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“Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community, proclaiming His hope and love to all who are hurting”, Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon said.*Ronnie Baldonado photoBacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon called for a special collection on the 3rd Sunday of Advent Masses (Dec. 15) to support families affected by the eruption at Kanlaon Volcano.Buzon, in a circular letter, said ”as your Bishop, I write to you with a heavy heart, knowing that many families within a six-kilometer radius have been forced to evacuate. This sudden change has brought uncertainty and anxiety, particularly to our affected dear brothers and sisters in ten local government units of Negros Occidental”.“The ashfall and strong sulfur odors have affected our environment and deeply impacted many lives. It is in ti...

Expect fuel prices to increase on Tuesday, Dec. 17.Diesel prices will increase by P0.50 to P0.70 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines reported.While gasoline prices are also expected to increase by P0.50 to P0.70 per liter, it added.*

Young evacuees help unload relief goods.*Members of the Rotary Club of Bacolod Central trooped to La Castellana town on Saturday, Dec. 15, to deliver over P1 million worth of construction materials and relief goods to evacuees of the Mt. Kanlaon explosion.La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan along Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) received the 2,100 corrugated and plain galvanized iron sheets, along with other relief goods intended for the evacuees, a press release from the club said Sunday.The aide was primarily funded by Rotary International through a disaster grant to District 3850 amounting to $25,000 for the recovery phase of the first explosion as hundreds of homes had damaged roofing due to the ash fall.The Rotarians also distributed 200 hyg...

A total of 144 racers from various cities and municipalities across Negros Occidental and Panay Island joined the 11th Kalamayan Festival Duathlon Challenge in Victorias City on Saturday December 14.Marking the second day of the 2024 Kalamayan Festival activities, the event tested participants’ endurance with a 5km run, a 20km bike ride, and another 3km run, a press release from Victorias City said.The following are the Top 3 Podium Finishers for each category:ROAD BIKE CATEGORY19 & Under1st – Franz Miguel Villegas2nd – Zeph Dezanie Cabines3rd – Christian Miraflor20 & Above1st – Randolf Magbanua2nd – Borge Arriola3rd – Troy Trinidad30 & Above1st – Romulo Jr. Balinas2nd – Vista Fernando3rd – Fernando Canoniga Jr.40 & Above1st – Divino Madriga...

A farmer was found dead in Purok Orchid, Brgy. Haba, Candoni, Negros Occidental, on Friday, Dec. 13.Alias “Manny”, 43, a resident of Brgy. Haba was found dead outside of his nipa hut.The victim’s body was found in a state of decomposition by his 72-year-old father, the police said.According to the victim’s family, he was suffering from an illness and was alcohol-dependent.The victim’s remains will be subjected to a post-mortem examination, the police said.*

Kanlaon Volcano ash destroys crops at Barangay Ilijan, Bago City.* Romeo Subaldo photoThe Sangguniang Panlalawigan officially declared Negros Occidental under a state of calamity on Friday, Dec. 13, with a price freeze imposed on basic necessities and prime commodities to mitigate the effects of Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption.As this developed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday assured the public that the national government will step up its response to help those affected by the Mt. Kanlaon eruption.“We will step up. We will level up. Any escalation in damages and destruction will be met with a stronger government response,” the president said in a video message amid concerns of local government officials on the mounting evacuation cost.Marcos assured that all concerned age...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and  FSupt. Jenny Mae Masip, Bacolod Fire Marshal, check the scene of the fire.*BFP photoA fire hit 31 stalls at the Bacolod Central Market causing extensive damage estimated at P4,752,000 at 2:50 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13, FSupt. Jenny Mae Masip, Bacolod Fire Marshal said.The fire destroyed 18 stalls and damaged 13 others leaving many of the vendors, who were not able to save their goods from the fire, in tears.Two stalls were also looted, and two thieves were arrested.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who was at the fire scene with Bacolod Councilor Celia Flor, said city engineers were tasked to secure the area and to come up with a rehabilitation plan.“I also spoke with the vendors and assured them that the city will prov...

The Department of Health in the Negros Island Region on Friday, Dec. 13, raised its status from Code White to Code Blue following the declaration of a state of calamity in Negros Occidental due to the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.“It is intended to supplement the province's request for more aid for the individuals and families impacted by the recent natural disaster,” Dr. Razel Nikka Hao, Negros Island Region Department of Health Regional Director, said in a press statement.Code Blue would indicate the immediate deployment of health teams, experts, and additional units during an emergency response, she said.This is often raised to increase coordination with the existing dispatched team with other agencies and would also be giving a go-ahead signal for planning and suppo...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer (right) at the Capitol Christmas party.*Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental provincial government employees and casuals will receive P55,000 each in additional bonuses this Christmas, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson announced Friday night, Dec. 13.The gratuity pay of job order and contract of service workers for Christmas has been increased from P5,000 to P7,000, the governor also announced at the employees Christmas party at the Capitol Lagoon and Park in Bacolod City.The P55,000 additional bonus consist of the Collective Negotiation Agreement incentive of P30,000, Productivity Enhancement Incentive - P5,000, and Service Recognition Incentive – P20,000, Lacson said.The same amount was also given last year.Lacson ca...

A sick animal in an ash  hit area.*The eruption of Kanlaon Volcano has affected 26,006 farm animals and pets in Negros Occidental, who have become ill, Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial health officer, said on Friday, Dec. 13.The animals were affected by ash fall and sulfuric odor.The affected animals include 1,062 carabaos, 183 cattle, 603 goats, 1,246 swine, 22,250 poultry, 320 ducks, 284 dogs and 58 cats.The animals were found to have respiratory and digestive diseases, Lemana said.Others suffered from skin injuries, rashes, foot rot or swelling of the foot, coughing, sneezing, diarrhea and fatigue, she said.She said 105 paraveterinarians have been mobilized to assess the damage.Aid such as molasses as nutritional support for the affected animals is also b...