Monday, March 22, 2021

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No lockdown in Bacolod City

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:14 AM PDT

"THERE is no lockdown in Bacolod City."

This was stressed by Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF), on Monday, March 22, 2021, after some netizens posted on social media that there will be a lockdown in Bacolod City and Iloilo City.

"It's not true (lockdown). Let's be responsible when using social media. Don't post anything without confirmation from authorities because it creates panic among us. In the time of pandemic, we don't want people to panic because of false information. Let's post accurate, correct and true information so that our people will be guided properly," Sorongon said.

He said some netizens also named some business establishments allegedly having positive cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which was not true because they were not stated on EOC's line lists.

Sorongon added that netizens should stop posting fake news on social media and should be responsible when they post.

He said the EOC intensified its monitoring in various barangays to maintain the single-digit new Covid-19 cases in the city.

Sorongon said Bacolodnons should follow the health protocols such as wearing face masks, face shields and observing social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

Sorongon further said anybody can report to EOC through its Facebook page those who violate health protocols, including business establishments, restaurants, among others.

"Let's do our job to fight Covid-19. We should follow the health protocols, let's avoid mass gathering and outing because Covid is still everywhere. We should not be complacent," he said.

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NegOcc draws plan in case NIATF denies request for 2-week travel moratorium

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:59 AM PDT

THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is currently drawing up plans in case the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) will deny its request for a two-week travel moratorium.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he does not want the province's quarantine facilities to be full again. It was the reason why he asked for a moratorium on land, air and sea travel to the province.

Lacson said he is aware that Iloilo City and Iloilo province's request were already denied by the NIATF, and he made a point in his letter to have Negros Occidental exempted from Resolution No.101, which introduced uniform travel protocols.

The governor said he is requesting the NIATF to let the province return to its original protocols such as requiring everyone entering the province to undergo swab testing and quarantine until the results are released.

Despite the mandatory swab test being removed, Lacson said he was happy that some individuals were voluntarily undergoing swab tests upon entering the province.

Zephard Caelian, head of the Provincial Incident Management Team, said they have not received any response yet from NIATF about the governor's appeal for a temporary travel moratorium.

He also said additional 70 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines had arrived in the province Monday from the Department of Health Regional Office in Iloilo.

He also said additional vials of vaccines from Bacolod City are set to be transferred to the province, however, he has to check first the exact number of doses and brand.

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2 motorcycle riders die in road crash

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:57 AM PDT

TWO motorcycle riders died in a road accident along Purok Rose, Barangay Cabug, Bacolod City Sunday evening, March 21, 2021.

Police identified the fatalities as Remy Christopher Bertolano, 26, and his friend Julius Xander Urbano, 37, both residents of Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City.

Police Major Ritchie Gohee, chief of Police Station 9, on Monday said the victims were driving their motorcycles traveling from west direction going to Barangay Handumanan when they overshot the unfinished and rough road around 8 p.m.

Both drivers sustained serious injuries and died on the spot.

Investigation showed Bertolano was driving his Honda motorcycle, while Urbano was also driving his Kawasaki motorcycle. Both of them were traveling from Barangay Pta. Taytay towards Barangay Handumanan.

Gohee said the two victims, who were working in Barangay Handuman public cemetery, were overspeeding and lost control of their motorcycles when they overshot the road.

He also described the area as too dark.

Bertolano was wearing a nutshell helmet, but his face sustained serious injuries, while Urbano was not wearing a helmet and was thrown off from his motorcycle.

Gohee reminded motorcycle riders in the city to drive safely and avoid traveling in dark areas to prevent accidents.

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NOCPPO urges remaining Epogon crime group members to surrender

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:57 AM PDT

THE Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) urged members of the Epogon crime group to surrender and assured them of their safety.

The appeal came after last week's murders involving two alleged Epogon crime group members in Bacolod City and Silay City.

Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, NOCPPO spokesperson, on Monday, March 21, 2021, said from June 2020 until this year, the crime group's leader, Francisco Dela Cruz Epogon, had already been arrested, while four alleged members have been murdered.

Donasco said it was possible that the Epogon group may have either encountered and engaged in a conflict with another crime group operating in the province or there may have been fights from within the group itself.

It was also possible that illegal drugs may be the reason behind the murders, she said.

