By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga In a recent local radio interview, People Power Commissioner Elgin Robert Damasco called the dissolution of the Negros Island Region (NIR) “a temporary setback,” reiterating the case made by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno that the region was “too expensive for the national government.” He said …
HEADLINE
Board Member: Marañon wants me to run for vice governor Escalante projects 2018 Negros Occidental budget at P3.3B
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr. yesterday revealed the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) is planning to meet next week, August 25, to discuss who should run for governor and vice governor in the 2019 polls, noting he was recently encouraged to run for office. After indicating the party …
Governor urges calm amid bird flu outbreak in Luzon
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. yesterday urged the public to remain calm and vigilant amid the recent outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, in Pampanga. In a statement by the governor, he assured Negros Occidental is free from bird flu. Marañon said the Department of Agriculture has already …
Bird flu puts PVO on high alert
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) is on high alert after the Department of Health (DOH) declared a bird flu outbreak in Luzon. In a radio interview over the weekend, PVO head, Dr. Renante Decena, said the provincial government has already set needed measures in order to ensure chickens or other …
Peña: Marañon was fooled by Aquino, Roxas over establishing NIR
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Moises Padilla Mayor and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) consultant Magdaleno Peña said Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. was “fooled” by former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and failed 2016 presidential candidate Mar Roxas and former President Benigno S. Aquino III into establishing the Negros …
Local officials express disappointment with NIR dissolution
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Local elected officials expressed their disappointment after President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday signed Executive Order No. 83, which dissolves the Negros Island Region (NIR). Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. said residents of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental have longed for their own region; while Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo …
Army, Police tap religious organizations to encourage NPA members to capitulate
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Philippine Army and the local Negros Occidental police force said they will be seeking the assistance of religious organizations to encourage members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to surrender. The Diocese of Bacolod, in response, said they support a non-violent approach when it comes to dealing with the …
Mayor, seven others indicted in P9.3 million procurement case
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, along with seven other government officials, were indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas over allegations P9.3 million used on city activities and projects did not undergo public bidding. According to documents signed by Deputy Ombudsman to the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente, the Ombudsman Field …
BCC awaits CHED accreditation before offering free tuition
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Before Bacolod City College (BCC) can provide free tuition under the recently signed Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education law, it must first acquire Commission on Higher Education (CHED) accreditation. According to Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, all pertinent paperwork for accreditation was sent last June and he …
Task Force Kasanag urges local talks with NPA Chiong: We are willing to facilitate
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Task Force Kasanag National Commander John Chiong held a press conference yesterday, calling for local government units in the Negros Island Region (NIR) to conduct peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA). “If the situation worsens, all of us will still be affected,” he said. “As a peace advocacy …