By CESAR JOLITO III A multi-sectoral coalition has called for urgent government action to address mounting environmental threats and food security concerns across Negros Island, outlining key reforms aimed at protecting critical ecosystems and strengthening sustainable agriculture systems. In their manifesto, participants and stakeholders examined ecological interconnections and promoted climate-resilient farming practices, including so-called “green …
Monthly Archives: March 2026
Money hunt for views
By Herman M. Lagon If you have not seen it yet, someone in your circle has. A content creator drops hints on social media: There is money hidden somewhere in a public place. A crowd gathers. People run, search, collide, shout, laugh, and sometimes fall. Cameras are ready. The clip is edited tight — quick …
Palm Sunday
By Fr. Roy Cimagala The Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord marks that triumphal procession of Christ as King that would lead to his passion, death and resurrection. We should not fail to note the intimate relationship between what is truly to be a king and the need to go through the passion, …
Coming years ‘critical’ to slash plastic pollution: UN
The world must halve single-use plastics and slash throwaway consumption to stem the tide of environmental pollution, according to a United Nations (UN) report that warns the next few years are critical. Concern is growing about the impacts of plastics, with microplastic fragments found from the deepest ocean trenches to the top of Mount Everest. …
Sugar workers question SRA transparency over sugar order
By CESAR JOLITO III A labor federation representing sugar industry workers has raised concerns over transparency in the approval of a major sugar importation policy, calling on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to release the official minutes of the board meeting that authorized Sugar Order No. 8. The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar …
Missing woman remains found after 7 months
By CESAR JOLITO III Human remains believed to belong to a 52-year-old woman who had been missing since August 2025 were discovered at Barangay Dulao in Negros Occidental’s Bago City on Thursday afternoon, March 26. Bago police said the remains were found around 5:20 p.m. in Purok Michelle, approximately 40 meters from the victim’s residence. …
Fuel subsidy rollout for tricycle drivers starts April 8
By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to begin the distribution of fuel subsidies to tricycle drivers across the Negros Island Region (NIR) on April 8, benefiting tens of thousands of transport workers affected by rising fuel costs. DSWD-NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said that approximately 48,000 tricycle …
Vegetable prices drop; rice, sugar edge up
By CESAR JOLITO III Prices of highland vegetables have sharply declined in local markets, offering relief to consumers, while key staples such as rice and sugar recorded slight increases, according to the latest monitoring report from La Carlota City’s public market office. Data gathered from five market respondents showed a notable drop in the cost …
P30.8-M Mambukal resort upgrade to boost tourism
By CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Occidental provincial government has rolled out approximately P30.8 million worth of rehabilitation and development projects at the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary, strengthening its position as one of Negros Occidental’s flagship ecotourism destinations. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the inauguration on Thursday, March 26, highlighting the province’s continued push …
Comelec-NIR shifts to 4-day workweek in April
By CESAR JOLITO III The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will implement a four-day workweek beginning April, closing all its offices every Monday as part of the national government’s energy conservation efforts. According to Lionel Marco Castillano, regional election director for the Negros Island Region (NIR), the adjusted schedule follows a recent en banc resolution issued …