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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday that he has proposed a P4.4 billion 2021 budget for the provincial government of Negros Occidental since its Internal Revenue Allotment share will increase by about 7 percent or P267 million.Lacson said he has been assured by Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer that the budget that is now under review by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will be approved before the year ends.The proposed general fund for 2021 is P4,471,695,065, and allocated for personal services is P1,641,424,244, maintenance and other operating expenses – P1,374,658,871, capital outlay – P12,000,000 and special purpose appropriations – P1,443,611,950, Lacson said in his budget message.The proposed appropriation for Personal Services does not exceed the 45 percent PS limitation set unde...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday that he is in favor of shorter curfew hours to help businesses to recover, but is leaving the decision up to the mayors.The governor said he in favor of the decision of the Metro Manila mayors to impose shorter curfew hours from midnight to 4 a.m. as part of the government's move to ease restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.This will allow businesses, especially those engaged in the food industry, to stay open for longer hours, as long as COVID-19 minimum health standards are followed, he said.*

The Supreme Court has designated new Regional Trial Court executive and vice executive judges for Negros Occidental, SC Administrative Order No. 283- 2020 released on Tuesday showed.Returning as executive judge of the Bacolod RTCs is Raymond Joseph Javier while designated 1st executive judge is Edgar Tupas and 2nd executive judge is Ana Celeste Bernad.The other RTC executive judges named are Frances Guanzon – Bago City, Walter Zorilla – Himamaylan City, Amy Alabado Avellano- San Carlos City and Cyclamen Fernandez – La Carlota City.Their appointments take effect Oct. 16, 2020 and will continue until Oct. 16, 2022, or until their successors are designated , unless their designations are sooner revoked, the order said.The order was signed by Chief Diosdado Perelta And Associat...

The city government of San Carlos City has restricted non-essential travel following the reported local transmission of coronavirus in the locality.Mayor Renato Gustilo, in an executive order signed on October 18, said that local transmission was recently reported in the city, and if that trend continues, the local healthcare system might not be able to cater to confirmed positive patients. He added that government and private hospitals have already refused admission of patients due to the influx of Covid-19 positive individuals.He said the Incident Management Team has recommended imposing border restrictions on certain activities and regulation of movement of residents to contain the spread of the virus.In the EO, citizens are enjoined to stay home except for frontliners, esse...

A total of 19 barangays in Bacolod City have been COVID-free for the past 14 days, the locality's Emergency Operations Center Task Force (EOC-TF) reported on Monday.These barangays are 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33, 36, 38, and Punta Taytay, data from the EOC-TF showed.“These barangays should maintain their status and the other barangays should also try to catch up with these COVID-free barangays,” said Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who heads the EOC-TF.According to the mayor, the COVID-fre’ status of 19 out of 61 Bacolod barangays is “something to celebrate” considering the efforts of the city government in containing the pandemic for several months now.*

Entry of untruthful data in the Case Investigation Form (CIF), which is required for swab tests, is prohibited under the law, said Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)- Visayas chief implementer Mel Feliciano, who oversees the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center Task Force (EOC-TF).This after a man, who tested positive for COVID-19 on October 14, was found to have entered false information in the CIF.The man declared in the CIF that his current address is Bacolod City despite presently residing in Silay City, Negros Occidental.“It took over a day for the contact tracers to locate the index but due to our collaboration with the Provincial Health Emergency Operations Center and other cities and municipalities, the truth came out,” said EOC deputy for medical Dr. Chris Sorongon....

Two business establishments, Watson's Pharmacy and Chefs and Bakers, have opened their branches in Cadiz City.Watson's Pharmacy, the flagship health and beauty care brand of the Hong Kong-based A.S. Watson Group which is majority owned by C.K. Hutchison Holdings, formally opened its doors to Cadiznons after the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremonies held Tuesday, Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. said.Escalante said the Chefs and Bakers, a one-stop shop and go-to-store for baking, also inaugurated its branch in Cadiz City late last week.Chefs and Bakers is a wholesale and retail specialty store selling imported and local baking and cooking products and ingredients as well as confectionary, packaging, party supplies, bakewares and cookwares, among others."These are indications o...

Twenty-one local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have opened up their localities to leisure travel for their residents starting Monday, October 19.These are the cities of Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Sagay, San Carlos, and Talisay, and the municipalities of Binalbagan, Calatrava, Candoni, Cauayan, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Salvador Benedicto, and Valladolid.On the other hand, 10 localities have remained closed for tourists and leisure travel. These are the cities of Kabankalan, La Carlota, Silay, Sipalay, and Victorias, and the municipalities of EB Magalona, Hinobaan, Ilog, San Enrique, and Toboso.Provincial Tourism Officer Jennylind Cordero said that resorts and other accommodation facilities...

PDEA photoA high-value target was arrested by authorities in a drug bust on Sunday, October 18, at Barangay 5 in San Carlos City.Nabbed was Joemarie "Tata Babor" Babor, who was listed as the Top 10 Provincial Targetlist of the police.The operation, conducted by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the San Carlos City Police station, also led to the confiscation of suspected shabu weighing around 10 grams with an estimated value of P68,000.The suspect, who was under the custody of the police, will face drug charges.*

The Department of Health urged the public to remain socially connected to avoid "quarantine fatigue" amid the coronavirus pandemic.“Ito nga po iyong aming laging pinapaalala ‘no, unang-una, please stay connected (We would like to remind everyone, first of all, please stay connected),” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a Laging Handa public briefing on Saturday aired over state-run PTV4.Vergeire said because of the quarantine status that is imposed in different parts of the country, people experience social withdrawal.She said calling friends and loved ones will help, as well as finding a hobby or other recreational activity.“After so many months of being quarantined, people feel restless; people feel anxious; they’re irritable. Mayroon po silang mga with...