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By CESAR JOLITO III Three newly elected local chief executives in Negros Occidental immediately secured leadership roles in the Provincial Development Council (PDC) after being voted as committee chairpersons during the council’s third quarter meeting on Thursday, September 11. Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao now heads the Social Development Committee, Manapla Mayor Mikaela Escalante was …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson announced plans to introduce greenhouse farming to local farmers by 2026, positioning the province to modernize agricultural practices while maintaining its strong backing for organic farming. Lacson said consultations with engineers are underway for the design of greenhouses that can be adapted to local conditions. …

Following the fatal shooting of a businessman along Bonifacio Street earlier this week, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya assured the local business community of their safety. In a meeting convened with members of the Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BCCI) and Amity Club on Thursday, September 11, Gasataya emphasized the city’s commitment to maintaining …

The delivery of healthcare in Negros Island Region (NIR) is getting a boost with the comprehensive services provided by 32 licensed primary care facilities (PCFs) across the region. Data from the Department of Health (DOH)-NIR on Wednesday, 10, showed these include 26 PCFs owned by local government units (LGUs) and six privately-run PCFs. Under the …

By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the clearing of temporary storage facilities at the City Agriculture Office compound in Barangay Alijis as part of preparations for a citywide inventory of government supplies. Personnel from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office have been deployed to remove debris and clear overgrown vegetation from …

By CESAR JOLITO III A multi-sectoral group composed of church leaders, lawyers, engineers, and civil society organizations has formally launched the Concerned Citizens Council to investigate alleged corruption in flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bacolod City. Fr. Mao Buenafe, the council’s convenor, said the initiative emerged amid …

By CESAR JOLITO III A faculty member of the Bacolod City College (BCC) has been dismissed from service after being found guilty of sexual harassment involving a female student. City Legal Officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu confirmed in a media interview that Mayor Greg Gasataya issued the dismissal order against the professor around two to …

By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya reaffirmed his administration’s strict enforcement of the no-contact policy in all transactions to prohibit fixers within the city government, stressing that business owners should directly process their permits with the proper departments. In a press conference yesterday, Gasataya urged establishments to avoid middlemen, warning that tolerating fixers not only …

By CESAR JOLITO III The clearing of volcanic debris from Tamburong Creek in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town is expected to stretch for at least a year, as operations move at a snail’s pace due to limited equipment and weather-related setbacks. Incident Management Team (IMT) Commander Remuel Lajo reported that only 808 cubic meters of volcanic sand …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City council has called on Mayor Greg Gasataya to strictly enforce the city’s anti-smoking ordinance and reconvene the Bacolod Anti-Smoking Task Force amid growing reports of rampant smoking in public spaces and transport vehicles. In a resolution approved this week, the Sangguniang Panlungsod urged the mayor to prioritize the …