HEADLINE

By CESAR JOLITO III Local officials in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town are pressing for the immediate dredging of Bagacay and Tamburong creeks in Barangay Biak na Bato, as they warn that the hardened lahar deposits could trigger severe flooding in the event of heavy rains. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) confirmed …

By CESAR JOLITO III San Carlos Mayor Renato Gustilo has sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe three flood control projects worth P306 million that were reportedly implemented but were never carried out on the ground. Gustilo said he was surprised after receiving a letter from the Department of Public …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has reported significant gains in crime reduction following the adoption of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) five-minute response policy while also intensifying investigations into recent killings in Negros Occidental’s Talisay City and Bacolod City. “Speed is not merely a tactical advantage. It is …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is appealing to the Silay City government to reconsider their opposition to the proposed P1.1 billion bulk water supply project, stressing the initiative is designed to ensure long-term water security for the city and neighboring localities. “Silay could be the biggest beneficiary of this project. …

By CESAR JOLITO III Another batch of evacuees from the cities of Bago and La Carlota in Negros Occidental are set to return to their homes on Saturday, August 16, after eight months of staying in evacuation centers following the eruption threat of Kanlaon Volcano. Office of Civil Defense in Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) Director Donato …

By CESAR JOLITO III All sugar produced in the next crop year will be allocated exclusively for the domestic market, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) announced yesterday, in a policy shift aimed at ensuring stable local supply and prices. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, during the 71st Philippine Sugar Technologists Association Convention in Cebu City, said the …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has mobilized a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to lead the probe into the discovery of three bodies in Negros Occidental’s Talisay City on Monday, August 11. PRO-NIR Director Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay said the SITG will consolidate intelligence, coordinate with forensic experts, …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has requested an additional P125 million for the completion of a major flood control project in Bacolod City’s Reclamation Area while the construction of a 639-meter diversion channel remains on hold. DPWH-Bacolod District Engineer Leah Jamero said the original budget of more than …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) reported a strong turnout in the recently concluded 10-day voter registration for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), with a majority of applicants coming from the youth. “It’s a good sign that the youth are now actively participating in our election …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas clarified that the administrative charges against Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo and two others need not meet the technical precision of the cases, stating that the respondents failed to disclose all reasons for the unjustified delay in processing of a business permit renewal within the legal …