Bacolod City is leading the initiative of adding security features through a quick response (QR) code to local government-issued identification (ID) cards for persons with disability (PWDs). As of yesterday, the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) in Bacolod released more than 1,000 PWD cards with the security feature out of the target 7,000 …
Monthly Archives: March 2024
‘NPA squad leader’ falls
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) squad leader was arrested at Barangay Andres Bonifacio’s Hacienda Tresing in Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City over the weekend. Police identified the alleged rebel as Eliseo “Ermie/Juan” Velarmia, a resident of Barangay San Jose’s Sitio Aglolomot in Toboso town. Cadiz police said Velarmia is believed to …
SRA allots P66-M fund for El Niño mitigation measures
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has allotted a budget of P66 million to assist sugarcane farmers in mitigating the effects of prolonged dry weather due to El Niño. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, in a press conference at the SRA office in Bacolod City yesterday, said the allocation approved by the SRA Board is …
Dumaguete BFP calls for vigilance vs. fires amid El Niño
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Dumaguete City has cautioned the public against activities that may exacerbate fire hazards amid the searing heat brought about by the El Niño phenomenon. “We should be vigilant and careful in observing practices to avoid fire risks, especially with the hot weather that would provide suitable conditions …
Iloilo City gov’t says drug situation not alarming; anti-drug ops on
The Iloilo City government does not consider the drug situation alarming amid the confiscation of a huge volume of illegal drugs by authorities during sting operations. “What is important is that our police officers are alert and operations continue. We will continue to support our police,” Mayor Jerry Treñas said in a follow-up interview …
Kiefer Ravena commits costly foul as Shiga bows to Fukuoka
By ADRIAN STEWART CO Kiefer Ravena committed a costly unsportsmanlike foul with a second left as the Shiga Lakes faltered to the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka, 80-78, in Japan B.League Division 2 at the Kitakyushu Municipal Gymnasium on Monday night, March 11. With the score tied at 78-all, the Iloilo City-native guard was slapped with …
Petecio, Villegas punch way to Paris Olympics
By ADRIAN STEWART CO Filipina boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas punched their way to the 2024 Paris Olympics after securing separate semifinal wins in the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament 2024 in Italy yesterday (Philippine time). Petecio, a silver medalist in the 2020+1 Tokyo Olympics, earned her second straight Summer Games stint …
Jokic leads Nuggets fightback over fired-up Raptors
Nikola Jokic grabbed a 35-point triple-double as the Denver Nuggets staged a dramatic second-half fightback to defeat the short-handed Toronto Raptors, 125-119, yesterday (Philippine time). Two-time Most Valuable Player Jokic produced a towering display to drag Denver back into contention after the NBA champions trailed by 22 points in the second quarter. A fired-up …
High heat index; Extreme heat prompts class suspension in over 200 NegOcc schools
By Jen Baylon More than 200 public and private schools in Negros Occidental have suspended face-to-face classes for two days due to the scorching heat. Hernani Escullar Jr., Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas information officer, said more than 200 schools in some Schools Division Offices (SDOs) in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, …
Addressing the gaps on gov’t procurement
By Sonny Angara More than 20 years have passed since Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) was enacted into law. Introduced by my father, the former Senate President Edgardo Angara, the GPRA was considered a world-class, landmark law for putting in place strong mechanisms to curb corruption in government procurement. In …