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A campaign urging former Negros Occidental representative Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez to run for senator in 2022 has surfaced on Facebook.Benitez said he was informed that the Facebook posts started Thursday night, February 25, and he does not know who are behind them.Running for senator in 2022 has not crossed his mind, he said.The Facebook page “Visayas for Albee Benitez - Senator 2022” said “It’s time for the Philippines to experience the ‘Albee Way’ of Service! We are calling the Negros Island Region and the entire Visayas region to help us convince Albee to run and support him for senator.”Another post on the page said “ a billionaire and at the same time the champion of the masses. Albee is a mega rich Filipino who is known to be very simple and directly listens ...

World Health Organization representative Dr. Sukadeo together with Abes Health Center and Brgy 2 health workers conduct house to house monitoring for Measles Rubella and Oral Polio today, February 26.*CHO photoThe Department of Health has named the top five barangays in Bacolod City with the highest number of unimmunized children, City Administrator Em Ang said today, February 26.The barangays are Tangub, Mansilingan, Villamonte, Singcang-Airport and Granada, she said.WHO Consultant and Polio Surveillance Coordinator Dr. Sukadeo Neupane and the team from DOH Region 6 led by Project Development Officer III Grace Exmundo presented their evaluation and recommendations on the implementation of the Measles Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity in Bacolo...

Photo from Frank CarbonLocal business groups were upbeat following their meeting with the top cop of Bacolod City, who assured them that the police will strengthen measures to prevent crimes.The meeting today, February 26, came after a series of shooting incidents in the city since the start of the year, which has alarmed the business sector.Present during the meeting with Col. Manuel Placido, Bacolod City police director, and Councilor Al Espino, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on police affairs today, February 26, were Frank Carbon and Roberto Montelibano, chief executive officer and president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, respectively, Fred Barcelona of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Roger Yap of the...

A border checkpoint is up between Negros Occidental and Oriental in San Carlos City.*San Carlos PIO photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued Executive Order 21-14 Series of 2021 today, February 26, extending the duration of the Modified General Community Quarantine in Negros Occidental until March 31.The province has been under MGCQ since June last year.The province has had 6,778 COVID-19 cases, with 191 deaths, the Department of Health reported today.Negros Occidental had 124 COVID-19 active cases today, the DOH also said.Lacson also issued Executive Order 21-12 Series of 2021 setting the guidelines for the entry of Mabinay, Negros Oriental, residents into Kabankalan City.The EO states that entry from Negros Oriental will only be for Mabinay residents who will be limit...

PDRRM head Zeaphard Caelian, OCD Regional Director Jose Roberto Nunez, Rep. Francisco Benitez, Councilor Derek Palanca and Nicolai Jalandoni (l-r) at the meeting*Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez held a convergence meeting today on the rehabilitation of infrastructure in the third district of Negros Occidental damaged by recent floods.The meeting brought together the regional team of the Office of Civil Defense – Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headed by Regional Director Jose Roberto Nunez with representatives of Victorias, E.B. Magalona, Silay, and Talisay – areas in the Third District direly affected by the January 1 and 8 floods, and agencies that can assist rehabilitation efforts.The convergence focused on the requirements of the National Disaster Risk ...

San Carlos DRRMO photoSan Carlos Mayor Renato Gustilo said today, February, 26, that he was informed by San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. (SCBI) officials that they will comply with his order to halt operations and take measures to address their wastewater pollution problem.The mayor allowed the firm to operate on February 24 and 25 to finish processing their cane stock, and to halt operations today.The mayor said he received a letter from SCBI that they will comply with his order and may be able to resume operations on March 8.SCBI produces 42 million liters of bioethanol per annum and 8 megawatts of electricity from sugarcane, the San Carlos City Environment Management Office said.Gustilo said SCBI committed several environmental violations, including a series of incidents of...

“They should allow themselves to get vaccinated because without their cooperation and their acceptance and if they don’t embrace this vaccination programs, where else do we go?” Leonardia said.Leonardia also disclosed at the LCC- LCP webinar that members of the private sector also expressed their intention to help strengthen the information education campaign (IEC) of Bacolod on public acceptance of the vaccines.The Bacolod Vaccination Council (CoVaC) had launched on Monday (February 22) its daily interactive webinar to answer questions from the public about the COVID-19 vaccines. The series of webinars feature medical doctors who have expertise on vaccines.Lectures and training for the vaccinators who will administer COVID-19 vaccines have also been conducted.*