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Rayfrando Diaz is Bacolod City government consultant for administrative matters and system review*Negros Occidental provincial government systems will be set up in Bacolod City to ensure more efficient delivery of services and management of resources, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Thursday, October 20.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has tapped Diaz as city consultant for administrative matters and system review on a pro bono basis.The priority is to set up systems in the Bacolod City government that have already been successfully implemented by the provincial government, Diaz said.A document tracking system is being set up that will make use of QR or bar codes for efficient access to data needed, he said.Benitez also wants to adopt the Capitol c...

Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez*Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez has signed Executive Order No. 64 banning the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products in all offices of the Victorias City government.This is in accordance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which mandates the adoption of systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management, he said.The executive order will ensure a significant reduction of garbage generated from the daily operations and activities of the city government, Benitez said.Monitoring of the use of unnecessary single-use plastics inside the premises will be employed.Government employees are also encouraged to engage in the “Bring your own Tumbler” campaign, Benitez said.Materials that are considered si...

“There is no need for additional sugar imports while milling season is peaking,” Aurelio “Bodie” Valderrama, Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations president, said.*“There is no need for additional sugar imports while milling season is peaking,” Aurelio "Bodie" Valderrama, Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (CONFED) president, said.He explained that the importation of 200,000 MT under Sugar Order No. 3 for Crop Year 2020-2021, and of 150,000 MT of sugar under Sugar Order No.2, CY 2022-2023, to be completed by November 15, are seen to ease the tightness in the domestic market.“Together with the new sugar production from on-going milling operations, these two importations should suffice for now to meet expected demand during the peak milling months up to early n...

Ten new water samples from areas where cholera cases were detected in the third district of Negros Occidental were found positive for bacteria that cause diarrheal diseases, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Thursday, October 20.None were positive for cholera, he added.The cholera positive cases in Silay City were five, including one death, EB Magalona- four, including one death, Talisay City - two cases and Talisay City - one case.Of ten water samples earlier tested, one was found positive for cholera bacteria and nine for other diarrheal diseases, Tumimbang said.*

A simulation exercise to boost emergency response was conducted at the Banago seaport in Bacolod City Wednesday, October 19.*PCG photoThe Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Western Visayas conducted simulation exercises at the Banago seaport in Bacolod City Wednesday, October 19, to ensure the preparedness of various stakeholders in case of sea emergencies and oil spills.The scenario in the exercise showed a collision of two vessels that resulted to casualties and oil spill.Personnel of the Coast Guard immediately responded to the scene, conducting search and rescue operations, as well as containment of the oil spill.The exercise was observed by Commodore Edgar Ybañez, commander of PCG District Western Visayas.He commended the PCG personnel for their readiness to res...

Members of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the proposed social pension for senior citizens and PWDs.*SP photoMembers of the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved the proposed social pension for indigent senior citizens and persons with disabilities during their regular session Wednesday, October 19.Councilor Celia Flor, chair of the SP committee on senior citizens and veterans affairs, said this is her promise to the citizens during the campaign period, and she is very thankful to her colleagues for supporting the passage of the measure.Flor, one of the main proponents of the measure, said there is an ongoing validation and updating of the senior citizens' database in the city to determine their actual number.Under the ordinance, the city government ...

Kara Daniela Villarosa (center) - Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe, with Janine Gelera - Miss Bacolod MassKara World, Jan Marie Bordon - Miss Bacolod MassKara International, Eirine Juliane Granada - Miss Bacolod MassKara - first runner-up, and Sandale Masangcay - Miss Bacolod MassKara - second runner-up.*Ronnie Baldonado photoCrowd favorite Kara Daniela Villarosa, 21, was crowned Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum Wednesday night, October 19.Villarosa, a Riverside College third year physical therapist student and an advocate of malnutrition awareness, bested 14 other candidates.Villarosa also won the Best in Swimwear, Best in Evening Gown, and Miss Photogenic awards.In the final question and answer portion of the pageant, Villarosa was a...

COVID-19 Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant cases have been detected in Western Visayas, the Department of Health 6 announced on Wednesday, October 19.There are 60 XBB and five XBC cases that have been detected in the region, the DOH 6 said.However, no details were available on where the persons found positive for the new variants are located in the region.The cases are currently under investigation, the DOH 6 said.The XBB subvariant has been causing COVID-19 spikes in Singapore and other countries.Following the recent detection of the Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variants and recognizing their reported potential immune-escape characteristics, the DOH said vaccines remain effective in preventing severe and critical COVID-19, as well as deaths regardless of variant...

A barangay kagawad of Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental, was killed by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Monday, October 17, in the mountainous part of Barangay Tabon.The fatality was identified as Nonie Cadorna, who was just walking with his daughter on their way home when they were waylaid by two armed persons.The suspects immediately shot Cadorna multiple times.The NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command released a statement, claiming responsibility for the killing of the victim, whom they tagged as an intelligence asset of the army.*

Himamaylan evacuees go home*The remaining evacuees in Himamaylan City have returned home, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said on Wednesday, October 19.The Philippine Army informed the Himamaylan Incident Management Team (IMT) that sitios Medel, Campaya and Sig-ang had been cleared.The IMT distributed family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, assorted donated goods, medicines and vitamin supplements to the evacuees, and provided them with transportation to return home, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson said in a statement.Tongson thanked all those who provided assistance in the near two-week stay of the evacuees in the evacuation centers."Please continue praying for our city and our people,” he said.The...