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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, …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental 5th District Representative Emilio Yulo is urging the provincial government to establish a specialized interagency task force to coordinate efforts against the rapidly spreading red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI), which continues to threaten sugarcane plantations. Yulo stressed the need for a unified and coordinated response, noting that the infestation …

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Two large garbage bins have been installed at the Abada-Arao Relocation Site in Bacolod City’s Barangay Vista Alegre to help address the problem of illegal garbage dumping. Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city received reports of illegal trash disposal in several areas of the village last month. The mayor directed the …

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod requested the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to review, amend and further liberalize its benefit eligibility policies for long-time contributors who die or suffer critical illness within 24 hours of hospital confinement. The council resolution is in response to growing public concern over reports involving PhilHealth members …

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya confirmed that at least five regional government agencies have expressed interests in establishing offices on the city government-owned land in Barangay Vista Alegre’s Abada Escay. Gasataya said the city has received expressions of interest from Negros Island Region (NIR) offices of the Department of the Interior …

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez urged the Bacolod City government and the provincial government to work together rather than compete. Speaking as the guest speaker during Bacolod’s 88th Charter Day celebration on Thursday, June 18, Benitez said Bacolod sets the tone, while the province should help carry it …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez has pledged to bring the country’s National Creative Industries Council to Bacolod and strengthen the city’s bid to become a Creative City of Gastronomy from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), positioning the capital as a key player in …

Two ash emission events were recorded at Kanlaon Volcano early yesterday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). In an advisory, Phivolcs said the emissions occurred at 3:32 a.m. and 5:35 a.m. on June 19. The events generated grayish plumes that rose about 300 meters above the summit crater before drifting …

By CESAR JOLITO III A leadership transition took place in Cadiz Sangguniang Panlungsod after retired Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) chief Winona Balagosa was sworn in as the incoming city councilor, replacing outgoing Councilor Frances Guanzon. Balagosa took her oath on Thursday, June 18, before United Negros Alliance chairman and Negros Occidental 2nd …