The NOCPPO spokesperson appealed to the criminal group members to surrender, assuring them that they will do their best to keep them and their families safe.

"They may do it anonymously by just proceeding to their nearest police station, by the time they surrender we can give them the proper security so as not to reveal their profiles," Donasco said.

Donasco also made a similar plea to other criminal and drug groups to do the same, as they are all being closely monitored and aggressively targeted for police operation.

On Thursday, March 18, 55-year-old Jose Estaniel, an alleged Epogon crime group member, was killed outside his home in Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City as he was celebrating his birthday.

Estaniel's murder was followed on Friday by Arnold Rivera, who was shot dead at Hacienda Malinao, Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City. Rivera was also allegedly a member of the Epogon crime group.

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22 Bacolod villages still have Covid-19 cases

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:54 AM PDT

TWENTY-TWO of the 61 barangays in Bacolod City still have active cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), said Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF).

Sorongon on Monday, March 22, 2021, said Bacolodnons should not be complacent because 22 barangays still have cases of Covid-19, while 39 barangays are Covid-free.

"In previous months, we only had 10 barangays with Covid-19 cases and it's now 22," he said.

He added barangay officials were already reminded to strictly enforce minimum health protocols on isolation and quarantine and to focus on their information dissemination through the barangay health emergency response teams (Bherts).

On March 17, the Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas had reported 25 new cases of Covid-19 in Bacolod. This was the highest so far in a long time, specifically since the last week of November 2020.

The last highest number of new positive cases in the city in a day was recorded on November 21, 2020, at 28 cases.

New Covid-19 cases continued to slide down since then.

The city had been noted to have a single-digit number of additional cases almost every day since January this year.

Sorongon said most of the new confirmed cases were close contacts, authorized persons outside residence and locally stranded individuals.

He said Bherts were also conducting house-to-house campaigns within their barangays for the vaccination and the enforcement of minimum health protocols.

"We appeal to our constituents to tell the truth, if they are not feeling well they should see a doctor or visit the Bacolod Respiratory Outpatient (BRO) Center in Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports (Bays) Center," he added.

Soronong said those who have Covid-19 symptoms such as fever and headache, among others, can visit the BRO Center for a consultation or call the Emergency Operations Center hotline 432-2749.

Meanwhile, Sorongon reiterated that the City Government is still requiring negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results for travelers coming from outside Western Visayas entering the city.

He said the travel between the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo remained unhampered.

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Noceco, Noneco drop power rates, too

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:52 AM PDT

LIKE Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), the two other power distribution utilities in the province have also announced a decrease in their respective residential power rates for this month.

The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco), which caters to electric consumers in the south, from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an, reported a drop of P0.4683 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for its March billing.

From P9.3925 per kWh in February, the effective rate for this month moved down to P8.9242 per kWh.

The cooperative, in an advisory, said the main driver of the lower electricity rate this month is the P0.3781 per kWh decrease in the generation charge, which moved from P4.7188 to P4.3407 per kWh.

It said the decrease in generation charge is due to the reduction of P1.0785 per kWh. The current average price in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) is P2.5711 per kWh, compared to its previous month cost of P3.6496 per kWh.

Other factors that contributed to the overall reduction in rates included decreases in the systems loss rate of P0.0541 per kWh; transmission rate for residential customers - P0.0328 per kWh; and value-added tax (VAT) on transmission - P0.0049 per kWh, it added.

Noceco explained that the overall rate decreased despite the increases in the price of Kepco Salcon Power Corp. (KSPC) from which the distribution sources out a portion of its power requirement, at P0.073 per kWh.

For its power supply agreement with Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC), there's also an increase of P0.2732 per kWh.

These are on top of other increases like subsidy rates totaling P0.0001 per kWh and VAT on generation at P0.0015 per kWh.

Noceco said its distribution, supply and metering (DSM) charges remain unchanged despite the reduction in the overall electricity rate for this month.

It urged member-consumers to conserve energy and to be aware of their energy consumption to avoid paying high electricity bills despite the decrease in the overall electricity rate.

For the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco), the utility announced a decrease of about P0.04 per kWh in March from its previous month's rate of P10.3314 per kWh.

The cooperative attributed it to the lower price of WESM from which Noneco also purchased a portion of its requirement.

