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San Carlos City is celebrating its Charter Day on July 1.*July 1 has been declared a special non-working holiday in San Carlos City.Proclamation No. 1373 said the special non-working day was declared to enable the people of San Carlos to celebrate the city’s Charter Day.The proclamation, which was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte, said public health measures should be observed during the celebration*

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (right) and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer will lead the oathtaking rites on Saturday, June 25.*The inaugural rites of the Negros Occidental provincial government officials led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer will be held at the Capitol grounds in Bacolod City at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25.They will try to keep the oathtaking rites simple, no national personalities have been invited, Lacson said on Tuesday, June 21.Lacson, who was reelected to a second term, said he will take his oath before Judge Amy Alabado Avellano of the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court.Ferrer, who is also entering his second term, will take his oath before Bago City Judge Aireen Bonghanoy.There are 10 returning board members and two newly-elected ones w...

Rep Francisco Benitez took his oath as reelected representative of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental before Silay Mayor Mark Golez at the Magikland Activity Center in Silay City, Saturday.* Ronnie Baldonado photoRep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said several of his bills, including one that will expand the capacity of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City from 100 to 300 beds, are awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte to become laws.If the president does not veto the bills they could just lapse into law, he added.Benitez, who celebrated his birthday Saturday took his oath before Silay Mayor Mark Golez at the Magikland Activity Center in Silay City.Silay vice mayor-elect Thomas Maynard Ledesma and councilors Ryan ...

Department of Health COVID-19 performance report for Western Visayas*The release of rice incentives for senior citizens in Negros Occidental who were vaccinated against COVID-19 has started, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, June 21.Initially released were 66 sacks of rice for 661 senior citizen vaccinees who will receive 5 kilos each, Diaz said.The results of the simultaneous provincewide COVID-19 vaccination drive on June 16 and 17 were not available yet, “that means it’s not good,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday.The provincial government has been trying to ramp up the COVID-19 vaccination drive so more local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental can be deescalated to Alert Level 1.Only 9 out of the 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental are un...

Liza Araneta Marcos, Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo "Albee" Benitez and Councilor Cindy Rojas (l-r) at president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s thanksgiving party.*Presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has promised to support Bacolod City’s housing program, the establishment of the Negros Island Region and the construction of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge, Bacolod mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said Saturday, June 18.Benitez, who met with Marcos recently, said they discussed plans and strategies on how to solve the housing problem in the country.Benitez, during his term as congressman of the third district of Negros Occidental, authored the bill that led to the creation of the Department of Housing.The Negros Island Region is acceptable to Marcos, Benitez also...

Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokespersonThe Philippine Coast Guard has standing orders for its personnel to implement strict measures to prevent the entry of illegal drugs through shipping routes and coastlines, Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said on Monday, June 20.He gave the assurance following reports of the entry of illegal drugs through the ports of Bacolod and Negros Occidental.“We have standing guidelines to be strict on security measures to prevent the proliferation of drugs,” he said, adding that they will look into the situation in Negros.Balilo said they get their cue from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency that provides them with intelligence information.He welcomed the support pledged by mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez to boost the cam...

Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Benitez delivering his state of the district address at the Magikland Event Center in Silay City on Saturday, June 18.*Ronnie Baldonado photoRep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said on Saturday, June 18, that the Lower House is pushing for fuel and fertilizer subsidies for farmers amid the rising prices of farm inputs.Benitez noted that there has been a drop in sugar production due to increasing fuel and fertilizer costs.Oil firms are expected to implement another increase in the prices of fuel products on Tuesday, June 21.Prices of diesel may increase by P2.50 to P2.60, while gasoline prices may go up by P0.50 to P0.60 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said.As of June 14 the prices of gasoline have gone up by P28.70 per l...

Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana and lawyer Lyzander Dilag discuss the killings in Bacolod City at a press conference in Bacolod City on Friday, June 17.*Another person was killed in a drug related incident Thursday night, June 16, bringing the shooting incidents in Bacolod City to six this month.Many Bacolod residents are alarmed by the spate of violence that has occurred in Bacolod City in the last few days, the incoming Benitez administration is committed to do whatever it can to strengthen the capabilities of the Bacolod police in the maintenance of peace and order and crime prevention, lawyer Lyzander “Bong” Dilag, spokesperson of mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said at a press conference Friday, June 17.Adonis Alabado Matulac, 54, was on board a scooter at Lacson Extension in...

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia (center) receives the SP resolution honoring him from councilors Archie Baribar, Renecito Novero, Israel Salanga and Em Ang (l-r) during the 84th Charter Day rites.*The Sangguniang Panlungsod honored the contributions and service of outgoing Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia in a resolution that was handed to him at the city’s 84th Charter Day Celebration Saturday, June 18.The outstanding 2021 Bacolod taxpayers were also honored during the Charter Day rites at the Bacolod City Government Center.SP Resolution No. 441, which was given to Leonardia during the charter day rites, expressed the Sanggunian's profound affection, respect, admiration and gratitude to Leonardia for his quintessential record of service to the city and for being, as of date, the long...

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who is set to lead the Senate in the 19th Congress.*Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who is set to lead the Senate in the 19th Congress, said on Monday, June 20, that he is committed to file and spearhead the Negros Island Region Act in the upper chamber.“I thank president-elect Bongbong Marcos for assuring us, this early on, of his support for the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR),” Zubiri said.Twelve representatives on Negros Island and Siquijor are also jointly filing a bill seeking the establishment of the NIR on the first day of the 19th Congress on July 1, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg., Occ., 3rd District) said Saturday.The bill will include the provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental and Siqui...