HEADLINE

By CESAR JOLITO III Efforts are underway to mitigate the effects of increasing fuel costs, particularly in industries heavily dependent on fuel, such as transportation, logistics and delivery services, the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) said. MBCCI President Juliana Carbon said the local private sector is working closely with the government to …

By CESAR JOLITO III Rising fuel prices forced the Negros Occidental provincial and Bacolod City governments to implement separate power and fuel conservation measures, including a compressed four-day work week, as part of the national government’s contingency measures to address the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on the country. In his Executive Order …

By CESAR JOLITO III The People’s Coalition for Good Governance (PCGG) issued an urgent appeal for swift government intervention as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatens to push oil prices higher and deepen the economic strain on Filipino workers and consumers. PCGG convenor Wennie Sancho warned that rising fuel costs linked to the …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has agreed to support the direct government purchase of domestic sugar, a move backed by the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (Confed) and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry (Nacusip), aimed at helping sugar farmers cope with a sharp decline in sugar mill …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Philippine sugar industry is no longer merely in crisis but is now facing what planters describe as a near-total market collapse, as sugar prices plunge to historic lows and trading activity grinds to a halt. In a strongly worded statement, the Binalbagan-Isabela Planters Association (BIPA) said it is issuing its …

By CESAR JOLITO III The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) warned that the Philippines may face significant economic headwinds as tensions in the Middle East escalate, potentially driving up oil prices and straining workers and consumers nationwide. GAWA Secretary General Wennie Sancho said the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel could disrupt …

By CESAR JOLITO III The La Castellana municipal government is moving to strengthen long-term support for residents displaced by hazard risks with plans to construct a permanent evacuation center and establish a communal farm, town officials said. Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the initiatives are intended to provide safer shelter and sustainable livelihood options for …

By CESAR JOLITO III Hinoba-an Mayor Daph Anthony Reliquias takes a firm stance against illegal mining activities in the town following the arrest of nine individuals over alleged extraction of natural resources in Barangay Bacuyangan. “I am firmly against illegal mining. Any extraction of our natural resources without lawful permits, regulatory compliance and environmental safeguards …

By CESAR JOLITO III A moderate explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday night, February 26, has displaced 23 families, or 81 individuals, in two local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported. The eruption brought ashfall, sulfuric odors and ground vibrations, prompting temporary evacuations in …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has committed to issuing a sugar order to regulate the entry of sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners into the Philippine market, following mounting concerns from lawmakers and industry stakeholders over their impact on local sugar producers. The commitment was made during the first hearing of the …