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Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (right) at the 8th World Cities Summit in Singapore*How can cities emerge stronger with challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change and many more in the future?Local chief executives, business leaders and knowledge experts from all over the world have gathered in Singapore for intensive discussions on how to help global cities remain liveable, sustainable and more resilient through prolonged and predictable disruptions.Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, who is also the president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE), were among the participants representing  the Philip...

Former Rep. Genaro Alvarez Jr. authored the law creating the new barangay*Barangay Tagukon in Kabankalan City is now a nationally recognized  barangay, Rep.  Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) announced Wednesday,  August 3.The bill creating the barangay filed by her father, former Rep. Genaro Alvarez Jr., lapsed into law on July 30 without the signature of former president Rodrigo Duterte.Republic Act No. 11922 separates Sitio Tagukon from Barangay Camingawan in Kabankalan into a distinct and separate barangay to be known as Barangay Tagukon.An earlier plebiscite supervised by the Commission on Elections pursuant to Provincial Ordinance No. 93-002, Series of 1993, of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan, ratified the creation of Barangay Ta...

The Negros Occidental police are conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged kidnapping incidents in the province.Lt. Judesses Catalogo, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office public information officer, said Tuesday, August 2, that there is no cause for alarm since they “can’t consider there is a group behind the incidents.” They were perpetrated by different suspects, he said.On  Sunday, July 31, a businessman escaped a kidnapping attempt at Gallo Street in Brgy. 1-B, Manapla.The victim was about to go home after playing basketball at the town public plaza when five unidentified men forcibly took him to a black Sports Utility Vehicle, but he was able to escape.Catalogo said  that the investigation into the failed kidnapping incident in Manapla is on...

BCPO photoThe Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has confiscated P8,517,707 worth of illegal drugs in its month-long anti-criminality operations.From July 1 to 31, a total of 1,252.604 grams of drugs were seized in 45 operations that led to the arrest of 52 drug personalities, including 37 pushers and 15 users, Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, BCPO public information officer, said. A total of 67 drugs cases were filed in court, he said.In the campaign against wanted persons, the BCPO conducted 55 police operations during the month-long intensified campaign that led to the arrest of 55 suspects.Also, 12 police operations were initiated against loose firearms that resulted in the arrest of one violator and confiscation of one small firearm, while seven homemade firearms were...

The three persons nabbed for the theft of the cellular phones at the Kabankalan police station.*Radyo Bandera photo*Three persons were arrested for the theft of two high-end cellular phones belonging to Kabankalan City Vice Mayor Miguel Zayco through Apple’s Find My application Tuesday night, August 2.Zayco said he had gone to the Kabankalan plaza as the city was celebrating its 25th charter anniversary and when he returned to his vehicle at about 6 p.m. he discovered that his Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra were missing from his small bag.With the help of the police and Apple’s Find My app, the cellular phones were recovered from three persons on a motorcycle in Himamaylan City at about 7:10 p.m., Zayco said.Cpl. Rogyn Bandola, investigator on case, sa...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (right)*Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, August 2, that he welcomes the unified response of   the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMOs) against the spread of diseases such as COVID-19.He said that is precisely why a Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Summit was held on July 26 to come up with a unified disaster response protocol to be adopted and followed uniformly during emergency and disaster situations.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday that the DRRMOs  of the city and province were joining forces.“We will always welcome Bacolod to join us. The intention of Mayor Albee is to have more ...

The Bureau of Fire Protection joins the cleanup drive in the earthquake hit areas.*BFP photoBacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he and members of the Visayan bloc in Congress gave personal donations for the victims of the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon on July 27.He sent his donation through Congress, which launched a fundraising drive, Benitez said on Monday, August 1.“The Visayan bloc organized a fundraising drive and we asked for P50,000 from each one, “ he said.The representatives of Negros Occidental and Bacolod in the House  are members of the Visayan bloc.The Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments have not sent donations yet.Benitez said “considering that the president went there personally, I think they have enough to add...

An orientation for sustainable business ventures.*Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) has facilitated the allocation of cash assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for sustainable business ventures.The cash assistance will be primarily for home and community-based livelihood activities in the cities of Victorias, Silay and Talisay and the towns of Murcia and EB Magalona, a press release from his office said Tuesday, August 2.Area coordinators of his 3rd District Office are currently working with LGU-based DSWD staff to identify, validate and prepare target beneficiaries for the Sustainable Livelihood Program, it said.Ongoing orientation started in July in Victorias, Silay and Talisay cities.Qualified as beneficiari...

Observe sugarcane load limits, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson says*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson stressed the need for truckers to observe sugarcane load limits and for drivers of vehicles to be vigilant against accidents.Lacson issued the reminder on Tuesday, August 2, with the impending start of the milling season.He also said that there will be times of the day when trucks hauling sugarcane will not be allowed to travel through certain roads.Lacson also reminded the riding public, especially, those driving personal vehicles to be extra careful during milling season to avoid accidents.“Unfortunately there are trucks parked on the side of the road without any early warning devices,” he said.There have been accidents where vehicles have rammed into the back o...