By CESAR JOLITO III With the national government’s decision to scrap funding for flood control projects in the 2026 national budget, Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is now exploring alternative funding sources to sustain the maintenance of existing drainage systems and prevent further flooding in the city. Benitez’s spokesperson, Councilor Caesar Distrito, …
Monthly Archives: October 2025
19 Bacolod street dwellers rescued
By CESAR JOLITO III Nineteen individuals, including members of the Badjao community, persons with disabilities, and minors, were rescued during a coordinated operation against street begging and vagrancy in Bacolod City on Saturday, October 11. Of the 19 rescued individuals, nine were Badjaos — including two children — one was a person believed to have a …
Are local governments powerless against insertions?
By Ade S. Fajardo Local governments must be ecstatic that billions of pesos have been pouring in by way of infrastructure projects. Meantime, legislators have ignored the constitutional directive that education be given the highest budgetary priority. The Department of Education suffered a P12-billion cut in the 2025 General Appropriations Act, prompting Secretary Sonny Angara to …
Senate’s ‘game of thrones’
By Herman M. Lagon The Senate says it dislikes drama, yet the past weeks have felt like prestige TV — alliances shifting by the hour, a throne that never stays warm, cliff-hangers you wish you could rewind. Ping Lacson walked away from the blue ribbon chair mid-flood-control probe; Chiz Escudero is out, Tito Sotto is …
Tighter enforcement vs. vapes, cigs urged as youth smoking doubles
With youth smoking rates in the Philippines doubling in just two years, public health advocates are calling for urgent and targeted enforcement measures to stop the spread of illegal cigarettes and vapes that are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction among teens. In a news release, Pinoy Aksyon cited new data from the Food …
2 vans with smuggled cigarettes seized
The Highway Patrol Group-Negros Island Region (HPG-NIR) seized two delivery vans containing smuggled cigarettes in Basay, Negros Oriental on Saturday, October 11. Master Sergeant Aurelio Bodo, chief of the Highway Patrol Team-Negros Oriental, reported yesterday that the vans were found abandoned in Purok 6, Barangay Nagbo-alao. A joint team led by the HPG and supported by …
Soyud, Akari stun Creamline in PVL
By ADRIAN STEWART CO The Akari Power Chargers finally broke through against the powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers, pulling off a thrilling 23-25, 25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 15-12 victory in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference at the City of Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite on Saturday, October 11. American import Annie Mitchem made a dazzling debut, firing a …
Pastrana takes charge as UST edges Ateneo in UAAP
By ADRIAN STEWART CO Negrense Kent Jane Pastrana took the scoring cudgels for the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses as they toppled the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 75-66, in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball at the Blue Eagles Gym on Saturday night, October 11. Pastrana finished with a double-double of …
Blackwater thwarts Terrafirma, kicks off PH Cup bid on high note
The Blackwater Bossing kicked off its PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup campaign on a high note. This, as the Bossing thwarted the Terrafirma Dyip, 107-87, on Friday, October 10, at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal. Even without Sedrick Barefield, they got the win as Christian David and RK Ilagan combined for 46 points, leading …
Nambatac stars in return as TNT beats Phoenix
Rey Nambatac starred in his return as the TNT Tropang Giga defeated the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 93-78, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Montalban. Nambatac, who missed last season’s All-Filipino Conference due to injury, came back strong with 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal, as the Tropang Giga …