Noneco caters to electric consumers in the north, from E.B Magalona to San Carlos City.

It can be recalled that Ceneco earlier announced a drop of P0.0658 per kWh in its residential power rate this month.

From P11.5696 per kWh in February, it went down to P11.5038 per kWh in March.

The power distribution utility caters to the largest number of electric consumers in the province, including cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and towns of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.

Ceneco acting general manager and project supervisor Danny Pondevilla, in an advisory, said the power rate reduction can be attributed to the decrease in the fuel cost of PCPC and price of WESM.

Pondevilla said the pass-through charges for this month equivalent to P10.3172 per kWh of the total power rate included the generation and transmission costs.

The amount also comprised those of the Energy Regulatory Commission approved adjustments, government subsidies and taxes.

"Only P1.1866 per kWh of the power rate goes to Ceneco through the DSM charges and reinvestment fund for sustainable capital expenditures for its administration and operational services," he said.

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Price of pork in Negros Occidental down, chicken up

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:52 AM PDT

The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental has noted a drop of P0.29 per kilogram in the average price of pork in the province.

Based on the latest Prevailing Market Price of Livestock and Poultry Monitoring issued by the PVO Monday, March 22, 2021, the average price of pork is P228.33 per kilo.

The report covers the monitoring period from March 15 to 21, 2021.

The amount is lower than P228.62 per kilo during the second week of this month, from March 8 to 14.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the drop in the price of pork is attributed to the movement in supply and demand.

"The buying capacity of some consumers in various local government units (LGUs) was low while the supply is high," he added.

Earlier this year, the PVO noted significant increases in the price of the commodity in the province.

It was mainly attributed to the higher cost of all agricultural commodities during that time.

The increase was also relative to the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Luzon.

The PVO, on the other hand, noted an increase of P0.24 per kilo in the price of dressed broiler chicken.

From P182.69 per kilo during the previous monitoring, the price went up to P182.93 per kilo.

Decena said "the supply was also low that week."

Average prices, meanwhile, of other meat products in the province remained steady.

A kilo of carabeef (carabao meat) is still P268.07; beef - P280; chevon (goat meat) - P338.22; and dressed native chicken - P253.24.

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Labor: Barring private firms from procuring vaccines discriminatory

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:50 AM PDT

NEGROS Occidental-based labor group General Alliance of Workers Associations (Gawa) has asserted that the government is sending a mixed signal to the people in the implementation of its policies on the procurement of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines.

Wennie Sancho, secretary-general of Gawa, said the country's policymakers are set to review laws barring private firms from procuring Covid-19 vaccines.

"It's discriminatory to the workers who are the primary social economic force that drives the engine of our economic growth," he lamented.

Sancho, also the labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) - Western Visayas, said it is counterproductive because workers are deprived of their rights to be protected from Covid-19.

"Our economic recovery depends on the toiling hands of the workers," he said, adding that the government should reevaluate its policy whether it is practical or not.

The labor group claimed that the redeployment of Covid-19 vaccines to the National Capital Region after it has been allocated to the local government is a trial and error policy.

It said the government is "changing the rules at the middle of the game."

Gawa said the Department of Health (DOH) and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) should refrain from issuing orders that would intensify the confusion on Covid-19 issues.

"As for example, our health authorities and experts declared that the spread of the virus is prevalent among families at homes and yet the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) encourages workers to work from home," the group said.

It added that despite the fact that according to the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) virus contamination seldom occurs in the workplaces, drastic measures were applied to reduce the personnel and number of hours in many workplaces, increasing unemployment and reducing the purchasing power of the workers.

Its secretary-general asked, "how can we achieve economic recovery when our policies are inconsistent with our goal? Our laws and policies on Covid-19 have been allegedly reduced to a continuing political contest, its meaning is always subject to eleventh-hour interpretation from Malacañang."

Sancho said restoring a strong public voice on the vital issue of the Covid-19 vaccine is one of the difficult problems the country is facing today.

"Our government is awash in information, propaganda and rhetoric, yet none of it communicates timely warning to the people," he added.

"It seems that democracy has been deformed by the breakdown of its different self-correcting mechanisms. Most of the people, particularly the critics of the government had been incapacitated, quite literally, because they no longer speak up," Sancho said.

