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The City Health Office (CHO) on Sunday, June 22, reported one more probable leptospirosis death in Bacolod City bringing the total number to six this year.The victim was identified as a 20-year-old male from Brgy. Sum-ag Bacolod City.The patient had fever, joint pain, vomiting and nausea that was medicated with paracetamol and on consultation he was advised to hydrate.He was admitted at a Bacolod hospital on June 8 and died the next day, the CHO reported.He had swum in a river less than a week prior to onset of fever, the CHO said.There have been 12 reported leptospirosis cases in Bacolod City this year and six deaths.The five other fatalities were from barangays 21, Handumanan, Villamonte, Banago and Bata, the CHO reported.Leptospirosis is a bacterial infec...

Cadiz City's "super lola" has turned 109 years old.She is Visitacion Victorama Contenido, or "Lola Visitacion" to family, friends and village mates at Purok Awa, Barangay Zone 6, Cadiz City.Lola Visitacion was born in Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City, on May 28, 1916, a press release from Cadiz City said on Sunday, June 22.But for 32 years now, she and her family have settled in Barangay Zone 6, Cadiz.Lola Visitacion has 12 children - 7 from her first marriage and 5 from her second husband.With poverty constantly knocking on their door, she did everything she could to survive and raise her family.She used to be a paltera (traditional/unlicensed midwife).When she was not delivering babies she sold vegetables, fish and seashells.Despite her age, and almost being b...

The drug bust in Purok Mapalaron, Brgy. 30, Bacolod City.*BCPO photoThe police arrested two suspects and seized P1,972,000 in drugs in Bacolod City on Friday and Saturday, June 20 and 21.On Saturday the police arrested a high value drug personality and seized about P1,190,000 worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Zone 5, Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City.The Bacolod City Drug Enforcement Unit arrested Eduardo Navarro, 44, of Brgy Handumanan, the police reported.Recovered from him were 175 grams of shabu, the police said.On Friday an Iloilo City resident was arrested in a buy-bust operation after the police seized P782,000 worth of suspected shabu from him in Purok Mapalaron, Brgy. 30, Bacolod City.The Bacolod City Drug Enforcement Unit arrested Joseph Bay...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Rep. Greg Gasataya (right).*Incoming Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya said on Saturday, June 21, that the smooth turnover of documents by the team of outgoing mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to his transition team was a “powerful moment of unity”.The Local Governance Transition Team held a turnover ceremony at the City Mayor’s Office at the Bacolod City Government Center on Friday in line with the Department of the Interior and Local Government guidelines.“The smooth and respectful turnover of documents to our transition team marks more than a ceremonial handover - it is a quiet but powerful moment of unity and responsibility and a reminder of how a relationship that is harmonious and focused on the public ensures peace and continuity,” Ga...

Bureau of Fire Protection-Bacolod personnel rescuing Erniel Lanza on Friday.* BFP Bacolod photoA contractor who was pinned beneath a wall of a warehouse that fell on him at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, died, the police said on Saturday, June 21.The wall of the warehouse that is under renovation fell on Erniel Lanza, 55, on Friday, Capt. Greeky Cayao, Bacolod Police Station 8 Commander, said.Bureau of Fire Protection-Bacolod responders extracted Lanza who sustained head injuries from beneath the debris.He was declared dead at the hospital, Cayao said.There was no foul play involved, the police said.*

A senior citizen died after he was shot while driving his motorcycle along the barangay road in Brgy Napacao, Siaton town, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, June 21.Killed was Isidro Aliabo Jr., 64, a farmer and resident of Brgy Napacao, the police said.An unidentified suspect shot him in the back of his head and he was declared dead at a hospital.Recovered from the crime scene were two empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol, the police said.*

The entertainment for San Carlos City's 65th Charter Anniversary celebration officially began Saturday night, June 21.San Carlos City Mayor Renato Y. Gustilo led the cutting of the ribbon to open the Vamos Trade Fair.Residents of San Carlos City, neighboring localities, and tourists can now enjoy a variety of activities organized by the local government, a post on the San Carlos City Facebook page said.These activities include a food bazaar, thrift and food stalls, souvenir shops, and the highly anticipated carnival at the back of the city hall, it said.Following the opening ceremony, a short program featured performances from local artists, including the Pintaflores Dance Company and the Vamos Drumbeaters.*

Public transportation in Bacolod City.*Andrew Altarejos photoThere will be a big-time fuel price increase starting Tuesday, June 24.The per liter price hike for diesel will be close to P5 and P3 for gasoline because of the rising oil prices in the world market triggered by the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, a Department of Energy (DOE) official said on Friday, June 20.Based on the four-day trading, the price of petroleum products will increase significantly on Tuesday morning, Assistant Director Rodela Romero, DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau Director III, said.The forecasted per liter price increase for gasoline is P2.50 to P3, diesel - P4.30 to P4.80, and kerosene - P4.25 to P4.40, she said.Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory ...

The Department of Education has enrolled 1,091,303 K to 12 students in the Negros Island Region as of Wednesday, June 18, or 81.8 percent of its target.However, with enrollment still ongoing they hope to hit if not surpass their target, Almyr Caezar Dequiña, DepEd NIR information officer, said on Friday, June 20.The DepEd projected NIR enrollees for this school year are 1,321,372, Dequiña said.“Since we still have late enrollees coming in, we expect that number to rise,” he said.The enrollment will continue until June 30, he added.The consolidation of data is still ongoing since the DepEd NIR is new and they are still coordinating with DepEd Regions 6 and 7, Dequiña said.The NIR is composed of Negros Occidental that was previously part of Region 6, and Negros Orient...

HAPI earth moving activities.*File photo coutersy of Joshua VillalobosNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday, June 20, acknowledged the quick response of the Environment Management Bureau in issuing a cease and desist order (CDO) versus Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (HAPI).The Environment Management Bureau 6 ordered HAPI to halt its quarry operations, road construction and other activities at its palm oil plantation in Candoni, Negros Occidental, Vicente Losbañes, EMB 6 Enforcement Division head, told DIGICAST NEGROS on Thursday.The EMB issued CDO dated June 5 was served on June 13, he said.“We expect that HAPI will fully cooperate and immediately take on necessary measures to address the concerns raised by the stakeholders”, the governor said....