Notice to vacate meets resistance

THE City Legal Office (CLO) enforcement team on Tuesday served a voluntarily vacate notice to all illegal structure owners at Ballesteros Street beside Gaisano main.

Suspects in rob of reporter, call center agent arrested

TWO rob suspects who reportedly victimized a reporter of the Visayan Daily Star were arrested by operatives of the Bacolod Vice Squad Control Section (VSCS) after they victimized a call center agent along Cegasco, Barangay Pahanocoy, Bacolod City Monday evening.

Cop faces rape raps

TWO counts of acts of lasciviousness and one count of rape by sexual assault were filed Monday against Station 3 deputy P/Insp. Asencion Ortizo for allegedly molesting three employees of a karaoke bar along Barangay Mansilingan.

Capitol to conduct food fair, May flower fest

THE Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan will again be the venue for the first Negros food fair and flower festival from May 27-29 this year.

Army officer killed in encounter vs NPA

A YOUNG Army officer of an elite unit of the Philippine Army based in Moises Padilla town was killed in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army in Sitio Avocado, Barangay Talalak, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental on Tuesday.

1 dies, 6 hurt in Pontevedra gunfight

ONE died while six others were wounded in a gunfight reportedly between warring groups involving the incumbent barangay captain at Purok Crotons, Brgy. Miranda in Pontevedra, Monday night.

Villages urged to submit accomplishment reports, plans

BACOLOD City Councilor Em Ang is urging all barangays, departments and agencies of the City Government to submit their respective Gender and Development (GAD) accomplishment reports for 2010 together with the 2011 annual GAD plan and budget.

Police probe abduction reports

NEGROS Occidental police director Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan on Monday ordered station chiefs in the province to validate reports of alleged abduction attempts on several minors.

Guisihan gave the order following reports of attempted abduction in the municipalities of Himamaylan, Kabankalan, Hinobaan and Ilog.

Pope Tower is pilgrimage site

THE seven-storey John Paul II Tower at the Reclamation Area in Bacolod City has been made into a pilgrimage site to preserve the preserve late pope's "advocacy of commitment, ideals and culture of life and love."

The Pope John Paul II Tower, which is also recognized as the tallest edifice in Bacolod City costs P15 million and donated by Simplicio Palanca, a businessman and philanthropist.

Bacolod mayor goes to Las Vegas

BACOLOD City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson will be acting mayor while Mayor Evelio Leonardia is in Las Vegas, Nevada for the welterweight title bout of Sarangani Representative Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao with Shane Mosley on May 8.

Leonardia was personally invited by Pacquiao to either serve as flag bearer or hold his championship belt during fight night. The Bacolod mayor accepted the invitation, since Pacquiao considers him as his "lucky charm."

Cop chief defends station commander's reinstatement

BACOLOD City Police Office (BCPO) director Ricardo De la Paz on Monday said Chief Inspector Ulysses Ortiz is worthy to be reinstated as commander of Station 1, based on his performance in controlling crimes and illegal gambling within his area of responsibility.

37 jai alai bet collectors arrested

THIRTY seven alleged jai alai bet collectors were arrested in separate operations conducted by different police stations of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Vice Squad Control Section over the week-end.

Ordinance seeks to regulate wearing of bonnet

AS CRIMINAL groups use bonnets to cover their identities when they commit criminal acts, Bacolod City Councilor Archie Baribar saw the need to impose a prohibition on the use of bonnet by ordinary individuals, unless it is part of a uniform for work.

Balik-Bacolod task force formed

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia on April 29 signed an Executive Order creating Task Force Balik Bacolod Sales Blitz to promote the city’s tourism program.

World renowned artist to perform in Bacolod

BACOLOD City will have the chance to listen to one of the finest tenors the Philippines has ever produced in a gala performance to be held at the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel on July 23, 2011 at 8:30 in the evening.

Bacolod police receives LCD projector

THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) on Monday received an LCD Projector from one of the businessmen in the city.