The complicated issues of Covid-19 confronting us are difficult to discern including the bewildering facts and even fiction. But they represent the real source of general discontentment of the people on traditional politics. They are likewise the unpleasant truths that people wish not to face, he said.

"Our struggle with economic recession leaves us to shoulder most of the burden. It was compounded by the pandemic wherein the government restricted our rights and made us beg for money," the labor leader said, adding that some observers are saying that true democratic expression nowadays allegedly, becomes more expensive and dangerous.

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Victorias City inaugurates heritage square

Posted: 22 Mar 2021 05:55 AM PDT

VICTORIAS City celebrated its 23rd cityhood through the Kadalag-an Festival 2021, highlighting the inauguration of the Victorias Heritage Square located at the city's public plaza on March 21.

The celebration was simple yet meaningful, which kicked off with the holding of the thanksgiving mass and caravan along the city, showcasing various floats.

The simple program at the plaza was graced by Negros Occidental Third District Representative and Victorias City Cultural and Heritage Council Honorary Adviser Jose Francisco Benitez, City and barangay officials, department heads, City employees, Kadalag-an Queens, and guests from various organizations.

In his festival message, Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca greeted all Victoriahanons a happy charter anniversary and encouraged everyone to continue following the Covid-19 minimum health protocols, especially that we are now in the midst of a global pandemic.

He also shared Victorias' history, declaration of its cityhood in 1998, the LGU's accomplishments and developments, and future plans.

The inauguration of the Victorias Heritage Square has highlighted the event with the unveiling of historical markers and burying or sealing of the memory box containing important present-day and pandemic mementos, memorabilia, souvenirs, letters, notes, and other valuable items that embody our generation and current way of living, contributed by the public and collected by the City.

The memory box dedicated for our future Victoriahanons shall be opened after 50 years during the 73rd charter anniversary on March 21, 2071.

At exactly 12 high noon, Mayor Palanca sounded the improvised alarm system or replica of unexploded American ordnance from World War II utilized as a bell at the Public Plaza reminding the citizens of the olden times.

A switch-on ceremony of the Estado and Estrella streetlights was held in the evening followed by a video presentation of Victorias' Cityhood, the Evolution of Kadalag-an Festival, Winners Cut and a fireworks display to celebrate the annual charter.

Kadalag-an Festival Dancers and Asia Pacific International Arts Festival Grand Winner Kecemere Shaye Ballesteros performed during the program.

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Bacolod eyes to hold drive-thru Covid-19 vaccination

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 08:42 AM PDT

THE Bacolod City Emergency Operations-Task Force (EOC-TF) was tasked to conduct a feasibility study on the plan to hold a drive-through vaccination against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the city.

Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of EOC-TF, on Sunday, March 21, 2021, said Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia directed them to conduct feasibility for the possibility of putting up a drive-through vaccination center.

He said there was a state in the United States doing a drive-through vaccination and the mayor was inspired by it.

"We are studying it because Mayor Leonardia aims to make the vaccination center readily accessible and convenient for the people of Bacolod, but we have also to take into consideration the safety of the vaccine recipients," he added.

Sorongon noted that during the vaccination, there are steps and processes to go through before they will be vaccinated.

"So we have to make sure in that drive-thru vaccination center that all processes are in place," Sorongon said.

He said they will identify the drive-through vaccination center first and it would be a big space or open area that can accommodate vehicles.

"It's still being studied so we will wait for the result of the study," he added.

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Over 3,000 medical frontliners in Bacolod inoculated

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 08:40 AM PDT

A TOTAL of 3,993 medical frontliners in Bacolod City were inoculated with Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines from March 12 to 19, 2021.

Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF), on Sunday, March 21, 2021, said from March 12 to 19, a total of 2,659 medical frontliners were vaccinated with Sinovac vaccine and another 1,343 medical frontliners were also inoculated with AstraZeneca vaccine.

He said on Friday, a total of 100 barangay health workers were inoculated in a simultaneous simulation exercise and rollout of Sinovac vaccines in 10 barangays.

These included Barangays 4, 39, Alijis, Banago, Granada, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay and Taculing. Each barangay had 10 recipients of Sinovac vaccine, who were identified as medical frontliners.

