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By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental 6th District Representative Mercedes Alvarez has expressed strong support for the proposal of the Department of Health (DOH) to allow the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) to operate the Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital (MJMDH) in Sipalay City as an annex facility. In a statement, Alvarez said …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Occidental provincial government continues to strengthen its coordination with local government units (LGUs) amid the possible escalation of alert status of Kanlaon Volcano, according to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II. Diaz said efforts are ongoing to ensure readiness, particularly in areas that may be affected should the volcano be …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City council has approved a three-month special permit allowing vendors at the Asenso Market in Barangay Alijis to continue their livelihood while authorities work to establish a permanent public market. The resolution, passed on Wednesday, March 18, temporarily halts the planned demolition of vendor stalls along the vicinity of …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has called on residents to remain calm and avoid panic buying as fuel prices and basic commodity costs continue to rise. Lacson issued the appeal following an online briefing with national officials, where local chief executives were updated on the country’s fuel supply situation and …

By CESAR JOLITO III Commuters will continue paying lower fares after Vallacar Transit Inc. rolled back its recent rates increase on Ceres bus routes, following a national government directive suspending fare hikes. The transport firm confirmed that the adjustment implemented earlier this week has been canceled, with old fare rates reinstated effective yesterday. Company media …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) has intensified its preparedness measures following renewed volcanic activity at Kanlaon Volcano. OCD-NIR Director Donato Sermeno said contingency plans have been aligned with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) after a coordination meeting on March 16 aimed at …

By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has reaffirmed the full support of the Visayan bloc for Faustino Dy III, citing confidence in his leadership of the House of Representatives, particularly in the passage of the national budget. Benitez, lead convenor of the Visayan Bloc, emphasized that the General Appropriations …

Bacolod City has not monitored hoarding of fuel supply that could lead to unjustified increase in prices since the start of the local government unit-led inspections last week. “No hoarding has been recorded as of today,” Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go said yesterday. The city’s fuel monitoring and inspection teams check about 16 gas …

By CESAR JOLITO III Rice prices across Negros Occidental have increased in recent weeks, offering higher returns for farmers but also exposing them to mounting production costs driven by rising fuel prices. Pedro Limpangog, president of the Farmers and Irrigators Association of the Philippines – Bacolod Rice Irrigators’ Service (FIACN-BRIS), said the price of both …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government has resumed inspections of gasoline stations across the city as part of efforts to monitor fuel prices and ensure adequate supply following recent increases in petroleum products. Mayor Greg Gasataya ordered the deployment of fuel monitoring and inspection teams through a memorandum issued on March 13, directing …