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Dr. Donabel Asuncion, PHLPost Postmaster General and CEO Luis Carlos,   Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres (l-r) at  the unveiling of the commemorative stamps* The Bago City government, in partnership with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost),  unveiled  commemorative stamps featuring four distinguished sons of Bago on Tuesday, March 4.These "Great Men of Bago" postage stamps will be the first of a series to be released by the local government with PHLPost mainly to pay tribute and give honor to the legacies of its illustrious residents.The commemorative stamps feature Juan Araneta, the hero of the Negros Revolution who led the liberation of the island from Spanish oppressors; Ramon Torres, the first secretary of labor and author of the e...

A man died after his bicycle fell in a canal at Hermilinda Homes Subdivision in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Tuesday morning, March 4.The victim was identified as Nonoy Tolentino.It is possible that the victim fell into the canal while on his way home, Capt. Dax Santillan, Bacolod City Police Station 7 commander, said.The victim is believed to have fallen in the canal five hours before he was found, he said.*

Four people were injured in a stabbing incident while on the way to a barangay fiesta in Lower Mamballo, Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, 7 p.m. Monday, March 3.Police records showed that the victims aged 46, 38, and 52 of Brgy. Quintin Remo were stabbed by alias “Epren”, “Aming”, and “Monit”.The  three victims were going to a fiesta when the suspects waylaid them, the police said.A commotion led to the injury of the three and one of the suspects.The victims were brought to the Ignacio Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela  and later  transferred to the Corazon Locsin Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod.*

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Danny Fernandez (5th and 4th from left) hold up the signed agreement in the presence of Bacolod City officials and  High Data Infra Inc. representatives.* Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez led the signing of a P2.1 billion build-transfer-maintain agreement for a landmark super city project that will not only boost Bacolod City’s security, emergency and environment response systems, but will generate an additional P5 billion over a 10-year period with an improved tax collection system.The mayor signed the public-private partnership agreement with High Data Infra Inc. represented by Danny Fernandez at rites held at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby Monday afternoon, March 3, for the establishment of a high-tech Centralized Co...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*The National Housing Authority has agreed to turnover its unoccupied and abandoned housing units in Bacolod to the city government, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, March 3.“I spoke to the NHA general manager (Joeben Tai), he will turn them over to the city,” the mayor said.Benitez said an inventory of the units in about three NHA projects in Bacolod is being undertaken.The NHA and Bacolod Housing Authority personnel met to discuss the mechanics of the takeover, Benitez said.The units could be used for evacuees affected by Kanlaon’s unrest or for housing of Bacolod residents, he said.“They are abandoned so we might as well take over so they can be used,” Benitez said.*

Former Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.*Fugitive former Negros Oriental 3rd District congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. is still in Timor-Leste where he is pursuing an appeal against his extradition, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Remulla said on Monday, March 3.Remulla said the relatively new judicial system of the Southeast Asian state is proving to be somewhat of a hurdle to Teves’ transfer.“Well, the appeal process in Timor-Leste seems to be endless, but I was assured that we will get the news very soon about this matter,” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview.“He’s (Teves) just there. He’s in Timor-Leste, he’s there”, Remulla saidOnce extradited, Teves will face multiple counts of murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder and terrorism charges, including as ...

A colorful way to beat the heat in Bacolod City.*Andrew Altarejos photoThe government is closely monitoring the rising heat indices being recorded in various parts of the country, including Metro Manila.This comes as state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recorded “danger” heat indices on Monday, March 3, although it has yet to declare the onset of the dry season.Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro assured the public that agencies are prepared to take immediate action to address the potential impacts of extreme heat.“The agency will act immediately to address whatever problem will arise in this extreme heat we are feeling in the next few days,” Cas...

The police arrested a 26-year-old man in a buy-bust operation and seized shabu worth P408,000 in Brgy. 13, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, March 2.Arrested was alias “Tyson” of Brgy 13, the police said.The police seized 60 grams of shabu from him.Meanwhile, the Bacolod City Police Office reported that they seized P2,294,320 in shabu in their weeklong anti-illegal drug operations from Feb. 24 to March 2.They seized 337.4 grams of suspected shabu and arrested 11 persons in eight operations, the BCPO said.*

The new location of Negros Power at The Row in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City.*Negros Power has officially started operations at its new, permanent office at The Row in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City.This move marks a significant step for the company, providing greater accessibility and convenience for consumers, especially those residing in Bacolod, Jonathan Cabrera, the firm’s spokesman, said Monday, March 3.After operating from Robinsons East in Barangay Villamonte for over six months, Negros Power has relocated to a strategically chosen location on Lacson Street, Barangay Bata.The new office is designed to accommodate the growing needs of customers and ensure faster, more efficient service, Cabrera said."As of today, the new office is fully operational and ready to ca...

The deadline for local absentee voting registration is Friday, March 7, Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano of the Commission on Elections – Negros Island Region said Monday.Absentee voting is open to media practitioners and qualified public officials and employees, he said.Government employees, including the police and military, can apply for absentee voting if they are assigned to perform election duties, Castillano said.Media practitioners assigned to cover the May 15 polls may submit their applications for absentee voting registration at the Negros Occidental provincial COMELEC office in Bacolod City.Absentee voters can only vote for national candidates.Meanwhile, Castillano reiterated his reminder for candidates not to post their campaign materials on pole...