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- Yap 1st mayor to get Covid-19 vaccine jab in Negros Occidental
- More healthcare workers, village chiefs inoculated in Bacolod
- No trips yet between Cadiz, Bantayan Island
- Man shot dead while celebrating birthday
- Over P25,000 shabu seized in Bacolod
- SSS releases P1.82B for sickness benefits in 2020
- Alminaza: Sparks of hope
- Legaspi: St. Joseph with a father's heart
- Celebrity chef, foodie promote Negrense cuisine
- 'Earth Market’ opening in Silay City on March 20
- Youth-led farming thrives in Negros Occidental
| Yap 1st mayor to get Covid-19 vaccine jab in Negros Occidental Posted: 19 Mar 2021 08:28 AM PDT ESCALANTE City Mayor Melecio "Beboy" Yap, Jr. became the first local chief executive in Negros Occidental to be inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine on Friday morning, March 19, 2021. According to Yap, the city's Vicente Gustilo District Hospital (VGDH) received its 120 CoronaVac vaccines on Thursday. Yap then spearheaded the vaccination day Friday morning, with his jab being administered by Dr. Carmel Arguelles, chief of hospital of VGDH. The event was also witnessed by the city's Inter-Agency Task Force Chairman Dr. Vermont Khan Juvahib, Dr. Peter Paul Hinolan of the Escalante City Health Office, and Department of Health (DOH) Representative Louie Fernandez. Yap also followed the prescribed process of inoculation as recommended by the DOH. He further added the vaccination program in the city will run until Monday for all of the city's public health workers. Yap's vaccination came just a day after it was announced by Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing that the local chief executives are among the priorities for vaccination, as they are classified as essential workers under Priority Group 4A.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| More healthcare workers, village chiefs inoculated in Bacolod Posted: 19 Mar 2021 08:26 AM PDT ABOUT 100 healthcare workers in Bacolod City including village chiefs were vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) Friday, March 19, 2021. Councilor Renecito Novero, member of Bacolod Covid-19 vaccination (Covac) Council, said Friday a simultaneous simulation exercise and rollout of Sinovac vaccines was held in 10 barangays in the city. These included Barangays 4, 39, Alijis, Banago, Granada, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay and Taculing. Novero said each barangay had 10 recipients of Sinovac vaccine, who were identified as medical frontliners. He said the village chiefs of Barangays 1 and Pahanocoy also received their first doses of Sinovac vaccine. This came after the National Inter-Agency Task Force earlier approved the request of the national president of League of the Cities of the Philippines to classify local chief executives among the priorities for vaccination against Covid-19. This meant the 1,634 provincial governors, city and municipal mayors. Also included are 42,046 barangay captains all over the country. Novero said they are also willing to be vaccinated and are only waiting for additional vaccines allocated for Bacolod. Bacolod City already reserved 650,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines. Once they arrive, the city will use the 26 vaccination centers for the Covid-19 vaccine program. "We are ready and we have already prepared 26 vaccination centers including the barangay gymnasiums and schools," Novero said. He said the vaccination centers should have a big space to accommodate a big number of residents who want to be vaccinated. He added that they will also provide a refrigerating unit in every vaccination center as well as generators to preserve the vaccines. Since last week, more than 2, 000 medical frontliners in Bacolod City were inoculated with Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| No trips yet between Cadiz, Bantayan Island Posted: 19 Mar 2021 08:21 AM PDT TRIPS from Cadiz City to Bantayan Island in Cebu province are still suspended despite the easing of travel protocols. Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. on Friday, March 19, 2021, said he will not allow the resumption of travel to the island as long as "there is no substantial roll-out of the coronavirus vaccines." Escalante said the city had nine positive cases, of which three were from Cebu and the others were from Manila and Zamboanga. "That means most of our positive cases came from Cebu," the mayor said. He said if he allowed the resumption of trips, Cadiz City will become "a backdoor." Escalante said since the cities of Escalante and San Carlos are strict with the protocols in their borders, "some people from Cebu, Masbate and Romblon may use Bantayan island as a jump-off point to Negros." "It will become a problem for us in Cadiz," he said. Bantayan Island has become a new tourist destination for both foreign and local tourists.