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By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has activated the local government’s African swine fever (ASF) task force to safeguard the city’s swine industry following confirmed cases of the hog disease in Negros Occidental. “There is a need to reinforce mechanisms for inspection, quarantine, transport regulation, and border control to prevent the entry …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has ordered the strengthening of security monitoring and preventive measures in schools across the region amid growing concerns over youth violence and school-related incidents. PRO-NIR Acting Regional Director Brigadier General Romano Cardiño directed intelligence units throughout the region to intensify surveillance, community …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has reinforced its directive on the responsible handling and safekeeping of government-issued firearms, reminding police personnel that negligence in firearm security can lead to serious consequences. The reminder comes in the wake of a recent incident in a public school in …

By CESAR JOLITO III The red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation continues to threaten the sugar industry in Negros Island, with nearly 14,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations already confirmed affected, prompting calls for urgent government intervention. Based on SRA monitoring as of June 21, around 76,607 hectares, or 32.02 percent of 239,215.62 hectares of sugarcane …

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Bacolod City Legal Office (CLO) said there is no oil spill along the Banago River in Barangay Bata. “If there is an oil spill, there should be residual oil in the area,” City Legal Office chief Karol Joseph Chiu said yesterday. “We only found stagnant water caused by garbage, debris …

By CESAR JOLITO III Small fishers and civil society organizations from Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Guimaras have raised concerns over the recent United States ban on blue swimming crabs from the Philippines, warning that the measure could have severe economic consequences for thousands of coastal families dependent on the industry. The Panay-Negros-Guimaras Crab Fishers Alliance …

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) in Bacolod City has intensified its campaign to rescue children-at-risk (CAR) who are staying on the streets and used to sniffing solvent. This follows after DSSD head Dr. Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga saw a viral video posted on Facebook last week showing a group of …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Moises Padilla municipal government issued an executive order prohibiting the illegal and unauthorized sale of imported meat and meat products without the necessary permits and clearances, as part of biosecurity measures to protect public health and safeguard the local livestock industry. Under Executive Order No. 293, signed by Mayor Ella …

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Bacolod City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo clarified that there have been no reported swine deaths in the city, despite confirmed cases of hog cholera and an isolated incident of African swine fever (ASF) in Negros Occidental. Mayo said there is no immediate cause for concern “that would require immediate action” of …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II has defended his appointment as officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office’s Hospital Operations Services, emphasizing that the position focuses on hospital management and administration rather than the practice of medicine. Diaz, who was designated by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson through Office Order No. 63, …