HEADLINE

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has ordered the immediate preemptive evacuation of residents in high-risk areas across the province following the entry of Tropical Depression “Wilma” into the Philippine area of responsibility, which is expected to cross the Negros Island Region (NIR) this weekend. Through Executive Order No. 25-28, city and …

By CESAR JOLITO III Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Negros Occidental District Jail – Male Dormitory (NODJ-MD) staged a 12-hour hunger strike yesterday, while their families rallied in front of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR), calling for the removal of Jail Warden Crisyrel Awe over allegations …

By CESAR JOLITO The Bacolod City government is preparing to issue additional cease and desist orders (CDOs) against the construction of several infrastructures found to be obstructing waterways, Mayor Greg Gasataya said yesterday. “This is part of our continuing effort to clear all waterways and prevent flooding, especially in areas repeatedly affected during heavy rains,” …

By CESAR JOLITO III Environmental coalitions across Negros Island are calling for an urgent, transparent investigation into the deadly Kanlaon Volcano landslide and flashfloods that devastated multiple lowland communities, stressing that possible environmental violations may have intensified the scale of the disaster. In a joint open letter addressed to the Department of Environment and Natural …

By CESAR JOLITO III Youth leaders and reform advocates took center stage during the Trillion Peso March 2.0 in Bacolod City yesterday, urging vigilance and government transparency — just as Malacañang affirmed President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s support for protesters — demanding accountability over alleged multibillion-peso flood control scams. Leading the protest action were Kabataan Party-list Representative Atty. …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Council of Concerned Citizens (C3) has formally sought an investigation from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) into the alleged widespread irregularities in 138 flood control projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bacolod City from 2022 to 2025. On Thursday, November 27, C3 lodged a detailed complaint, …

By CESAR JOLITO III Activist group BAYAN Negros demanded accountability over the P4.283 billion in flood control projects implemented in Bacolod City, saying the recent widespread flooding revealed “a collapse in government planning and oversight.” In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 26, BAYAN Negros criticized the local government’s response to Tropical Depression “Verbena,” which displaced …

By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya said they are accelerating the clearing of houses built along riverbanks and creeks as part of an urgent push to address the city’s worsening flooding. Gasataya said the removal of structures obstructing waterways has become a key priority after severe flooding due to Tropical Depression “Verbena” on …

By CESAR JOLITO III Nearly 19,000 residents across Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, have been evacuated as Tropical Depression “Verbena” brought heavy rains, widespread flooding and dangerous river swelling yesterday. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that 4,230 families or 13,831 individuals fled their homes across the province. PDRRMO chief Irene Bel …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental and the Negros Island Region (NIR) are now under heightened alert as heavy to intense rainfall is expected due to Tropical Depression “Verbena” until Wednesday noon, November 26. Based on the rainfall advisory issued yesterday, Negros Occidental — along with Capiz, Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, Surigao provinces, and parts of the Bicol Region — will …