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Rex Villamin Baron and the seized shabu.*San Carlos PNP photosAn alleged right-hand man of a top drug personality was arrested with P13.6 million worth of suspected shabu in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental at 4:48 a.m. Tuesday, June 14.Nabbed was Rex Villamin Baron, 49, of Fatima Village in Brgy Rizal, after the San Carlos police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel conducted a buy bust operation, Lt. Ruby Aurita, San Carlos City Police Station spokesperson, said.Baron allegedly is a right-hand man of San Carlos City’s top drug personality who is at-large, Aurita said.Seized during the buy bust operation at a safehouse of the drug personality was 2,000 grams of suspected shabu valued at P13.6 million, a laptop bag and the P6,600 in buy-bust money...

A garbage truck picking up waste at the Libertad Public Market in Bacolod City.* Levi Trio photoMayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said he is exploring ways to convert biodegradable waste from Bacolod’s markets into organic fertilizer.A separate disposal system will be set up for biodegradable waste and income generated from the organic fertilizer produced will be used for the markets, he said.He has spoken to sugar groups about the city’s producing organic fertilizer, Benitez said.Meetings are also being held to make the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program operational as soon as he assumes office, which will cover all Bacolodnons, Benitez said.His legal team is coordinating with private hospitals and working on how to operationalize the program immediately, Benitez s...

Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara*The rehabilitation of the water system in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, will be his priority project, re-elected mayor John Rey Tabujara said Tuesday, June 14.The water is no longer potable because of salt water intrusion, Tabujara said.The rehabilitation will be funded with a bank loan, but the actual cost that could range from P50 million to P100 million has yet to be determined, Tabujara said.The water system serves 400 to 500 residents but with the rehabilitation it can be expanded to cover more households, he said.Also among his priorities is a housing program for retired town employees, he added.A big portion of the town’s budget has also been allocated to boost local agriculture, he said, pointing out that fishing and farming are...

The recipients of the NHA aid in Cauayan*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson distributed P19.9 million from the National Housing Authority (NHA) to 3,989 residents of Cauayan town who lost their homes to Typhoon “Odette” at rites on Tuesday, June 14.The distribution in Cauayan was the last of the P91 million NHA assistance released to the typhoon victims in Negros Occidental, he said.The provincial government has also been releasing P41 million from the national treasury for the typhoon victims, he said.The beneficiaries were identified by the Cauayan municipal government.Mayor John Rey Tabujara thanked Lacson for facilitating the distribution of the financial assistance worth P5, 000 for each recipient.Tabujara said aid given to Cauayan victims of “Odette” f...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Dr. Renante Decena (right)*Dr. Renante Decena has committed to the development of the food security program of Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, June 14.Decena, 62, is retiring as provincial veterinarian on June 30 and is taking on the job of provincial consultant on food security on July 1, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday.Diaz said there are two prospects for OIC provincial veterinarian and the governor still has up to the end of the month to make his choice.There is an urgent need for the provincial government to put a food security program in place amid the prospects of a world food crisis, he said.Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program has been expanded to San Carlos C...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco Jr. (1st and 2nd from right) led the signing of the MOA.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco Jr. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the operationalization of Kabankalan City Animal Hospital at the Capitol in Bacolod City Tuesday, June 14.It is a collaborative program of the Kabankalan City government and the provincial government for the benefit and welfare of animals in Kabankalan City and in all neighboring LGUs.The provincial government will allocate a budget for the procurement of the necessary furnishings and fixtures, equipment, supplies, and biologics needed for the operation of the animal hospital, the MOA said.It will also provide technical ...

Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo "Albee" Benitez said he is aiming to start the construction of affordable onsite condominium-like housing units as shown in photo for Bacolod informal settler families in the first year of his term as mayorMayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said he is raising up to P5 billion to kick off the first phase of an affordable onsite housing program for informal settler families (ISF) in Bacolod City.“We are looking at raising between P3 to 5 billion for phase one of our housing program. We will issue LGU bonds so we are coordinating with the national treasury and the Department of Finance on how to go about it,” Benitez said Monday, June 13.Benitez said he is aiming to start the construction of affordable onsite condominium-like housing units for Bacolod ...

The total number of Negrenses vaccinated in the four-day simultaneous provincial COVID-19 vaccination drive in June remains short of the target.The total general population vaccinated were 15,291 and senior citizens were 890 for a total of 16,181, a report from Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Monday, June 13.The target was to vaccinate 23,305 residents a day for a total of 93,220 in four days.Negros Occidental has fully vaccinated 63.79 percent of its target population and 58.82 of its target senior citizens, making it the lowest performer in Western Visayas, the Department of Health reported Monday.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Negros Occidental will not be able to fully vaccinate 100 percent of its target population this June.“We are sti...

Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist) is spearheading the filing of a bill to revive the Negros Island Region.*A bill seeking the revival of the Negros Island Region will be filed on the first day of the 19th Congress on July 1, Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist) said Monday, June 13.Paduano said he will refile his previous bill for the legislative creation of the NIR composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental, and possibly Siquijor.He could refile the bill by himself or may be joined by all of the Negros Island representatives, Paduano said.Rep. Jake Vincent Villa, who is the incoming governor of Siquijor, expressed interest in his province joining the NIR during a Visayan bloc meeting, Paduano said.Paduano said they will also have...