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• Western Visayas bars entry of travelers from NCR+
• EOC warns travelers using fake RT-PCR test results
• Guv to insist swabbing upon arrival of travelers
• Leonardia, village chiefs Covid-19 vaccination postponed
• Vacationers told to remain vigilant against Covid-19 on Holy Week
• Police Stations 5, 7 have new chiefs
• House committee approves equal employment for PWD bills
• Margaha Film Festival 2021 winners announced

Western Visayas bars entry of travelers from NCR+ Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:06 AM PDT THE Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) in Western Visayas has barred travelers from the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna from going to the region since Tuesday, March 23, until April 4. The resolution prohibits locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from NCR+ bubble areas to enter the region from March 23 to April 4. The advisory dated March 23, 2021 comes on the heels of the National IATF Resolution 104 implementing a bubble in the NCR and other Luzon provinces due to rising Covid-19 cases. The same rule applies to tourists who are planning to visit the region. But government officials, medical frontliners, persons seeking medical care, returning overseas Filipinos and those going to the airport for travel abroad are exempted from the restriction. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he expects few travelers to the province after the issuance of the memorandum. "While the RIATF resolution has the same idea on how to control the recent spike in positive cases as our request to suspend trips to the province," Lacson said the Provincial Government will still wait for a reply from the national IATF. "It has nothing to do with our letter," he pointed out. Lacson said he expects a drop in travelers to Negros Occidental. He clarified that cargoes from these areas can still come to Negros. Those who want to leave the province can leave, he added. Lacson also noted that the regional IATF did not include Cebu. "Cebu is not included. That will entail us to monitor those traveling also from Cebu as travelers may use it as a way to go to Negros," he also said. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he was surprised with the decision of the RIATF to impose travel restrictions on Western Visayas without consulting local officials. Treñas, who called the restrictions a lockdown of sorts, said via Facebook that the RIATF should be ready to provide assistance to those who will be affected by the move. "The whole Region 6 was placed on lockdown by the Regional IATF. I do not know if any of the LCEs have been consulted about this. Another kapalpakan. I demand that the Regional IATF consult the LCEs. In behalf of Iloilo City, I am demanding an explanation from the Regional IATF," he said. But the text of the RIATF resolution only defines essential travelers, which was in keeping with the National IATF resolution implementing a travel bubble in Metro Manila and several Luzon provinces. In a separate statement, the Department of Tourism-Western Visayas had asked hotels and tourist destinations around the region to extend the validity of all bookings of individuals who are affected by this latest travel restriction. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

EOC warns travelers using fake RT-PCR test results Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:05 AM PDT DR. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF), warned all travelers going to Bacolod City who are using fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results. The warning came after a returning resident from Manila submitted a fake RT-PCR test result on the S-Pass registration last week. Sorongon said Tuesday, March 23, hat they already forwarded the data to the City Legal Office (CLO) for the appropriate action against the returning resident. "We will wait for the recommendation of the CLO against the returning resident if he will still be allowed to travel if he will submit another requirement," he said. Sorongon said the City Government is still requiring the negative RT-PCR test results for travelers coming from outside Western Visayas entering the city. The travelers should register in S-Pass and StaySafe.Ph applications. "They have to submit original documents that they have actually undergone. Please don't submit fake results because we also have a validation team to ensure that all documents submitted are original," Sorongon said. Meanwhile, the City Government is now ready to use the 64-room isolation facility in Barangay Alijis. Sorongon said they held an orientation Tuesday, March 23, with the doctors, nurses, midwives and utilities assigned in the area. He said the designated personnel will start their duty Wednesday, March 24, and they will start to accept patients on Thursday, March 25. He added the isolation facility is for free, but the area will prioritize the pregnant women, symptomatic cases, Covid-19 patients that will be discharged from the hospitals to complete their 21-day isolation, and the frontliners. