HEADLINE

By JEN BAYLON The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) said another infant died due to suspected pertussis or whooping cough, as they waited for the patient’s confirmatory test results. PHO head Dr. Girlie Pinongan said yesterday a two-month-old girl died at a district hospital on Tuesday, April 16. Pinongan said the specimens were sent …

Local group Power Watch Negros (PWN) is requesting Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) acting general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore to conduct a comprehensive investigation into recent power interruptions in Bacolod City. PWN secretary-general Wennie Sancho, in a statement yesterday, said they raised suspicions about “possible internal forces” attempting to sabotage Ceneco’s operation. Sancho said they are asking Lapore …

By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental has recorded its first pertussis fatality, involving a one-month-old patient who was hospitalized last week. Provincial Health Office (PHO) head Dr. Girlie Pinongan said the child passed away at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital. Pinongan said the infant died before confirmatory results came out. The PHO has so far recorded …

By JEN BAYLON Several transport groups in Bacolod City will participate in the nationwide transport strike today to protest against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. Rudy Catedral, Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers Inc. (BACOD) president, said the group will join the strike, in response to the calls from national transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga …

By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson assured that Negros Oriental will not be put at a disadvantage if the Negros Island Region (NIR) is established. This, after the Diocese of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental requested President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to veto Senate Bill 2507, establishing the NIR, for “lack of fair, just and truthful consultation.” …

By JEN BAYLON The El Niño phenomenon has caused severe damage to agriculture in Negros Occidental, with losses reaching P115.2 million. The latest report from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist released on Wednesday, April 10, showed that 22 local government units in the province have been affected by the dry spell. The severe weather conditions …

By JEN BAYLON Five confirmed cases of pertussis or whooping cough have been reported in Negros Occidental, including capital Bacolod City, local health officials said on Tuesday, April 9. Provincial Health Office (PHO) head Dr. Girlie Pinongan said two children aged two months old in Negros Occidental have tested positive for pertussis. Pinongan said 23 other …

By JEN BAYLON A Negros Occidental lawmaker has sought assistance from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for the reconsideration of conducting cloud seeding operations in the province amid the ongoing drought. Congressman Emilio Yulo III, during the distribution of land title certificates to agrarian reform beneficiaries in the province’s Bago City on Monday, April 8, …

By JEN BAYLON President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has made an assurance to sign into law the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill. On the sidelines of the ceremonial energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230-kilovolt Backbone Project sub-grids at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines compound in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mansilingan yesterday, Marcos said NIR is “probably …

By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental’s San Enrique town has been considered to be placed under a state of calamity due to severe agricultural damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon. Mayor Jilson Tubillara said the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) will be forwarding their recommendation to the Sangguniang Bayan for approval in …