This Week in Bacolod (June 9 to 15, 2019)

The day temperature will remain humid with a range of 31 °C to 33 °C. Expect some brief morning showers and thunderstorms. At night, you will experience a nice temperature of 25 °C to 26 °C and see clouds covering the sky; there’s also a chance of thunderstorms in some parts of Bacolod [1].

Bringing an umbrella or a raincoat wherever you go is advised to keep you dry during these rainy days. Drink supplements rich in Vitamin C to boost your immune system and to avoid any sickness brought by the changing weather.

EURO 4 PUVs, modern eco-friendly jeepneys, were launched at the Bacolod Government Center last May 31, 2019. However, Richard Osmeña, the regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Western Visayas, said that United Negros Transport Cooperative (Unetco) and its collaborator, Yellowdot Transport Inc., did not coordinate with the board first before releasing the units to the public. They also lack documents that would allow their jeepneys to be operated on the road.

Unetco Chairperson Marcelo Ochia stated that there are 25 cars ready and a thousand more are coming. Meanwhile, the LTFRB will apprehend the units for franchise violation. The agency also requested locals to report modern jeepneys operating [2].

In order to decrease the fare rates in Bacolod, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and Cabinet secretaries approved and supported the service of AirAsia in the city. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade guaranteed Congressman Mikee Romero, also the vice chairman of AirAsia Philippines, the operation of the additional airline. Expected to serve in a month, AirAsia will give passengers more airline options and less expensive fare charges [3].

Three melon-headed whales were found stranded in the waters of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental [4]. Residents and fishermen in Barangay Gargato formed a crowd and surrounded the mammals before professional rescuers arrived at the scene.

Mark de la Paz, a trainer at Negros Occidental Marine Wildlife Responders said that touching the whales can give stress and injuries to whales. The whales were examined and released back to the sea by the authorities. De la Paz took the opportunity to educate the locals on the proper way to handle stranded marine animals.

Ranging about 80,454.5 hectares of land, the Northern Negros Natural Park is in need of protection from environmental violators such as restaurants, cafes, resorts, and vacation houses without building and business permits. The Group of Environmental Socialists (GOES) created the “Pabukid 2019 Manifesto” which emphasized illegal structures within the area [5]. GOES called out to concerned government agencies to take action against further deforestation.

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