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A provincial government-led National Blood Donors’ Month caravan in Bacolod City Tuesday, August 2.*“To prevent a significant draw down of blood supply, a well-organized blood service is necessary to meet blood necessities, especially in times of crisis,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson stressed on Tuesday, August 23.Lacson, who spoke at the National Blood Donors’ Month and Blood Olympics 2022 rites at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City, cited the need for blood supply, especially with the current dengue scare.Negros Occidental had 2,747 dengue cases and 14 deaths from January 1 to July 23, the Department of Health reported Tuesday.That is a 941 percent increase compared to the number of cases in Negros Occidental in the same period last year, it said.Baco...

The Negros Occidental Food Terminal Market at the North Capitol Road in Bacolod City.*Barbara Mijares photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government will have to cut the amount of financial assistance it gives out next year with the expected drop in its National Tax Allotment, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, August 2.“Definitely there will be adjustments, especially in our financial assistance,” Lacson said.The governor said he is pushing for the stepping up of the provincial government’s economic enterprises to augment its income next year with the NTA cut.The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earlier informed Lacson that all LGUs willface 14.47 percent NTA cuts in 2023 because of low tax collections at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.T...

A businessman escaped a kidnapping attempt at Gallo Street in Brgy. 1-B, Manapla, Negros Occidental, on  Sunday, July 31.The victim was identified as William Chua Jr., 33, of Bliss Project, Brgy. 1-A, Manapla.Police said the victim was about to go home after playing basketball at the town public plaza when five unidentified men, who wore bonnets, waylaid and grabbed him.The suspects forcibly took him to a black Sports Utility Vehicle and handcuffed him, but he was able to escape.He immediately went to the Manapla police station to ask for help.The police alert team is conducting follow-up investigation to identify and arrest the suspects.*

Seven families living inside the Burgos Public Cemetery in Bacolod City have been sent notices to vacate, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari said Monday, August 1.New burials at the overcrowded cemetery have been stopped and a guard has been assigned to prevent theft and illegal activities in its premises.Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said they are studying where a new public cemetery can be put up.A study on how to properly put up a cemetery for long term purposes is needed, he said.Let’s see the recommendations and proposals for the most convenient and accessible site, Benitez said.Preparations are also underway for onsite and near city housing for Bacolod residents, he said.They are looking at available land and negotiating with banks for the takeo...

Vendors at the Bacolod City public markets who have arrears in rent could face eviction and cases in court, but a proposed amnesty program is also being considered, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Monday, August 1.At the Burgos Public Market alone arrears have reached P11.2 million, he said.He said a meeting with stakeholders will be held on Saturday   to discuss the arrears in rent and plans for the renovation of the markets so that they can he implemented.Benitez said he may deliver his state of the city address on his 100th day in office. This will be in line with his 100-day eight-point agenda, he said. Meanwhile, a clean and green task force has been created to clean up islands in the middle of the roads of garbage and overgrown grass, he sai...

A man survived a gun attack allegedly perpetrated by his cousin at  Hda Luisa, Brgy. 13, Victorias City in  Negros Occidental  on Sunday, July 31.The victim was identified as Ruben Basa, 41, of Brgy. 1 Poblacion, EB Magalona.Police said the victim was driving his motorcycle when he was shot by the suspect identified as 41-year-old Roland Mirambel.Basa immediately ran for his life while the suspect fled in an unknown direction with the victim’s motorcycle.The victim was rushed to Victorias Emergency Clinic.Police are still investigating the case.*

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez said the city government is preparing a halfway house for watchers of patients at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital*The Bacolod City and Negros Occidental Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices are joining forces and resources for a unified approach in the battle to prevent the spread of diseases such as monkey pox and COVID-19, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, August 1.The COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental hit 110 on Monday, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported.Bacolod City has 137 active COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) also reported.Benitez said while COVID-19 cases have increased, most only had fever like symptoms and had swift recoveries. The entry of visitors i...

The body of discovered under a cellsite tower in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, on Sunday, July 31.*Police Station 7 photoA man who was allegedly abducted in Silay City, Negros Occidental, last week was found buried under a cellsite tower in Purok Katilingban in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, Sunday, July 31.The victim was identified as 50-year-old Alex Soberano, who was previously arrested for illegal drugs.A resident noticed foul odor coming from the tower, which prompted him to report it to  barangay officials. They then discovered the body of the victim, the police said.Capt. Elmer Bonilla, Police Station 7 chief, said Soberano was reported to have been abducted just outside the Bacolod-Silay Airport on July 21.The victim just arrived from Manila an...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (right) at the unveiling of the portrait of former mayor Monico Puenetevella (left)*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee”  Benitez unveiled the portrait of  former mayor Monico Puentevella at the Bacolod City Government Center gallery of mayors Monday morning, August 1.Also up are the portraits of Benitez and Rep. Greg Gasataya who served as acting mayor of Bacolod from Nov. 16, 2015 to Feb. 15, 2016.Puentevella, who was the 26th mayor of  Bacolod from June 2013  to June 2016, said for nine years the previous administration did not put his portrait up because of "immature and petty politics".Benitez said all mayors of Bacolod deserve to have a picture in the gallery, he does not know why Puentevella’s was not there...

San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo and Bishop Gerardo Alminaza *Clean energy and sustainability groups said on Monday, August 1, that unlocking renewables should be the priority of local government and stakeholders alike for the benefit of Negrosanon consumers and the environment.Last week, San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo challenged groups opposing the 300 MW liquefied natural gas project of San Miguel Corporation and calling to revoke the resolution of non-objection issued to it by the Sangguniang Panlalawagan (SP) to cut off their electricity if they do not want to make use of fossil fuels, since power used in Negros Occidental is contracted from coal-fired power plants in Panay and Cebu.“Mayor Gustilo is on point in saying that the electricity that powers our homes ac...