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There are 26 OFWs and one Filipina tourist from Israel who are expected to arrive in Manila Tuesday morning, June 24.*Philippine Embassy in Israel photo  So far none of 121 Overseas Filipino Workers from Negros Occidental and Bacolod City in Israel have signified their intention to return to the Philippines, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, June 23.President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday directed concerned agencies to ensure the safe and timely repatriation of Filipinos amid the rising tensions between Israel and Iran.“I have directed all concerned government agencies to take the necessary steps to ensure the safe, timely, and orderly return of Filipinos who wish to avail of the voluntary repatriation program,” Marcos said in a recorded message.Marcos said Depar...

Talisay City in Negros Occidental recently recorded its first case of mpox, Mayor Neil Lizares confirmed on Monday, June 23.Bacolod City had reported its first mpox case on June 15.Lizares said the Talisay patient is currently in stable condition, under close medical supervision, properly isolated, and receiving appropriate medical treatment to manage symptoms.The patient is now recovering from the disease, he assured.Contact tracing and all necessary health protocols have already been carried out over the past few days since the receipt of the patient’s sample who was then suspected of having mpox, in order to prevent further transmission, Lizares said.“We assure everyone that the city government is fully prepared to handle this situation,” he said.He said mpox is ...

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has again suspended the entry of evacuees into Mt. Kanlaon’s 6-kilometer extended danger zone (EDZ) to carry out farming and livelihood activities effective Tuesday, June 24, amid rising indicators of another volcanic eruption.Kanlaon Volcano’s earthquakes have increased and sulfur dioxide emissions have dropped, which are alarming indicators of another impending eruption, Donato Sermeno III, OCD Negros Island Region director and Task Force Kanlaon vice chairperson, said Monday.Similar indicators were experienced prior to two previous eruptions, he said.Suspended was the daily entry into 6-kilometer EDZ from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. to safeguard the evacuees from an eruption, Sermeno said.The evacuees live outside the EDZ but are allowed to enter t...

Earth moving activities at palm oil plantation halted, HAPI assures.*file photo courtesy of Joshua VillalobosThe palm oil plantation management in Candoni, Negros Occidental, has assured Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson that they have stopped earth moving activities while they seek an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).The Environment Management Bureau 6 earlier issued a cease and desist order versus HAPI to halt its quarry operations, road construction and other activities at its palm oil plantation pending securing an ECC and complying with other government requirements.Lacson said HAPI has written to him to assure that they will halt earth moving activities while “they comply with what we are requesting, especially the ECC”.Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla also i...

Two people died after their motorcycle hit a concrete post and a narra tree at Rizal Street in Brgy. Poblacion, San Enrique, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, June 22.Killed were the driver Stanley Espin, 43, and his passenger Raymar Geal, 23, of Brgy. San Isidro in San Enrique, the police said.The victims were driving from Brgy. Poblacion going to Pontevedra town.When they reached the front of a gasoline station, Espin lost control of the motorcycle and hit the a concrete post and narra tree.Espin died on the spot while Geal was declared dead at a hospital.The police said the incident was self-inflicted as the victims came from an alleged drinking spree and were not wearing helmets.*

Re-elected Binalbagan Vice Mayor Mary Ann Mirasol takes her oath of office before Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.*Re-elected Binalbagan Vice Mayor Mary Ann Mirasol said on Monday, June 23, that she is ready to work with Mayor-elect Emmanuel Aranda for the good of their town.But Mirasol warned that she will work for good governance and will not tolerate any wrongdoings.“If he tries to do something fishy, I’m sorry we have the majority” in the Sangguniang Bayan, she said.Aranda defeated Mirasol's husband, incumbent Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, in the May 12 elections.The vice mayor said she thought of retiring with her husband, but since the people gave her the mandate she will serve them to the best of her ability.Mirasol and the councilors of Binalbagan took their oaths offi...

One person died and four others, including a minor, were injured in a multiple collision involving two tricycles, an SUV, and a pickup truck at Locsin Street, Brgy. 5, Silay City, Negros Occidental, Monday afternoon, June 23.PLt. Grace Eran, Silay Police Station administration officer, said that the incident led to the death of a tricycle passenger, while two tricycle drivers and two passengers were injured.Eran said the pickup truck was allegedly travelling fast.All of the injured were brought to a hospital while the driver of the pick-up truck, whose identity was not disclosed, is now detained at the Silay Police Station.The police said they are waiting for the families of the victims to decide whether they will file charges against the driver or agree to a settlement.*

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said it is up to local government units whose sugarcane farms have been hit by red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI ) to decide whether to declare states of calamity.It is really up to the LGUs concerned, if they declare a state of calamity they will be expected by the farmers to shell out funds to address the problem, Lacson said on Monday, June 23.The red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI ) infestation has expanded to more than 1,505 hectares from 87 hectares in less than a month, with the bulk of the areas hit located in Negros Occidental, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported on Thursday, June 19.SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona urged local government units, especially with highly infested areas, to declare a state of...

Oil firms on Monday, June 23,  announced staggered price hikes on fuel products this week. There were long lines of vehicles at gasoline stations in Bacolod City Monday night ahead of the hefty fuel price increases starting Tuesday. In separate advisories, Seaoil, Shell, and Caltex said they will implement the first round of price increase on  Tuesday, June 24, while the second round of increase will take effect on Thursday,  June 26. They will hike gasoline prices by P1.75 per liter, diesel prices by P2.60 per liter, and kerosene prices by P2.40 per liter for both Tuesday and Thursday. CleanFuel said it would also implement a per liter increase of P2.60 for diesel and P1.75 for gasoline on June 24. The Department of Energy said earlier that oi...

A call center agent died after his motorcycle hit the center island at Araneta Street, Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City, early Sunday morning, June 22.The victim was identified as alias “Darwin” of Purok Kawaynon, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City, Negros Occidental.The police said that the victim was believed to be on his way home when he lost control of his motorcycle.The victim hit a concrete post of a streetlight located at the center island of the road resulting in serious injuries.He was brought to a hospital where he was declared dead.The victim allegedly may have fallen asleep while driving.*