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Man shot dead while celebrating birthday Posted: 19 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PDT A 55-YEAR-OLD man was shot to death by three unidentified assailants while celebrating his birthday outside their house in Purok Saturn, Phase B, Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City Thursday evening, March 18, 2021. Police identified the victim as Jose Estaniel. Police Captain Armilyn Vargas, chief of Police Station 10, said Friday the victim, who was celebrating his birthday and the christening of his son in front of his house, sustained multiple gunshot wounds when three unidentified assailants fired at him several times around 7:40 p.m. She said the suspects, who were wearing face masks, fled onboard a red Avanza vehicle without a plate number attached. The victim was brought to a hospital, but he did not survive. Police recovered from the scene of the crime three fired bullets and four fired cartridges. Vargas said they are still conducting further investigation to determine the motive in the killing of the victim. She said Estaniel has a small piggery near their house, but they cannot conclude yet if the killing was business-related. She added they are also coordinating with the family of the victim to determine the identity of the suspects.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Over P25,000 shabu seized in Bacolod Posted: 19 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PDT AN ESTIMATED P25,400 worth of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride was seized in separate drug bust operations of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) in Bacolod City Thursday evening, March 18, 2021. The operations also led to the arrest of Richelle Joy Dacumos, 20, of Purok Sigay, Barangay 2; and Fernando Raquinel, 39, of Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City. Police records showed Dacumos was arrested by personnel of Police Station 2 after she sold a sachet of shabu to a police undercover in Purok Tunay, Barangay 1 around 9:30 p.m. Police recovered from Dacumos's possession five sachets of shabu weighing three grams with an estimated market value of P20,400 and the P500 marked money. Raquinel was also arrested by operatives of Police Station 5 at Hacienda Claudio, Barangay Granada around 9:10 p.m. Police recovered from Raquinel's possession five sachets of shabu weighing 1.5 grams with estimated market value of P5,000 and P1,000 marked money. The suspects were detained at the custodial facility of Police Stations 2 and 5. They faced charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| SSS releases P1.82B for sickness benefits in 2020 Posted: 19 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PDT THE Social Security System (SSS) recorded P1.82 billion in disbursements for sickness benefits last year. This amount — which came from the Social Security (SS) Fund — represented a 38.6-percent decline from the previous year and reached 269,604 members. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio attributed the decrease in applications to the nationwide community quarantine, which affected transactions in branches, particularly filing for various benefit claims. "Comparatively, SS Fund total sickness benefit disbursements in 2016 amounted to P2.17 billion, and in 2017, it reached P2.42 billion. It further increased to P2.65 billion in 2018 and P2.97 billion in 2019. We are expecting the figures will increase for 2021 as the government eases community quarantine guidelines that will allow more people to go out of their respective homes," Ignacio said. The same trend was observed in the number of beneficiaries who availed of SS sickness benefits. In 2016, 388,623 members were paid out, then it rose to 419,563 in 2017; 428,296 in 2018; and 458,851 in 2019. The SSS sickness benefit is a daily cash allowance granted to qualified members confined at home or in the hospital for at least four days, including the recovery period due to an illness or injury. The number of compensable days is up to 120 days per calendar year that can be extended for another 120 days the following year on account of the same medical condition. Illnesses or injuries that persist for over 240 days can qualify for SSS disability benefits. In July 2020, SSS implemented the Social Security (SS) Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Applications (SBRAs) of employers online through its website. The online facility for SBRAs is available at the My.SSS web portal on www.sss.gov.ph. It allows employers to file sickness benefit reimbursement claims conveniently, without having to wait for the hard copy of the approved sickness notification and the need to submit a duly accomplished SBRA form to an SSS office after giving advance payment to the employee. Ignacio said the development of this online facility is aligned with the SSS' ongoing digital transformation drive, now made more significant due to the health and safety protocols imposed by the government to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus. "Aside from expediting the processing time of sickness benefit reimbursements by eliminating the transmission of claims from SSS Branches to Processing Centers, this online facility will also reduce face-to-face interactions in our branches to help government efforts to stop spreading the virus," Ignacio added. Disbursements for sickness benefit under the Employees' Compensation (EC) Fund also decreased in 2020 to P186.41 million, benefitting 22,757 members. EC sickness benefit disbursement in 2016 reached P100.44 million to 25,201 members, then P121.29 million for 30,325 members in 2017, to P140.13 million for 31,662 members in 2018, and then P257.01 million for 34,860 in 2019. The pension fund has a total of 38.8 million members as of December 2020, of which only 