FORMER REBELS. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson greets former communist rebels during the turnover of government financial assistance to former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army rebels at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on June 22, 2022. During his inauguration address on Saturday (June 25, 2022), Lacson said the provincial government is eager to welcome back those who are still active in the rebel movement. (Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental) BACOLOD CITY - Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has renewed his call to Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebels to return to the fold of the law, saying that "choosing peace is always the better choice." Lacson issued the invitation in his inaugural address after taking his oath for a second term during the ceremonies held at the provincial capitol grounds here on Saturday. "To our Negrense brothers and sisters who are still active in
LEARNING TRIP. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (center) welcomes Romblon Governor Jose Riano (left) and Lone District Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday (June 20, 2022). The Romblon officials came for a two-day visit for benchmarking and exposure to various projects and programs of Negros Occidental until Monday night before leaving for Iloilo City on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental) BACOLOD CITY - The Negros Occidental provincial government has shared its best practices with officials from Romblon led by Governor Jose Riano and Lone District Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, who came to the province on a two-day learning trip this week. Riano said their province is looking closely at Negros Occidental's "One Hospital Command" system and the consignment of medicines in the Capitol-run hospitals, considering that Romblon is a geographically isolated disadvantaged area. "It's a learning proces
BACOLOD CITY - Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is reminding residents to maintain a clean environment free from mosquitos in the wake of a surge in dengue cases this June. Data released by the Department of Health-Western Visayas (DOH-6) on Thursday showed Negros Occidental province recorded an increase of 456 percent from January 1 to June 4. "We should see to it that we are conscious of our surroundings. Keep it clean and avoid stagnant water," Lacson said. For the entire 22 morbidity weeks since the start of the year, Negros Occidental has logged 984 cases, including six deaths; from only 177 cases, with three deaths, during the same period in 2021. During the Morbidity Week No. 22 from May 29 up to June 4, some 143 new cases were reported in the province. Lacson had earlier noted the rise in dengue cases is part of a three-year cycle of a surge in the number of the mosquito-borne disease. "Our Provincial Health Office is aware of the situation and taki
VISIT TO GUAM. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (left) is welcomed by Guam Lieutenant Governor Joshua Franquez Tenorio during a courtesy call on Wednesday (June 8, 2022). Lacson, who is on a four-day visit to the US island territory, is the guest of honor and speaker of the 124th Philippine Independence Day celebration of the Office of the Consulate General at the RIHGA Royal Laguna Guam Resort on the same day.(Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental) BACOLOD CITY - Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is exploring opportunities for collaboration with Guam during his four-day visit to the United States island territory this week. On Wednesday, Lacson was set to grace the 124th Philippine Independence Day celebration of the Office of the Consulate General at the RIHGA Royal Laguna Guam Resort in Tamuning. He also met with Guam Lieutenant Governor Joshua Franquez Tenorio on the same day, where they discussed possible sisterhood ties between Negros Occidental and G
The facade of the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City. (PNA Bacolod file photo) BACOLOD CITY - Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday the province will return to normal by June 1 after more than two years of battling the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. "Starting June 1, we will go back to normalcy already," he told reporters. This week, the Provincial Capitol offices will resume the five-day workweek and the curfew is also expected to be lifted across the province. Lacson said the recent increase in active Covid-19 cases is "something that we were warned about before". The Provincial Incident Management Team data showed the number of infections jumped from only 14 on May 24 to already 31 on May 25. As of May 30, active Covid-19 cases in the province totaled 30. "No of course not, it should not be a cause for alarm. In yesterday's status, we have gone down again as far as active cases is concerned. Let&#