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The onset of the rainy season over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas has began, Administrator Vicente Malano of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Wednesday, May 18.“The presence of a frontal system and the occurrence of severe thunderstorms have brought widespread rains during the last five days in areas under Type I climate and other parts of the country. Moreover, southwesterly windflow was also observed during the past few days. This satisfies the criteria of the start of the rainy season over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas,” Malano said in a press statement.Intermittent rains, associated with the Southwest (SW) monsoon will start to affect Metro Manila and the western sections of the country, he sai...

Maria Adeline Prado photoTen farm laborers loading sugarcane on a truck at Purok Concordia, Brgy Ma-ao, Bago City, Negros Occidental, were injured when they were hit by lightning at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 17.Two of the 10 appeared to be in critical condition, PSSgt Armando Arao Jr. said.Micheal Cahilo, the driver of the truck, and his helper Bryan Della Cruz, said 16 farm workers were harvesting and loading sugarcane on the truck parked on the side of the road starting 1 p.m. but the weather turned bad and heavy rain fell at about 3 p.m., Arao added.When lightning struck the 10 of the 16 farm laborers who took shelter under the truck were hit, the driver said.Cahilo said he did not know that they were hit by the lighting until he looked out of the window of his truck...

Silay City mayor-elect Joedith Gallego took his oath before Judge Eunice Cuansing on Tuesday, May 17.*Rey Siason photoJoedith Gallego took his oath as mayor-elect of Silay City, Negros Occidental, before Judge Eunice Cuansing Tuesday, May 17, and outlined the priorities of his administration.Councilors-elect Michael Siason Maravilla, Maximo Javelona III, Darryl Hinolan and Jose Lopez Jr. also took their oaths.Silay councilors-elect Michael Siason Maravilla, Maximo Javelona III, Darryl Hinolan and Jose Lopez Jr. take their oaths.*Gallego won with 37,643 votes defeating incumbent Mayor Mark Golez who garnered 34,725 votes.He thanked the people of Silay for their support and appealed for their cooperation as he carries out programs and projects for the good of their city...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson urged the mayors of Negros Occidental on Monday, May 16, to step up their COVID-19 vaccination drives with the elections over, so more local government units (LGUs) can deescalate to Alert Level 1.Seven LGUs in Negros Occidental are under Alert Level 1, while 24 others will remain under Alert Level 2 from May 16 to 31, Lacson said, citing the national Inter-Agency Task Force order issued Monday.Sagay, Victorias and La Carlota cities, and the municipalities of EB Magalona, Pulupandan, San Enrique and Candoni remain under Alert Level 1, he said.Bacolod City also remains under Alert Level 1 until May 31.Negros Occidental still has the lowest vaccinated target population in Western Visayas, the Department of Health 6 (DOH 6) reported on Monday.Negro...

Capitol photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government cannot accept additional COVID-19 vaccines for now because of lack of storage space, Dr. Claudelia Josefa Pabillo said Tuesday, May 17.Pabillo, who is in-charge of Negros Occidental’s vaccine distribution, said they cannot accept new vaccines for now because the provincial government’s ultra-low freezer is full.They have to use up the vaccines they have first, she said.They still have a lot of Pfizer vaccines for adults and minors, she said.There are still a lot of residents who are hesitant to have primary and booster vaccines, especially among the senior citizens, Pabillo said.None of the vaccines in the provincial government storage facility have expired, she added.Pabillo said she does not know when ad...