41.7% or 16.18 million are regular paying members. For more information, follow the SSS on Facebook and YouTube at "Philippine Social Security System," Instagram at "mysssph," Twitter at "PHLSSS," or join the SSS Viber Community at "MYSSSPH Updates." (PR)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 19 Mar 2021 07:33 AM PDT AS I write this piece, a most welcome development is in the works in Negros Occidental -- a Renewable Energy Council for our province, the plan for which was announced by Governor Lacson last February, is set to function starting this month. Along with a Technical Working Group whose expertise will inform its directions and decisions, the Council will help build a renewable energy development roadmap towards aligning to the low-carbon transition required by the worsening climate crisis, and securing clean and affordable energy to power our people's needs. The role that communities, civic movements, and many of our faithful played in bringing this milestone about is undeniable. We are no stranger to the history of resistance against destructive energy that our people made together. For two decades, Negrosanons took down five proposed coal-fired power plants in various towns with a unity strengthened by their genuine care for nature and the future of generations to come. Thanks to this, we presently enjoy Negros Island's status as the Philippines' renewable energy capital, with its existing generation facilities producing power from nearly 100-percent renewable sources. Unfortunately, Negrosanons do not necessarily benefit from the bounty of clean power nature so generously provides, as much of the electricity we use is actually sourced from coal and other fossil fuel power plants from outside the island. It saddens me, and surely also all our readers true in the hope to be stewards of Creation, that we had a part in coal's dirty impacts even with just our use of electricity. But there is no better time to uphold Negrosanons' legacy of coal resistance than today, including in terms of the energy source our electricity comes from. We among groups of clean energy advocates and concerned citizens have recently been made aware that several power supply contracts in some of our electric cooperatives (EC) with coal power plants outside Negros are expiring. This means that renewable energy now has the opportunity to bid and take the place previously occupied by coal. It must be noted that there are concerning matters in the ongoing bidding process for new contracts, including the lack of transparency of the Negros Electric Cooperative Association and unfavorable terms used by Ceneco -- this, dear readers, is something on which we should have more conversations moving forward. In the meantime, we are now actively urging our electricity providers to listen to the cry of the Earth and reject renewed dependence on destructive power. Similar floodgates for the advancement of renewables are being opened in Negros Oriental, with a Renewable Energy Code expected to come to reality soon thanks to the leadership of Governor Roel Degamo and the Negros Oriental Provincial Board. We do not forget that we are still amid a global catastrophe in the form of Covid-19. We do not forget that Negros remains a hotspot of unjust killings as impunity continues to blanket our country with darkness. We, too, are very much aware that the climate crisis worsens day by day. But these steps toward sustainably transforming the way we power our lives spark hope that we indeed can still work together towards the healing of our beautiful planet. I turn once more to a well-loved passage in Pope Francis's Laudato Si', one that has repeatedly served as a source of encouragement in facing the struggles of our time -- "The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change. The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home." Readers, may we take on this challenge together!  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Legaspi: St. Joseph with a father's heart Posted: 19 Mar 2021 07:32 AM PDT POPE Francis wrote us an apostolic letter entitled "Patris Corde" on the 150th year of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. The statement is a description of the love of St. Joseph to Jesus as written by the four Evangelists. St. Joseph is also named as a protector of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR). This is the reason why an OAR university in Cebu is named after him. Going back to the letter of the pope, he gave us a description of St. Joseph by which every husband and father can follow. The family is the foundation of our society and the head of the family is responsible for each and every member where St. Joseph is a model. The pope started with the description of St. Joseph as a beloved father. Here, we are reminded to love our respective fathers. We have to look forward to our fathers coming home. We need to give our fathers affection such as hugs. We must let our fathers feel that they are needed and loved. He then moved to remind us that fathers and husbands must be tender ad loving. In the Philippines, most fathers find these qualities effeminate and only fitting for the mothers. Yet we are reminded that fathers and husbands must always be tender and loving towards their wives and children. This is the essence of being a family man. Fathers must always look forward to coming home after