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Former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who is being urged to run for mayor of Bacolod in 2022, visited the city’s public markets on Sunday, April 25.Benitez, who transferred his voter registration to Bacolod City on Thursday, April 22, said he is keeping his options open on the call for him to run for mayor but would go around Bacolod City to get a feel of the situation.He visited the public markets at Burgos and Villamonte Sunday, he said.“I wanted to see the state of the markets here in Bacolod City,” he said.There is a section of the Burgos Public Market that was hit by a fire a couple of years back that has not been repaired, he said.He wants to assist in its repair but government consent is needed for the private sector to help out, Benitez said.Benitez said he ...

Photo from Brgy. Mandalagan FB pageOfficials of Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, said Saturday, April 24, that they did not allow the setting up of community pantries in their village because of the increasing COVID-19 cases in the area.A statement from the Barangay Mandalagan Council members said “we sincerely welcome the establishment of community pantries in our humble barangay. We truly commend and appreciate these acts of kindness and generosity from our beloved constituents especially now that we are in a very challenging situation. It is our pride and honor that we can be able to embody and epitomize the real essence of Bayanihan in Barangay Mandalagan.”However, because of the increasing number of active COVID-19 cases in the barangay, they have decided to impose a mor...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has appointed an officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Hospital Operations Department and the new heads of two provincial government-run hospitals, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Sunday, April 25.Dr. Ma Girlie Pinongan has been named Hospital Operations Department OIC with the reassignment of Dr. Leonardo Eusebio, Diaz said.Eusebio is about to retire and was given the chance to finish all his administrative concerns at the governor’s office, he said.Dr. Josephine Pahamtang was named OIC of the Cadiz District Hospital Operations Department in place of Pinongan.Dr. Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral has been designated OIC of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital Operations Department in Silay City following the retirement of Dr. Ma ...

Negros Occidental officials, including 28 mayors, signed a manifesto of support urging former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez to run for mayor of Bacolod City.They signed the manifesto at a meeting of the United Negros Alliance and Love Negros led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer at the Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Friday, April 23.“United as one – United Negros Alliance and Love Negros supports Run Albee Run for Mayor of Bacolod City” was the message on the tarpaulin behind the head table at the meeting.Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, UNegA secretary general, said the manifesto was signed by 28 of the 31 mayors of Negros Occidental.Not present at the meeting were Sipalay Mayor Maria Gina Montilla Lizares and ...

The Bacolod Emergency Operations Center will conduct COVID-19 surveillance testing on close to 700 city policemen during the next two weekends, Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC deputy for medical data and analysis, said Friday, April 23.He stressed the need to keep the city’s policemen, who have been frontliners against COVID-19, safe.The police monitor establishments and public places for compliance of health protocols, curfew and the liquor ban, Sorongon said, adding that so far about nine have tested positive.Sorongon said a talk firm in Barangay Villamone was temporarily closed down for disinfection Thursday after six employees tested positive for COVID-19. The rest of the employees have been swabbed for COVID-19 tests, he added.Sorongon reiterated the need to avoid mass gatheri...

There were 408 senior citizens who received Sinovac jabs at the Bacolod City Government Center and in four barangays Friday, April 23, as the rollout for their category began, City Administrator Em Ang said.There were 197 who were vaccinated at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby and 211 in barangays Mandalagan, Vista Alegre, Villamonte and Singcang-Airport, Ang, who is also the executive director the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center, said.The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Sinovac vaccines for senior citizens, Dr. Chris Sorongon, Emergency Operations Center deputy for medical data and analysis, said.“This is our first rollout for senior citizens who are not health care workers,” he said.There are 66,000 plus senior citizens targeted for vaccin...

Negros Occidental Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson and Murcia Mayor Victor Gerardo Rojas have recovered from COVID-19.Tongson on Friday, April 23, reminded everyone to observe proper health protocols to prevent the further spread of the virus.His vice mayor, Justin Gatuslao, said thankfully he has also recovered and is excited to get back to work.Rojas, who was recently quarantined at the Mambukal Resort, also said Friday that he along with the three town councilors, employees and residents of Murcia have recovered from COVID-19.The COVID-19 cases in his town are beginning to decrease, he said.The mayor, who is set to return to work, said the Murcia Municipal Hall has been operating on a skeleton force since Monday.*

Community pantries in Bacolod City.*NVC photoNegros and Bacolod government and Church officials Friday, April 23, thanked Good Samaritans responsible for the growing number of community pantries in the province and city.In response to the call to “Give whatever you can, take only what you need,” makeshift stalls with donated fresh produce, canned goods and other essential needs for the poor have sprouted on sidewalks, in front of homes, business establishments, Church grounds, police and fire stations, and even in remote villages in Negros and Bacolod.“True to the Bayanihan spirit of Filipinos, we should encourage rather than put malice on these kind hearted individuals,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.Mayor Evelio Leonardia thanked the Bacolodnons responsi...