HEADLINE

By CESAR JOLITO III The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) defended its consistent natural and biological methods to combat the infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI), saying its initiative began years before Negros Occidental announced its “go-green” strategy. In a press statement, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the agency stressed that immediate natural interventions …

By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Alyansa Kontra Basura lead convenor Wennie Sancho has requested the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod to officially acknowledge Victorias City’s withdrawal of its proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) for waste disposal at a landfill in Barangay Felisa. Sancho has requested the SP to declare the MOA null and void, stating the agreement should …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has rejected the proposal to use government funds for aerial chemical spraying to combat the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation, saying the provincial government will instead continue pursuing biological control measures as its primary strategy against the pest. Lacson reiterated that while the province …

By CESAR JOLITO III Sugar producers are pushing for a P200-million emergency aerial spraying program to contain the rapidly spreading infestation of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) before the start of the milling season in October, warning that immediate intervention is needed to prevent further losses in the country’s sugar industry. During a meeting with …

BY CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Occidental provincial government has adopted a standardized biological control protocol to strengthen its campaign against the Red Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI), reinforcing a science-based and environmentally sustainable strategy to protect the province’s sugar industry. The protocol, developed in coordination with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), was institutionalized through …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental is stepping up efforts to protect its blue swimming crab industry by exploring alternative export markets and strengthening compliance with international standards following new United States import restrictions. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday led a stakeholders’ consultative meeting attended by representatives from the provincial government, the Bureau of Fisheries …

By CESAR JOLITO III Kanlaon Volcano had a moderately explosive eruption, with ashfall blanketing parts of Negros and reaching Cebu province after prevailing winds carried the volcanic ash and rock fragments eastward yesterday morning. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the eruption was recorded at 7:33 a.m. and lasted for about three …

By CESAR JOLITO III and MERLINDA A. PEDROSA Victorias City Mayor Abelardo “Junb” Bantug III has withdrawn the city’s request to temporarily dispose of its residual waste at the Bacolod City sanitary landfill following concerns raised by residents, particularly those living in Barangay Felisa, where the dumpsite is located. In a statement, Bantug said he …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) are collaborating to come up with a unified strategy to ensure a safe and secure learning environment in Negros Island Region (NIR). DepEd-NIR Regional Director Ramir Uytico said a comprehensive school crisis management initiative will be immediately prepared as education …

By CESAR JOLITO III Alyansa Kontra Basura (AKB), a newly formed civic coalition, has stepped up its campaign against the proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would allow Victorias City temporary access to Bacolod City’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa. In separate statements released on July 5 and July 6, AKB urged the Bacolod City …