work. No amount of persuasion could change the passion of the good father to go home. His best friends and "barkadas" are his wife and his family. Other descriptions about St. Joseph are that he is obedient and an accepting father. Fathers and husbands must be obedient to the will of God for the family. The father should lead the family to discern the will of God. God's will might not and most often do not conform with our will. Fathers need to pray for guidance. The father should lead the family and shall always be ready to sacrifice for the will of God for the family. Fathers must also be creatively courageous. Courageous does not mean having enemies. A good father should always be ready to defend the family from anything that would destroy it. The father or husband should always be there to solve conflicts and with peaceful settlements at home. A good father is one who works. He earns to support his family and not be intoxicated by materialism. He must see his work as a source of life. His work is a blessing from God and so he must do it perfectly. A good father is in the shadows. He works hard for the family. His priority will always be the family and he brings the family closer to God and God closer to the family. He remains in the shadows and does not steal the light from the family. A good father cherishes the achievements of others and is never envious. These are simple reminders for all of us as we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church. St. Joseph, pray for us.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Celebrity chef, foodie promote Negrense cuisine Posted: 19 Mar 2021 07:29 AM PDT RISING star Chef Don Angelo Colmenares and foodie Doreen Alicia "Reena" Peña combined their gastronomic creations during the Cookout dubbed as a "Taste of Negros" held at Casa Gamboa in Silay City, March 17, 2021. The "Taste of Negros" campaign was in collaboration with Victorias Food Corporation (VFC) with products tagged as truly Negros. Peña said many chefs recommend VFC products that are of good quality. "It has to start with us Negrenses. We should patronize what is ours because this is ours. It would be nice to campaign first to fellow Negrenses to appreciate Negros products. About food, it is not only sugar here, but we also have companies like Victorias Milling that have gotten into products and most of them are of high quality. Negros are known to be 'foodies.' Maybe the most critical client is the Negrense," she said adding that, "Since I opened Casa A. Gamboa, part of the excitement is the creation of something new in our menu. And that is my bonding with my mom because I can conceptualize ideas. I have been to other countries where you taste different kinds of food." Chef Don Colmenares said the Negrense taste is very unique compared to other areas in the Philippines. Their taste is not so adventurous and they stick to what is familiar, that is always the classic taste in Negros. The recipes they came up were basically something they can be familiar with, he said. Among the recipes they prepared were Tortilla de Patata con Hamon, Pasta di Sarde "Sardines Paste with Garlic and Kesong de Bola," Bangus Empanada, Bangus Dip, Ham Sandwich, and Chorizo Pate. Recently, a similar cookout was held in Iloilo City where VFC launched the 15 recipes, exclusively created by Chef Tope Arañador using Victorias Foods Spanish Style Bangus and Sardines in Soya Oil and which will be included in the VFC food packs sold in selected outlets nationwide. Colmenares is the owner of Berbeza Bistro est. 2018 in Bacolod City and has extensive work experience despite his young age. A graduate of the famous Enderun culinary school, he had his apprenticeship at the 2-Michelin Star Moulin de la Girce, Lemoges in France. After getting his Bachor's Degree in International Hospitality Management-Major in Culinary Arts at Enderun, Chef Don became the head culinary instructor at the Visayan Maritime Academy and the University of Negros Occidental- Recoletos. In 2016, Colmenares represented the Philippines as demo chef at the Madrid Fusion in Spain and again at the Tuna Route Festival in Porto Santo, Portugal in 2019. Peña, on the other hand, is a law graduate whose passion has always been in the creative industry and has been a long-time active member of the Associated of Negros Producers (ANP) which she chaired from 2004 to 2006. At present, she is the president of the ANP Foundation for Enterprise Development and Slow Food Community Negros. Last year, Peña was involved in the publication of two cookbooks --"Slow Food Negros Heritage Cooking" and "Adobo Chronicles"-- which features adobo recipes of celebrities and winners of the annual Adobo Festival in Silay sponsored by the Negros Cultural Foundation.