The fund allocation for the newly-established Negros Island Region (NIR) is not included in the national budget for 2025. This was revealed by presidential sister, Senator Imee Marcos. According to Marcos, even before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the law establishing the NIR in June of this year, the 2025 National Expenditure Program was …
Monthly Archives: August 2024
Fear factor
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim It’s called dentophobia. Or fear of the dentist, fear of going to the dental clinic and/or fear of sitting on the dental chair. It could be triggered by the whirring sound of the dental drill. Or the sight of the sharp stainless steel instruments common in dental clinics. Dentophobia …
Heroes behind desks, against all odds
By Herman M. Lagon It is far too simple to point fingers in the complex debates over the country’s education condition. But if we pause and shift our gaze from the blame game to the beacons of hope within our schools, we find our dedicated, heroic and committed teachers. In addition to imparting knowledge, …
NegOcc guv’s exec assistant relieved of duties
By JEN BAYLON The executive assistant of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has been relieved of his duties due to loss of trust and confidence. Provincial Legal Office (PLO) head Atty. Alberto Nellas, Jr. said the relief of Executive Assistant IV Francis Velez took effect on Tuesday, July 30. Nellas said they did …
2 suspected NPA rebels killed in clashes
By JEN BAYLON Two suspected remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) South West Front were killed in two separate encounters with the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) in Negros Occidental’s Sipalay City. Brigadier General Joey Escanillas, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said Regie Fundador, a resident of Candoni town, was killed during the …
Armyworms damage to NegOcc corn farms reaches P37-M
Damage brought by armyworm infestation to cornfields in 11 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental reached P37.32 million as of July 30, data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed yesterday. The consolidated data showed that 2,504.6 hectares of corn farms owned by 3,961 farmers in 77 villages have been infested. …
Former NPA rebels become community dev’t volunteers in Negros
Former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebels in Negros Occidental are taking a new path in life by serving as community development volunteers through the assistance of the Philippine Army and the provincial government. In a statement yesterday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said these former rebels are now doing worthwhile endeavors in …
NegOr replacement for withdrawn cops arrive for NIR transition
Hundreds of police personnel are being pulled out from Negros Oriental, with many more being sent here as replacements as the transition to the newly-created Negros Island Region (NIR) takes place. Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), said in an interview that records showed 240 police personnel were …
Comelec-NIR exec welcomes ‘criminalizing’ attacks vs. media
The Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) welcomes the proposal to criminalize attacks and other similar aggressions against media practitioners, especially during an election period, an official said on Thursday, August 1. In an interview, Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR regional election director, said declaring certain acts involving the safety of journalists as illegal would …
DOJ ‘doubly confident’ Timor-Leste will affirm extradition of Teves
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it remained confident that the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals would uphold its decision to extradite former Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo Teves, Jr. Teves, through his local legal team, filed his motion for reconsideration for the reversal of the order of the Timor-Leste government. Teves files appeal for reversal …