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PACE president Ruben Diamante (center) and some of the directors of the union.*Members of the Board of Directors of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) will voluntarily submit themselves for drug testing, their president Ruben Diamante said Monday, August 7.“We passed a resolution that all of the members of the PACE Board of Directors and staff will undergo voluntary drug tests” this week, he said.The resolution was approved by eight member of the board, Diamante said.This is in support of the campaign for a drug-free workplace at the Capitol, he added.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz earlier said they had received unconfirmed reports of some provincial government employees using and selling drugs, which are subject to validation through surprise...

The Negros Occidental provincial government will present to possible investors its P1.2 billion Bulk Water Public-Private Partnership Project in Bacolod City on Thursday , August 10.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Monday that the investor’s forum is expected to be attended by officials from the water and finance industries as they hope to fast-track the bidding of the project.Records as of August 4 showed that about 21 individuals representing public and private firms will be attending in person, while 46 others will attend online.Among the investors who will attend the forum will be from Aboitiz InfraCapital, Maynilad Water, Tubig Pilipinas, Water.org, San Miguel Holdings Corp., Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Suez, Metro Pacific Water, and various banking insti...

The Negros Occidental provincial government vowed to continue upgrading the Panaad Park and Sports Stadium in Bacolod City to make it a primary training venue for Negrense athletes.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz gave this assurance Monday, August 7, despite the province’s losing its bid to host the 2024 Palarong Pambansa.“We cannot question the wisdom behind the decision,” he said, adding that as “the governor mentioned there’s no time to feel sorry, we just have to wait for our turn.”The province lost its bid to Cebu City that was announced during the closing ceremony of this year’s national games on Saturday.Diaz said that the governor still wants to continue the upgrade of Panaad as it is his vision to make it a primary training area for athletes of Negros Occid...

Five persons tagged as alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) shot a man accused of being a military informant in Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental, on Saturday, August 5, the police reported Monday.Joemarie Benitez, 28, a laborer from Quintin Remo, was allegedly shot by Reynaldo Catasio, Marlo Catasio, Jesus Molena, Rolando Juanites, and Carmilito Juanites, the police said.They were tagged as members of NPA Sparu Unit.Erlinda Benitez, mother of the victim, said the suspects and her son were having dinner inside their house.The suspects then invited the victim to go outside of the house and she heard four gunshots. She then went outside and saw his son lying on the ground dead.She said that the suspects accused her son of being an info...

Two Negrenses were fatally stabbed in two Negros Occidental cities on Sunday, August 6, the police reported Monday.Demi Alvitch Samson, 30, a heavy equipment operator, was stabbed allegedly by Romeo Samillano, during a commotion at a resort in Brgy. Haguimit, La Carlota City.Witnesses said that the victim tried to pacify a commotion between the suspect and the visitors of the resort but was allegedly stabbed by Samillano.The victim sustained wounds on his stomach, the back his body, and his head, the police reported.The victim was brought to the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital but died while being treated.Meanwhile, Basilio Jalea, 43, was stabbed at his residence in Purok Para 1, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City.Ronel Jalea allegedly went to their house and ...

None of the 53 Bacolod City government workers who tested positive for drugs have surrendered to the police yet.If they surrender and undergo rehabilitation charges will not be filed against them, Police Lt. Col. Ronnie Brillo, Bacolod City Police Office deputy for operations, said at the press conference of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday, August 7.The Bacolod City government is now making drug tests mandatory for all of its employees and officials, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said.The mandatory drug tests are allowed under the Civil Service Commission (CSC) provisions and the Dangerous Drugs Act, Ting said.Benitez said the city government is actually obliged to conduct mandatory drug testing for its employees ev...

A community coastal clean-up drive led to the removal of 6,602 kilograms of residual garbage from Purok Lison, Barangay 1, in Bacolod City, on Saturday, August 4.A total of 500 sacks of garbage were hauled by about 150 volunteers led by Barangay 1 officials and residents in partnership with the Department of Public Services, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, IPM-Construction and Development Corporation through its Trash to Cash Back Program and Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., the Bacolod Public Information Office reported.The regular and sustained coastal clean-up is one of the strategies implemented by the Department of Public Services and City ENRO to combat plastic marine pollution in the city’s coastal barangays, it said.It is also our way of raising awareness...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at a press conference at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday,*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, August 7, that he will never break the law and will leave the claims hurled by Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District) against him to the proper authorities to handle.Benitez pointed out that he is bound by the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 that specifies that any person, association, company directly or indirectly dealing with designated terrorists will be subject to certain penalties, which includes reclusion perpetua.Reclusion perpetua carries a maximum sentence of 40 years.Teves, in a video circulating on social media, said since he along with his friends and children are...

The inspection of establishments at Lizares Avenue on Friday.*Bacolod PIO photoThe Bacolod City government is cracking down on establishments selling alcoholic drinks to minors and is checking on their business permits.City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. warned on Sunday, August 6, that establishments that defy the law against the sale of alcohol to minors and the provisions in their business permits could face closure.To address concerns raised by parents and to ensure the safety of minors, the Bacolod Permits and Licensing Office, in collaboration with Police Station 6, City Legal Office and the Department of Social Services and Development Office, conducted a joint operation on 11 stalls at Lizares Avenue in Bacolod City allegedly serving alcohol to suspected minors, la...

DepEd 6 Regional Director Ramir Uytico receives the first runner up trophy of Western Visayas from Vice President Sara Duterte.*Negros Occidental lost its bid to host the 2024 Palarong Pambansa.Cebu City will host next year’s Palarong Pambansa, Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte announced at the closing ceremony of the 2023 games at the Marikina City Sports Center on Saturday, August 5.“Congratulations to Cebu City and we wish them a successful 2024 Palarong Pambansa”, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Sunday.Lacson, who made a pitch for Negros Occidental to host the 2024 Palaro before Department of Education officials, said there was no time to be disappointed.After 2024 the next turn for the Visayas to host the Palaro would be in 2028...