Top Stories

There were about 50 trees that were cut from kilometers 10 to 14 in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, recently to make way for a sidewalk and solar tourism lights, Granada Barangay Captain Alfredo Talimodao Jr. said Thursday, April 15.Talimodao said they allowed the recent cutting of the trees as they were assured by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that for every tree cut, 100 seedlings will be planted in their place.He will make sure that DPWH complies with its commitment. Talimodao said.The Mahogany and Gmelina trees that were cut were about 20 years old, he said.The DPWH said they had to cut the trees because the solar lights need sunshine to work, he added.DPWH District Engineer Jaime Javellana said the project had an approved tree-cutting permit fr...

The Bacolod Emergency Operations Center is intensifying its campaign against COVID-19 as cases continue to rise at alarming rates, City Administrator Em Ang, EOC executive director, said Thursday, April 15.Their goal is to further intensify contact tracing, expand targeted testing, strictly observe extraction and isolation protocols, and increase capacity of quarantine facilities, Ang said.Bacolod City had 81 new COVID-19 patients Thursday, for a total of 582 active cases, the Department of Health reported.Of the 81 new cases, 77 were caused by local transmission, three were returning Overseas Filipinos and one was a Locally Stranded Individual.There were also two new COVID-19 deaths in Bacolod City for a total of 195.Ang said the Bacolod City Government Center has been...

The Sipalay City government has closed down its tourism establishments amid the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the locality.Sipalay Mayor Maria Gina Lizares, in an executive order issued Thursday, April 15, said that all tourism activities will not be allowed.All big events, mass gatherings will not be allowed, and that all tourism accommodation establishments will temporarily be closed.Those who have confirmed bookings must contact the accommodation establishment.Accommodation establishments such as pension houses, inns and lodges in the city proper will also operate at a 30 percent capacity and will only accept authorized persons outside residence and delivery personnel of essential goods.The mayor also said that all establishments will be closed for disinf...

The Bacolod Hall of Justice has been closed for disinfection after five of its staff tested positive for COVID-19, Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Raymond Joseph Javier said Thursday, April 15.The closure from noon Thursday until Friday, April 16, was enforced on verbal instructions Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Javier said.All physically closed courts can be reached through the listed judiciary hotline and email addresses posted in the Supreme Court website, Javier said.The RTC Office of the Clerk of Court will maintain a skeleton staff to attend to all urgent matters, he said.Javier said the closure for disinfection was enforced after five employees from different offices tested positive for COVID-19.Contact tracing has been conducted, he said.*

NOCPPO photoThe Philippine National Police still has not determined the motive for the killing of the provincial consultant on hospital affairs, but politics is among the angles being looked at, Col. Romy Palgue, Negros Occidental police director, said Thursday, April 15.Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III, 62, was shot as he was leaving his office at Emerald Arcade at F.C. Ledesma Avenue in San Carlos City at about 8 p.m. Monday, April 12.Cui, chief of staff of former Rep. Julio Ledesma, was a key player in Negros Occidental first district politics and was rumored to be planning to run for mayor of Toboso.Palgue, however, stressed that the police have no leads on a specific motive yet.He appealed to those who may have any information that could lead to the solution of the...

Karapatan Negros photoKarapatan-Negros strongly condemned the killing of Jesus Passon Jr., a 33-year-old tricycle driver from Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday, April 15.Passon was shot by an unknown riding-in-tandem gunman at about 1 p.m. Thursday. He remained conscious and was brought to the hospital but was pronounced dead past 2 p.m., Clarizza Singson, Karapatan Negros secretary general, said in a press release.Passon was a member Pasil Homeowners Association Inc. and KADAMAY Negros, she added.She said they call on the Commission of Human Rights to investigate the continued extra judicial killing of community organizers, and that government address the killings in Negros Island.*

The groundbreaking rites for the rehabilitation of the provincial road in Moises Padilla was held Thursday, April 15.The provincial government has earmarked P35 million for the project, while the Department of Public Works and Highways will allocate P80 million this year, and another P63 million next year.Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo, who was upbeat about the development, said that the rehabilitation of the more than 20-kilometer road starting from Crossing Magallon to Barangay Guinpanaan is expected to be completed next year.The project was a dream come true for them, she said.The mayor earlier said that the dilapidated provincial road creates a major socio-economic problem as this is the main route for trade and commerce, education, health and emergency services since it leads ...

DOT-6 and Capitol photosFormer Negros Occidental tourism officer Cristine Mansinares was appointed officer-in-charge of the Department of Tourism Region 6.DOT-6 outgoing director Helen Catalbas said that Mansinares will assume the position effective April 17 because of her retirement Friday, April 16.Catalbas had served the government for more than 44 years.Mansinares said that Catalbas was supposed to retire in 2020, but had to extend for a year as she was leading the rehabilitation of the world-renowned Boracay Island.She said that the pandemic has been challenging to the tourism sector as “there is no template on how to weather the situation.”However, she pointed out that the current situation has resulted in the “intense collaboration of the stakeholders because...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has instructed all towns and cities in Negros Occidental to place their disaster operation centers on heightened alert starting Friday, April 16, as Tropical Storm “Surigae” approaches the country.When Surigae enters the Philippines Area of Responsibility it will be given the local name “Bising”, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.Lacson in his pro-active preparedness directive said the anticipated typhoon may bring rains over Negros Occidental.“In view of this, you are advised …to take precautionary actions for possible flooding, flash floods or landslides,” Lacson said.He stressed the need to ensure that waterways are cleared and contingency plans are in place.At 3 ...