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Department of Health COVID-19 performance report for Western Visayas*The release of rice incentives for senior citizens in Negros Occidental who were vaccinated against COVID-19 has started, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, June 21.Initially released were 66 sacks of rice for 661 senior citizen vaccinees who will receive 5 kilos each, Diaz said.The results of the simultaneous provincewide COVID-19 vaccination drive on June 16 and 17 were not available yet, “that means it’s not good,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday.The provincial government has been trying to ramp up the COVID-19 vaccination drive so more local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental can be deescalated to Alert Level 1.Only 9 out of the 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental are un...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (right) and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer will lead the oathtaking rites on Saturday, June 25.*The inaugural rites of the Negros Occidental provincial government officials led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer will be held at the Capitol grounds in Bacolod City at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25.They will try to keep the oathtaking rites simple, no national personalities have been invited, Lacson said on Tuesday, June 21.Lacson, who was reelected to a second term, said he will take his oath before Judge Amy Alabado Avellano of the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court.Ferrer, who is also entering his second term, will take his oath before Bago City Judge Aireen Bonghanoy.There are 10 returning board members and two newly-elected ones w...

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who is set to lead the Senate in the 19th Congress.*Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who is set to lead the Senate in the 19th Congress, said on Monday, June 20, that he is committed to file and spearhead the Negros Island Region Act in the upper chamber.“I thank president-elect Bongbong Marcos for assuring us, this early on, of his support for the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR),” Zubiri said.Twelve representatives on Negros Island and Siquijor are also jointly filing a bill seeking the establishment of the NIR on the first day of the 19th Congress on July 1, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg., Occ., 3rd District) said Saturday.The bill will include the provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental and Siqui...

Coordinated Bacolod City and Negros Occidental law enforcement efforts tackled at meeting Monday, June 20.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez met with the top police officials of the province and city to discuss coordinated law enforcement efforts on Monday, June 20.“It’s an indication that Bacolod and Negros Occidental will work together in the next three years,” Lacson said.Synergy between the city and province in law enforcement was tackled.They also met to discuss the recent spate of shootings that are starting to be alarming, Lacson said.The police have said that it is something that has not greatly affected us but it should already be discussed to find solutions, Lacson said.PCol. Thomas Joseph Martir, Bac...

A drug surrenderer was killed Sunday night, June 19, in the ninth shooting incident in Bacolod City this June.Christopher Lumbayan Guanzon, 38, of Barangay Taculing was onboard his tricycle when he was killed by an unidentified gunman in Brgy 31, Bacolod City, at 9 p.m. Sunday, PMaj. Leo Estopa, Police Station 6 chief, said Monday.He was about to park the tricycle he was driving and pick up his family from the house of his sibling when the gunman approached and shot him in the head.CCTV footage showed that the gunman on a motorcycle was following the tricycle of the victim prior to the shooting, Estopa said.The shootings in barangay Singcang Airport and Banago last week were also drug related, Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, Bacolod police director, said.Estopa said they are...

“Agriculture is vital to our food security," Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer said.*Ronnie Baldonado photoPresident-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Monday, June 20, that he will head the Department of Agriculture (DA) in a concurrent capacity to take a proactive stance versus a looming food crisis.“Agriculture is vital to our food security, and surveys would tell us that some countries are already food insecure due to the resurgence of many problems caused by war and the high cost of crude and gasoline. The president is the best person to take care of this sector as the power to decide is with him,” Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said.“We hope he will recognize the threats of ever-increasing fuel and fertilizer prices being faced by our farmers...

Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokespersonThe Philippine Coast Guard has standing orders for its personnel to implement strict measures to prevent the entry of illegal drugs through shipping routes and coastlines, Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said on Monday, June 20.He gave the assurance following reports of the entry of illegal drugs through the ports of Bacolod and Negros Occidental.“We have standing guidelines to be strict on security measures to prevent the proliferation of drugs,” he said, adding that they will look into the situation in Negros.Balilo said they get their cue from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency that provides them with intelligence information.He welcomed the support pledged by mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez to boost the cam...

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona was in Negros Occidental Monday, June 20.* Richard Malihan photoBills seeking the postponement of the barangay elections are expected to be filed in July when the 19th Congress convenes, Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said Monday, June 20.Madrona, who was visiting Negros Occidental, said the postponement will depend on the mandate of the majority.However, if the barangay polls are postponed the question is whether to also defer the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, he said.Some of those holding elective post could be over age already, he said.The last barangay and SK elections were held in May 2018 and next polls are scheduled on December 2022.Madrona said he is okay with the postponement of the barangay elections by one o...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (2nd from left) with Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Gov. Jose Riano and Vice Gov.-elect Armando Gutierrez (l-r) at the Capitol in Bacolod City Monday, June 20.* Richard Malihan photoRomblon officials are in Negros Occidental to learn about its best practices for replication in their province.Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Gov. Jose Riano and Vice Gov.-elect Armando Gutierrez and their team met with Negros Occidental officials led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer at the Capitol in Bacolod City Monday, June 20, where they were briefed on the programs of the provincial government.Lacson said Riano brought in his team to learn about the Negros Occidental’s one hospital command system.Riano, who has k...

The scene of the shooting incident at Rizal Street, Brgy 26, Bacolod City, Sunday.*The shooting incidents in Bacolod City rose to eight this month with one person killed and two persons injured on Friday and Sunday, June 17 and 19.Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 director, has ordered the local police to conduct thorough investigations on the series of shooting incidents, make arrests and file charges against the suspects, Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, Bacolod police spokesperson, said Sunday.Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo Albee Benitez said he and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson are meeting with the city and provincial directors to discuss what is needed to halt the spate of killings.Asked if he will seek the replacement of Bacolod police directo...