Bacolod City earlier received a total of 156 vials of AstraZeneca vaccine from the national government that were distributed to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Riverside Medical Center, Bacolod Adventist Medical Center and The Doctor's Hospital, Inc.

The 156 vials of AstraZeneca vaccine can accommodate a total of 1,560 recipients.

Aside from the AstraZeneca vaccine, Bacolod City also received another 840 doses of Sinovac vaccine that were used for medical frontliners assigned at isolation quarantine facilities, City Health Office, Barangay Health Workers, independent clinics and laboratories.

The AstraZeneca vaccines were given to medical frontliners ages 60 years old and above.

Sorongon noted that the vaccine recipient should receive the same brand of vaccine on their first and second doses of vaccination.

"Once they received the Sinovac vaccine in the first dose, they should also get the Sinovac vaccine in the second dose. They should not mix the Sinovac, AstraZeneca or another brand of Covid-19 vaccines," Sorongon said.

He said they will only wait for the next arrival of the vaccine since there was an initial report that all the vaccines will focus in Metro Manila due to the surge in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.

"So far, in Bacolod City our Covid-19 cases are under control. All the Covid patients were transferred to the isolation facility and the surveillance testing is still ongoing. We are also monitoring the business establishments in the city," he added.

As of March 20, Bacolod City had a total of 5,901 Covid-19 cases. Of the number, 5,622 were recoveries, 93 were active cases and 186 were deaths.

On the same day, Bacolod City had a total of three new cases.

Sorongon said most of the Covid-19 patients include close contacts, locally stranded individuals, authorized persons outside residence and pregnant women.

Meanwhile, Sorongon said they are only waiting for a copy of the resolution from the national Inter-Agency Task Force to include city officials in the vaccination program.

"We will wait for the copy of the resolution first to vaccinate them and to avoid technicalities," he said.

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LGUs urged to prepare for Covid vaccine delivery

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 08:40 AM PDT

NEGROS Occidental Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang urged the health officers and medical staff of all cities and municipalities in the province to ensure that their vaccine cold storage facilities are ready to accept delivery, even at night or in the unholy hours before dawn.

"Please prepare your cold storage facilities, especially for LGUs (local government units) far from Bacolod. As soon as possible, we will deliver the vaccines to you. However, the delivery will definitely not be during times when the sun is very hot, but only during times when the temperature is cool," Tumimbang said during the "Bakuna Kasangga ng Bida" vaccine simulation exercise conducted recently at Cansilayan National High School in Murcia.

Murcia Mayor Victor Gerardo M. Rojas thanked the provincial government for selecting Murcia as the venue for the vaccine simulation exercise because Murcia's hosting of the activity further bolsters the town's strategic significance as the crossroads for goods and services coming to and from northern, southern and central Negros Occidental.

"For one year now, we in Murcia exerted all efforts to combat the virus. With the availability of the vaccine, we can now march forward with a strong and resilient mind that we can combat the virus through vaccination," Rojas said.

"We should fast-track data gathering for vaccine recipients. If we cannot prepare the data as early as possible, this will hamper the schedule and pace of our vaccination. Everyone down to the barangay level should fast-track the data gathering," the mayor added.

Earlier this month, several thousand Sinovac vaccines arrived in the province. Medical frontliners at the provincial hospital in Silay City and the district hospitals in Cadiz City, Kabankalan City and Valladolid were prioritized as the first recipients of the vaccines.

"Let us wait, because our turn will come. So please prepare to accept the vaccine deliveries during unholy hours, and make sure that your cold storage facilities are ready for the vaccine," Tumimbang reminded the health officers.

He explained that, once the vaccines are delivered to the LGUs, and their cold storage facilities are not ready, it is difficult to bring the vaccines back to Bacolod, particularly for LGUs far from the provincial capital, because the vaccines might lose their potency.

He further recommended to LGUs to procure biological refrigerators instead of the ordinary commercial ones because biological refs have special temperature control equipment specifically designed for vaccines, which need stable required temperature levels to preserve their shelf life and potency.

"Please encourage your clients in your LGUs to avail of the vaccine. Make them understand, and convince them to undergo vaccination. This is already the opportune time to open the economy of our province, after majority of us have already been vaccinated," the provincial health officer said.

