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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...

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...