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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...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his SONA on July 25.* PCOO photoThe creation of the Negros Island Region and the building of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge are on the top of their wish list, Negros Occidental officials said Monday, July 18.These are the two projects Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and Rep.  Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said they hope President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will include in his state of the nation address on July 25.Lacson said he would also like to hear what the game plan of the president is to revive the country’s economy.“The president for me has chosen very good people (for his Cabinet), now we need specifics,” Lacson said.Ferrer said he is glad the president...

Hermenegildo Serafica (3rd from left) at a Department of Agriculture meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 18.*More sugar planters’ groups have joined the call for former Sugar Regulatory Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica to “vacate” his post, while Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said two Negrenses have been recommended to replace him.However, it appears that Serafica is still recognized as the SRA head.Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian included Serafica as SRA administrator among those invited to a meeting of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is concurrent agriculture secretary, on Monday, July 18.Ferrer and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday that they are hoping Marcos  names a Negrense to replace Serafica.The...

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District)*House Bill 1446 seeking the creation of the expanded Negros Island Region to be known as Region VI- B, which will include Siquijor,    may be approved on first reading sometime next week, Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said Monday, July 18.The 19th Congress convenes on Monday.House Bill 1446 will be consolidated with the other bills seeking the creation of the NIR and will be sent to the Committee on Government Reorganization or the Committee on Visayas Development for deliberation, he said.Where the public hearings on the bill will be held will depend on the committee chairman, Benitez said.Benitez said he will propose that a hearing will be held in Negros Occidental.The...

Mayor Marvin Malacon, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Francisco Benitez (l-r) at the blessing and inauguration of the Land Transportation Office in EB Magalona on Monday, July 18.*A new Land Transportation Office that will bring services closer to the residents of the Third District of Negros Occidental was inaugurated in EB Magalona town on Monday afternoon, July 18.The inauguration was led by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), author of the law creating the LTO district office in EB Magalona, and Mayor Marvin Malacon.“It is now common knowledge that the LTO Office in Bacolod City is oftentimes overloaded and congested, teeming with people seeking land transportation services from all over the province and Bacolod Ci...