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Western Visayas earlier turned over two units of isolation facilities in Barangay Alijis, which composes 16 rooms for each unit. Each room is furnished with an individual comfort room and air conditioner. Each unit was constructed with a nurse station and quarters for medical workers that will be assigned in the area. The facility, costing P50 million, is located in what used to be the plant nursery of the City Agriculture Office in Barangay Alijis. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Guv to insist swabbing upon arrival of travelers Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:04 AM PDT DESPITE lauding the decision released by the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) to limit the entry of travelers to Western Visayas to "essential travel" only, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will still insist to the NIATF for Negros Occidental to return to their previous entry protocols, wherein travelers are required to undergo swabbing and quarantine upon their arrival in the province. "I want the testing done here, but I have to ask the NIATF again. That is the next thing that I will do," Lacson said. The RIATF limits the entry of travelers to Western Visayas to "essential travel" only based on National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) Resolution 104 forming a travel bubble circuit for the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan. According to Lacson, the decision seemed to have answered his written concerns, which was forwarded to the NIATF, although he made it clear that the RIATF's decision is in no way connected to his letter. "We expect less travel and less people entering the province," Lacson said. The governor said despite the new restrictions, he said Negrenses are still allowed to leave the province, while cargoes originating from the NCR and the other affected provinces are still allowed to enter unimpeded to Negros Occidental. Lacson said the new order does not cover for travel within Westen Visayas, as well as neighboring Cebu province. "Yes this is okay, but they didn't answer my letter," Lacson said. Based on the RIATF's resolution, among those tagged for essential travel are health and emergency frontline services personnel; government officials and government frontline personnel; duly-authorized humanitarian assistance actors; persons travelling for humanitarian or medical reasons; persons going to the airport for travel abroad; anyone crossing zones for work or business and going back home; and returning overseas Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers. All other travelers coming from outside the NCR and the other subject provinces listed in the NIATF's protocols are allowed entry into Western Visayas, subject to health protocols. All flights and sea travel in the region are also unaffected and remain in normal operations. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Leonardia, village chiefs Covid-19 vaccination postponed Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:04 AM PDT THE supposed scheduled vaccination of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the village chiefs Wednesday, March 24, against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is postponed. Dr. Edwin Miraflor, officer-in-charge of City Health Office (CHO), in a statement Tuesday night, March 23, said that when Leonardia informed him that his request for the inclusion of the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in the vaccination priority was approved by the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) and that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has classified them as under A4, he misunderstood the classification under A.4 to that of A.1.4. "With the best of intentions in mind, and in the hopes of encouraging Bacolodnons to take active part in the vaccination program of the City, the EOC and VOC promptly scheduled a ceremonial vaccination of the honorable mayor and the barangay captains on March 24, 2021. However, after further clarification has been made and upon review of circumstances, we regret that we need to postpone the intended activity," he said. He added that on March 5, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and the members of the City Council volunteered to lead the vaccines in receiving the vaccines. However, they were informed that amid limited vaccine supply, there is a need to strictly abide by the prioritization schedule. "Now, Mayor Bing and the barangay captains are again denied the same opportunity to inspire Bacolodnons to avail [themselves] of the Covid-19 vaccines. Our City and barangay officials are ready to set an example for our fellow Bacolodnons," Miraflor said. NIATF earlier approved the request of the national president of League of the Cities of the Philippines (LCP) to classify LCEs among the priorities for vaccination against Covid-19. This means the 1,634 provincial governors, city and municipal mayors. Also included are 42,046 barangay captains all over the country. From March 12 to 22, a total of 4,122 medical frontliners in Bacolod City were already vaccinated with Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines. Of the number, 2,720 medical frontliners were inoculated with Sinovac vaccine and 1,402 were vaccinated with AstraZeneca vaccine. Meanwhile, two nurses at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), who were earlier vaccinated with Sinovac vaccines, have tested positive for Covid-19. Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF), said the two nurses, who were assigned in operating and emergency room, were already transferred to the isolation facility. He said the two nurses, who were asymptomatic, were tested positive during the hospital's regular surveillance testing and contact tracing every two weeks. Both of them earlier received the first doses of Sinovac vaccine. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Vacationers told to remain vigilant against Covid-19 on Holy Week Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:03 AM PDT GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson reminded vacationers during the Holy Week celebration to be careful and to remain vigilant against Covid-19. Lacson reminded Negrenses to still observe the proper health protocols and avoid going to crowded places. "What we are trying to do here is trying to avoid a further increase in the number of positive Covid-19 cases," Lacson said. Lacson made the early reminder in response to the report released by the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) that some hotels and resorts in Negros Occidental are now fully-booked for the observance of the Holy Week which will start on Sunday, March 28. Lacson also said he is not discouraging Negrenses or other travelers from Western Visayas to visit the province's popular tourist destinations, but at present, he is not keen on allowing tourists coming from Metro Manila and Cebu. "They just have to be extra careful and follow health protocols," he added. Last week, PTO head Dr. Jennylind Cordero said resorts and hotel establishments, especially those located in Northern Negros, are already fully booked. Cordero said around 60 to 70 percent of the province's resorts and accommodations are already fully operational. The number of tourists entering the province is also gaining momentum after the removal of some travel restrictions within Western Visayas. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Police Stations 5, 7 have new chiefs Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:00 AM PDT THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) assigned new station commanders in Police Stations 5 and 7 in Bacolod City. BCPO Director Colonel Manuel Placido has designated Police Captain John Christopher Masangkay as the new chief of Police Station 5, while Police Captain Elmer Bonilla was assigned as the new chief of Police Station 7 effective March 18. Police Lieutenant Ma. Liberty Indiape, spokesperson of BCPO, said Tuesday, March 23, that Masangkay and Bonilla just finished their career advancement schooling and both of them were tasked to head the police stations. She said Masangkay replaced Police Lieutenant Edward Bolivar who was reassigned as his deputy chief. She added that Bonilla also replaced Police Lieutenant Michael Tuburan, who was also reassigned as deputy chief of Police Station 10. Meanwhile, an estimated P13,600 worth of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride was seized in a drug bust by operatives of Police Station 7 in Purok Kahirup B, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City Monday evening, March 22. The operation also led to the arrest of Dennis Fernandez, 49, of Barangay Mansilingan. Indiape said Fernandez was arrested after he sold a sachet of shabu to a police undercover around 6:45 p.m. Police recovered from Fernandez's possession five sachets of shabu weighing two grams and the P300 marked money. The suspect is detained at the custodial facility of Police Station 7. He will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

House committee approves equal employment for PWD bills Posted: 23 Mar 2021 07:00 AM PDT THE House Committee on Persons with Disabilities chaired by Fifth District Representative Ma. Lourdes Arroyo approved in principle five bills that will empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing more opportunities for employment and livelihood. The House bills (HB) passed were HB 6632 by Representative Manuel Cabochan (Magdalo), HB 8392 by Representative Lray VIllafuerte, HB 8435 by Representative Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, HB 4007 by Representative Tyrone Agabas and HB 1240 by Representative Micaela Violago. All House bills seek to amend Republic Act (RA) 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. The proposed measures seek to include private corporations engaged in social development to reserve positions for persons with disabilities. Under the provisions of RA 7277, private companies are only encouraged to employ PWDs while government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Education, Culture and Sports are mandated to reserve the five percent of all casual, emergency and contractual positions for PWDs. Resource persons present in the committee meeting such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Civil Service Commission (CSC) all support the proposed measures that will enable inclusivity for PWDs in the workplace whether in government or private sector. During her opening remarks, Arroyo encouraged stakeholders to continue working toward correcting the flawed system where PWDs are given fewer opportunities. "I stand with all of you in seeking true equality. Let us break the glass ceiling in every area of society, and let us continue our journey in seeking the end of discrimination, as we seek fair and equitable treatment for everyone: regardless of sex, gender, especially disability," Arroyo said. