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Jun232022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Three city projects set for unveiling Friday

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia will lead the unveiling of three projects under the Green, Green Green Program Friday, June 24.The projects were completed with allocations from the Local Government Support Fund-Assistance to Cities, a press release from the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC)said Thursday.The City Engineer’s Office said the projects set for inauguration are the improvement and rehabilitation of the Bacolod City Rizal Park, the promenade in front of the Negros Occidental High School along Araneta Street and the improvement of public open spaces at the Government Center.Leonardia earlier disclosed that the city received an LGSF allocation of P9.4 million from the national government to rehabilitate the Rizal Park that included the provision for concrete curbs an...

Jun222022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

No documents, list of JOs, casuals turned over to Benitez team yet

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The transition teams' meeting on Wednesday, June 22.*Nico Delfin photoThe transition team of outgoing Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia did not turnover any documents, including data on the city’s casuals and job order (JO) workers, to the team of mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez during a meeting at the Bacolod City Government Center Wednesday afternoon, June 22, Rep. Greg Gasataya said.Gasataya, who heads the transition team of Benitez, said they were told that they can instead get the documents they need from the city government’s various departments that are ready.Outgoing City Administrator Edward Joseph Cuansing said the documents of the various departments, which the Benitez team can go over, are already complete. The Benitez team can coordinate with the different departm...

Jun222022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Capitol sets three-year dev’t plan, braces for 14% budget cut in 2023

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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson wants to ensure food self-sufficiency in Negros Occidental.*Richard Malihan photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government is setting its priorities for the second term of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson in a three-year development plan, and is preparing for a 14 percent drop in its 2023 budget, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Wednesday, June 22.The priorities of the provincial government in its three-year development plan are food security, education, infrastructure and peace and order, among others, Diaz said.Lacson is aiming to make Negros Occidental self-sufficient in food amid a looming worldwide crisis, he said.The provincial government department heads have been asked to set tangible, concrete and doable objectives, he added.Di...

Jun222022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Ferrer upbeat for sugar industry reforms under Marcos’ leadership

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President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer (right).*Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer said on Wednesday, June 22, that he is hopeful that the much awaited reforms in the sugar industry, including the full implementation of the sugar road map and utilization of the Sugar Industry Development Act fund will be realized under the Marcos administration.President-elect Ferdinand Marcos’ announcement that he will also head the Department of Agriculture shows “he is serious in working on his campaign promise that agriculture will be a priority agenda in his administration, which will greatly benefit Negros Occidental in terms of food security and in our effort to wipe out insurgency”, Ferrer said in a press release.David Alba, represen...

Jun222022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Army overruns NPA hideout in Negros

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Personal belongings, medical paraphernalia, and subversive documents were seized form the rebel hideout, the Army said.*Troops of the 79th Infantry "Masaligan" Battalion overran a Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) hideout after an encounter in Sitio Tinibyangan, Brgy Minapasuk, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, at about 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 22.Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, 79th IB commander, said their troops were conducting a re-visitation of the area when they encountered about 10 rebels believed to be remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NNF-D).Days before the encounter, several encampments were also found in the barangay, he added."This encounter happened after our troops received information from concerned citizens about the presence o...

Jun222022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Hinoba-an to get P49.6M abattoir

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Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz (right) receives the document approving the construction of the Hinoba-an abattoir from Engr. Jose Albert A. Barrogo, Department of Agriculture OIC-Regional Technical Director, on Wednesday.*A P49. 6 million abattoir will soon rise in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday, June 22.The Hinoba-an abattoir passed the criteria set and is eligible for funding under the Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP) loan from the World Bank, Agriculture Regional Director Remelyn Recoter said.The local government unit may now proceed with the publication of the invitation of bid in a newspaper of national circulation and the posting on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, she said...

Jun222022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Vaccinating senior citizens vs. Covid-19 uphill battle

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The provincial government is having a hard time convincing senior citizens to get vaccinated against Covid-19*Richard Malihan photoConvincing more senior citizens in Negros Occidental to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is an uphill battle.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said they targeted 15,000 senior citizens during their simultaneous provincewide mass vaccination drive this month but so far only 714 have been covered.The provincial government is giving rice assistance to senior citizens who agree to be vaccinated, and financial incentives to barangay health workers who are able to convince more residents to get inoculated.They will just keep on trying to convince more residents, especially senior citizens, to get vaccinated for their own protection, he said.T...

Jun222022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Scholarship program MOA for Negros brgy heads inked

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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos president, Fr. Don H. Besana, after the signing of the MOA. *Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos president, Fr. Don H. Besana, signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the “Scholarship for Local Leaders on Barangay Governance”, Wednesday, June 22.“This scholarship program for barangay officials is not just a pioneering initiative but a necessary step to develop the capacities of our barangay officials,” Lacson said.The scholarship aims to boost the managerial and leadership skills of local leaders through the provision of a one-semester - 15 units Certificate on Public Administration and Governance, a press release from the Capitol said.T...

Jun222022 by Mark GarciaNo Comments

Bagani to hold Pride Fest 2022

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Members of the Bagani Community Center*A health-based non-government organization, Bagani Community Center, will hold a Pride Fest on Saturday, June 25, in celebration of Pride Month to help Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Negros Occidental.This is the second Pride event hosted by Bagani since its establishment in 2019, where it will feature local talents from the LGBT+ community, as well as bring the advocacy for HIV education, awareness, and prevention.The event will start 9 a.m. at the pool area of Acacia Hotel.During the event, Bagani will launch its HIV-treatment hub, the first and only NGO-run treatment center on Negros Island, and a self-care HIV testing program.Bagani’s Hub Manager Butch Lavaro said the event will be a venue to celebrate pride, as well as adv...

Jun212022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Make arrests, don’t let suspects in shooting cases get away: guv

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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, June 21, that the police should arrest and file charges against the suspects in the spate of shooting incidents in Bacolod City to teach the culprits that they cannot get away with such crimes.Lacson and mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez met with the top police officials of Bacolod and Negros Occidental on Monday, following nine successive shooting incidents in the city this month.Present at the meeting was Bacolod police director, Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, and Negros Occidental police director, Col. Leo Pamittan.“We manifested our concern. What is important is if somebody gets shot, the police should identify the suspects and make actual arrests,” Lacson said.Lacson said it has to be that way to assure the publ...