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By CESAR JOLITO III Leptospirosis infections in Bacolod City have climbed sharply this year, with cases rising by 600 percent from January to February 7, compared with the same period last year, health authorities reported. Data from the City Health Office (CHO) show seven confirmed leptospirosis cases so far in 2026, including one death. In …

By CESAR JOLITO III Relief operations intensified in Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City as government agencies and partner organizations rolled out coordinated assistance following the February 19 eruption of Kanlaon Volcano, while local authorities announced the resumption of classes after days of disruption. The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) organization distributed a total of 459 …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Health – Negros Island Region Center for Health Development (DOH-NIR CHD) has reinforced health services across the region with the formal induction of 438 newly deployed health professionals under the National Health Workforce Support System (NHWSS). The 1st Human Resources for Health Oath-Taking Ceremony was held on February …

By CESAR JOLITO III Following a moderately explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday afternoon, February 19, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed local governments across Negros Island to enforce strict safety measures and ensure public readiness. The DILG instructed all local chief executives to ensure that residents within the …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has cleared Ma. Mina Pellejo, former Negros Occidental assistant provincial administrator and officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP), of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty, citing lack of substantial evidence. In a 15-page decision promulgated on January 12, the CSC modified the …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government completed the distribution of P9 million in cash subsidies to 1,500 registered solo parents, marking the conclusion of the city’s locally funded assistance program for the second half of 2025. Under the program, each beneficiary received P6,000 to cover the period from July to December 2025. City …

By CESAR JOLITO III The ground movement at Barangay General Luna in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town should not yet be interpreted as a sinkhole or landslide following the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s (MGB) initial site visit, which was focused on surface assessment, mapping and terrain analysis only. “There are no official findings yet. What was …

By CESAR JOLITO III At least 300 police personnel from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) have been deployed to maintain peace and order during the 21st Bacolaodiat Festival this weekend. BCPO officer-in-charge, Colonel Eugene Rebadomia, said the heightened security measures aim to ensure the safety of festivalgoers, participants and visitors attending the week-long celebration …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance that formally declares the Bacolod Integrated Recycling and Technology Hub (BIRTH) as the city’s central solid waste management facility and sets a regulated framework for developing a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) industrial zone. The measure aims to institutionalize long-term waste solutions …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government has stepped up its anti-rabies campaign with the launch of a house-to-house pet vaccination drive, aiming to curb the rising number of rabies cases and move closer to becoming a rabies-free city. The intensified initiative, led by the City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO), brings vaccination teams directly to …