Murcia Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura and the town councilors witnessed the event. Also present were 3rd District Provincial Board Member Manuel Frederick "Manman" Ko, ABC provincial president Board Member Juvy Pepello and 303rd Brigade Philippine Army commander Colonel Michael Samson.

Provincial Department of Health head Dr. Elizabeth Altamira, assistant provincial health officer Dr. Jessica Fama and Hinoba-an Health Officer Dr. Rowena Abella, who is the provincial president of the Association of Municipal and City Health Officers of the Philippines, headed the team of medical practitioners, composed of doctors and nurses from all LGUS in the province, who observed the proceedings. (PR)

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Suspension of flights to Negros Occidental sought

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 08:39 AM PDT

NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will write a letter to the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) to request a two-week suspension of inbound flights from Metro Manila to the Bacolod-Silay Airport.

The planned request came after the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila.

Lacson said he also discussed the matter with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

The NIATF on Sunday, March 21, 2021, denied the request of Treñas and Defensor to temporarily stop its flight operations due to the surging number of Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila.

The task force disapproved of the proposal to halt travels to the region until next month.

Treñas confirmed the information after talking to NIATF chief implementer Carlito Galvez.

In Negros Occidental, Lacson issued Executive Order (EO) 21-18 last week, requiring travelers bound to the province to present a negative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result not earlier than 72 hours before their travel.

Travelers should also obtain an S-PaSS permit and download the StaySafe.Ph applications.

Lacson said the provincial government will also offer voluntary swabbing and quarantine at the airport and seaports.

Inboard passengers shall no longer be required to undergo facility quarantine but instead be required to undergo a seven-day home quarantine upon arrival, the EO said.

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Negros Occidental hits 316 active Covid-19 cases

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 08:38 AM PDT

THE number of active Covid-19 cases in Negros Occidental hit 316 based on data issued by the Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas on Saturday, March 20, 2021.

Based on the DOH's bulletin, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is at 7,084, with recoveries at 6,572 and fatalities at 193.

Negros Occidental also posted 25 new cases on Saturday, of which 11 were noted as local cases, 13 locally stranded individuals (LSI), and one authorized persons outside of residence (Apors).

In a separate data released by the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office on Friday, the majority of LSI and Apor cases in the province originated from Manila with 492, followed by Cebu with 312.

La Carlota City topped the province with the most number of active cases with 28; followed by San Carlos City with 24; and Sagay City with 14 cases.

Only the towns of Candoni and Don Salvador Benedicto posted no active cases.

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Registration for national ID ongoing in Bacolod

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 08:38 AM PDT

THE registration for the National ID System is ongoing at the Rizal Elementary School in Bacolod City Mondays to Saturdays.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia along with other City Hall executives including City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan, Secretary to the Mayor lawyer Edward Joseph Cuansing, Supervising and Administrative Officer Federico Guanzon Jr., and Public Employement Service Office (Peso)-Bacolod head Ma. Rebecca Balicas registered with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Step 2 last week.

Provincial Chief Statistical Specialist Luis Gonzales of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Negros Occidental said in a statement they are catering to registrants ages 15 years old and above.

The ongoing registration is already "Step 2" of the PhilSys registration process. Step 2 is for the validation of supporting documents and capturing biometric information of registrants.

In "Step 1" conducted last year, a house-to-house interview to gather the demographic data using tablets was done by PSA-commissioned data collectors. An appointment slip for Step 2 was then issued to each interviewee.

Gonzales said for Step 1 in Bacolod, the PSA prioritized members of some low-income families included in the list furnished by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

"In our Step 1, we already catered even to those small children (below 15 years old)," he said.

The PSA has made significant progress in the last quarter of 2020 with over 8.4 million Filipinos completing the PhilSys Step 1 Registration.

"Our process right now is to prioritize those who registered last year but there are instances that they are not able to come, which is why we also cater to walk-in registrants," said Gonzales.

On January 4, 2021, the PSA started gradual and small-scale registration in selected provinces in the country. In Bacolod, the Step 2 registration kicked off on February 23, 2021.

The PSA targets to register the majority of Filipinos by the end of 2022.

Republic Act 11055, or the "Philippine Identification System Act," aimed to establish a single national identification system for all citizens and resident aliens in the Philippines.

Aside from providing valid proof of identity, establishing a single Philippine Identification System would help transform and streamline the delivery of services, resulting in easier access to and application for social welfare programs and benefits from the government.

