HEADLINE

By CESAR JOLITO III Authorities across Negros Island are racing against time to locate dozens of people still missing in the aftermath of Typhoon “Tino,” but their efforts are being hampered by a shortage of specialized K9 units trained for search and cadaver retrieval. Irene Bel Ploteña, chief of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction …

By CESAR JOLITO III The death toll due to Typhoon “Tino” in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental climbed to 57, while 67 remain missing following the widespread devastation in the two provinces. Negros Occidental recorded 44 deaths and 53 missing persons across several cities and municipalities, based on the latest data from the Provincial Disaster …

By CESAR JOLITO III Typhoon “Tino” left 31 people dead and 59 others missing while affecting more than 170,000 individuals across Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, according to consolidated reports from provincial disaster and police offices. In Negros Occidental, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed that 22 individuals died due to “Tino,” with 41 individuals still …

By CESAR JOLITO III At least 2,097 families or 7,826 individuals were evacuated from 31 barangays in Bacolod City following the onslaught of Typhoon “Tino,” the City Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) said yesterday. Most of the affected barangays are in coastal areas, particularly Punta Taytay, Sum-ag, Singcang-Airport, and Banago, which were heavily impacted by strong …

By CESAR JOLITO III Disaster management authorities urged all local government units (LGUs) and response agencies in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City to intensify preparedness measures as Typhoon “Tino” continues to gather strength while moving closer to Negros Island. “Now is the time to act — not later. Preparedness saves lives,” Raul Fernandez, director of …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) was placed under Red Alert, while several local government units (LGUs) declared class and work suspensions as Tropical Cyclone “Tino,” which is expected to pass through Negros Island, intensified into a severe tropical storm yesterday. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued a …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Occidental provincial government has once again appeared before the Silay City council to push for the approval of its landmark bulk water supply project, a multi-billion-peso initiative meant to secure the province’s long-term water supply amid mounting threats of scarcity. Led by provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz II, the provincial …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has initiated a full-scale investigation into the armed encounter between government forces and alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) that resulted in the death of a six-year-old boy in Moises Padilla’s Barangay Quintin Remo. In a statement yesterday, NOCPPO Director Colonel Dennis Wenceslao assured …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson called on all local government units (LGUs) in the province to prepare for the possibility of the “Big One” — a massive magnitude 8.2 earthquake — which could strike the province due to the Negros Trench. “While we always hope it will not happen, we …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Council of Concerned Citizens (C3) vowed to continue investigating alleged irregularities in flood control projects in Bacolod City despite the resignation of several Catholic priests who were among the watchdog’s original conveners. “The investigation will proceed as planned. Our mission for truth and accountability does not depend on personalities,” Cesar Beloria, …