By CESAR JOLITO III The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) has issued a strong call for urgent action to address the deepening crisis confronting the sugar industry, warning that government inefficiencies and policy gaps continue to threaten the sector’s survival. In a press statement yesterday, GAWA Secretary General Wennie Sancho said the resilience of …
Monthly Archives: January 2026
The real life’s luxuries
By Herman M. Lagon The most expensive thing to wear today is not a Rolex or Hermès scarf — it is a peaceful face. It comes from a full night’s sleep, the warmth of morning sun through soft curtains, and the freedom of not needing to rush. We often think of luxury as something bought, …
Remain child-like even as we age
By Fr. Roy Cimagala That’s essentially the point of our celebration of the Feast of Santo Niño that, thankfully, enjoys a very popular devotion in our country. Let’s hope that the message not only sticks in our minds but also is effectively lived out in our daily affairs. Christ himself said it very clearly. “Amen, …
WHO says sugary drinks, alcohol getting cheaper, should be taxed more
Sugary drinks and alcohol are getting relatively cheaper, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, urging countries to hike taxes to reduce consumption levels and boost health funding. The WHO said consistently low taxes on the products in most countries were fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. “Weak tax systems are allowing harmful products to …
Heavy rains from ‘Ada’ likely to trigger lahar flow: Phivolcs
By CESAR JOLITO III State volcanologists warned communities around Kanlaon Volcano to be on heightened alert as Tropical Storm “Ada” is expected to bring rains that could trigger dangerous lahar flows and sediment-laden flooding in parts of Negros Island. In a lahar advisory issued yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) cited the …
Bacolod starts relocation of residents from disaster-prone areas
The Bacolod City government has started relocating residents from danger zones, particularly along creeks and rivers, as part of the city’s flood mitigation strategy and move to ensure a safe relocation for residents in danger zones. Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga said yesterday they provided cash assistance of P10,000 each …
50 cops from Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay to boost policing
By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) formally sent off 50 newly trained police officers under the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (R-PSB) Program, reinforcing grassroots policing and strengthening police-community partnership across the region. The send-off ceremony, held yesterday at Kanlaon Hall, Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod …
Teves acquitted in 2019 murder case
A Manila court has acquitted former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves, Jr. and two others in a 2019 murder case involving a Negros Oriental board member. The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 15 acquitted Teves, Richard Cuadra and Rolando Pinili “for failure of the prosecution to establish a prima facie case.” Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said the …
Take all precautions for ‘Ada,’ OCD chief tells public
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator, Undersecretary Harold Cabreros, yesterday called on the public, especially those residing in the Eastern Visayas and Bicol Regions, to take the necessary precautions amid the heavy rains and storms brought about by the arrival of Tropical Storm “Ada” (international name “Nokaen”), the country’s first tropical cyclone for this year. …
Site validation of proposed evac center for Kanlaon-hit families
By CESAR JOLITO III The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division of Negros Oriental, under the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chaired by Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, on Thursday, January 15, joined a site validation for the proposed evacuation center intended for families affected by the continuing unrest of Kanlaon Volcano. The …