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All passengers arriving in Iloilo City, except those from neighboring Western Visayas areas, will be required to submit negative RT-PCR test results issued not more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel to the city, Mayor Jerry Treñas said Wednesday, March 10.Treñas issued Executive Order No. 18-B, Series of 2021, relative to the revised guidelines of the management of persons travelling to Iloilo City in preparation for the full implementation of Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution 101.The mayor said they are requiring negative RT-PCR test results, especially from travelers from Manila, Cebu, and Davao where there have been an increase in COVID-19 cases.The RT-PCR negative test results should be submitted to the Iloilo Emergency Operations Center for proper recording and ve...

An official of the Philippine Army urged activists in Negros Island to seek government help for protection if they feel there is a real threat on their lives.That was the reaction of Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, when sought for comment after local activists, who are vocal against the Duterte administration, said they received death threats early this week.Human rights group Karapatan, through its national public information desk, said it received a text message Sunday, March 7, that named the 10 activists in Negros Island alleged to be the next targets of the “Kill, kill, kill” program.Karapatan Negros claimed that the threats came from state forces, as they are the only ones who have the motive as shown by their relentless attacks and intimidation....

Photos from Silay Mayor Mark Golez FBThe Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office has intensified its campaign against rabies as it pushes for responsible pet ownership and a rabies-free community.Dr. Renante Decena, PVO head, led the launching of this year’s Rabies Awareness Month, with the theme “Maging Responsableng Amo Huwag Hayaang Gumala ang Alagang Pusa’t Aso,” in Silay City early this week. He was joined by Silay City Mayor Mark Golez and other local officials.During the launching, the PVO also distributed 40,000 doses of rabies vaccines for the local government units in the province and led an information education campaign about rabies at the Silay City Public Plaza covered court.Decena underscored proper dog care and responsible pet ownership for a rabies-f...

The Department of Health is providing an initial 1,600 doses of Sinovac vaccines for health frontliners in 11 Negros Occidental hospitals, to be taken from the excess supply allocated for Bacolod City, Jane Juanico, DOH 6 infectious disease cluster head, said Tuesday, March 9.The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office will pick up the vaccines Wednesday morning, March 10, and the ceremonial vaccination of frontliners will be held at the Teresita J. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City Thursday morning, March 11, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, PHO chief, said.Juanico said the 1,600 doses will be taken from the 6,300 doses sent to Bacolod City last week since only 4,700 doses are needed for 2,350 Bacolod hospital frontliners who signed up for the China-made vaccines.The 2,350 f...

COVID-19 vaccination is ongoing at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.*Only about 2,350 hospital employees in Bacolod City will be vaccinated with the first roll out of Sinovac vaccines for the city, from 3,150 frontliners initially targeted, Dr. Chris Sorongon, Bacolod Emergency Operations Center deputy for medical data and analysis, said Tuesday, March 9.Some hospital officials reported that there was a lower turnout of volunteers because the vaccines available are the China-made Sinovac brand and because persons who are 60 years and above cannot be included.However, Sorongon said that there has been an increase in acceptance of the Sinovac vaccines lately.The number of frontliners counted for vaccination in the seven Bacolod hospitals are CLMMRH -...

File photoTen activists in Negros Island, who are vocal against the Duterte administration, have received death threats following the government’s aggressive crackdown on dissenters, a human rights group claimed Tuesday, March 9.Karapatan, through its national public information desk, said it received a text message Sunday, March 7, that named the 10 activists alleged to be the next targets of the “Kill, kill, kill” program.The activists in the alleged “kill list” are:*Iver of Bacolod (believed to be Iver Larit of Kadamay Negros)*Butch of Bacolod (believed to be John “Butch” Lozande, secretary-general of National Federation of Sugar Workers)*Erning of Bacolod (believed to be Ereneo Longinos, spokesperson of Bayan Negros)*Clarissa of Bacolod (believed to be Clari...

Glazyl Masculino file photoThe Bacolod City Regional Trial Court voided the search warrants issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against the activists who were arrested in 2019.RTC Branch 41 acting presiding judge Ana Celeste Bernad, in her resolution dated February 18, said that the decision to quash the search warrants against John Milton Lozande, secretary-general of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), was because of the failure to describe the place to be searched.The voided search warrants were issued by Quezon City Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert in October 2019.Bernad said the search warrant “failed to describe the place with particularity for the manifest intention thereof is that the search shall be confined strictly to the place so ...