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The Department of Health (DOH) has directed the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to thoroughly screen points of entry for visitors from countries where new Covid-19 variants have been detected. DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said the BOQ issued Bureau Memorandum No. 2024-48 on May 24 placing all its stations and other concerned agencies under “heightened alert for KP.2 and KP.3 variants”. “The BOQ, as directed by Secretary (Teodoro) Herbosa, is conducting thorough screening for symptoms of Covid-19, among others,” Domingo said. “We appreciate the public's heightened interest in BOQ operations to protect our population.” The KP.2 and KP.3 variants are descendants of JN.1 together with JN.1.18, according to the World Health Organization. The Singapore ...

The Burgos Public Market vendors have informed Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez that they are against the P525 million renovation of the market.“I got their sentiments and the majority said they don’t want it,” Benitez said on Monday, May 27.If they feel the improvement of the market cannot help them so be it, there are other projects where the resources can be used, Benitez said.Benitez said he does not know if there is politics behind their objection, the purpose of the project was simply to improve and beautify the market.The mayor said he even asked the vendors what they wanted if they were not in favor of the proposed plan.Benitez said he will open up the plan to the Central Market and Libertad Market.The funds can also be used underground cabling to be...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez presides over the RDC meeting attended by Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo (1st and 2nd from left) and the mayors of Negros Occidental.*CPG photoBacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez expects the Negros Island Region (NIR) to be operational before the year ends.Benitez convened the Western Visayas Regional Development Council in Bacolod City on Monday, May 27, for a coordination meeting on the NIR set up.He pointed out that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his visit to Bacolod last month assured that he would sign the NIR, composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, into law.Benitez said the NIR bill was sent to the Office of the President on May 13. The president has 30 days either to sign it or it will lapse ...

The meeting of the Negros and Bacolod officials on Saturday.* Bacolod Mayor Alfedo Abelardo Benitez said about 60 members of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban ) in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City signed their irrevocable resignations from the party on Saturday, May 25.Benitez and seven other mayors, five vice mayors and councilors resigned from the party chaired by former president Rodrigo Duterte. As PDP-Laban members they were not even invited to any of   the party’s gatherings and meetings, Benitez said. “We decided as a group and will just make a decision in the near future” on what party to join, Benitez said. He said they signed a manifesto that he will release to the media later.* 

Two men hacked each other to death in Purok 4, Brgy. Masaling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Sunday night, May 26. The police withheld the names of the fatalities who were aged 42 and 35 years old. Police investigation revealed that the suspect and the brother-in-law of the victim had a heated argument in the middle of a drinking session and later went home. However, the suspect who was armed with a bolo went to the house of the victim’s brother-in-law and challenged him. The brother-in law was convinced by his wife to avoid the suspect. But when the victim arrived he confronted the suspect and they ended up hacking each other, the police said. They were brought to the Cauayan District Hospital but were declared dead on arrival.* 

The Department of Education-Division of Negros Occidental announced that Tuesday is the last day of classes for public schools under their jurisdiction, with graduation ceremonies to be held Wednesday to Friday, May 29 to 31. DepEd-Neg. Occ. spokesperson Arnold Arnaez said that Tuesday will be the last day of classes of school year 2023-2024 from kindergarten to senior high school. He said that examinations have been conducted and they have already checked the forms of the students. Arnaez said school year 2024-2025 will begin on July 29 and will end on April 15 so that they can adjust the school calendar back to June by school year 2025-2026. Prior to the opening, the DepEd will conduct a National Learning Camp for students to improve their literacy and...

Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon and San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza (l-r)* Bacolod Bishop  Paticio Buzon  in his homily on Sunday called the House of Representative passage of the  House Bill 9349, or the proposed Absolute Divorce Act, a tragic development since the bill seriously threatens the family, the foundation of society, and defies the law of God.  “A divorce law would affect all marriages  since it would change the legal structure of marriage to a breakable contract. For all the good intentions of its proponents, the bill will only create greater damage to the family and to society,” he said. “We hope and pray that our senators will be more enlightened and God-fearing. The family is holy. It is the sacrament of the Trinity,” Buzon sa...

The Kabankalan-Bayawan Boundary Road, along Barangay Bantayan in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, has been paved for better travel access. *DPWH photo  Two major road projects have been completed to improve access between the Negros provinces through Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental. These include the Kabankalan-Bais Road worth P39.45 million and the Kabankalan-Bayawan Boundary Road with a project cost of P67.55 million, a report of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Western Visayas (Region 6) on Monday, May 27,  showed. Both Bais and Bayawan are component cities in Negros Oriental. In a statement, DPWH-6 Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel said the improved roads will provide all road users with safer, faster, and more convenient t...

Water supply from a spring in Barangay Alangilan will provide additional volume to areas experiencing water shortage in Bacolod City.*Bacolod PIO photo  Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Monday, May 27, said an additional five million liters per day (MLD) will be injected into the pipelines of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) PrimeWater in the next three days. The added volume, sourced from the Bocal-Bocal spring in Barangay Alangilan, will benefit some 11 areas experiencing water shortage. "PrimeWater informed me that the Bocal-Bocal spring is now connected to Baciwa-Primewater’s break pressure tank. They are currently in the process of disinfection to ensure the water is fit for use," the mayor said in a statement. He said once the additional 5 MLD are ...