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The fire at Purok Masagana, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod.*BFP photoFirefighters responded to three fires in Bacolod City on Thursday, August 10.A fire partially damaged a house owned by Kim Tumimbang at Hda. Guanzon in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, at 10:22 a.m. Thursday.Damage was placed at P360,000, the BFP reported.Fire also hit a storage facility of Pepz Beverage Trading at Purok Masagana, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod, at about 10:41 a.m., The BFP said.The BFP placed the damage to the facility owned by Jose Orlino at about P27,750.Firefighters also responded to a grass fire at Purok Gate 3, Bredco in Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, at 11:04 a.m. Thursday, the BFP added.*

The Negrosanon Initiatives for Climate and Environment says these are the the DOE target sites.*Environment advocates are opposing the inclusion of Negros Occidental among the Department of Energy’s 13 nuclear target sites, Joshua Villalobos, convenor of the Negrosanon Initiatives for Climate and Environment (NICE), said Thursday, August 10.They are opposing the DOE’s having named Talusan Point in Negros Occidental as as one of the sites, he said.NICE called on the government to focus on renewable energy instead of "false solutions" that could potentially increase electricity prices and harm the environment and residents.About 150 leaders from various organizations, schools, and churches joined a forum to discuss the proposed nuclear power plant sites at the Balay Kalinunga...

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District)*The House of Representatives has approved the bill seeking the establishment of a general hospital in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, on third and final reading, Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said Thursday, August 10.“I’m very happy to announce that the House of Representatives just approved on third and final reading the bill seeking the creation of a general hospital in Victorias City,” Benitez, who authored House Bill 8492, said.Benitez said he is hoping the Senate passes its counterpart measure soon.The bill states that the general hospital shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Victorias City government.The Victorias City government will provide the necessary fund...

The Bacolod Yuhum Foundation (BYF) has submitted its 2022 MassKara Festival financial report to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government.Councilor Al Victor Espino rescheduled the committee hearing on the proposed memorandum of agreement for the designation of the BYF as the overall organizer of the 2023 MassKara Festival in October because its president Katherine Matiling was unable to attend on Monday.Matiling had to accompany her children to the Palarong Pambansa, BYF spokesperson Mate Espina said Wednesday, August 9.The Bacolod Yuhum Foundation raised P80 million for the 2022 Masskara Festival from sponsorships and events but closed at a loss of a little over P6 million, Espina said.If the BYF is granted permission to handle this...

The dentures seized from the house of Jude Yanson Labado*NBI photoNational Bureau of Investigation agents apprehended a “fake dentist” in an entrapment operation at his house in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday morning, August 9.Arrested was Jude Yanson Labado who faces charges for violation of Republic Act 9484, An Act to Regulate the Practice of Dentistry, Dental Hygiene and Dental Technology in the Philippines, NBI agent Jovel Aperio said.The NBI was accompanied by members of the Philippine Dental Association-Negros Occidental chapter headed by Dr. Maribel Ong in the conduct of the operation against Labado.Aperio, who posed as a patient, said Labado was caught in flagrante delicto for practicing dentistry without a license from the Professional Regulation Commi...

The eight PACE officials who tested negative for the use of drugs.*Thirty-nine employees of the Silay City government tested positive for illegal drugs, while eight officials of the Negros Occidental Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) who voluntarily underwent tests were negative.Two regular employees and 37 casual workers of the Silay City government tested positive during surprise mandatory drug tests, Lt. Col. Mark Darroca, Silay City police chief, said Wednesday, August 9.He said 1,010 city government employees had undergone surprise mandatory drug tests as of Tuesday, August 8.Meanwhile, eight of 11 members of the PACE board of directors who underwent drug tests Wednesday tested negative.PACE president Ruben Diamante said they underwent voluntary drug...

Greg Davis – Landers chief executive officer and president, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Matteo Guidicelli, Sarah Geronimo, Kevin L. Tan - Alliance Global Group chief executive officer, and Lowell L. Yu - Landers chairman (l-r) at the opening of the store in Bacolod City, Wednesday.*The 11th and biggest Landers Superstore in the county located at The Upper East in Bacolod City is officially opening to the public on Thursday, August 10.Celebrity couple Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli along with Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Greg Davis – Landers chief executive officer and president, Kevin L. Tan - Alliance Global Group Inc. chief executive officer and Lowell L. Yu - Landers chairman cut the ribbon at the opening rites on Wednesday.Also at the opening ri...

A policeman was killed and two others were injured while on the way to serve warrants of arrest to New People’s Army rebels at Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava in Negros Occidental Wednesday morning, August 9, a police report said.Killed in a firefight with the NPA was PCpl. Jaime Nunez and injured were PCapt. Jesus Alba, Calatrava deputy police chief, and PCpl. Dennis Nasis of the Calatrava police station.Alba sustained minor injuries and was brought to the Sagay District Hospital, while Nasis who sustained an injury in the stomach was confined at a Bacolod hospital, PLt. Col. Joem Malong, deputy for operations of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, said.The joint Army and police forces were on their way to serve warrants of arrest to rebels identified as Darry Dayawan, ...

The Negros Occidental provincial government will start to roll out hog cholera vaccines in the 6th District on August 17, Acting Provincial Veterinarian Placeda Lemana said Wednesday, Aug. 9.The provincial government is expecting the delivery of the first batch of hog cholera vaccines that will be distributed in the 6th District 6, composed of the cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay, and towns of Ilog, Candoni, Cauayan, and Hinobaan.Lamana said that 2,500 doses will be delivered on Aug. 17, in time with the livestock distribution led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson in the 6th District.She said that the province has ordered 70,400 doses of hog cholera vaccines.Lamana said that over the weekend, the para-veterinarians in the province reported zero hog deaths from various diseases, w...

The Provincial Veterinary Office reported that the average pork prices in Negros Occidental increased by P1.94 per kilo this week compared to last week.Prices of pork are also expected to increase further in the fourth quarter of this year, Dr. Placeda Lemana, OIC provincial veterinarian, said Wednesday, August 9.PVO records this week showed that the average prevailing market price of pork is at P247.94/kilo as of August 7, which is P1.94 higher than the July 31 record of P246/kilo.Average beef prices also indicated a P3.20 increase from P346.34 to P349.54 per kilo while dressed broiler chicken also increased by P2.60, from P201.51 to P204.11/kilo.Meanwhile, average prices of carabao beef decreased by P7.16/per kilo, from P325.40 to P318.24, and chevon or goat meat slightly...