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Internally displaced persons in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, queue up for a P5,000 cash assistance from the Negros Oriental provincial government.* SALTA Canlaon photoThe Negros Oriental provincial on Tuesday, March 18, distributed cash assistance to more than a thousand families in Canlaon City displaced by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in December.Hilton Edrial, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), said about 1,200 families staying in evacuation centers and those living with relatives are covered in the second payout amounting to P5,000 each."This is the fulfillment of the promise of the governor following the Dec. 9 volcanic eruption that the province will give financial aid to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) living within the 4- to 6...

Mayor Marvin Malacon and AIDFI co-founder and chief executive officer Auke Idzenga (3rd and 4th from left) after the signing of the MOA.*E. B. Magalona in Negros Occidental is engaging in a two-year study with a non-government organization to address non-revenue water (NRW) losses and to improve services to consumers.Mayor Marvin Malacon on Monday, March 17, said the collaboration will be implemented through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between the E. B. Magalona Waterworks Office (EBMWO) and the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. (AIDFI).“AIDFI shall assist the EBMWO in developing a comprehensive and holistic program for the management of NRW that will be funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation,” he said.Under the agreement, both parties will develop ...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez with councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Kalaw Puentevella and Al Victor Espino (l-r) at a press conference on Monday.*Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino said he is filing a countersuit against the person who "maliciously filed politically motivated" graft raps versus Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez and 17 others for the city government’s purchase of property worth P971.8 million for its land banking program.Espino said he would file a counter charge against Roger Ledesma, a block timer at DYRL-Bacolod, who filed the complaint on March 13 against councilors allied with Benitez and those who sold the land to the city before the Office of the Ombudsman.Ledesma, who questioned the city's purchase of 74.75 hectares of land in Baran...

Former president Rodrigo Duterte*Let us heed the call of former president Rodrigo Duterte for the Filipinos people to calm down, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, March 17.Duterte was arrested on March 11 by virtue of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity arising from his drug war, during which thousands were killed. He was then brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day for his trial before the ICC.Vice President Sara Duterte, who met with her father in The Hague, said he told her to tell his supporters to “Just relax. There is an end to everything. There is a day of reckoning”.“If he himself is calling for all Filipinos, especially his supporters to calm down, I think we should ...

Secretary Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, TESDA director general, and Education Secretary Sonny Angara (right) at L’Fisher Hotel on Monday.*The Department of Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority held a historic first joint management committee meeting at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City on Monday, March 17.“It was a historic first for Philippine education”, Secretary Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, TESDA director general, said.Benitez said he and Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the meeting to ensure that senior high school- technical vocational livelihood graduates are employable.“We tackled free TESDA assessments for SHS-TVL grads, TechPro specializations, and Enterprise-Based Training. This is just the beginning of big things ahead,” he ...

Food being prepared for the evacuees at a community kitchen in La Carlota City.*The P50 million provided by the Office of the President will be enough to feed residents displaced by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest in Negros Occidental for two months and for the site development of two permanent relocation sites, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday March 17.The provincial government resumed providing supplies for the community kitchens that prepare the food of the evacuees on Saturday, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Lacson said funds have also been allocated for the site development of permanent relocation areas in La Castellana and Bago City.The governor said he is hoping Kanlaon Volcano’s alert level will be lowered to two soon so the evacuees can go home....

City Police Director Col. Joeresty Coronica*Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod City Police Director, was a “Gawad ng Natatangin Lakan” national awardee at the Philippine National Police Academy 45th Alumni Homecoming in Silang, Cavite, on Friday, March 14.Coronica was honored with the “Gawad ng Natatanging Lakan”, a Special Commendation Award in recognition of his “exemplary leadership, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the PNP and the community”.Coronica and Capiz Provincial Police Director Col. Albert Tapulao were the only two officials from Western Visayas who were awarded.*

Former vice president Leni Robredo is joining the campaign rally of independent senatorial candidates Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan in Bacolod City on Wednesday, March 19, former Negros Occidental governor Rafael "Lito" Coscolluela confirmed Monday.The rally of the two former senators seeking a comeback will be held at the Paglaum Sports Complex starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, he said.Coscolluela said former senator Pangilinan will be represented by his brother Anthony Pangilinan.A video message from Senator Risa Hontiveros is also scheduled.Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that Robredo is scheduled to visit him at the Capitol Wednesday afternoon, before the Paglaum rally.The governor, who had supported the presidential bid of Robredo, said he was invi...

A 30-year-old man died after his motorcycle overshot a road that is under construction in Sitio Buri, Brgy. 4, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, early Monday morning, March 16.The victim was Christopher Mojelio, 30, of Sitio Nandong, Brgy. Orong in Kabankalan City, the police said.The victim was going to Brgy. Orong when he allegedly lost control of his motorcycle.It overshot the road resulting in his sustaining multiple injuries, the police said.The victim was allegedly driving fast despite an early warning device in the area.He was brought to a hospital but was declared dead.*

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez leads a meeting on the new training program.*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said a “A Training Program for Near Hires” will be conducted in Bacolod City to provide residents with skills to land jobs.The Bacolod City government launched the program in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Ubiquity to be conducted at the Bacolod City College (BCC), Benitez said at a press conference on Monday, March 17.The program, under the @SENSO Life Skills Academy, will help residents gain skills for the BPO industry, he said.Bacolod City will act as the program hub, TESDA will manage the training, and Ubiquity will offer industry insights and hiring opportunities. This collaboration aims to foster ...