By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Local labor advocate Wennie Sancho said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has ordered a review of the current wage order following implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. In an exclusive phone interview yesterday afternoon, he said the law is creating adverse effects …
Monthly Archives: January 2018
Illegal logging site raided in Hinoba-an
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Personnel from the Hinoba-an municipal police and the Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office raided an illegal logging site in Barangay Damutan, Hinoba-an, yesterday morning. According to Provincial Legal Officer, Atty. Jose Maria Valencia, the area was part of a 50-hectare property once owned by the now-defunct Insular Lumber Company. Several …
Former 3ID Commander appointed as a provincial consultant
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Former Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Jon Aying (ret.), was yesterday approved by the Negros Occidental Provincial Board as a provincial consultant on internal security and public safety concerns. Aying was forced into mandatory retirement last December 31. Brigadier General Dino Dolina has since assumed the …
BFAR affirms Batan Bay is red tide-free
By Paulo Loreto Lim Based on a recent Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) bulletin, Batan Bay, located in Aklan, remains red tide-free, indicating the harvesting and consumption of shellfish is safe. Last year, Gigantes Island, located within Carles, Iloilo, experienced red tide conditions twice, with the most recent occurring in September 2017. At …
House subcommittee proposes five states under federalism
Local officials previously vowed statehood for Negros By Paulo Loreto Lim The House of Representatives committee on constitutional amendments released a draft charter earlier this week, which identified five states under a federal form of government, comprised of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Bangsamoro, and Metro Manila. Throughout 2017, various Negrense officials speculated there would be more …
Overseas workers warned of scam claiming to fast-track OWWA benefits
By Paulo Loreto Lim The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families of scammers posing as agency personnel claiming they can fast-track OWWA benefits. According to OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, the perpetrators charge a P6,000 processing fee. Benefits offered by the government agency include disability and dismembership entitlements, …
PIA urges responsible social media use
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General Harold Clavite recently called on the public to be responsible when using social media, saying the platform has the power to promote or destroy society. “Responsible sharing of information is not just an advocacy, it is a must in a society where people tend to put too much trust …
Groundbreaking for Habitat for Humanity project in Silay City today
The groundbreaking for the Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation, Inc. disaster-resilient housing project at the Bon Bon Phase 3 resettlement site in Barangay E. Lopez in Silay City will take place today, January 18, at 2:00 p.m. Expected to attend the event are Habitat for Humanity-Asia Pacific Vice President Rick Hathaway, Managing Director Michael Meaney, Project …
Iloilo CSWDO provides assistance to victims of Jaro district fire
The Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) recently provided assistance to the 14 victims of a fire that struck Zone 1, Barangay Cubay, located in the Jaro district of Iloilo City. Victims whose homes were totally destroyed received P5,000, while those experiencing partial damage were provided with P2,500. In addition, the CSWDO …
23 couples married in mass wedding at SM City Bacolod
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia officiated the wedding of 23 couples earlier this week at SM City Bacolod, as part of the Wedding and Event Planners Organization of Negros, Inc. (WEPON) annual bridal fair, which ends today, January 18. 57-year-old Humberto Ticar and 59-year-old Rosalinda De la Cruz were the oldest couple. The mass wedding was …