This Week in Bacolod (September 30 to October 6, 2018)

It is going to be rainy across Bacolod and nearby cities for the rest of this week. It will be cloudy during the day and rainy during the night with a 60 percent chance of rain showers [1]. The possible severe thunderstorms and rain showers in the forecast this week might lead to flash floods in the city, so might as well bring slippers or boots with you. Always keep in mind to bring an umbrella or a jacket for your protection.

A fare hike of PhP1.50 for regular passengers, and PhP0.90 for students, senior citizens and PWDs are now being implemented by jeepney drivers in Bacolod. However, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board advised the public that if the driver does not have the new fare matrix, the fare hike should not be implemented. Meanwhile, jeepney drivers are having a hard time securing the new fare matrix since the satellite office in Bacolod is temporarily closed, obliging them to visit the regional office in IloIlo instead. Most drivers do not have the new fare matrix yet [2].

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is having successive consultation meetings with their stakeholders in preparation for the Airport Emergency Exercise on October 26. This week, CAAP will coordinate with various emergency responders in Negros Occidental to map out emergency response actions in case a crash landing happens at the Bacolod-Silay Airport. The course of action during an emergency landing will be discussed starting from the transmission of the communication until the final course of action. A dry run for the full-scale exercise will also be conducted two days before the main emergency exercise [3].

Kiteboarding, a sport of riding on a modified surfboard while holding on to a specially designed kite is now available at Lakawon Island in Cadiz City. WestPoint Aquasport Center is the home for the said activity in the island. It is professionally run by Pacifica Coast Kiteboarding Academy. They offer lessons, gear rentals, sales and kite safaris in the area. If you are a tourist looking forward to experience this extreme activity, you can head to the western tip of the island.

The rich culinary heritage and active sectors have been identified as the factors in the tourism growth in the province. The province has reached a 17 percent annual growth in terms of the number of tourists it caters. Aside from the abundant tourist destinations in the province, people who travel for food are most likely to visit Negros Occidental. The farms and fisheries play a vital role in the food sector since most of the cuisines in the province totally relies on how fresh they are served from farms and seas to the dining tables [4].

For tourists who are planning to experience Masskara Festival 2018 in the City of Smiles are advised to book their flights early to secure seats. People are coming from Iloilo and nearby islands who are traveling by boat are also advised to reserve tickets early to avoid the fare increase during this peak season.

Major hotels in Bacolod City have been fully booked since August. Tourists are advised to check the availability alternative accommodations in cities near Bacolod since spaces inside the City of Smiles are already running out. Meanwhile, resorts and other summer destinations in Negros Island are still open for tourists to enjoy.