HEADLINE

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria said the recent passage of the Negros Island Region (NIR) bill is a “great advantage” for both Negros provinces. Sagarbarria made the comments during the sidelines of the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas meeting held in Cebu City on Thursday, March 14. According to Sagarbarria, it …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Amid the ongoing drought due to the El Niño phenomenon which is now devastating hectares of farmland in Negros Occidental, the Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas (OCD-6) has issued reminders for local government units (LGUs) prior to declaring a “state of calamity.” In a radio interview yesterday, OCD-6 director …

By Mae Singuay Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez expressed optimism that establishing the Negros Island Region (NIR) will hasten the delivery of government services in the region. Benitez said he is considering the city government providing office spaces and buildings for the establishment of regional offices in the city under the NIR, following the …

By ADRIAN STEWART CO The Senate approved the bill which seeks to establish the Negros Island Region (NIR) on the third and final reading yesterday. With 22 votes and no abstention, Senate Bill (SB) 2507 proposes placing Negros Occidental including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental and Siquijor under NIR. SB 2507 seeks to improve the delivery of basic government services …

  By Jen Baylon More than 200 public and private schools in Negros Occidental have suspended face-to-face classes for two days due to the scorching heat. Hernani Escullar Jr., Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas information officer, said more than 200 schools in some Schools Division Offices (SDOs) in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Negros Occidental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) ensures that they will protect and rehabilitate the province’s watershed areas to further enhance water security. This is amid the extreme heat being experienced in the province brought by the El Niño phenomenon. PENRO officer-in-charge Engineer Joan Gerangaya said through these efforts, they …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said yesterday that sugarcane is the hardest-hit crop due to the intense heat caused by the El Niño phenomenon in central and southern Negros Occidental. SRA chief agriculturist Ma. Lourdes Almodiente said they are consolidating reports on damage to sugarcane fields in the province due …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is backing the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) move to investigate the skyrocketing prices of pork in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. Lacson said if the DA feels that there is price manipulation, then they should investigate it and make a report. “I heard from the …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson expressed optimism following the Provincial Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Committee’s (JPSCC) recommendation to declare the province under the state of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS). In an interview yesterday, Lacson said the recommendation will boost investors’ confidence in Negros Occidental, knowing the fact that …

Committee on Public Services chairperson, Senator Grace Poe clarified that employees of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) could not be absorbed automatically by Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power). This was stressed by Poe during the committee hearing on Negros Power’s franchise bill last Tuesday, March 5. She believes that there are Ceneco employees who are excellent in …