Top Stories

The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) on Friday, May 10, urged Negrense women to undergo screening to prevent cervical cancer, the second leading cancer among females in the Philippines. In line with Cervical Cancer Awareness Month this May, some 23,457 women in Negros Occidental and 5,965 in Bacolod City comprise the target population for screening in coordination with the local health offices and health facilities. Dr. Aimee Marie L. Gayomali, medical officer IV and head of the DOH WV CHD integrated non-communicable disease prevention and control program, said cervical cancer screening is available in rural health units and government and private hospitals. “Target population is 30 to 65-year-old women, but since th...

One person died and three of his companions were injured, when the truck they were on fell in Purok Cherry Blossom, Brgy. Calumanggan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, May 9. Richienold Palmares died when the truck fell after one of its tires busted, the police said. He was one of the freight loaders of the truck that was carrying about 600 sacks of charcoal, the police added. His companions, including the driver Rejem Sampani, were also injured in the accident. The truck was travelling from Negros Oriental to Bacolod when the accident happened on the highway in front of an elementary school.* 

The police arrested the sixth most wanted person in Western Visayas for  alleged rape in Purok Cesco, Brgy. Rafaela Barrera, Sagay City, on Thursday, May 9.Felix Coniendo, 28, of Purok Cesco was arrested for four counts of alleged rape and another four counts for lascivious conduct, the police reported Friday. He was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court-Branch 73 judge in Sagay City, the police said. No bail was set for the rape charges while recommended bail was P10,000 for each act of lascivious conduct. The suspect is now detained at the Sagay City Police Station and was brought to the court where his cases are pending.* 

The buy bust operation in Hinigaran town.* The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the police arrested the second most wanted  municipal drug target of Hinigaran town in Negros Occidental and seized  P102,000 worth of  suspected shabu on Wednesday, May 8. Alias “Tors”, ”Turo”, or “Turing”, 33, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Gargato, Hinigaran, the PDEA reported. Seized from him were 15 grams of suspected shabu,  the buy-bust money, a mobile phone, and a pouch, the police said. The PDEA  said that the suspect will face charges for violating sections 5 and 11 of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.* 

The  Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO)  is waiting  for the arrival of its procured pentavalent vaccines to conduct catch-up vaccination among children less than 5 years old to curb pertussis. Provincial health officer Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan said they expect the 10,000 vials purchased by the province to arrive within the month. “There are local government units which still have remaining vaccine supply, but there is none available for the others,” she said  Friday, May 10. Pentavalent vaccines protect against pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza type B. Pinongan said previously, the PHO vaccinated 62 percent of the target population. She noted, however, that they still need to reach out during th...

Electric (e)-jeepneys will ply the “green routes” covering Barangay Vista Alegre and Barangay Cabug in Bacolod City from May 15 to 19.* The Bacolod City government will conduct a trial run for “green routes” using electric or e-jeepneys from May 15 to 19. Data on Friday, May 10,  showed two initial routes will be covered – areas in Barangay Vista Alegre in the eastern part of the city and Barangay Cabug in the south.  “The e-jeeps will provide free rides during the trial run,” the city government said in a statement. On Thursday, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez discussed the conduct of the trial run during a meeting with OIC-Regional Director Salvador Altura Jr. and Transportation Development Officer II Joshua Gaquit of the Land Transportation Franch...

The  PDG press conference participants on Thursday*  The Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) on Thursday, May 9, called for the junking of charges against five development workers for alleged terrorism financing and asked the Commission on Human Rights to ensure the “protection of these human rights defenders”.On April 29, five individuals, including four officials from PDG, were charged with violation of Section 8 of the Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Law.The five are former PDG Executive Director Clarisa Ramos, former PDG Advocacy Staff Felipe Levy Gelle Jr., PDG Community Organizers Federico Salvilla and Perla Pavilla, and former Executive Director of Kristyanong Mangunguma Lubos Itib-ong ang Grupo Inc. (KMALIG) Dharryl Al...

A dried up sugarcane field in Negros*photo courtesy of Bomber Zayco The drought damage to rice, corn and fisheries in Negros Occidental increased to P302,224,913.33 on Wednesday, May 8.OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola in a report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson placed the damage to rice crops at P291,747,976.57, corn - P7,809,894.76 and fisheries - P2,667,042.San Carlos City, Kabankalan City and San Enrique in Negros Occidental have declared states of calamity because of the drought damage to their farmlands.Genzola said the drought has hit 5,864 hectares of rice lands in 216 barangays in 28 of 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental, and has affected 8,285 farmers.The drought has also damaged 178.91 hectares of corn land in 40 barangays in 12 local government units in Negros...

The P25 million Research, Innovation, and Extension Hub*The Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) officials inaugurated the P25 million two-story Research, Innovation, and Extension (RIE) Hub at their Talisay City campus on Thursday, May 9.Commissioner Marita Canapi of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) led the turnover and inauguration with CHMSU President Norberto Mangulabnan, university executives, Board of Regents representatives, faculty and staff, alumni, and stakeholders, as the university celebrated its 2nd University Foundation Week.Canapi congratulated CHMSU for its achievement, noting that not all state universities and colleges (SUCs) are granted similar projects by the national government and CHED.“I urge the university community to view the...

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo* Mayor Felipe Remollo on Thursday, May 9, said Dumaguete City is ready for the Negros Island Region and hopes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the bill creating it into law before May 20.The President is scheduled to visit Dumaguete City on May 20 for the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards to agrarian reform beneficiaries, Remollo said.He is 90 percent sure the president will sign the law creating the NIR, which will be composed of Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Negros Occidental, Remollo said.Remollo said Dumaguete City is prepared to allocate land for free for the NIR regional offices.Contrary to the claim of the Diocese of Dumaguete consultations were conducted on the creation of the NIR for a long ti...