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Earth Market’ opening in Silay City on March 20 Posted: 19 Mar 2021 07:28 AM PDT ONE of the two Pop-Up "Earth Markets" to be launched in the province this month will open in Silay City Saturday, March 20, 2021. The two-day event will be held at Casa A. Gamboa on 5 Rizal Street in the northern Negros Occidental city. The other one will open at the Kadiwa Market of May's Organic Garden in Barangay Pahanocoy Bacolod City on March 27 and 28. About 50 local organic farmers and producers in Negros Occidental are joining the two Pop-Up "Earth Markets." A project of the Slow Food Community of Negros Island, these two new "Earth Markets" will be the newest addition to the worldwide Slow Food community. It is also one of the highlights of the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto Festival 2020 to 2021. Activities Doreen Alicia "Reena" Gamboa, president of Slow Food Community of Negros Island, said they will be holding cooking demos of recipes from the best-selling cookbook called "Negrense Heritage Cooking," which includes "Adobong Paka and Spicy Adobong Taklong" at 11 a.m. of March 20 and "Soup No. 5 La-oya" at 8 a.m. of March 21. A series of talks will also be conducted alongside other activities during the two-day event. For Saturday, these included "Learn to make Pastillas out of carabao's milk" at 8 a.m.; "Waste Management in Everyday Living" at 2 p.m.; and "Grow your own mushroom" at 4 p.m. Talks on "How do you know your Honey is real?" at 2 p.m. and "Make a soap out of used cooking oil" at 4 p.m. are also slated on Sunday. Slow Food "Earth Markets" is an international network of markets that work in accordance with the principles of "slow food." The Slow Food Community of Negros Island commits to "promoting and preserving the traditional food of Negros Island" and to changing the local food system one step at a time. "We are bringing good, clean, and fair shopping opportunities to the local community. The produce are local, fresh and seasonal," Gamboa said. Ramon "Chinchin" Uy Jr., a member of the Slow Food Community of Negros Island, said both Earth Markets in Silay and Bacolod will have different producers selling a wide range of produce. Each farmer's specific produce brings something new to the mix of each market, he said. Organizers have assured the public that the activities will observe health protocols in light of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat. These include observing proper physical distancing, wearing of face mask and face shield, checking of body temperature, using of contract tracing system, and washing of hands.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Youth-led farming thrives in Negros Occidental Posted: 19 Mar 2021 07:19 AM PDT WHO says farmers are aging? In Negros Occidental, the children are actively engaged in farming, molding themselves as future leaders of the province's agriculture sector. In the province's Manapla town, members of the Myrianne Youth Farmers Organization (MYFO) are currently growing vegetables and other high-value crops in a 600-square meter farm at Hacienda Myrianne in Barangay San Pablo. The farm is being poised to become one of the agri-tourism destinations in the northern Negros Occidental locality. Jison dela Cruz, chairman of MYFO, said the organization has given them, children of Hacienda Myrianne, the opportunity to make use of their time in a valuable activity like farming. Dela Cruz said farming has allowed them to gain knowledge and skills on agriculture, instead of engaging in vices. "Through this organization, we were able to also realize that we can help and serve the community even at an early age," he added. The group was organized in 2018. Its farm is one of the "Abanse Negrense Farm Youth Vegetable Gardens and High-Value Crops Farm Areas" in the province. In December 2020, it won second place in innovative technology during the Search for the Most Outstanding Young Farmer Organization (4H Club) of Negros Occidental. The youth-led farm is also a recipient of the provincial government's Solar Irrigation Project. The project worth P6.9 million is funded by the province through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA). The construction of the project started in September last year, and is now 90 percent complete and scheduled for inauguration next month. It has an estimated serviceable area of 30 to 50 hectares. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who visited the farm on Thursday, said he is happy to see children who are very much interested and engaged in agriculture. Lacson assured them of more agricultural support and projects from the provincial government. "Take good care of the farm, and the profit as well. Make sure that all members of the organization know where the revenue goes," he told the youth-members, adding that "it is good that at an early age, they already know farm operation concepts like dividend sharing, among others." The governor was joined by Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante III, San Pablo Barangay Captain Josefa Cabayao, Municipal Agriculturist Alejandro Malijoc. Meanwhile, Lacson also visited the Beewell Organic Farmstead at Barangay Mailum in Bago City Friday, March 19, 2021. This is also part of his administration's "Abanse Negrense Farm Youth Vegetable Gardens and High-Value Crops Farm Areas" forming part of its thrust to develop the province's agriculture sector. Home to the Mailum Organic Village Association, the Beewell Organic Farmstead is a Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited agritourism and farm site. The City Tourism Office, in a Facebook post, said both farm and association have been the recipients of various programs of the provincial government, Department of Agriculture, DOT, and city government. The farm, owned Gina Banowski, has been producing organic and high-value crops, it added.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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