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PIA photoFacilities to boost the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic worth P52 million were inaugurated in the cities of Bacolod and Silay in Negros Occidental today, October 30.Inaugurated were quarantine and isolation facilities in Barangay Alijis and a 32-bed dormitory at then Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City, and another 32-bed dormitory at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City, Regional Director Lea Delfinado of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said.Secretary Vince Dizon, National Policy Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist), and Mayor Evelio L...

Around 80 cops have been deployed in all cemeteries of Bacolod City for the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, city police public information officer, said Friday, October 30.Pico said that even if the cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums nationwide were closed from October 29 to November 4, policemen will continue to man the areas and to ensure it is closed.Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier issued an executive order imposing the closure of cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums in this city to avoid further transmission of the coronavirus disease, in compliance with the order of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to stem the spread of COVID-19.Operators of cemeteries, memori...

Contributed photoTyphoon Quinta floods destroyed P39.1 million in crops and animals, an updated report from the provincial government showed today, October 30.The loss of rice and corn crops hit P38,131,719, and P1,051,258.16 for farm animals.Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said the floods hit 2,625.71 hectares affecting 2,091 farmers.Rice crop destruction in Bago City was placed at P24,665,235, Hinoba-an - P4,235,350, Sipalay City - P3,798,671, Moises Padilla – P1,667, 596, Himamaylan City – P1,459,166, Isabela – P1,422,700, Cadiz City - P427,476, Valladolid – P234, 175 and Pulupandan – P38, 840, he said.Corn crop destruction in Sipalay City was P168,535 and Moises Padilla - P13,975, Masculino added.*

It has been a year since the CIDG launched a coordinated raid on the offices of Bayan, Gabriela, National Federation of Sugar Workers, and one private residence in Bacolod City on the evening of October 31, 2019.“It is still fresh in the minds of the Negrosanon when the state forces used a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of Branch 89 of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City to target the three offices and one private residence. The use of search warrants from the so called laboratory of fabricated warrants have become a trend increasingly used in Negros as the island was used as the laboratory of trumped-up charges, this makes offices and individuals at risk to the planting of evidences.” said Clarizza Singson, secretary-general of Karapatan Negros. ...

BCPO photoA 53-year-old man was killed after he was shot to death by riding-in-tandem suspects at Purok Fatima in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, Wednesday night, October 28.Killed was Gaudioso Empase of SP Village, Barangay Pahanocoy in Bacolod City.Initial police investigation showed that the victim was driving his tricycle when the suspects shot him.The victim sustained gunshot wounds at the back of his head, causing him to die instantly.Recovered from the scene were five empty shells from an unknown firearm.Police are still investigating the case.*

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson this afternoon, October 30, signed an executive order extending the duration of the Modified General Community Quarantine over Negros Occidental until 11:59 p.m. of November 30.The governor, in Executive Order No. 20-47, Series of 2020, said all persons violating the provisions of the EO and established health safety protocols issued by the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force will face appropriate administrative and criminal charges.Negros Occidental has been under MGCQ since June.There are 62 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental and 25 in Bacolod City, the Department of Health reported today.The DOH said 4,614 persons have been hit by COVID-19 in Negros Occidental, 2,936 of whom have recovered and 79 have died. The province has ...

Photo from Ferdinand Panes' FacebookThe Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), together with all of our attached agencies, mourn the passing of our Negros Occidental Provincial Director Atty. Ferdinand Panes due to COVID-19 infection leading to a heart attack on October 29, 2020.As a frontliner, PD Panes’ life was true to our dictum of Matino, Mahusay at Maaasahan brand of leadership in Western Visayas. He was a beacon of excellence in his quest to deliver public service to the Negrenses and all other LGUs he was assigned to.True to his calling as a public servant and despite the danger posed by the coronavirus, especially to people of his age, he braved the threat of the pandemic every single day if only to serve the people.We extend our sincerest condolen...

BCPO photoThree persons, including a woman, were arrested in a drug bust at Purok Kabugwason in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City on Wednesday, October 28.Nabbed were Jose Guzman Jr., 50; Guila Golez, 26; and Ronald Pelowa, 25, all of the barangay.A police report showed that the suspects yielded nine plastic sachets of suspected shabu worth P102,000, the P1,000 marked money, a digital weighing scale, a plastic straw, and two pouches.The suspects, who will face drug charges, are now detained at Police Station 7.*

OPAV photosThe Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) recognized the 29 partners from private and public sectors in Bacolod City in the fight against the coronavirus disease.Leading the rites was Secretary Lloyd Michael Dino at the Seda Hotel in Bacolod City on Thursday, October 29. He was joined by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II and Board Member Ryan Gamboa, both representing the provincial government.The partners were recognized for their immense contribution to the goal of OPAV to bring down cases in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, and Western Visayas.Those who received the plaques of recognition were Melquiades Feliciano, chief implementer of the Inter-Agency Task Force-Visayas, and his wife Mia; Richard Osmeñ...

Photo from Ferdinand Panes' FacebookThe Department of the Interior and Local Government mourns the passing of its Negros Occidental provincial director, Ferdinand Panes, and will provide all necessary assistance and benefits to his family, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.Panes passed away at the St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City Wednesday night, October 28.“As a frontliner, PD Panes’ life was true to our dictum of Matino, Mahusay at Maaasahan brand of leadership in Western Visayas. He was a beacon of excellence in his quest to deliver public service to the Negrenses and all other LGUs he was assigned to,” the secretary said in a statement“True to his calling as a public servant and despite the danger posed by the coronavirus, especially to people of his age, he braved the ...