By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has requested an additional P125 million for the completion of a major flood control project in Bacolod City’s Reclamation Area while the construction of a 639-meter diversion channel remains on hold. DPWH-Bacolod District Engineer Leah Jamero said the original budget of more than …
Monthly Archives: August 2025
Bishop Pabillo: Do not forget EDSA
By Dennis Gorecho “Let us make the effort to remind the people not to forget EDSA. Let its light remain uncovered. Its work remains unfinished.” Thus declared politically outspoken Bishop Broderick Pabillo, D.D., in his homily back in February during the mass of the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution held at the …
The school as a change agent
By Herman M. Lagon Education has never been just about textbooks and exams. Whether you are in a crowded public school in Molo, a quiet university in General Luna, or a rural classroom in Barotac Nuevo, what happens inside reflects the world outside — our everyday struggles, shared dreams and the values we keep shifting …
JVA with PrimeWater ‘not worth it’: Baciwa
By CESAR JOLITO III The joint venture agreement (JVA) between Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. is “no longer worth it” due to multiple violations and unfulfilled commitments, according to Baciwa Board President Atty. Sonya Verdeflor. In a radio interview yesterday, Verdeflor revealed that PrimeWater has failed to meet several key provisions …
2 NegOcc cities prepare IDPs for decampment this week
Preparations are underway in the cities of Bago and La Carlota in Negros Occidental for the decampment of their respective internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon later this week. A total of 61 displaced families in La Carlota are set to return home to Barangay Ara-al on Thursday, August 14, …
12 Bacolod brgys fail to comply with road clearing program
By MAE SINGUAY Twelve barangays in Bacolod City failed to comply with the Barangay Road Clearing Operations (BaRCO) Program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). DILG-Bacolod Director Christian Nagaynay said the 12 barangays that failed to submit their road clearing operations report from January to June of this year are Barangays …
BSKE preps continue, Comelec in NIR readies precinct re-clustering
The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) continues with preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) despite its possible postponement to 2026. Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR regional election director, said in an interview yesterday that this is in anticipation of some groups’ plan to seek a temporary restraining order …
Bacolod dengue cases climb to 671
By CESAR JOLITO III Dengue cases in Bacolod City have surged to 671 this year, marking a 35 percent increase compared to the 497 cases recorded in the same period last year, the City Health Office (CHO) said. Seventeen new dengue cases were recorded from July 27 to August 2, based on CHO’s monitoring report …
NIR to organize Regional Development Council today
Stakeholders from both the government and private sectors will gather for the organizational meeting of the Negros Island Region (NIR) Regional Development Council (RDC) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Wednesday, August 13. Convened by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), the establishment of the region’s highest policy-making body comes after the creation …
NegOr cops nab 24 suspects, seize nearly P1.5-M ‘shabu’ in weeklong ops
Police in Negros Oriental seized nearly P1.5 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested 24 suspects during weeklong anti-criminality operations, an official said yesterday. Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said the regionwide Simultaneous Anti-criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) were held from August 4 to 10 across the province. …