HEADLINE

By MAE SINGUAY The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) expressed profound disappointment and dismay over the glaring omission of the proposed legislated wage increase during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 28. GAWA Secretary General Wennie Sancho lamented that the pressing concerns of workers, particularly the inadequacy of wages …

By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has reaffirmed his commitment to refile a bill that would divide the highly urbanized city into two congressional districts, a move that aims to boost political representation and accelerate access to national development programs. “Still, I’m firmly committed to pushing through with Bacolod’s redistricting. …

By CESAR JOLITO III As President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. prepares to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he does not expect the province’s pressing concerns to be part of the national report. “While we hope that Negros Occidental’s needs will be addressed, I understand that …

By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity after grappling with agricultural damage brought by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” and a widespread destructive outbreak of the red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) threatening the sugar industry. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) yesterday approved the declaration through a resolution, unanimously adopted on the …

By CESAR JOLITO III Another wave of civilian killings has rocked Negros Island as the New People’s Army (NPA) has openly claimed responsibility for the deaths of two individuals accused of being military informants. In a recent statement, the NPA’s Roselyn Jean Pelle Command admitted to the killing of 58-year-old Jonesly Vallente, Sr. at Barangay …

By CESAR JOLITO III The combined effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat and Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” have left P44.5 million worth of agricultural losses and infrastructure damage in the Negros Island Region (NIR), data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) showed. Negros Occidental bore the brunt, with P17.2 million worth of …

By CESAR JOLITO III Families residing along creeks and riverbanks in Bacolod City are set to be relocated to mitigate flooding risks following recent heavy rains that inundated several barangays. Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya announced that the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) has been tasked with identifying suitable relocation sites for residents in Barangay Banago near Banago …

By CESAR JOLITO III Six individuals died in inclement weather-related incidents amid the onslaught of the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” after heavy rains inundated low-lying communities, swelled rivers and made crossings treacherous in Negros Occidental. Irene Bel Ploteña, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said four …

By CESAR JOLITO III Torrential rains brought about by the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” have left the agriculture and aquaculture sectors in Negros Occidental grappling with losses amounting to over P2.7 million, data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed. About 9.85 hectares of high-value crops (HVC) …

By CESAR JOLITO III Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda said the city government is preparing to declare a state of calamity as severe flooding continues to displace residents and inundate farmlands following heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Depression “Crising.” “Declaring a state of calamity will allow us to mobilize resources and …