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DOH Negros Island Region director Dr. Nikka Hao, Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Mayor Greg Gasataya and CLMMRH chief Dr. Joan Cerrada (l-r, seated) at the MOA signing.*Ronnie Baldonado photoA P50 million Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Plus Center to be constructed at San Sebastian Street in Dawis, Bacolod City, is expected to be completed in nine months following the signing of a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday afternoon, August 12.The MOA was signed by Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya and Dr. Joan Cerrada, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) chief, at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby, with Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Maestral...

The police have identified one of three men whose bodies were discovered in separate locations in Talisay City.Investigators are still working to determine the identities of the two others and the circumstances behind their deaths.The victim was identified as Mars Relles, 48, of Villa Soledad, Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City. His body was found around 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region reported.Maj. Rhazl Jim Jocson, Talisay City deputy police chief, said Relles had been a previous victim of a stabbing incident in March in Brgy. Estefania, and had served 10 years at the Bacolod City Jail for alleged murder and gun violation charges.The police are still waiting for the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) findings on his cause of death a...

Another dengue death has been reported in Negros Occidental, bringing the total fatalities this year to eight, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said on Tuesday, August 12.The PHO report said there have been 3,813 dengue cases in the province from January 1 to August 2. This is an increase of 62.46 percent, or 1,466 cases higher, compared to the same period in 2024.The age group with the most cases is 11 to 20 years old.Bago City continues to have the highest number of dengue cases with 898, followed by La Carlota City with 382, Kabankalan City with 352, San Carlos City with 196, and Cauayan with 148.Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily the Aedes aegypti.*

Stakeholders from both the government and private sectors will gather for the organizational meeting of the Negros Island Region (NIR) Regional Development Council (RDC) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday, Aug. 13.Convened by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the establishment of the region’s highest policy-making body comes after the creation of the NIR, composed of Negros Occidental and highly-urbanized Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, under the Republic Act 12000 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in June last year.Governors Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental, Manuel Chaco Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental and Jake Vincent Villa of Siquijor are expected to attend the RDC meeting.Negros Occidental Provincial A...

Members of the Social Security System (SSS) from Negros Occidental and Bacolod City can apply for calamity loans.Josefa Pineda, SSS Regional Communications Officer, said the loan amount is equivalent to one Monthly Salary Credit (MSC), with a maximum of ₱20,000.The loan is charged an interest rate of 7 percent per annum, payable in two years, she said.Negros Occidental recently declared a state of calamity citing the extensive damage caused by Tropical Storm “Crising” and the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) outbreak affecting sugarcane plantations.Pineda said Bacolod did not declare a state of calamity, but applications from Bacolod residents for calamity loans were approved.Applications are made through members' online SSS accounts.*

Four individuals were arrested and P394,400 in suspected shabu was seized in three separate buy-bust operations in Negros Occidental on Monday, Aug. 11.In Kabankalan City, the police apprehended alias “Jim,” 32, of Purok 2, Brgy. 6, at around 3:30 p.m. after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer in Purok 2.Authorities confiscated around 16 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P108,800.In Pontevedra, the police arrested alias “John,” 36, of Himamaylan City, at Purok Maninihon, Brgy. Miranda.He allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover officer.Seized from him were approximately 26 grams of suspected shabu valued at P176,800, the police said.Later that night in Himamaylan City, the police arrested alias “Bon-bon,” 32,...

A staff of the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office gathers feedback from a family temporarily staying at Payag sang Kapag-on Village in Barangay Napoles, on Monday.*Bago CDRRMO photoPreparations are underway in the cities of Bago and La Carlota in Negros Occidental for the decampment of their internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon later this week.A total of 61 displaced families with 225 individuals in La Carlota are set to return home to Barangay Ara-al on Aug. 14, while 22 families with 81 individuals in Bago are preparing to go home to Barangay Ilijan on Aug. 16.On Monday afternoon, the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported it is assessing the situation of the IDPs temporarily stayin...

The Bacolod delegation in Malaysia*A Bacolod City delegation is attending a series of high-level international events in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, taking place from Tuesday to Thursday, August 12 to 14.These events are the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF), the ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF), and the meeting of governors and mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC).Councilor Caesar Distrito is attending on behalf of Mayor Greg Gasataya, along with Dr. Mary Jean Ramos, head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), and Dr. Anna Laarni Pornan, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).The events are being held as part of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship.The forums are focusing on the theme "ASEAN Future Cities and Regions: In...

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) policemen confiscated more than P5.4 million in suspected shabu in a series of anti-illegal drug operations from Aug. 4 to 10.The BCPO reported that 799.2 grams of suspected shabu, with a standard drug price of P5,462,560, were recovered during 13 operations that led to the arrest of 17 individuals.The BCPO also reported the arrest of two wanted persons and 14 others with standing warrants.They also apprehended 25 individuals for illegal gambling with P1,576 in bet money confiscated, and the recovery of nine loose firearms - five surrendered, two confiscated, and two leading to arrests.*

One of the bodies found in Talisay City*The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to lead a coordinated probe after three dead bodies were discovered in sugarcane plantations in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, Aug. 11.Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay, PRO NIR director, said discovery of the three bodies was “deeply concerning” and vowed a thorough, methodical, and coordinated investigation.“We are working closely with forensic experts to establish the identities of the victims and to uncover the circumstances surrounding their deaths,” he said.The first case was reported at around 2:20 a.m. in Hacienda San Isidro, Brgy. Concepcion, where a male, estimated to be 45 to 50 years old, was found bes...