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The masks crafted by Bacolod’s renowned mask maker Jojo Vito, at the McDonald’s store at The Upper East are easily visible from afar and light up at night to give a more festive and colorful feel.*CPG photoExcitement reaches a new high for this year’s Masskara Festival in Bacolod City as the Philippines’ “most beautiful McDonald’s store” finally opens its doors inside property giant Megaworld’s 34-hectare township, The Upper East.Inspired by the revelry and excitement of the world-famous Masskara Festival, the new McDonald’s NXTGen store showcases giant masks as part of its exterior design. The ‘masskaras,’ which have been crafted by Bacolod’s renowned mask maker Jojo Vito, are easily visible from afar and light up at night to give a more festive and colorful feel.“There are ma...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez delivering his first 100 days accomplishment report*Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said new roads are set to be opened in Bacolod City to decongest traffic, five mini-hospitals will be established, 10,000 housing units will be built, and the city’s markets will be transformed from not just centers of commerce but also to food tourism hubs.He also outlined measures already taken to ensure transparency in government, steps to digitalize government transactions with the Office of the Building Official being the first to go online, and the target to recycle 80 percent of the city’s garbage.Benitez, who delivered his first 100 days accomplishment report at the Bacolod City Government Center on Saturday, said “the past three months have ...

Show cause orders have been issued to two Bacolod City government employees for availing of fuel for an unserviceable heavy equipment vehicle, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Saturday, October 8.The Good Governance Committee discovered that “there were fuel trip tickets with corresponding fuel vale slips being charged to an unserviceable heavy equipment vehicle of the city”, Benitez said in his first 100 days accomplishment report.The heavy equipment belonged to the city’s Department of Public Services, Benitez said.Benitez said the consumption of procured fuel by the city government during the previous administration for three months was a much as 17,300 liters, while the current administration only procured 9,000 liters that was not even fully consumed for the three month...

There will be a big time fuel price increase on Tuesday, October 11, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said Saturday.Diesel will increase by P5.90 to P6 per liter, and gasoline will increase by P1.10 to P1.30 per liter, it said.The increase comes after five straight weeks of rollbacks.As of October 4 there have been per-liter increases of P14.45 for gasoline, P28.95 for diesel, and P23.25 for kerosene since the start of 2022, the Department of Energy's oil monitor showed.*

Thirteen dogs have tested positive for rabies in Negros Occidental and Bacolod this year, a Provincial Veterinary Office report released Friday, October 7.OIC Provincial Veterinarian Placeda Lemana said 12 of the cases were from various towns in Negros Occidental and one is from Bacolod City.Seventeen rabies cases were reported in the same period in 2021.A laboratory test is a big help, because it can immediately determine if a dog is positive for rabies, and those bitten can immediately be treated, she said.A Provincial Health Office report earlier showed that nine people died due to suspected rabies and one was confirmed to have died due to rabies this year.The PVO's campaign for responsible pet ownership is ongoing.So far only 42 percent of the target dogs in the...

The drug recovery in the San Carlos City bust.*San Carlos PNP photoAn alleged former member of the Virtucio drug group is now detained after he was caught in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. 3, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, October 5.Nabbed was high-value target Jordan Alquizalas, 31, a former member of the Virtucio drug group, and his alleged runner, 54-year-old Cesar Pasilan, who was said to be a street-level individual.Recovered from them were 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P340,000, the P4,000 buy-bust money, and drugs paraphernalia.The suspects are now in police custody and are facing drug charges.*

The van of the cigarette firm employees who were robbed in Sipalay City.*A man who allegedly robbed two employees of a cigarette company at Barangay Nabulao in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, was arrested on Thursday, October 6.Nabbed was Richard Dalaguit, 38.The police said the victims were transacting with a client in a store when they were approached by three armed suspects who took their cash.The police arrested Dalaguit in a pursuit operation, while his two companions escaped.Recovered from the suspect were .38 caliber revolver with three live ammunition, and the P18,000 in cash.*

Himamaylan City social welfare personnel conduct Pychosocial First Aid for children at the evacuation centers*Himamaylan CSWDO photoClashes between government soldiers and New People’s Army rebels in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, on Thursday and Friday, October 6 and 7, caused 1,767 residents to evacuate and the cancellation of classes in affected areas.There were 1,767 Carabalan residentswho sought refuge at evacuation in Himamaylan City and Payao in Binalbagan town, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson said.Jenelyn Rosalim, an evacuee, said she ran 4 kilometers from the farm where she was working to her home when she heard the exchange of gunfire on Thursday, and gathered up her 10 children.Her legs still hurt from running, she said at a Himamaylan evacuation center on...

The newly inaugurated bridge in Isabela*Negros Occ. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla led the inauguration of the newly constructed bridge in Brgy. Camangcamang, Isabela, on Friday morning, October 7.It is the Bugalo/Guintubhan Overflow Bridge that was converted into a permanent concrete bridge structure.The construction of the bridge that costs P25 million started in April of last year and was finished early this year.It was facilitated by the Provincial Engineer’s Office led by Engr. Ernie Mapa.Negros Occ. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla led the inauguration of the newly constructed bridge in Brgy. Camangcamang, Isabela.*Lacson said that he is happy to know that Brgy. Camangcamang is a booming barangay in terms...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is set to deliver his first 100 days accomplishment report at the Bacolod City Government Center 5 p.m. Saturday, October 8.The mayor aside from presenting his accomplishments is expected to outline his direction moving forward, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said Friday.Included in the eight point agenda promised by the mayor for his first 100 days are his health program, removal of spaghetti wires, housing, an e-governance system, a professionalized and friendly city hall for the public, solar lights, and expedited building and business permits, Maghari said.*