery and Intervention (CVSI) Team of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City performed its first Patent Ductus Arteriousus (PDA) surgery on three pediatric patients on Friday, September 23.The patients were from Bacolod City, Binalbagan, and La Carlota, the CLMMRH posted on its Facebook page.“Aged 2, 3, and 6 years old, the patients have failing hearts and with failure to thrive. They were advised to have surgery in Manila or Iloilo but their families’ financial incapacity hindered them from seeking treatment outside of Negros,” the post said.Through the CVSI Team of CLMMRH, the PDA ligation procedures of the patients were facilitated.The surgical team was co...

The 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion soldiers who discovered the arms cache of the New People’s Army .*94th IB photoTen improvised landmines, including eight anti-personnel mines and two anti-tank mines, and 1,932 rounds of .30 caliber ammunition were recovered by soldiers of the 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion in an abandoned New People’s Army camp in Sitio Double Yarding, Brgy Mahalang, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, September 22.Information from the former contacts of the New People’s Army and former rebels led to the discovery of the arms cache utilized by the Central Negros 2 Front of Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros.Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the discovery of the NPA arms cache is a big boost to their efforts t...

An accountant was arrested for 67 counts of qualified theft at Crossing Sawmill, Brgy. Himogaan Baybay, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Thursday, September 22.Nabbed was Jacob Garcia, 24, the police reported Friday.He was apprehended by virtue of warrant of arrest issued by Negros Oriental Regional Trial Court Branch 41 Judge Leoncio Ragay Bancoro for 67 counts of qualified theft on September 21.A total of P2,010,000 bail, or P30,000 for each case, was recommended for his temporary liberty.Garcia allegedly took more than P2 million in cash from his former work place.He is currently detained by the Sagay police.*

The drug recoveries from the drug bust operation in Barangay 19, Bacolod City.*PDEA photoThe Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Negros Occidental conducted a buy-bust operation on Thursday, September 22, at Burgos Street, Barangay 19, Bacolod City, which resulted to the dismantling of a drug den and the arrest of three suspects.Nabbed were Dionesio “Nonoy” Dingcong Oleta, Ronalyn “Tate” Quezon Lachica, and Allain “Maymay” Coronel Rubio.Confiscated during the operation were 13 grams of suspected shabu worth of P88,400 and the buy-bust money.Agent Bamboo of PDEA-Negros Occidental said that Oleta was the subject of the operation, adding that the suspect, an alleged drug den maintainer, was placed under surveillance.The suspects are now in the custody of PDEA-Negros ...

The Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments’ joint protocol versus COVID-19 in preparation for the MassKara Festival is on, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said on Friday, September 23.The Bacolod City government has sent medical technologists to assist provincial government personnel in the inspection of passengers arriving on every flight at the Bacolod Silay Airport, he said.Passengers who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated are subjected to Rapid Antigen Tests, Tumimbang said. Those who test positive will be held and required to quarantine for 14 days, he said.The provincial government is also making adjustments to assist city personnel at seaports in Bacolod, he added.At present only city government personnel are monitoring the BREDCO port,...

Negros Occidental local government units need to actively monitor the water sources in their localities to prevent cases of gastroenteritis, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, said Friday, September 23.Tumimbang, who echoed the call of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, said it is the responsibility of the LGUs to ensure monthly monitoring of water refiling stations and water sources.The monthly monitoring is a requirement of the Department of Health, he said.Water should be tested in licensed laboratories to prevent water-borne diseases, Tumimbang said.*

The Negros Occidental provincial government is holding a Health Summit on November 24, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Friday, September 23.The summit will be held in preparation for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) program in Negros Occidental, he said.The provincial government will have to create a special health board for the UHC, which will be funded by the national government through PhilHealth, Tumimbang said.The board’s function is to manage the Special Health Fund and to set policy direction, he added.The budget needed by the Negros Occidental hospitals will be identified by the provincial government and the local government units will also have budgets for their health care networks, Tumimbang said.Officials of the Dep...

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has revised its calendar of activities for the December 5 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) because of its possible postponement to December 2023.Under the revised schedule the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) has been moved from October 6 to 13 to October 22 to 29, except October 23, Negros Occidental Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Friday, October 23.The Comelec also reset the election and gun ban period from October 6 to December 12, to November 6 to December 20, he said.The House of Representatives has approved a bill postponing the BSKE to December 2023 on third and final reading, and the Senate passed a similar measure on second reading.Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri expects the Senate...