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Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained over Negros as tropical storm “Auring” maintained its strength and continued to move towards the Eastern Visayas–Caraga area at 8 tonight, February 21, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.Under Signal No.1 were Negros Oriental, and northern and central Negros Occidental (Kabankalan City, Himamaylan City, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Pulupandan, Valladolid, Bago City, Murcia, Bacolod City, Talisay City, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava, San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto), PAGASA said.Capt. Ludovico Librilla, Philippine Coas...

A checkpoint at the border of Hinoba-an in southern Negros Occidental and Basay, Negros Oriental.*Rey Siason photoMayor Ernesto Estrao is eyeing the opening of the border of Hinoba-an in southern Negros Occidental to residents of Bayawan City and Basay in Negros Oriental for a maximum of 12 hours a day for essential business.He will discuss the matter with Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, and mayors Henry Teves of Bayawan and Maki Cañamague of Basay, Estrao said today, February 21.Hinoba-an only allows persons from the Oriental side to enter for official business, but is open to visitors from Negros OccidentalLacson has an existing executive order stating that the borders between Negros Occidental and Oriental should remain closed as a deterrent against the sprea...

The beaches of Hinoba-an are among its tourist attractions.*Rey Siason photoAn almost P2 billion foreign-funded mega project is set for Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, Mayor Ernesto Estrao said today, February 21.The project that is being implemented by the National Irrigation Administration and the Department of Agriculture at the Tiabanan River includes an irrigation highway for food security, a 2.4-megawatt hydroelectric plant and potable water facility, the mayor said.The irrigation highway will irrigate 2,000 to 2,500 hectares in eight barangays of Hinoba-a and one in Sipalay City, he said.The irrigation canal will be 39 kilometers long, he said.Preparations for the project began three years ago and recently public consultations were held, he said.Some residents ...

Barangay San Jose, Sipalay City.*Google MapsA suspected robbery group member died in a police shootout at Barangay San Jose in Sipalay City on Saturday, February 20.Police identified the fatality as Eddie Epogon, 25, who was allegedly part of the Epogon robbery group, that was said to be responsible for a string of robberies in Negros Occidental.Joint operatives of the Regional Special Operation Group-6, Regional Intelligence Division-6, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Negros, the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company, Sipalay Police Station, Regional Mobile Force Battalion-6, and the 15th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army swooped down on the residence of the suspect in the wee hours to serve his three warrants of arrest.The suspect had wa...

BCPO photoA woman was gunned down outside a mall at the South Capitol Road in Barangay 8, Bacolod City. Saturday night, February 20.Police identified the victim as 29-year-old Medelyn Junco of Barangay 2.Based on the initial police investigation, the victim was on board a tricycle when the riding-in-tandem suspects tailed the vehicle and shot the woman in the head.The woman died on the spot, while the suspects fled from the scene.Recovered from the scene were two fired cartridges and two slugs of an unknown firearm.The tricycle driver and his wife, who was also on board the tricycle, were unscathed.Police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.*

Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. said yesterday, February 21, that Himamaylan City has availed of a P500 million loan from Land Bank of the Philippines for the dredging and desilting of its waterways, the improvement of the Aguisan port and various other projects.Tongson said the city government is buying two dredgers for the desilting of its rivers and coastal areas, the deepening and expansion of the Aguisan Port, the construction of an esplanade, and putting up of an organic market.The city will operate the port, he said.The mayor said he is upbeat about the development of Himamaylan, pointing out that in just one year and a half three, banks have opened in the city, which for the longest time only had one bank that closed down.Another bank and more restaurants are also...

City DRRMO photoTwo people were killed while nine others were injured in separate road accidents in Bacolod City during the weekend.The first incident was at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, February 20, at Buri Road in Barangay Mandalagan.The fatalities were identified as motorcycle driver Joshua Dalumpines, 23, of Barangay Mandagalan, and rider Adrian Bacan, 24, of Barangay Estefania.Based on a police report, Dalumpines lost control of the motorcycle, which hit the concrete gutter.The victims, who were thrown off the motorcycle due to the impact, landed at the concrete stockpile at the side of the road.The victims died on the spot.City DRRMO photoCOLLISIONIn another incident, nine people were injured after two pick-up trucks collided along Rizal-Lacson stre...

Hinoba-an Mayor Ernesto Estrao*Mayor Ernesto Estrao said today, February 21, that he is supporting the bid of Councilor Dapth Anthony Reliquias for mayor of Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, in next year’s polls.Estrao, who is on his third and last term as mayor of Hino-ban, said Reliquias will be supported by their local party Partido Asenso Hinoban-on.Reliquias ran for vice mayor under the United Negros Alliance.Estrao said he may run for another local post in 2022.There are a lot of people who are urging him to run for vice mayor but he does not want to run against a friend and destroy their relationship, Estrao said, referring to incumbent Vice Mayor Jefrey Encoy.Estrao said he would have to discuss the matter with the vice mayor and their local party before a decis...