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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (right)*Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, August 2, that he welcomes the unified response of   the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMOs) against the spread of diseases such as COVID-19.He said that is precisely why a Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Summit was held on July 26 to come up with a unified disaster response protocol to be adopted and followed uniformly during emergency and disaster situations.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday that the DRRMOs  of the city and province were joining forces.“We will always welcome Bacolod to join us. The intention of Mayor Albee is to have more ...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (right) at the unveiling of the portrait of former mayor Monico Puenetevella (left)*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee”  Benitez unveiled the portrait of  former mayor Monico Puentevella at the Bacolod City Government Center gallery of mayors Monday morning, August 1.Also up are the portraits of Benitez and Rep. Greg Gasataya who served as acting mayor of Bacolod from Nov. 16, 2015 to Feb. 15, 2016.Puentevella, who was the 26th mayor of  Bacolod from June 2013  to June 2016, said for nine years the previous administration did not put his portrait up because of "immature and petty politics".Benitez said all mayors of Bacolod deserve to have a picture in the gallery, he does not know why Puentevella’s was not there...

The Negros Occidental police are conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged kidnapping incidents in the province.Lt. Judesses Catalogo, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office public information officer, said Tuesday, August 2, that there is no cause for alarm since they “can’t consider there is a group behind the incidents.” They were perpetrated by different suspects, he said.On  Sunday, July 31, a businessman escaped a kidnapping attempt at Gallo Street in Brgy. 1-B, Manapla.The victim was about to go home after playing basketball at the town public plaza when five unidentified men forcibly took him to a black Sports Utility Vehicle, but he was able to escape.Catalogo said  that the investigation into the failed kidnapping incident in Manapla is on...

The Department of Health (DOH) has detected the first confirmed case of Monkeypox in the Philippines, it announced on Friday, July 29. The person confirmed to have been hit with monkeypox is a 31-year-old Filipino national who arrived from abroad on July 19.The patient had prior travel to countries with documented Monkeypox cases, and was tested and confirmed positive for Monkeypox via Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction orRT-PCR, done at the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on July 28, the DOH said.The patient has been discharged well, and is undergoing strict isolation and monitoring at home.The DOH has completed its case investigation and identification of close contacts. Ten closecontacts were recorded, of which, three were fr...

The Bureau of Fire Protection joins the cleanup drive in the earthquake hit areas.*BFP photoBacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he and members of the Visayan bloc in Congress gave personal donations for the victims of the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon on July 27.He sent his donation through Congress, which launched a fundraising drive, Benitez said on Monday, August 1.“The Visayan bloc organized a fundraising drive and we asked for P50,000 from each one, “ he said.The representatives of Negros Occidental and Bacolod in the House  are members of the Visayan bloc.The Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments have not sent donations yet.Benitez said “considering that the president went there personally, I think they have enough to add...

An orientation for sustainable business ventures.*Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) has facilitated the allocation of cash assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for sustainable business ventures.The cash assistance will be primarily for home and community-based livelihood activities in the cities of Victorias, Silay and Talisay and the towns of Murcia and EB Magalona, a press release from his office said Tuesday, August 2.Area coordinators of his 3rd District Office are currently working with LGU-based DSWD staff to identify, validate and prepare target beneficiaries for the Sustainable Livelihood Program, it said.Ongoing orientation started in July in Victorias, Silay and Talisay cities.Qualified as beneficiari...

The Philippine flag at half-mast in front of the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday*Barbara Mijares photoThe Philippine flag was flying at half-mast in front of the Negros Occidental Capitol and the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday, August 1, in honor of former president Fidel Ramos who passed away on Sunday at the age of 94.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the flag was flying at half-mast in mourning over the loss of Ramos and to honor his legacy of service and significant contributions to the country.“Together with the entire nation, we mourn the passing of a great president and statesman, President Fidel V. Ramos. We are eternally grateful to him for his crucial role in restoring freedom to our people at EDSA and for bringing a newly liber...

A businessman escaped a kidnapping attempt at Gallo Street in Brgy. 1-B, Manapla, Negros Occidental, on  Sunday, July 31.The victim was identified as William Chua Jr., 33, of Bliss Project, Brgy. 1-A, Manapla.Police said the victim was about to go home after playing basketball at the town public plaza when five unidentified men, who wore bonnets, waylaid and grabbed him.The suspects forcibly took him to a black Sports Utility Vehicle and handcuffed him, but he was able to escape.He immediately went to the Manapla police station to ask for help.The police alert team is conducting follow-up investigation to identify and arrest the suspects.*

A man who was allegedly involved in gunrunning activities in northern  Negros Occidental was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Hda. Dagingding, Brgy Rizal, Silay City, Thursday, July 28.Nabbed was  Stephen Superal, 42, of Prk. Cagaycay, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City. He was a newly identified member of “Kilas Group” that was allegedly involved in gunrunning activities in the cities of Silay and Talisay and adjacent localities.During an entrapment operation, the suspect yielded a  .45 caliber pistol with one magazine and six live ammunition, the P19,950 boodle money, the P50 marked money, and a paper bag.The suspect is now in the  custody of the Silay police.*

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer (right) lead the coalition*It’s UNe-Love.That is what Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer on Monday, August 1, called the political coalition between the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) and Love Negros that has allowed most candidates in Negros Occidental to run unopposed.Ferrer is president of UNegA and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson leads Love Negros.The coalition has lately agreed to field a single slate for the Philippine Councilors League-Negros Occidental (PCL-NO) chapter election on August 22.They agreed that La Carlota City Councilor Julius Martin Asistio, stepson of Ferrer, will run at PCL-NO president.Silay City Councilor Ryan Gamboa, current PLO-NO vice president, will run as his vice president.The coalition wil...