Promoting ease of doing business, enhancing the integrity of services and reducing fraud, enabling and promoting participation and trust in digital government and the digital economy, and empowering Filipinos with greater control over their personal data are also among the objectives of the PhilSys.

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CLMMRH ward beds hit full capacity

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 08:36 AM PDT

THE Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City issued a public advisory Sunday, March 21, 2021, after its allocated beds in the hospital wards reached full capacity.

In an advisory issued by Dr. Julius Drilon, CLMMRH chief, the hospital wards in question were under the management of the Department of Pediatrics.

Drilon said they have implemented temporary changes that have already been taken into effect and will be in place until further notice.

The CLMMRH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatrics Ward will limit its admission services to extreme emergency cases only.

Drilon also requested the public to coordinate closely with their Emergency Department through their hospital hotlines prior to patient transfers or transport at (034)703-1350, (034)702-4480, and (034)701-7865.

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Fire causes P1.2-M damage in Binalbagan town

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 08:30 AM PDT

BINALBAGAN. A near-midnight fire razed about P1.2 million worth of establishments, mostly eateries, on Isidro Street in Barangay San Pedro, Binalbagan town over the weekend. The Bureau of Fire Protection reported six destroyed and two partially-damaged stores. The fire, which lasted for more than an hour, reportedly started in an eatery that cooked boiled meat soup (nilaga). (Erwin P. Nicavera/Maven dela Cruz photo)

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Lobaton: Politics is not owned by them

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 07:33 AM PDT

The talks on politics are not easy at this time of pandemic. Yet it is not something to be discouraged when we are into the dangerous period of time, where decision-making of our future officials is important as our survival from the coronavirus.

It is easy to hear from some quarters not to talk about politics at this early, but we can understand them because probably, they too, if not all, do not understand what is truly meant by politics and the implication of it for people who actually gave them the mandate to serve.

The fact that when those in office would say that politics is not as important as facing our pandemic, is actually a false rhetoric. Many of them benefited from this style to portray as if they really care for the people when the truth is, there is nothing more to expect.

There is an urgency to talk about the future of this country and the next set of leaders who will stir the future at this difficult time. This is just another thing to ponder outside of properly defining politics as not just an election and pertains to officials, but encompasses all actions related to the powers discharged by the state through the government, and other actions related to the interest of the people.

Politics then is not only for politicians. It is in the best interest of the people because they are the source of authority being asked to by the officials during elections. The people do have a stake in whatever undertaking in government because these are public matters and not private ownership of officials or their group.

Over the years, however, people are confined to the process of putting somebody into office and not having an option for someone who could better serve them. They are simply tied to the system that for many years has left them with no other choices than become subservient to the interest of some.

Worse is the way that politics has gathered those less-educated individuals who have nothing to offer than secure their economic interests. No wonder that we keep on struggling as a society and people because of the many misplaced situations in our politics that should have been the tool for this country to move forward. In all of the social institutions, it is the government that is endowed with the role to put things in order in the interest of the state.

The public office is hoped to be at all times in the interest of the people and that putting officials in office are to be scrutinized carefully based on competence, which includes academic qualifications, track record and display of behaviors.

In case we need to look at how our present leaders have performed, then we can revisit the time they've started serving us up to the time we are into this pandemic. That is the reason why I believe, since we have a stake in the affairs of our government and the politics that is the process within it as an institution, we need to keep track of our leaders from the time they started to court us about their intentions for public office.

Politics is now owned by those seeking our approval for public office. We need to continue the talks about it until we have known the capacity of every candidate who can truly lead us and navigate our government into these tough times.

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March power rate down

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 07:32 AM PDT

The Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) has announced a drop of P0.0658 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in its residential power rate this month.

From P11.5696 per kWh in February, it went down to P11.5038 per kWh in March.

The power distribution utility caters to the largest number of electric consumers in the province, including cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and towns of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.

Ceneco acting general manager and project supervisor Danny Pondevilla, in an advisory, said the power rate reduction can be attributed to the decrease in the fuel cost of Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC) and the price of Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (Wesm).

Pondevilla said the pass-through charges for this month equivalent to P10.3172 per kWh of the total power rate included the generation and transmission costs.

The amount also comprised those of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved adjustments, government subsidies and taxes.

