By CESAR JOLITO The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) said remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island have reportedly carried out a series of targeted killings, claiming the lives of several individuals accused of acting as military informants. “These acts of violence are part of the NPA’s continuing attempts to intimidate communities …
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Search is over; OCD: Families may still appeal case-by-case retrievals
By CESAR JOLITO III Disaster response authorities have officially terminated large-scale search, rescue and retrieval (SRR) operations for those missing after Typhoon “Tino,” as they agreed to conduct case-by-case search efforts for families who request continued assistance. “The order will be cut, but families can request a continuation if they are not satisfied,” Donato Sermeno III, director of …
‘Prorate the aid’: NegOcc weighs distribution of P50-M aid for ‘Tino’ victims
By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has admitted difficulty in distributing the P50 million aid released by the national government for families affected by Typhoon “Tino” in six local government units (LGUs) in the province. “It’s very difficult to distribute this money because the amount is not enough to cover all damages,” Lacson …
‘Downloaded’ funds; ‘Tino’-hit LGUs ‘receive’ P45-M gov’t aid: mayor
By CESAR JOLITO III The national government has already released P45 million in emergency assistance to six local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, as authorities begin planning the relocation of hundreds of families displaced by Typhoon “Tino,” La Castellana Vice Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Manguilimutan said following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s visit to the province on …
P1.2-B crop loss; SRA: ‘Tino’ ravages 53-K ha of sugarcane in Visayas
By CESAR JOLITO III The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has reported an estimated P1.2 billion in losses to the sugar industry in the Visayas, including Negros Island, following the widespread destruction brought by Typhoon “Tino.” According to the SRA, “Tino” devastated more than 53,000 hectares of sugarcane fields across the mill districts of Negros Island, …
Resilient housing: Ferrer seeks safer relocation for typhoon-hit families
By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental 4th District Representative Jeffrey Ferrer is calling for the immediate relocation of families displaced by Typhoon “Tino,” as the Office of Civil Defense reported that more than 600 houses in the district were completely destroyed. Ferrer said temporary shelters and evacuation centers were only short-term solutions, emphasizing the need for …
P95-M emergency aid: Palace to extend addt’l assistance for ‘Tino’-hit LGUs
By CESAR JOLITO III President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has approved an additional P45 million in financial assistance for six of the hardest hit local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental by Typhoon “Tino,” bringing total national support for the province to P95 million. The announcement was made by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco during her visit to …
Softened terrain? ‘Tino’ severe flooding raises suspicions of illegal logging
By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental 4th District Representative Jeffrey Ferrer has urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct an immediate inspection of Kanlaon Volcano’s upper slopes, following reports that possible illegal activities in the area may have worsened flooding and landslides during Typhoon “Tino.” In an interview, Ferrer said several landslides …
NegOcc hardest hit:‘Tino’ death toll climbs to 83 in NIR; 34 still missing
By CESAR JOLITO III The Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) confirmed yesterday that Typhoon “Tino” has claimed 83 lives across the region, with 34 individuals still reported missing as retrieval operations continue. Negros Occidental has been the hardest hit, recording 62 fatalities, the OCD-NIR said. The town of Moises Padilla suffered …
‘Wounded’ defense: ‘Tino’ aftermath exposes Negros’ ‘failing’ forest protection
By CESAR JOLITO III The devastation brought by Typhoon “Tino” in Negros Occidental has reignited long-standing concerns over the province’s weakened forest defenses, as environmental groups blame years of neglect and unregulated development for worsening the disaster’s impact. Environmental watchdogs Green Alert Network (GAN) and the Group of Environmental Socialists (GOES), Inc. said the widespread flooding …