By CESAR JOLITO III Several fisherfolk organizations in the Visayas have intensified their campaign against illegal fishing, warning that the continued degradation of marine resources is worsening poverty among small-scale fishers and threatening coastal ecosystems. The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) – Negros and the Panay-Negros-Guimaras Crab Fishers Alliance (PANEG-CA) launched a series of advocacy …
Monthly Archives: May 2026
P250-M bridge to link 2 Moises Padilla brgys
By CESAR JOLITO III A proposed P250-million bridge project aimed at restoring a critical transport link between Barangays Montilla and Macagahay in Negros Occidental’s Moises Padilla town has moved into a key evaluation stage following a site inspection conducted by the Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR). Technical personnel from OCD-NIR, …
Lifelong smiles for children
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim For children, oral health is especially important. Developing good oral hygiene habits early in life can prevent a range of dental problems, from cavities to gum disease, and can establish a foundation for lifelong healthy habits. Parents and caregivers play a pivotal role in guiding children toward proper oral care …
Silence is also political
By Herman M. Lagon There is a different kind of silence settling across many campuses lately. Not the calm silence before classes start. Not the sleepy quiet of libraries during finals week. This one feels heavier somehow. Election season comes, filing deadlines pass and suddenly everybody realizes there are barely enough students willing to run. …
Self-emptying to be properly filled up
By Fr. Roy Cimagala This is what Christ is proposing to us. It is quite intriguing, but to be sure it is what truly is proper to us. We need to somehow lose ourselves to win what is truly necessary for us. We cannot deny that we are notorious for sticking to our own will …
2nd bulk water project hearing aims to explain terms clearly
By CESAR JOLITO III Provincial officials will hold a second public hearing in Negros Occidental’s E.B. Magalona town regarding the proposed Negros bulk water supply project that seeks to utilize water resources from the Malogo River, amid continuing concerns from residents over its possible impact on agriculture and local water supply. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson …
Negros solon pushes free AI-searchable law database
By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez is pushing for the creation of a free, consolidated and artificial intelligence (AI)-searchable database of Philippine laws and court rulings, warning that access to justice in the country has effectively become divided between those who can afford legal resources and those who cannot. …
Gov’t assures continued aid amid Kanlaon threat
By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the national government remains ready to assist communities in the province should Kanlaon Volcano erupt again. Lacson said Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., during his recent visit to the province last week, expressed concern over the continuing challenges faced by families displaced by Kanlaon’s …
Bacolod food vendors now allowed on North Capitol Road
Bacolod City has legalized the operations of food vendors along the North Capitol Road, allowing them to earn a living without fear of apprehension. Starting this week, 42 vendors continued to sell in the area from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. after they were granted special permits by the City Mayor’s Office – Business Permits …
More women ’empowered’ to report VAWC cases in NIR
Negros Oriental recorded the highest incidence of violence against women and their children among the provinces and a highly urbanized city (HUC) in the Negros Island Region (NIR) in 2025, a police official said. Police Captain Wilma Encomienda Silva, chief of the Regional Women and Children Protection Desk (RWCPD) of the Police Regional Office – …