Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) has significantly reduced its system loss rate through an intensified anti-pilferage campaign and sweeping technical upgrades — bringing the figure down from 11.84 percent in August 2024 to just 8.03 percent by May 2025. This dramatic drop moves the utility below to the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) interim cap of 8.25 percent, signaling …
Monthly Archives: July 2025
Decreasing number of sea-based overseas absentee voters
By Dennis Gorecho The number of sea-based overseas absentee voters (OAVs) is continuously declining. Only 12,030 registered for the 2025 midterm election. The OAV was passed in 2003, allowing Filipinos overseas to vote for who they want to be president, vice president, senators, and party-list representatives. For the midterm elections, they will be voting for …
The pronoun puzzle
By Herman M. Lagon Walk into any classroom or office and the air will likely hum with a familiar tune: “Good morning, Ma’am!” “Magandang araw po, Sir!” These greetings are not just protocol; they are instinct. We say them without thinking, like second nature passed down through generations. Our words bow before our bodies do. …
Candoni LGU: No more ops at palm oil plantation
By CESAR JOLITO III The Candoni municipal government confirmed that earth-moving activities at the controversial palm oil plantation operated by Hacienda Asia Plantation Inc. (HAPI) in the town have stopped, following continued monitoring efforts by municipal authorities. Candoni Mayor Ray Ruiz told members of the media that, based on the reports from their personnel under the Municipal …
La Castellana probes unauthorized decampment of Kanlaon IDPs
The local government unit (LGU) and the incident management team (IMT) of La Castellana in Negros Occidental are looking into the unauthorized decampment of at least 33 families or 89 persons affected by the unrest of Mt. Kanlaon. In a statement on Monday, June 30, the LGU said certain persons convinced the internally displaced persons …
6 OFWs rescued after 2 months stranded aboard vessel in Iloilo
Six overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded aboard a foreign vessel anchored off Loboc in Iloilo City for two months were rescued on Monday evening, June 30. The OFWs, three from Iloilo and one each from Batangas, Cebu and Manila, have been on board MV Hirman Star, together with seven Indian nationals, since April 3, 2025. The ship, …
New flea market, sports hub repair priorities of Negros Oriental guv
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria outlined his priority projects for his first 100 during his oathtaking on Monday, June 30. Speaking to reporters after his inaugural, Sagarbarria said some of the projects are the transfer of a drive-thru flea market; sports complex renovation; continuation of improvements at the Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park, including an exercise …
Arnie Teves arraignment for murder case reset to July 14
The arraignment of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr. for one of his murder cases before a Manila court was rescheduled to July 14, his lawyer said on Monday, June 30. According to Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, they filed a motion to defer the hearing at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12 last …
NegOr police seize P54-M shabu in H1
Police in Negros Oriental have seized close to P54.2 million worth of shabu during the first half of this year. Based on its latest data, the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO) seized 7.969 kilos of shabu worth P54.195 million, along with 197 grams of marijuana worth P23,000. In the same period, a total of …
Daja, Perez rule ‘The One’ Manila qualifiers
By ADRIAN STEWART CO Negrense Bonn Daja and Rhiane Perez have earned their slots in New York after dominating the Manila leg of The One Global basketball tournament, hosted by Jordan Brand, recently at the Flight Deck in Taguig City. Daja, a towering 6-foot-4 forward from De La Salle Zobel, stamped his class in the boys’ …