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The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) has announced the Top 12 Provincial Government offices, departments, and hospitals of Negros Occidental, which are compliant with RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.The Provincial Capitol Solid Waste Management Task Group led by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz spearheaded the conduct of the Local Search for the Best Office/Hospital compliant with RA 9003 for 2022.In the Top 12 are the Food Terminal Market of Negros Occidental, Ignacio L. Arroyo Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Isabela, Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary, Negros Occ. Scholarship Program Division, Office of the Provincial Administrator, Office of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial Assessor's Office, Provincial General Ser...

Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria*Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria is urging the public to register to vote during the holidays.There was a large turnout of registrants in the first two days from the start of the Commission on Elections’ resumption of its registration of voters on December 12.However, in the succeeding days the numbers decreased, he said.There have only been two to three registering at Comelec offices in the towns and cities of Negros Occidental lately, he noted.There are no registrants at all in some areas, he said.It is better to register now while there are no lines rather than waiting for the deadline rush, he said.The registration of voters ends on January 31.The baranga...

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Negros Association of Chief Executives president*Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Negros Association of Chief Executives president, said he supports the move of Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson to meet with Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo to discuss the push for the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR).Lacson, who supports the creation of the NIR, is seeking a dialog with Degamo after the holidays.Degamo has announced his opposition to the creation of the NIR.“I really support Governor Bong’s move to reach out to Governor Degamo,” Benitez said.Benitez said he is willing to go with Lacson if he invites him.The mayor said he really hopes the NIR is created because it will be big help fo...

The scene of the accident in EB Magalona*A 15-year-old Grade 10 student crossing a pedestrian lane in front of a school in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, was hit by a speeding truck and died instantaneously on Thursday, December 15.Killed was Kevin Liscano who was crossing the highway at Brgy II-Poblacion, from the E. B. Magalona National High School where he and other students had attended a Christmas party.The Prime Mover truck driven by Dante Cabatuan Sebuguero, 47, of Crossing Kamatis, Sagay City, hit the boy’s head and dragged him for about 10 meters before it stopped, Maj. Kenneth Jay Gratones, E.B. Magalona police chief, said on Friday.Closed-circuit television footage showed the boy and about 10 other students crossing the pedestrian lane when the incident occurred...

The Bacolod delegation in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur*Forty-seven athletes and coaches from Bacolod City are in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, for the Batang Pinoy 2022 National Championships that kick off Saturday, December 17.The delegation arrived in Vigan on Friday, December 16.The Bacolod athletes are participating in five events – athletics, badminton, chess, table tennis and swimming.Batang Pinoy is an annual national youth sports competition for athletes aged 15 years old and below. This year’s games will end on December 22.*

The total suspected leptospirosis deaths in Bacolod City have increased to 10, with one new fatality, as of December 10, the City Health Office reported Friday, December 16.The CHO has recorded 42 suspected leptospirosis cases in Bacolod this year, which are 68 percent higher than last year.The age range of those affected were 1 to 68 years old.Leptospirosis is caused by the entry of the leptospira bacteria through wounds when in contact with flood waters, vegetation, and moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals.The CHO reminded the public to avoid wading in water, especially during floods, and to use boots or gloves when coming in contact with possibly contaminated water.It also stressed the need for prophylaxis - doxycycline, azithromycin, amoxicill...

Cristine Mansinares was former Negros Occidental tourism officer*Negrense Cristine Mansinares has been replaced as regional director of the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas.Mansinares, former Negros Occidental tourism officer, was replaced by Chrisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez, DOT Order 2022-15 said.The order did not state the new assignment of Mansinares.Mansinares, in a statement issued Friday, December 16, said in view of the publication of the list of newly-appointed officials of the DOT, “I wish to thank everyone, who, in one way or the other supported me in my role as regional director of DOT Region VI-Western Visayas”.“I have given the instructions to the DOT Region VI staff for the composition of a Transition Committee to plan for a smooth turnover of the O...

The Social Security System Visayas (SSS) West 1 Division has collected P7.1 million in delinquent payments from 42 out of 75 employers in Negros Island and Siquijor subjected to its Run after Contributions Evaders (RACE) operations from March to November, the SSS announced.The SSS again reminded erring employers of their legal obligations under Republic Act No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018 during its RACE Campaign in Silay City and La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Monday, December 12.Three sugarcane plantation owners, a restaurant, a common carrier and a fireworks distributor received written orders from the RACE Team headed by SSS Visayas West 1 Division head Lilani B. Benedian for non-remittance of contributions and non-production of monthly collection list.“T...

Former Commissioner Aina Magpale-Asirit of the Energy Regulatory Commission was the speaker at the Consumer's Assembly.*The Department of Energy (DOE) has agreed to a plan being pushed by Mayor Alfredo Alberto “Albee” Benitez to bring down power rates in Bacolod City.The DOE has verbally okayed his proposal, he is just waiting for an official reply so measures to lower power rates can be implemented, Benitez said at a Central Negros Electric Cooperative Consumers’ Assembly at the Acacia Hotel Function Hall in Bacolod City on Thursday, December 15.“Hopefully we will be able to see a reduction of our power cost in the near future,” Benitez said.Benitez, in an interview, said he has asked the DOE to allow the local government to aggregate all the power consumers of Bacolod as ...