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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez (2nd from left) with the officials of Western Visayas on Thursday*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Thursday, August 18, was unanimously elected nominee for chairman of the Regional Development Council of Western Visayas for appointment by the president.Benitez said he will push for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge that will interconnect the region and boost economic growth.He will also push for other big ticket infrastructure projects that will promote regional development, Benitez added.Benitez thanked the Western Visayas government and private sector members of the RDC 6 for his nomination.“Thank you for acknowledging my capacity, your vote of confidence inspires me to work harder for my LGU, Bacolod City, and for the rest of the...

Three persons, including the son of a town mayor, were arrested in a police drug bust operation in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, a police official confirmed.Arrested was Nestor Aburido Era Jr., 40, of So. Lipat-on, Calatrava, Chito Carasaqui Atienza, 46, of Luzuriaga St., Brgy 6, San Carlos City, and Rosalia Er-Er Nemenzo, 60, of Brgy Suba, Calatrava, P/Lt. Ruby Aurita, San Carlos City Police Station deputy chief, said.She confirmed that Era is the son of Calatrava Mayor Marilyn Era.The mayor could not be reached for comment.The San Carlos police led by Lt. Col. Jesus Mesahon conducted buy-bust operation against Atienza and arrested him after he sold one heat sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu to a police poseur buy...

The MassKara Festival will be held in October,*Ronnie Baldonado photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is encouraging the Negros Occidental local government units (LGUs) to join the MassKara sa Panaad in support of Bacolod City’s annual festival in October.The participation of the LGUs in the MassKara Festival is part of the collaboration of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, Lacson said on Wednesday, August 17.The Negros Occidental provincial government is staging a “MassKara sa Panaad” in support of Bacolod City’s festivities in October, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday, August  12.Local government booths will open to sell goods and activities will also be staged at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod, during the MassKara Festival, he ...

Councilor Celia Flor, author of the ordinance establishing a social pension fund for qualified senior citizens in Bacolod City.*SP photoBacolod City Councilor Celia Flor is proposing a social pension subsidy for senior citizens to augment their daily subsistence and medical needs.The proposed ordinance establishing a social pension fund for qualified senior citizens in the city of Bacolod and appropriating funds for it was passed on  first reading during the Sangguniang Panlungsod session Wednesday, August 17, with Flor as the main proponent of the measure.It was referred to the SP Committee on Social Services and Development.Flor said that the proposed measure will need  P100 million  for its implementation, adding that a public hearing on the proposal will ...

Councilor Em Ang (center) who authored the fuel subsidy ordinance.*SP photoGood news for tricycle drivers in Bacolod City, they will receive a one-time P1,000 fuel subsidy from the local government.This, after members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed on final reading Wednesday, August 17, the ordinance providing fuel subsidy  for all tricycles for hire with an existing valid franchise issued by the city government that was authored by Councilor Em Ang.The subsidy will benefit 5,610 tricycle drivers in the city, she added.Ang said this will provide the tricycle drivers a temporary relief prices of fuel recently soared to a record high.The national government through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has provided fuel subsidy to jeepney dri...

Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo inspecting the fissures in Sitio Manaol, Barangay Quintin Remo in Moises Padilla.*Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo is asking the secretary of the Department of Science and Technology to send a geologist to Sitio Manaol, Barangay Quintin Remo in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, to assess the extent of the danger posed by new fissures or cracks in the ground seen in the area.Garcia, in her letter to DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Wednesday, August 17, said she is asking for his help to guide them in their plans to ensure the safety of residents.They want to know if the area should be declared a “no man’s zone”, she said.Garcia said on August 10 after several days of raining residents reported new fissures, liquefaction, and landslides in different parts o...

The victim at the scene of the accident in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City.*Tito Leo J photoA man who was celebrating his birthday died after he figured in an accident at Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Tuesday, August 16.Killed was Jundie Doroteo, 28, of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.The victim, on board a motorcycle along with his companion, was on his way home from a drinking session when they rear-ended a truck after it halted due to a traffic stop, police said.The victim died on the spot due to a head injury from the crash, while his companion suffered injuries.The driver of the truck was temporarily detained.*

Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City has been awarded the Angels Initiative Gold Status Award by the World Stroke Organization (WSO) and the Accreditation Canada International (ACI).Dr. Julius Drilon, CLMMRH chief, said on Wednesday, August 17, that the hospital’s Section of Neurology of the Department of Internal Medicine would like to thank the World Stroke Organization for the award.Through the ANGELS initiative, we were able to improve quality of care of stroke patients by enhancing the knowledge of the stroke team to recognize strokes early and subsequently decrease disability through timely thrombolysis, Drilon said.“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole CLMMRH community from the management, ...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with political and sugar leaders in Malacañang on Wednesday*President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday, August 17, that he would reorganize the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) this week as he seeks ways to address issues plaguing the sugar industry.“We’ll reorganize the SRA and then we will come to an arrangement with the industrial consumers, with the planters, the millers, suppliers of the sugar to coordinate so whatever (sugar) is available is released to the market,” Marcos said in an interview in Manila.Marcos met with political and sugar leaders, including those from Negros Occidental, to discuss the state of the sugar industry in at Malacañang 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.“We had a very productive two hour meeting with t...