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The Sum-ag Fire Sub-station personnel rescuing residents in flood-hit Purok Fatima 2 in Sum-ag, Bacolod City.*Bacolod BFP photoMayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has extended the cancellation of classes at all levels and work in government offices in Bacolod City, except for those who render essential services during disasters, until Wednesday, July 26, because of foul weather brought on by Super Typhoon "Egay".Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson also suspended work at provincial government offices starting noon Tuesday because of the risk of heavy rain and flooding.Provincial government buses were fielded to take employees home but hospital and rescue personnel remained on duty.However, work at the provincial government will resume on Wednesday, Provincial Administrator...

Lois Baldonado BernardinoA La Consolacion College-Bacolod graduate is the fourth placer in the July 2023 Interior Design Licensure Examination (IDLE), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Tuesday, July 25.Lois Baldonado Bernardino was the fourth placer with a score of 85.25 percent.The PRC said 202 out of 443 passed the Licensure Examination for Interior Designers given by the Board of Interior Design in the National Capital Region, Cebu, and Davao in July.The results were released in 12 working days after the last day of examination.*

Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, provincial consultant for energy and environment concerns.*The cleansing of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative member-consumers’ voters list for its joint venture agreement (JVA) plebiscite will end on Sunday, CENECO acting general manager Arnel Lapore said Tuesday, July 25.The cleansing is being conducted by CENECO and the National Electrification Administration.The consumer account information updating activity is being conducted at the 3rd Floor of Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all CENECO offices in Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Bago and Murcia.Lapore is urging CENECO consumers to make the necessary changes if their CENECO accounts are still unde...

Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, July 25, for mentioning in his State of the Nation Address “two very important projects that will create a big impact on the lives of the people in Western Visayas”.“The Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge has long been a dream for us. With this coming to fruition, ease of transportation, dynamic movement of goods and services, and much enhanced economic and tourism activities are assured,” he said.The Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnection of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines in also a truly welcome development as “we are hoping to finally have stable energy source, transmission and distribution”, he added.Iloilo City, being the regional hub of Western Visayas, stands to benefit from these high impact pr...

The shabu seized in Purok Kabulakan II, Barangay Singcang Airport, Bacolod City.*BCPO photoFour suspects were arrested, while one escaped, and P703,880 worth of suspected shabu was seized in separate buy-bust operations in three cities and a town in Negros Occidental on Monday, July 24, the police reported on Tuesday.High value target Begie Soreño, 50, was arrested in a buy-bust operation and 88 grams of suspected shabu worth P598,400 was seized in Purok Kabulakan II, Barangay Singcang Airport, Bacolod City, 7:48 p.m. Monday, the police reported.Meanwhile, a suspect was arrested while one evaded a buy-bust operation in Sitio Bat-os, Brgy. 3, Victorias City, Monday night.Dominic Ann Fuentes, 25, was arrested while Marisol Fuentes escaped the arrest, the police said.Recov...

The fire in Brgy. Manta-angan, E.B. Magalona town.*EBM PIO photoA fire destroyed two houses and damaged three in Brgy. Manta-angan, E.B. Magalona town, Negros Occidental on Monday afternoon, July 24.The fire left 18 individuals displaced and caused an estimated damage of P1.68 million, the EB Magalona Municipal Fire Station said.The Office of E.B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon sent food packs containing rice and canned goods, and new clothes to affected residents on Tuesday, July 25, a press release from the town said.The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of E.B. Magalona also facilitated assistance to the victims of the fire.*

A forum about the 2022 presidential elections will be held at the St. John Mary Vianney Hall of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29.Civil society organization, Paghimud-os Negros Inc., will host “Electoral Fraud Explained”, a public forum on questions raised regarding the process and the results of the 2022 elections.The guest speakers will be former Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Ret. Gen. Eliseo Rio Jr., and former National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections chairman and former COMELEC commissioner Augusto Lagman.Both speakers are members of the TNTrio, a group that has been seeking the truth about the elections last year.TNTrio's determination in digging up the truth about the 2022 presidential electi...

Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz and ANP President Arlene Infante led the ribbon-cutting for the 30th Bulawan and 1st Pilak Awards Competition and trade fair with the theme, at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City Monday afternoon.*Richard Malihan photoThe Negros Trade Fair (NTF) will celebrate the generosity and warmth of the Negrenses to mark the 37th year of being the longest-running provincial trade fair, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City on Sept. 26 to Oct. 1.Themed "Amuma," which means to nurture, foster, or take care, this year's NTF, organized by the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), was introduced in a kick-off activity at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City Monday afternoon, July 24.Provincial Administ...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivering his SONA.*PCO photo“Well-crafted, but somewhat delusional if not boastful.”That is how former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela described the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.“Rose-colored lenses can't erase the other state of the nation” Coscolluella said.He cited “misgovernance, a corrupt government, wrong spending priorities, poorly-educated population, import dependence, low-performing agriculture, high prices, cartels, entrenched political dynasties, damaged institutions, a flawed electoral process, and a disempowered, distracted, polarized population, half of whom believe themselves to be poor and in need of government ayuda (aid)”.The spelled-out agenda of Marcos...