"Only P1.1866 per kWh of the power rate goes to Ceneco through the distribution, supply, metering (DSM) charges and reinvestment fund for sustainable capital expenditures (RFSC) for its administration and operational services," he said.

The Ceneco official added that "since 2010, Ceneco's DSM and RFSC rate has not increased.

The utility urged consumers that in monitoring the monthly electricity usage, they should look at their kilowatt-hour consumption and not the amount.

The amount may vary depending on the pass-through charges, it said.

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Negros Occidental guv assures support to high-value crop farmers

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 07:31 AM PDT

NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has assured support to farmers and their associations in the province.

Lacson, who visited two vegetable farms in La Castellana and Bago City on Friday, March 19, 2021, said the provincial government is looking at how to further assist farmers in improving their livelihood.

The two farms are those of Barangay Robles Farmers Association and Mailum Organic Village Association in La Castellana and Bago City, respectively.

"The provincial government is ready to help the farmers and their associations so their productivity and income will increase," he added.

The governor also lauded the farmers for their enthusiasm for agriculture that contributes a lot to sustain the province's food security.

The associations plant vegetables and other high-value crops and sell their produce to gain profit for their members.

The farmers, for their part, said they are thankful for the livelihood assistance previously given by the provincial government such as vegetable seeds and other farm implements.

La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan and Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo were also present during the visit.

On Thursday, Lacson also visited a farm-grown by youth organization, Myrianne Youth Farmers Organization, in Barangay San Pablo in Manapla town.

The group currently grows vegetables and other high-value crops in a 600-square meter farm, which is being poised to become one of the agri-tourism destinations in the northern Negros Occidental locality.

Lacson said he is happy to see children who are very much interested and engaged in agriculture.

He also assured them of more agricultural support and projects from the provincial government.

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Nazari siblings join United City

Posted: 21 Mar 2021 07:21 AM PDT

United City FC has strengthened the club ahead of the 2021 AFC Champions League with their latest signings led by international players Nazari brothers, Omid and Amin.

Omid, the older of the two football-playing siblings, was born in Sweden and had already played for 2 Philippine clubs -- Global FC and Ceres Negros FC where he initially saw action in the AFC Cup.

He also suited up with Melaka United in Malaysia before moving to Persib Bandung in Indonesia in 2019.

Omid also had a successful youth career with Malmö FF, Ängelholms FF & FC Rosengård.

Meanwhile, his younger brother Amin, began with Malmö FF before signing with Assyriska FF in 2013.

The Swedish-born Filipino midfielder also played for Fredrikstad Fotballklubb, Falkenbergs FF, and IFK Mariehamn. In 2018, he was finally called up to play for the Philippine Azkals before he continued his club career with Ratchaburi Mitr Phol (Thailand) and Kedah Darul Aman FC (Malaysia).

Another Azkals International has found his way back to the Philippines from Malaysian Super League contender UiTM FC to join United City.

The 29-year-old Adam Michael Reed who had his Philippines Football League stints with Kaya FC and Davao Aguilas while highlighted his playing career in the Premier League, Thai League 1 and the Malaysian Super League.

Also signing-up with United City is 21-year-old Fil-Dutch Justin Baas, who has played in the Philippines 2019 SEA Games team and the Azkals 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

The Filipino center back also played with Ratchaburi Mitr Phol in Thailand.

Also returned home to play for United City is 27-year-old Fil-Brit Azkals' left-winger Curt Dizon.

Curt also scored the first-ever goal in the PFL inaugural in 2017 when he played for FC Meralco Manila. He later transferred to Global FC and Ceres-Negros.

In 2019, Curt moved to Thailand to play for Chonburi FC and Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC.

Rounding-off United City's recruitment efforts is 33-year-old Korean Superstar Da-hwon Jung to UCFC and also give a big thank you to the team behind the scenes to bring together such a competitive squad, which seemed impossible just a few weeks back.

The South Korean wingback Da-hwon Jung started his K-League career with a bang in 2009 when he was first featured in a friendly match for FC Seoul against Manchester United. He also played for Gyeongnam FC, Jeju United FC, and Asan Mugunghwa FC making him one of the most decorated Korean players with over 250 career caps including Cup and league title wins and of course AFC Champions League appearances.

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