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Areas with stagnant water are breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes*The Provincial Health Office is calling on local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental to activate their   dengue task forces.The majority of the LGUs in Negros Occidental still have not formed their task forces that should be headed by the mayor of the locality, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Tuesday, July 19.The local dengue task forces need to be activated to ensure coordinated and swift responses against the rising dengue cases, he said.Tumimbang said he will call a meeting with LGU and DepEd representatives for dengue updating and to discuss the need to implement the Enhanced 4-S campaign.The Enhanced 4-S campaign stands for Search and destroy mosquito-...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the launching of the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP).*Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez launched the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center  (BCGC)   on Tuesday, July 19.A 5-day medical mission sponsored by Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation is also ongoing at the BCGC,  he addedThe BacCHP, which is a priority of the Benitez administration, aims to ensure the delivery of an integrated health care system that includes preventive, promotive, and curative health care coverage by maximizing resources and programs of the government, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari said.Maghari said with the help of the City Health Office, barangay officials and health ...

Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria shows the voter registration figures for Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.*There are 67,843 residents who registered to vote in the December 5 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City from July 14 to 18, Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Tuesday, July 19.Bacolod City had the highest number of voter registrants among the local government units in Negros Occidental with 6,697 as of Monday.The registration period will end on Saturday, July 23, he said.Ananoria warned those who are registering in barangays where they are not residents that they will face election offense raps, which penalty is up to six years imprisonment.Those who apply to transfer their voter regi...

As Talisay City bids to become a Green, Smart and Resilient City in the next three years, Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) is pushing for the creation of a Government-Academe-Industry Council to spearhead a comprehensive plan to address, among others, the large skills gap between the academe and the industry.Benitez pointed to the current situation even in the national level, where educational institutions cannot cope with the skills requirement of industries during a coordination meeting in Talisay City on Tuesday, July 19.As early as 2019, Benitez posed a challenge to Talisay City being the seat of several higher education facilities and its proximity to key government agencies that can provide technical support, to mobilize a convergence to initiate and co...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, July 18, that there is no need to declare a state of calamity to fight the rising dengue cases in Negros Occidental.Lacson said he met with Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, Monday, and he was informed that the dengue cases in the province cannot be considered endemic.The Provincial Health Office (PHO) still has funds for the fight against dengue and local government units are also addressing the problem in their areas, Lacson said.“When you declare a state of calamity it’s really to give you access to more funds. There is still P3 million in the regular budget of PHO specifically for dengue,” he said.The dengue cases in the province are still manageable, Lacson also said.The provincial government will take the lea...

A man was injured after he was stabbed by his grandmother in Binalbagan on July 16.*Binalbagan PNP photoAn alleged intoxicated man was stabbed by his grandmother in Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on  Saturday, July 16.Injured was 29-year-old Ronel Repure.Initial investigation showed that the victim insisted to buy more alcoholic drinks from the sari-sari store of his 70-year-old grandmother despite already being drunk.This prompted the two to argue and led to the grandmother’s stabbing her grandson with a knife.The victim was brought to the Binalbagan infirmary, while the senior citizen cannot be found.*

The scene of the accident in San Carlos City on Friday.*San Carlos PNP photoThe driver of the dump truck that collided with  motorcycles and  left the Guihulngan police chief in Negros Oriental dead at the highway in Barangay Riza, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Friday,  was charged on Saturday, July 16.The accident also left  the director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office and two others injured.Wenny Boy Nagor, 24, of Brgy. Kumaliskis, Don Salvador Benedicto, is now facing charges for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide.Killed was Lt. Col. Ruben Verbo, while NORPPO director Col. Germano Mallari sustained minor injuries.They were hit by the oncoming dump truck after its brakes malfunctioned.The suspect is currently detain...

Bacolod first lady Nikki Benitez with the children who received teddy bears in Barangay 14.*Bacolod first lady Dominique “Nikki” Benitez brought smiles to the faces of 100 undernourished children and their parents in Barangay 14, Bacolod City, on Monday, July 18, as she began a campaign to raise awareness on proper nutrition.The Nikki Cares Foundation Inc., together with the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation, fed undernourished children aged 4 to 8 years old Mingo meals prepared on the NVC bus, and 100 parents were treated to arroz caldo.The children and their parents also watched a film beamed from a LED van on the importance of eating nutritious food.Benitez then gave the children teddy bears and their parents received bags, made of recycled campaign tarpaulins, c...