HEADLINE

By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson considers this year’s Panaad sa Negros Festival “non-political.” “We did not invite national candidates for the midterm elections,” Lacson said. “Most of the incumbents will be here to support their respective local government units [LGUs]. That in itself could be considered campaigning,” he said when asked if local …

Three development workers in Negros Occidental are planning to file countercharges over wrongful prosecution following the dismissal of terrorism financing charges filed against them. In a radio interview, legal counsel Rey Gorgonio said his clients — Federico Salvilla, Perla Pavillar and Dharyl Albañez — will take legal action against those who filed baseless charges, fabricated …

By JEN BAYLON The Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) is still awaiting the contingency plan of the La Castellana municipal government for disaster response, particularly in the event of a major eruption of Kanlaon Volcano. Despite previous presentations, OCD-NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno III said La Castellana has yet to submit …

By JEN BAYLON The recent encounters between government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Cadiz City and Toboso town in Negros Occidental will not impact the May 12 midterm elections in Negros Island Region (NIR), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said. Comelec-NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said the NPA’s recent activities do not …

By JEN BAYLON Three soldiers sustained minor injuries in another encounter with remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on Tuesday, March 18. Colonel Erwin Rommel Lamzon, 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) spokesperson, said the injured soldiers are already recovering at a hospital and are now in stable condition. Lamzon said the …

Several officials of the Bacolod City government are planning to file counter charges against a radio blocktimer who filed graft and administrative complaints over the alleged anomalous P971.86 million land banking project. At a press conference, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said there was nothing anomalous in the purchase of the 74.76-hectare property — about P13 …

  By MA. THERESA LADIAO The activation of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) will have minimal effect on the police force in Western Visayas, PRO-6 spokesperson Lt. Colonel Arnel Solis said. “It won’t significantly affect us since it’s just a matter of transferring Bacolod City Police Office [BCPO] and Negros Occidental Police Provincial …

By JEN BAYLON The Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) is scrambling to identify additional evacuation centers as authorities are bracing for Kanlaon Volcano’s potential escalation to Alert Level 4. OCD-NIR Director Donato Sermeno III said local government units (LGUs) surrounding Kanlaon have been tasked with assessing the capacities of evacuation centers in …

By JEN BAYLON Negros Occidental is facing a concerning spike in dengue cases, as 105 new cases were reported in just one week, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said. A total of 1,256 dengue cases were recorded from January 1 to March 8 this year, higher by 412.65 percent compared to last year, when only …

By JEN BAYLON The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is urging farmers to prepare for the potential effects of the dry season on their crops as temperatures continue to rise. OPA officer-in-charge Dina Genzola emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate water sources for irrigation to combat crop damage caused by prolonged heat. To …