By CESAR JOLITO III A state of emergency may soon be declared in Negros Occidental as the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation continues to spread across sugar-producing areas, affecting more than 2,000 hectares of sugarcane farms in the Visayas. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is considering the declaration but emphasized that …
Monthly Archives: June 2026
Raisers look into pattern on rising hog deaths
By CESAR JOLITO III Hog raisers in Negros Occidental are being urged to tighten biosecurity measures following reports of increasing hog deaths across several local government units in the southern part of the province. The Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental (AHRANO) has raised concern over the situation after monitoring deaths of pigs …
Pope Leo XIV’s message of ‘logic of littleness’ in Türkiye
By Dennis Gorecho ISTANBUL, Türkiye — My recent visit to Türkiye, a predominantly Muslim nation, reminded me of Pope Leo XIV’s message about the Gospel’s “logic of littleness.” The pope visited Türkiye in November 2025, where Christians — estimated at only 25,000 to 36,000 people — account for approximately 0.05 percent of the country’s total …
The weight of trust
By Herman M. Lagon Tab Baldwin’s resignation was always going to be big news. For nearly a decade, he was one of the most recognizable faces in Philippine collegiate basketball. Four championships, countless victories and a reputation that stretched far beyond Katipunan. So when word came this Monday that he had stepped down following the …
Moises Padilla to strengthen public order, security with new ordinance
By CESAR JOLITO III The Sangguniang Bayan of Moises Padilla has approved a new ordinance aimed at promoting peace, order and public safety by regulating behavior in public spaces and strengthening protection for minors. Municipal Ordinance No. 2026-215, known as the “Safer Community Ordinance of Moises Padilla,” was enacted in compliance with the Department of …
CLMMRH to open 189-bed mom-child facility by 2027
The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), the apex hospital or end-referral center of the Department of Health (DOH) in Negros Island Region, in Bacolod City will open a Mother and Child Building by the middle of next year. Its establishment is part of the continuing efforts of the 100-year-old institution to strengthen maternal, …
Bacolod to implement traffic rerouting for Charter Day
By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA The Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD) will implement a traffic rerouting and road closure for the city’s 88th Charter Day celebration on Thursday, June 18. Levy Pangue, parade committee chairman, said the parade will start at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Lagoon and Lizares Street at 6:00 a.m. Public …
2 suspects in woman’s shooting face murder raps
By CESAR JOLITO III Murder charges were formally filed against two suspects involved in the fatal shooting of a woman who was gunned down on June 6 near the vicinity of the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) after visiting her live-in partner, who is facing a drug-related case. The victim was identified as 41-year-old Ma. …
Missing man recovered from irrigation canal
By CESAR JOLITO III A 53-year-old man was found dead after an overnight search operation in an irrigation canal at Barangay Caridad in Negros Occidental’s Bago City. The victim, a resident of Purok Langka in the village, was recovered at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 15, following a joint search and retrieval operation conducted …
Cadiz City honors centenarian
By CESAR JOLITO III Cadiz City has added another name to its growing list of celebrated centenarians as 101-year-old Maria Lumampao-Magbanua, fondly known as Lola Maria, was recognized for her remarkable longevity and lifetime of resilience. Born on January 20, 1925, Lola Maria recently reached her 101st year, joining the ranks of the city’s oldest …