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An earthquake hit area in northern Luzon.*BFP photoBishop Patricio Buzon called on the Christian faithful in the Diocese of Bacolod on Friday, July 29, to help the victims of the magnitude 7 earthquake that jolted Abra and other parts of Northern Luzon on Wednesday.“Let us pray in solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters and let us lend our support to them who are in dire need,” the bishop said.Buzon called on all parishes and chaplaincies in the Diocese of Bacolod to organize a second collection this Sunday, July 31, for the Alay Kapwa fund to be sent to the affected communities through Caritas-Philippines.“Please channel all your donations   to the Diocesan Social Action Center or the Diocesan Treasurer's Office,” he said in Circular Letter 2022-19 sen...

A provincial government-led National Blood Donors’ Month caravan in Bacolod City Tuesday, August 2.*“To prevent a significant draw down of blood supply, a well-organized blood service is necessary to meet blood necessities, especially in times of crisis,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson stressed on Tuesday, August 23.Lacson, who spoke at the National Blood Donors’ Month and Blood Olympics 2022 rites at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City, cited the need for blood supply, especially with the current dengue scare.Negros Occidental had 2,747 dengue cases and 14 deaths from January 1 to July 23, the Department of Health reported Tuesday.That is a 941 percent increase compared to the number of cases in Negros Occidental in the same period last year, it said.Baco...

Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer*Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) is positive that the House of Representatives will approve the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) set on December 5.However, she could not speak for the Senate, Ferrer said on Monday, August 1.Ferrer was one of the first to file a bill in the Lower House seeking the postponement of the BSKE to May 2023.She filed House Bill 121 because “we have just concluded the national and local elections on May 9, and the government will have to prepare for the Barangay and SK elections in December 2022. Instead of spending on another electoral exercise, the government can direct its resources to COVID-19 related programs and help rebuild our economy,” Ferrer said.Ferrer sa...

BCPO photoThe Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has confiscated P8,517,707 worth of illegal drugs in its month-long anti-criminality operations.From July 1 to 31, a total of 1,252.604 grams of drugs were seized in 45 operations that led to the arrest of 52 drug personalities, including 37 pushers and 15 users, Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, BCPO public information officer, said. A total of 67 drugs cases were filed in court, he said.In the campaign against wanted persons, the BCPO conducted 55 police operations during the month-long intensified campaign that led to the arrest of 55 suspects.Also, 12 police operations were initiated against loose firearms that resulted in the arrest of one violator and confiscation of one small firearm, while seven homemade firearms were...

Seven families living inside the Burgos Public Cemetery in Bacolod City have been sent notices to vacate, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari said Monday, August 1.New burials at the overcrowded cemetery have been stopped and a guard has been assigned to prevent theft and illegal activities in its premises.Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said they are studying where a new public cemetery can be put up.A study on how to properly put up a cemetery for long term purposes is needed, he said.Let’s see the recommendations and proposals for the most convenient and accessible site, Benitez said.Preparations are also underway for onsite and near city housing for Bacolod residents, he said.They are looking at available land and negotiating with banks for the takeo...

The Negros Occidental Food Terminal Market at the North Capitol Road in Bacolod City.*Barbara Mijares photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government will have to cut the amount of financial assistance it gives out next year with the expected drop in its National Tax Allotment, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, August 2.“Definitely there will be adjustments, especially in our financial assistance,” Lacson said.The governor said he is pushing for the stepping up of the provincial government’s economic enterprises to augment its income next year with the NTA cut.The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earlier informed Lacson that all LGUs willface 14.47 percent NTA cuts in 2023 because of low tax collections at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.T...

The Office of Civil Defense has ordered an assessment of the structural integrity of buildings.*Ronnie Baldonado photoCritical facilities in Bacolod City will be inspected to determine their structural integrity following a magnitude-7 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon, Dr. Maria Luisa Laarni Pornan, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head, said Friday, July 29.The CDRRMO will identify the facilities to be inspected by structural engineers of the City Engineer’s Office, she said.Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 6 director, Jose Roberto Nuñez, has issued Memorandum 63 ordering all disaster offices in Western Visayas to assess the structural integrity of their infrastructures to ensure their safety and resilience.The assessment will be coordinated with ...

The three persons nabbed for the theft of the cellular phones at the Kabankalan police station.*Radyo Bandera photo*Three persons were arrested for the theft of two high-end cellular phones belonging to Kabankalan City Vice Mayor Miguel Zayco through Apple’s Find My application Tuesday night, August 2.Zayco said he had gone to the Kabankalan plaza as the city was celebrating its 25th charter anniversary and when he returned to his vehicle at about 6 p.m. he discovered that his Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra were missing from his small bag.With the help of the police and Apple’s Find My app, the cellular phones were recovered from three persons on a motorcycle in Himamaylan City at about 7:10 p.m., Zayco said.Cpl. Rogyn Bandola, investigator on case, sa...

Vendors at the Bacolod City public markets who have arrears in rent could face eviction and cases in court, but a proposed amnesty program is also being considered, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Monday, August 1.At the Burgos Public Market alone arrears have reached P11.2 million, he said.He said a meeting with stakeholders will be held on Saturday   to discuss the arrears in rent and plans for the renovation of the markets so that they can he implemented.Benitez said he may deliver his state of the city address on his 100th day in office. This will be in line with his 100-day eight-point agenda, he said. Meanwhile, a clean and green task force has been created to clean up islands in the middle of the roads of garbage and overgrown grass, he sai...

Observe sugarcane load limits, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson says*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson stressed the need for truckers to observe sugarcane load limits and for drivers of vehicles to be vigilant against accidents.Lacson issued the reminder on Tuesday, August 2, with the impending start of the milling season.He also said that there will be times of the day when trucks hauling sugarcane will not be allowed to travel through certain roads.Lacson also reminded the riding public, especially, those driving personal vehicles to be extra careful during milling season to avoid accidents.“Unfortunately there are trucks parked on the side of the road without any early warning devices,” he said.There have been accidents where vehicles have rammed into the back o...