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The Negros Cultural Foundation Inc. (NCFI) launched its “Pagsaulog: A Celebration of Negrense Culture” competitions on Thursday, July 28.The competitions this year, to be conducted in  partnership with the Negros Occidental provincial government, include the Sine Negrense: Negros Island Film Festival, the "Cinco de Noviembre" short play competition, and the inter-local government unit (LGU) mural competition.The “Pagsaulog: A Celebration of Negrense Culture” is an integrated cultural development program aimed at benefiting the province of Negros Occidental and the Negrense community through activities that provide a venue for artistic expression, cultural promotion and appreciation, and wellness and recovery using the arts, the NCFI press statement said.It  was launch...

The seat of the Kabankalan City government* Mayor Benjie Miranda FB page photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, July 28, that he will not meddle in the so-called rift between Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda and the members of the city’s Sangguniang Panlungsod.“I will not meddle there. I think the mayor already said that he’s open to sit down with them. I think he should give that a priority and not only base it on his availability. They are grown men and women so they can settle that,” he said.Miranda said on Wednesday that he is open to dialog with SP members for the good of Kabankalan.The City SP had passed a resolution expressing their dismay and disappointment over Miranda’s hiring of persons who are not from Kabankalan for city government job...

Rep. Alfredo Marañon III and Rep. Stephen Paduano (right)*Two more Negros Occidental representatives have been named chairpersons of House committees in the 9th Congress, they confirmed Thursday, July 28.Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) was elected chairman of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources.Negrense Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod Partylist) chairs the Committee on Public Accounts.Earlier the committees of two other Negros Occidental representatives were also announced.Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) was named chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Committee again.Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) chairs the Committee on Justice.Benitez said more Negros representatives may...

The scene of what the Army said was an encounter*The Philippine Army in Negros Occidental insisted that the clash with the New People’s Army on Tuesday, July 26, that claimed the lives of three rebels in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, was legitimate.This, after Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, alleged that Christina Jacolbe, her 16-year-old daughter Kaye and their relative Roldan Montero were massacred by members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion.The Army said the three killed in a 10-minute firefight were NPA members.Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commanding general of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said on Wednesday that he was expecting the NPA to twist  the truth to discredit the Army, which is not surprising since they have d...

Mayor Benjie Miranda being interviewed at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday.*Mayor Benjie Miranda said on Wednesday, July 27, that he is open to dialog with members of the Kabankalan Sangguniang Panlungsod to ensure a harmonious working relationship for the good of their city.Anytime time they want to come to my office they are welcome, he said.The Kabankalan City Sangguniang Panlungsod members had passed a resolution expressing their dismay and disappointment over the hiring of non-Kabankalanon residents by Mayor Benjie Miranda.Miranda said when he declared that he would not fire any employees, and job order and casual workers of Kabankalan, the SP should have also passed a resolution thanking him for doing that.“I prioritized the Kabnkalanons because they were th...

The minor who was hit by lighting is now in stable condition.*Sagay PNP photoA 60-year-old man was killed while his worker, a 17-year-old boy, was injured after they were struck by lightning Tuesday, July 26, in Brgy. Puey, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.Killed was Bernardo Tapia.The two were tending to their pigs when it suddenly rained, so they took cover at the waiting shed, but they were hit by lightning, a police report said.There were four more people at the waiting shed but they were not hit.Tapia was declared dead on arrival at the hospital while the minor is in stable condition, the police said.*

The man who was shot in San Carlos City, Tuesday, July 26.*San Carlos PNP photoA 43-year-old man was injured after he was shot by responding policemen at Barangay Punao, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, July 26.Based on the initial police investigation, the two policemen responded after a suspicious person was seen carrying a weapon.The suspect identified as Ramonito Tura, of Barangay Punao, San Carlos City, pointed his gun at the policemen that prompted them to shoot, the police report said.It was later discovered that the man was only carrying a toy gun.The man was said to be suffering from mental problems.He is being treated at the San Carlos City Hospital.*

Several personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office were recognized for their performance at rites held at the Police Regional Office-6 headquarters in Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City, on July 25.*PRO-6 photoBacolod City Police Office personnel were awarded for their “exemplary performance that contributed to the overall accomplishment of the Philippine National Police”.The awarding was held at the Police Regional Office-6 headquarters in Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City, on Monday,  July 25.Cpt. Elmer Bonilla,  Police Station 7 chief, and  SSg. Edlyn Villan, were awarded the Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Merit Medal ) for their anti-illegal drugs campaign accomplishments.Lt. Edward Bolivar, who was then assigned to the Bacolod City Mobile Force Company (BCMFC), was...

Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer and Rep. Francisco Benitez*Two Negros Occidental representatives have been appointed chairpersons of House committees in the 9th Congress.Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) has been named chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Committee again.Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) chairs the Committee on Justice.Committees study, deliberate on and act upon all measures referred to them inclusive of bills, resolutions and petitions, and shall recommend courses of action for the House, its rules state.Committees also have oversight responsibilities to determine whether or not laws and programs addressing subjects within their jurisdictions are being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of Congr...