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Merle Garcia and Dr. Girlie Pinongan (right)*Two acting Negros Occidental provincial government officers have been promoted, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday, August 12.Merle Garcia is now Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer and Dr. Girlie Pinongan is Hospital Operations Department head in permanent capacities, he said.Dr. Placeda Lemana remains the Provincial Veterinary Office OIC.Filling up of other permanent positions will follow, Diaz said.The formal installation of the reshuffled heads of the provincial government hospitals will be held next week,We will introduce our new chiefs of hospitals and chief nurses to the communities where they will be assigned, Diaz said.*

Some stalls at the fish, fruit and vegetable sections have opened*Barbara MIjares photoSeveral stalls have already opened at the Negros Occidental Food Terminal Market at the North Capitol Road in Bacolod City.Some stalls at the fish, fruit and vegetable sections have opened and more are expected to follow on or before August 15.The provincial government will start charging rent to those awarded stalls at the food terminal on August 15, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday, August 12.The opening of seafood restaurants at the food terminal is also being readied.The provincial government will collect rent for the stalls on a daily basis to make it easy for the vendors, Diaz said.Diaz said priority for the rental of stalls was given to residents of Negro...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon signing the partnership agreement.*Richard Malihan photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon signed a partnership agreement to ensure environmental protection and sustainable resource management of the ecosystems of Negros Occidental at the Capitol in Bacolod City Thursday, August 11.“The need for the recovery of our ecosystems that have been degraded and destroyed, and conservation of those that are still intact has gone beyond the question of choice, it is now a necessity,” Lacson said.“Humanity is being pressed and threatened on almost every side, and the more we lag on our efforts to save our environment, the more we endanger ourselves, our children and our future,” he said....

Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” J. Valderrama Jr. (left) after his oathtaking as Sugar Board member before Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*Three planters’ groups have issued a manifesto in support of President Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr.’s appointment of Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” J. Valderrama Jr.  as Sugar Board member.The manifesto of support, released Wednesday, August 10, was signed by Enrique D. Rojas of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) Raymond V. Montinola - Confederation of Sugar Producers (CONFED) and Danilo Abelita – Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc. (PanayFed).Vaderrama, in an open letter to the sugarcane industry and its stakeholders, Wednesday also thanked the president for the opportunity to serve the sugarcane industry as planters’ re...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (2nd from right) at a press conference at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday, August 11.*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said on Thursday, August 11, that he is considering proposals for public-private partnerships for the development of the Manokan Country, traffic control and waste management.There is a proposal from SM for a PPP with the city government for the development of the Manokan Country, Benitez said.The Manokan Country should have its place in Bacolod because “it is a tourist attraction and part of our culture, and we will make sure it is preserved”, he said.As long as the desire of the city to preserve that culture is met, the PPP proposal will be considered, he said.Also being considered ar...

Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr. *The Planters’ Association of Southern Negros Inc. issued a statement of support on Friday, August 12, for Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr. on his appointment by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as acting member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration Board representing the planters.PASON is the biggest planters' association of the Biscom Milling District whose membership is 95 percent small sugar farmers and is an independent   non-aligned association, its president Luis T. Garingalao said.Garingalao said PASON strongly believes that Valderrama is well-qualified for the position as he is a hands-on sugar farmer because of his long years of experience in the sugar industry.“He is very much acquainted with the problems besetting the ...

Work is underway at the new PAC site.*Barbara Mijares photoClearing and excavation is underway for the building of the seven-storey new Negros Occidental Provincial Administration Center in Bacolod City but work has been hampered by the rain, Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa said Wednesday, August 10.The new PAC estimated to cost close to P1 billion is expected to be completed by Dynamic Builders in three years.The excavation is underway for the laying of the building’s foundation and basement that will be used as a parking area, he said.The area where the adjacent old PAC is located along the North Capitol Road has been leased by Dynamic Builders from the provincial government for the construction of a multi-use commercial building.However, its demolition has yet to star...

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a recent meeting*Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer reiterated on Wednesday, August 10, that he will protect President Ferdinand "BBM" Marcos Jr. insofar as the appointment of Sugar Regulatory Administration acting board member Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr."As a loyal supporter, leader, friend,  family and the president's personal adviser, I will protect him especially in choosing the right leaders for the sugar industry who are truly deserving of the president's appointment," Ferrer said in a press statement.Ferrer on Tuesday called for the revocation of the president’s appointment of Valderrama.The acting SRA Board member was known as a hard core pink supporter and h...

NBI-Bacolod district office chief Renoir Baldovino shows photos of two Small Town Lottery outlets that are reportedly operating illegally in Negros Occidental.*Barbara Mijares photoThe National Bureau of Investigation-Bacolod district office raided two more Small Town Lottery outlets that are reportedly operating illegally in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, August 10.They are in Sipalay City and in Binalbagan.NBI Bacolod chief Renoir Baldovino said on Thursday, August 11, that the Vikings Peryahan ng Bayan outlets  were already closed when the NBI went to the two areas.It was on August 6 when the NBI operatives made a test bet, and conducted surveillance on August 8.The STL outlets were still operating on August 9, the day before the raid.Baldovino said they su...

The drug bust operation in Brgy. 2, Bacolod City.*BCPO photoA teenager was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation at Prk. Sigay, Brgy. 2 in Bacolod City, Tuesday, August 9.Nabbed was 18-year-old Christian Ababa of Prk Lubi, Brgy. 3.During the arrest, the teenager yielded three grams of suspected shabu worth P20,400 and P500 in cash.He is now in the custody of Police Station 3 and facing drug charges.*