P18.6M IN DONATIONS RECEIVED The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council has submitted a revised earthquake damage report, particularly on infrastructure, in Negros Oriental. In its report to Secretary Voltaire Gazmin of the Department of National Defense, PDRRMC said damage to infrastructure stood at P507.3 million, instead of P665 million, as earlier reported.

Two lady members of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan from the First District of Negros Oriental broke their silence over published criticisms of the “Magdegamo Ta” stickers on relief goods distributed to earthquake victims. SP members Liland Estacion and Jessica Koppin Villanueva said it was unfair to single out Gov. Roel Degamo because even a “higher office” continue reading : 2 SP members defend Degamo

Five brand new heavy equipment worth P58 million arrived in Negros Oriental yesterday and will be used in the rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts of the provincial government. Gov. Roel Ragay Degamo said the equipment will help greatly in the ongoing rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged in last year’s tropical storm “Sendong” and the recent 6.9 magnitude continue reading : Neg. Or. Buys P58M equipment

A public forum on the illegal extraction of sand and gravel will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Banica River in Barangay Batinguel, Dumaguete City. The Environment and Natural Resources Division, of the Office of the Provincial Governor, and the Environment and Natural Resources Office of Dumaguete City, will spearhead the forum.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has been asked to conduct an assessment survey of the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao in Sibulan, Negros Oriental. Mario Aragon, Community Environment and Natural Resources officer II, said the recommendation, was discussed in the meeting of the Protected Area Management Board recently.

The five brand-new and high-end heavy equipment recently acquired by the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental already arrived in the Province and were already blessed. Negros Oriental Governor Roel Ragay Degamo led the blessing ceremony which was also attended by Board Members Liland Estacion and Jessica Villanueva both from the First Congressional District. It was continue reading : Province acquires brand-new heavy equipment

Regional Director Loreto Alburo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has declared the landslide areas in Guihulngan City and La Libertad as danger zones, following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit Negros Oriental. Gov. Roel Degamo was informed by Alburo Friday, that the two landslide areas are highly dangerous since the soil is continue reading : Neg.Or. landslide areas declared ‘danger zones’

The toll of dead and missing from a powerful earthquake that struck Negros Oriental has risen to 113 as the civil defense chief said yesterday he had given up all hope of finding any more survivors. Benito Ramos, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief, told AFP the latest toll from the 6.7 magnitude continue reading : NDRRMC: Toll rises to 113 dead, missing

A team of 30 from the Philippine Guidance Counselors Association-Negros Oriental held a two-day debriefing for earthquake victims at the Jimalalud National High School, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental, recently. Debriefing first aid is one of the efforts of the PGCA and the Department of Education-Negros Oriental Division, to help relieve the trauma of earthquake victims.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo remains unfazed by all the flack and negative publicity for placing his name on the packs of relief goods distributed in earthquake hit areas in northern Negros Oriental. In a recent interview, Degamo appealed for unity in order to attend to the welfare of the earthquake victims. “So many of continue reading : Degamo: I’ll continue to work