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Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District)*Another bill filed by Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez  (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) on Extended Producers’ Responsibility (EPR)  has lapsed into law.It is  now known as Republic Act 118981, an act institutionalizing the extended producer  responsibility  on plastic packaging waste, amending RA 9003  otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, Benitez said Monday, August 1.Benitez bill lapsed into law on July 23 without the signature  of former president  Rodrigo Duterte.Benitez was a member of the Bicameral Conference Committee that consolidated similar EPR  bills passed by the Senate and the House. The EPR Law shares the local government units ...

Rep. Alfredo Marañon III*Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) on Friday, July 29, said  his committee will give utmost priority to concerns related to food security in response to the challenge issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his first State of the Nation Address.Marañon was recently elected chairman of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, a position he had previously held."The president was very clear on the road map he laid out in his SONA for the agriculture sector. It calls for all industry stakeholders to take a collective action that will help address global food crisis that threatens societies. And the aquaculture and fisheries sectors are among the major players," Marañon, who studied marine biology, said.Mar...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez said the city government is preparing a halfway house for watchers of patients at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital*The Bacolod City and Negros Occidental Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices are joining forces and resources for a unified approach in the battle to prevent the spread of diseases such as monkey pox and COVID-19, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, August 1.The COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental hit 110 on Monday, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported.Bacolod City has 137 active COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) also reported.Benitez said while COVID-19 cases have increased, most only had fever like symptoms and had swift recoveries. The entry of visitors i...

A man survived a gun attack allegedly perpetrated by his cousin at  Hda Luisa, Brgy. 13, Victorias City in  Negros Occidental  on Sunday, July 31.The victim was identified as Ruben Basa, 41, of Brgy. 1 Poblacion, EB Magalona.Police said the victim was driving his motorcycle when he was shot by the suspect identified as 41-year-old Roland Mirambel.Basa immediately ran for his life while the suspect fled in an unknown direction with the victim’s motorcycle.The victim was rushed to Victorias Emergency Clinic.Police are still investigating the case.*

San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo and Bishop Gerardo Alminaza *Clean energy and sustainability groups said on Monday, August 1, that unlocking renewables should be the priority of local government and stakeholders alike for the benefit of Negrosanon consumers and the environment.Last week, San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo challenged groups opposing the 300 MW liquefied natural gas project of San Miguel Corporation and calling to revoke the resolution of non-objection issued to it by the Sangguniang Panlalawagan (SP) to cut off their electricity if they do not want to make use of fossil fuels, since power used in Negros Occidental is contracted from coal-fired power plants in Panay and Cebu.“Mayor Gustilo is on point in saying that the electricity that powers our homes ac...

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez*The creative industries development bill co-authored by Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) lapsed into law on Thursday, July 28 without the signature of former president Rodrigo Duterte.It is now known as Republic Act 11904, an act providing for the development and promotion of creative industries and appropriating funds for it. Republic Act No. 11904 will strengthen creative industries and provide support to artists, artisans, creative professionals and entrepreneurs, Benitez said on Friday.Benitez, co-principal author and co-sponsor of RA No. 11904, said it mandates the creation of roadmaps to cultivate Filipino talent, creativity, innovation and promote Philippine cultural heritage and artistic traditions to produce...

Negros Occidental has enough COVID-19 vaccines in its cold storage facility.*Negros Occidental has enough vaccines for the expanded coverage of second booster shots against COVID-19, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz assured Friday, July 29.The Department of Health on Wednesday announced that it had expanded the coverage of the second COVID-19 booster to adults at least 50 years old and above and those aged 18 to 49 with existing medical conditions.Negros Occidental has a lot of vaccines available for the   second boosters, Diaz said.In fact there are private firms requesting to donate vaccines but the provincial government needs to use up the stock at hand first, he said.“We cannot accept more than what we need, it will be unfair to those areas that nee...

The body of discovered under a cellsite tower in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, on Sunday, July 31.*Police Station 7 photoA man who was allegedly abducted in Silay City, Negros Occidental, last week was found buried under a cellsite tower in Purok Katilingban in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, Sunday, July 31.The victim was identified as 50-year-old Alex Soberano, who was previously arrested for illegal drugs.A resident noticed foul odor coming from the tower, which prompted him to report it to  barangay officials. They then discovered the body of the victim, the police said.Capt. Elmer Bonilla, Police Station 7 chief, said Soberano was reported to have been abducted just outside the Bacolod-Silay Airport on July 21.The victim just arrived from Manila an...

Alleged NPA member Adrian Omilig*PRO-6 photoAn alleged member of the New People’s Army in Negros Occidental was arrested by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army at his home at Purok 6, Maote, Bulwagan, Hinoba-an on Thursday, July 28.Nabbed was Adrian “Tortor/Niko” Omilig, who was said to be a squad leader of  the Sentro de Gravidad Platoon of the  South West Front that operates in Southern Negros, Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, Police Regional Office-6 information officer, said Friday.Omilig was allegedly involved in an armed encounter with government troopers in April 2021 at Sitio Yuring, Barangay Bulwagan, Hinoba-an, he said.His apprehension stemmed from an arrest warrant for attempted murder issued by Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Rodney Magbanua....

Former president Fidel Ramos during a visit to Bacolod City flanked by then governors Emilio Osmeña of Cebu and Rafael Coscolluela of Negros Occidental (right).*Negros Occidental and Bacolod City officials lauded former president Fidel Ramos who passed away on Sunday, July 31, for bringing renewed economic growth and political stability to the Philippines.Ramos, who was 94, was the 12th president of the Philippines serving from 1992 to 1998.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Negros Occidental, together with the entire country, is saddened by the passing of the former president.“He will be remembered for his peace agreements, for encouraging family planning practices, bringing about economic reforms which led to the deregulation of major industries and renewed investor confidence...