Businesses warned on fake Philhealth checks

COMMERCIAL establishments are warned against the proliferation of fake Philhealth checks being encashed.

Philhealth president and CEO Dr. Rey Aquino said recent reports have shown that several unscrupulous persons have encashed checks at a commercial establishment within the area of jurisdiction of Region I. The checks later turned out to be fake negotiable instruments.

Bill: Stop use of pre-stamped notarial marks biz permits

THE City Council of Bacolod on Thursday passed a resolution requesting concerned offices to immediately stop using business application forms with pre-stamped notarial marks.

Councilor Archie Baribar's Resolution No. 16 requests City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan and the officer in charge of the Permits and Licensing Division Evelyn Canlas through the Office of the City Mayor to immediately desist from using the forms.

Council awaits environment agency's comment on motel issue

THE City Council is still waiting for the regional environment department's opinion on the requisites in the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

The Council wants to clarify whether there is indeed no need for their endorsement as a requisite in the issuance of the ECC to Bacolod Imperial Court, the newest motel in Bacolod City.

Public hearing set on driving test fee collection

A PUBLIC hearing on the collection of driving testing fees is slated for January 13, 2011.

Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito said the public hearing will discuss the legality and accountability of the Land Transportation Office's (LTO) continued collection of driving test fees.

Firecracker injuries up this year

THE Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported an increase in firecracker-related injuries in 2010.

PHO head Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said that from December 21, 2010, to January 5, 2011, there were 97 firecracker injuries compared to only 62 cases for the same period last year.

Reshuffling of Capitol department heads continues

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. said the reshuffling of the department heads at the provincial Capitol will continue this year.

American died of heart attack - Police

STATION 1 Commander Luisito Acebuche on Thursday clarified that an American national died not due to intake of sex enhancement drugs but of heart attack due to diabetes.

4 arrested for jai alai

FOUR alleged jai alai bet collectors were arrested in separate operations on Wednesday and Thursday.

P91M supplemental budget approved

THE Provincial Board (PB) approved Wednesday Supplemental Budget No. 1 amounting to P91.63 billion, including the P15,000 additional cash gift for each employee of the Provincial Government.

The additional cash gift might be given Thursday or on Friday, said Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan.

Capitol addresses power shortage this year

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is hoping to address the power shortage this year with power plants put up by interested investors.

Marañon pointed out that there were various companies that signified their intentions of putting up their power plants in the province. These include Global Power, the Alcantara Group of Companies, Aboitiz, and the Lopez companies.

Sugarcane group supports Guv's call on 'sharing the blessings'

The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) declared its support to the call of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. for sugar producers to share their blessings from good sugar prices with their employees.

NFSP head Enrique D. Rojas issued the statement after the meeting called by federation at its Bacolod main office, which was attended by all NFSP-member planters associations in Negros. Marañon was the special guest.

6th Bacolaodiat Festival set

THE City of Bacolod will celebrate the Chinese New year through the 6th Bacolaodiat Festival on February 3-6, 2011, with the theme "Hopping Towards Prosperity."

Negros has highest number of vehicles in Western Visayas

NEGROS Occidental still holds the record of having the most number of private and public transport vehicles all over Western Visayas.

Councilor takes 15 official leaves for 2010

CITY Council Secretary Atty. Nilo Alejandrino has released the 2010 attendance report for six months covering the regular and special sessions conducted by the Council for the year and Councilor Dindo Ramos has the least number of sessions attended.

Hotel President: 'We didn't intend to bypass Council'

THE president of the Bacolod Imperial Court is insisting his business didn't intend to go past the Bacolod City Council insofar as the need for a council endorsement of their motel business is concerned.

Notorious murder suspect arrested

A NOTORIOUS murder suspect was arrested Tuesday evening by the operatives of Police Station 4 after he shot another three students at the University of St. La Salle (USLS), Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.

Lesser Bacolod police stations eyed

BACOLOD City Police Office (BCPO) Director Celestino Guara is now mulling reducing the number of Bacolod police stations from 10 into only six, which he said is the ideal number for highly urbanized cities.

Teen injured in shooting

A TEENER was injured after he was shot by his neighbor due to an old family grudge around 1:50 p.m., Tuesday, in Bacolod City, the police said Wednesday.

Revenue agency's receipts promo continues

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is continuing its instant "Premyo sa Resibo" (PSR, Prize in Receipts) raffle promo in its bid to increase tax awareness and enhance taxpayers' compliance.

Transparency of local governments' budget, finances compulsory

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is pushing for a compulsory full disclosure of the budget and finances of local government units (LGUs) this year.

Guv upbeat on sugar industry prospects

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. foresees a continuation of the bright prospects for the sugar industry this year.

Marañon said the favorable price of sugar last year will be sustained this year while production is expected to improve, as long as the weather will continue to be as favorable as in the past days for the rest of the year.

City exec opposes jai alai legalization

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia is not in favor of legalizing jai alai in the city, stating that the legalization should be initiated by the National Government and not by the local government.

Some members of the City Council, however, do not share the mayor's views on the issue.

Rebel group's 'expansion' all posturing and projection - military

THE military labeled as "mere posturing and projection" the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP/NPA) claim that the rebel movement had made significant gains and had expanded its forces and influence in the past year.

1LT Mark Andrew Posadas, Public Information Officer of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division of the Philippine Army, said that the rebel group just want to keep projecting that they are in a position of strength but this is not the case island-wide.

Councilors post 100% attendance in council sessions

THREE members of the Bacolod City Council registered perfect attendance in the conduct of the regular and special sessions of the City Council from July to December 2010.

Bacolod sets up 'one-stop shop'

THE City Government of Bacolod launched Tuesday its one-stop-shop for business permit processing at the New Government Center.

Police recovers vintage bomb, shotgun

A VINTAGE bomb was accidentally unearthed in La Carlota City while the campaign against illegal firearms yielded a homemade shotgun in Talisay, the Negros Occidental Police Office (Noppo) said.

Hospital sacks 31 employees

THIRTY-ONE employees of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Eroreco, Mandalagan, Bacolod City were served with notices of termination effective December 30, 2010.

Roberto Villaram, president of the workers’ union at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, said the affected hospital workers included 14 janitors and 17 medical orderlies.

Guv prioritizes food security

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Monday his administration will give priority on the food security program, which is one of his 11-point agenda, due to the foreseen food shortage worldwide.

The Provincial Government will concentrate on increasing the province’s production of food and vegetables as well as its meat and poultry products so food will become sufficient, in case of any eventualities, said the governor.

Capitol workers to get pay hikes

AT THE onset of the New Year, the more than 2,000 employees of the Provincial Government will receive not only the additional bonus of P15,000 each but a 10 percent salary increase starting January.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the Capitol is ready to give the second tranche of salary increase mandated under the Salary Standardization Law.

Mayor orders status quo on motel closure

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has ordered a status quo on the closure due to lack of mayor’s permit of Bacolod Imperial Court, the newest motel at Gatuslao extension, Barangay 6, Bacolod City.