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NUJP Bacolod photoNewsman Jose Jaime “Nonoy” Espina, 59, succumbed to liver cancer at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday, July 7.The former National Union of Journalists of the Philippines chairman died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family at their home at Capitol Heights, Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City, his sister Mate Espina said.Espina, a veteran journalist and fierce advocate of freedoms and human rights, had just turned over the NUJP chairmanship, his sister Inday Espina-Varona wrote on her Facebook page.“We are grateful that Nonoy survived a severe infection of COVID-19 and was able to return to the bosom of the family. His death was due to liver cancer,” she said.“A few days ago, Nonoy was able to enjoy sitting in front of the organ, to hear family make some music. T...

City PIO photoA P185 million socialized housing project will soon be implemented in a 5.4-hectare property located in Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City.Mayor Evelio Leonardia, representing the Bacolod City government, and Kara Cuarom, representing the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the housing project on June 29, a press release from the Bacolod Public Information Office said Wednesday, July 7.Joining the ceremonial signing, held at the Bacolod City Government Center, were Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) head Victoria Parreñas, Mikhail Reuben Sabig of the City Legal Office, and OIC-City Accountant Joery Jay Castellano.The signing marks the realization of the project which will soon benefit 320 qualified beneficiaries, the ...

Bacolod PIO photoA finance executive is calling on authorities to investigate the alleged presence of a “runner” charging a fee to facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City.Joey Ledesma said Tuesday, July 6, that a friend of his went to the SMX Convention Center to have herself and her sister vaccinated.“They were walk-ins. They were approached by a ‘runner’ asking for P1,500 each, promising that he could get them vaccinated. My friend in desperation paid and they were vaccinated,” Ledesma said in a Facebook post.Ledesma, who withheld the names of the two, said they do not want to file any complaints so it is difficult to prove.He is asking authorities to look into these practices and punish those who are guilty.Ledesma said he is...

The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees filed an administrative complaint against the Negros Occidental provincial government human resource management officer before the Office of the Governor on Tuesday, July 6, Renelo Lastierre, PACE chairman, said.They want Annabelle Palic, who was transferred to the Office of the Governor amid numerous complaints against her, removed from office, he said.PACE is also filing administrative and criminal complaints against Palic before the Office of the Ombudsman, Lastierre added.The administrative case filed against Palic was for alleged acts of oppression, acts prejudicial to public interest, and grave abuse of discretion, he said.Attached to the complaint was a petition and signed sworn statements of aggrieved employees, retirees...

Capitol photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued an executive order Tuesday, July 6, adopting the salient points of the guidelines and protocols for fully vaccinated individuals set in Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution 124-B.An individual is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the second dose in a two-dose series or after having received a single dose vaccine, Lacson said.Fully vaccinated senior citizens are allowed intrazonal movement in areas under General Community Quarantine and Modified GCQ.All they have to do is present a COVID-19 domestic vaccination card issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, or a certificate of quarantine completion showing the holder’s vaccinat...

Negros Occidental and Bacolod City received 20,000 more Sinovac vaccines Tuesday, July 6.*CAAP photoThe provincial government delivered 6,267 Sinovac vaccines to 24 towns and cities of Negros Occidental Tuesday, July 6.The vaccines delivered are part of the 34,800 Sinovac vaccines received by the province on June 30.The Department of Health delivered 10,000 more Sinovac vaccines to Negros Occidental and 10,000 to Bacolod City on Tuesday, June 6.Of the 6,267 vaccines delivered to the 24 local government units (LGUs) Tuesday, 5,246 or 83.71 percent were utilized, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.In Bacolod City 1,898 Sinovac doses were administered at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, SMX Convention Center, Robinsons Place, and barangays Estefania and Pahanocoy o...

Bacolod City received 10,000 more Sinovac vaccines Tuesday, July 6.*Bacolod PIO photoMayor Evelio Leonardia is asking for additional vaccines from the national government as the number of COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City is still alarming.Leonardia in a July 1 letter to Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer and vaccine czar of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, said he is requesting for additional vaccines to be able to accelerate the pace of vaccinations in Bacolod City and to move through the priority groups more quickly.He said the city government is doing its best to contain the spread of the virus, but Bacolod is still “experiencing an alarmingly persistent surge of Covid-19 cases.”Bacolod had closed the month of June with the highest number of cases since t...

The Negros Occidental provincial government is taking action against vehicles illegally parked at the Negros First CyberCentre (NFCC) in Bacolod City as part of its beefed up security measures at the facility, Capitol Special Operations Officer 2 Renelo Lastierre said Tuesday, July 6.The provincial government took over the management and security of NFCC from the Negros Property Management and Development Corp. at midnight of June 30, he said.There are vehicles that do not belong to tenants of the NFCC that have been parked in its parking area for a long time, Lastierre said.Police blotter reports have been filed as a prelude to having the vehicles towed out of the area, he added.They will issue access passes for vehicles of tenants and guests to regulate parking at the NFC...