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Margaha Film Festival 2021 winners announced Posted: 23 Mar 2021 06:58 AM PDT A FILM about a family's journey to bury their beloved relative swept eight awards, including Best Picture, in the recently concluded Margaha Film Festival, in line with the Arts Month celebration in Sagay City, last week of February. The film "Ang Pagsalop sang Adlaw" bagged eight out of 18 special and major awards given during the screening and awards night on February 26 at the Sagay City Gymnasium. "Ang Pagsalop sang Adlaw" or "The Immersion of the Sun" tells about the journey of the Amparo family as they bury Inday, which revealed more secrets that each of the family members hid for the longest time. The film was produced by Bakhaw Studios and was shot in the upland barangay of Colonia Divina in Sagay City. It was directed by Kent John Desamparado. Desamparado grabbed the Best Director award, as well as the Best in Cinematography citation. Aside from the Best Picture award, Bakhaw Studios was also awarded for its production design by Nelson Emnace, Original Song by Brian Ferraro, Covid-19 health protocol compliance. Amalea Gay Jontongco from the film was also awarded as the Best Supporting Actress, while the whole cast of "Ang Pagsalop sang Adlaw" was given a Special Citation for Ensemble Performance in Acting by the panel of jury of the Margaha Film Festival. During the awarding ceremony, Desamparado said that he is grateful for the support of his family and the people behind the production of the film. Meanwhile, Ba'Lay Production's "Paraiso," a mystical film about deforestation in the early 70's, was named 2nd Best Picture, and Panganod Productions' sci-fi movie "Sa Mga Kabati kag Gapamati" was the 3rd Best Picture. The top three best picture awards were given cash prize of P15,000, P10,000, and P8,000 respectively. Consolation prizes worth P3,000 were also given to seven film productions. Ba'Lay Production was the last year's Best Picture winner with their film "Paon" which gained attention after it was selected in the exhibition section of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. "Paraiso" also garnered the award for Best in Editing by Charles Hilado, Best Trailer, and Best Actress for Crystal Puying. While Sa Mga Kabati kag Gapamati's Jonathan Limpangog was awarded as the Best Supporting Actor. The other films in the second run of Sine Margaha were "Pasitib" of PP Studios, "Yuhom" and "Makina" of Duyog Production, "Dalagan" of Lente Film Productions, "Judith" of Anggulo Films, "Save Point" of Majarleka Productions, and "Hunas" of Kumpas Production. Judith grabbed the awards for Best Screenplay and Nunelucio Alvarado Panublion Award, while Hunas won Best Poster and Best Actor for Alfonso Macam, Jr. During the awarding, John Argiel Victor and Joane Pitogo were also announced as the Stars of the Night. Cash prizes were also given to other special awards. P5,000 for Best Director, P3,000 each for Best Screenplay, Nunelucio Panublion Award, Cinematography, and Editing, P2,000 for Best COVID-19 Health Compliance, Actor, Actress, Original Song, and Production Design, P1,500 for Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, and Trailer, P1,000 for Best Poster, and P500 plus gift certificates for the Male and Female Stars of the Night. Prior to their production, the City Government provided a seed money worth P6,000 per production to help them in their shooting. This year, the panel of jury consists of Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino's Tito Valiente, Directors Teng Mangansakan, Keith Deligero, and Arden Rod Condez, Sine Negrense Festival Director Tanya Lopez, broadcaster and historian Rod Florentino, and writer Kenneth Ian Rivera. Festival Director Helen Cutillar said that she is happy that the 10 productions have produced quality films despite the challenge of strictly following Covid-19 health protocols during the shoot. The film festival is also a way to promote arts and culture, as well as to showcase the cultural mapping efforts done in Sagay, raising awareness on the tangible and intangible cultural properties, she added. She added that she is grateful to the support of the City Government, Office of 2nd District Representative Leo Rafael Cueva, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines to realize the second edition of Sine Margaha. (PR) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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