Lawmaker wants to hold Banago port project

THIRD district Representative Albee Benitez asked the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to hold the Banago port development project and instead spread out the budget intended for it in his district.

Benitez said Bacolod already has an existing port, the Bredco Port.

Mayor pushes for EB Magalona port rehab

MAYOR David Lacson is pushing for the rehabilitation of the Tuburan port in his town to further boost progress not only for his town but for the sugar industry of the province as well.

About P300 million is needed to rehabilitate Tuburan port, which connects Negros to Panay through Banate port via a 35 to 40 minutes boat ride.

Pasalamat Festival a resounding success

LA CARLOTA City’s celebration of its 32nd Pasalamat Festival was a resounding success, as the people were brought to another level of outstanding entertainment that showcased local talents and beauties.

Mayor Juliet Marie Ferrer and Negros Occidental fourth district Representative Jeffrey P. Ferrer, along with the members of the City Council, succeeded in making this year’s festival a great success again.

Workers rally on Labor Day

THOUSANDS of workers staged their rally Sunday in front of Old Bacolod City Hall at the downtown area, in line with the Labor Day celebration.

Cordova wins Ceneco polls

FORMER Ceneco Union of Rationale Employee (Cure) president Roy Cordova won the post for the representation of District IV to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) Board of Directors in a hotly contested election last Saturday over incumbent Ceneco president Edward Gasambelo.

Cheryl Tortal, Public Relations Officer of Ceneco, disclosed that Cordova garnered 3,380 votes while Gasambelo got 2,663 for a margin of 717 votes.

Lawmaker readies draft for probe on fuel price disparity

THIRD district Representative Albee Benitez said he is now ready with the draft of a resolution that will call for an investigation into the approximately P5 per liter fuel price disparity in the province compared to Metro Manila.

Benitez will present the resolution to the House of Representatives when it resumes session on May 9.

Promotion of hospital patients’ rights pushed

BACOLOD City Councilor Archie Baribar proposed an ordinance that will require all hospitals and similar medical clinics and institutions to post a copy of R.A. No. 9439.

It is an Act prohibiting the detention of patients in hospital and medical clinics on grounds of non-payment of hospital bills or medical expenses.

Bizmen hope for solution to fuel crisis on Labor Day

THE business sector in Negros Occidental expects a solution to the spiraling prices of petroleum products on May 1, Labor Day.

"We expect something big, a major decision to be announced by the government during Labor Day," said Frank Carbon, president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Guv urged to retain well in sports complex

BACOLOD City Water District (Baciwa) general manager Julie Ann Carbon on Thursday asked Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to retain its pumping station 2 inside the Paglaum Sports Complex along Hernaez Street.

Carbon explained that Well 2 is the source of water supply of the whole downtown area of Bacolod. If Capitol orders its relocation, Baciwa will have a hard time looking for another area suitable for a pumping station and the water delivery in the downtown area will be affected.

City councilor warns of higher power rate

BACOLOD City Councilor Caesar Distrito warned that the increase in the power rate of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) will not only be P1.25 per kilowatt hour but P2 effective in the May 2011 billing.

Being a consumer himself, he was shocked to see the increase in his electric bill.

Police dismiss rumors on abduction of children

NEGROS Occidental Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan said there is no truth to the reports that children are being abducted and their organs are taken out to be sold in Metro Manila.

Bacolod Mayor leaves for Pacquiao fight next week

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia will leave for Las Vegas next week to be part of the Team Pacquiao as either a flag bearer or a championship belt holder.

Guv confident of Pacquiao’s win

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. expressed confidence that Filipino world boxing champ and Saranggani Representative Manny Paquiao will win in his fight against Shane Mosley on May 8.

32nd Pasalamat Festival star studded

THE City of La Carlota is at the peak of celebrating its 32nd Pasalamat Cultural and Arts festival after its official opening on April 25, 2011 at the Festival Park.