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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 …

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has reaffirmed its commitment to humane safekeeping and professional jail management in Negros Island Region (NIR) during the official visit of its chief in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, February 17. In an interview yesterday, chief Inspector Juniven Rey Umadhay, BJMP-NIR spokesperson, said BJMP chief Jail Director Ruel …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Moises Padilla municipal government has started distributing P20 million in presidential financial assistance to families affected by Typhoon “Tino,” with payouts commencing on Monday, February 16, at the municipal auditorium. Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo led the first day of distribution, during which nearly P1.5 million was released to 894 families …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Binalbagan municipal government said it will terminate the contracts of 24 contractual and casual employees who tested positive for illegal drug use. The drug tests were part of a screening conducted last February 11 on approximately 300 to 400 non-regular employees across various municipal departments. Officials said employees were informed …

Bacolod City welcomed the Year of the Fire Horse yesterday, opening the 21st edition of the Bacolaodiat Festival, one of the country’s largest Chinese New Year celebrations. The Fo Guang Shan Yuan Thong Temple led midnight prayers and the traditional striking of the drum and bell on Monday, February 16, to usher in the Lunar …